Lomond Glenfarclas, 24,000gns breed record
Belted Galloway breed record
BUYERS were in attendance from all over the UK at the autumn show and sale of Belted Galloways at Castle Douglas, where two new records were set.
Topping the entry and setting a new breed record of 24,000gns was a 19-month-old bull named Lomond Glenfarclas, from Duncan Maxwell, Drymen. Reserve male at the pre-sale show, Glenfarclas is by the 11,000gns Mochrum Earl and out of Lomond Temptation. Buying the record-setter were Chris and Christine Ryder, Scaifehall herd, North Yorkshire.
Messrs Lomond also achieved the second-highest price of 22,000gns for Lomond Glendronach, again by Mochrum Earl but out of Lomond Sweetie Belle. It sold to Allan and Susan Campbell, Crawlaw herd, Ayrshire.
Hitting 16,000gns was Castleton Branston, from Messrs Biggart, Dollar, Clackmannanshire, which sold to Glencrosh Farming Company, Thornhill, Dumfries. Sired by the 14,000gns Krassknop Idris, it is out of Thornthwaite Mayflower.
Females peaked at 10,000gns twice, first for the red in-calf heifer Monochrome Lotus, from the Bosworth family, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Sired by Fernyford Oscar and in-calf to Blackthorn Ace, it sold to Glenlyon Estates, Perthshire.
Matching that money when sold to Ben Carr, Springbird herd, East Sussex, was Croasdale Wendy, a Cairnsmore Prince Charming daughter from Messrs Handley, Clitheroe.
A calf record was set when Messrs Campbell's seven-month-old bull calf, Crawlaw Colonsay, went under the hammer at 4,200gns. Selling to Robin Dunlop, Middlepart herd, Dalry, Ayrshire, Colonsay's sire, Rowater Einstein, topped the aged bull section at 10,000gns.
Averages – 19 bulls, £8,361 (+£1,291); 2 in-calf cows, £5,617 (+£787); 5 in-calf heifers, £5,943; 10 bulling heifers, £2,404; 16 maiden heifers, £4,383 (+£1,827).
Auctioneers: Wallets Marts.
Welsh Mountains hit 20,000gns
WELSH Mountain rams met a 95% clearance and averaged £1,827 at the sale at Meirionnydd, where a top price of 20,000gns was set.
Consigned by R.J. Roberts and Son, Dysefin, the sale leader sold to G.L. and L.S. Jones, Cwm y Geifr.
Messrs Roberts sold eight rams to average £7,626 and also achieved the second-highest price of 18,000gns, with an entry that sold in a two-way split to A.L. and H.M. Jones, Defaidty, and S. Jones, Llaithgwm.
READ MORE: Countdown is on to the Borderway Agri Expo
Next best at 14,000gns was the pen leader from T.W. Williams and Co, Caerynwch, which also sold in a two-way split, this time to H.P.W. and S.W. Nutting, Cwmrhwyddfor, and Messrs Roberts.
R.H. Howatson, Wern Bach, paid 10,000gns for a shearling from H.P. Roberts, Gyrn.
Selling eight to average £5,197, Messrs Williams received a further 8,500gns from T.T. Roberts, Bryn Cynhadledd.
At 8,400gns when sold to E.L. and M.L. Evans, Grugor Isaf, was an entry from J.W. Jones and Co, Cragnant.
Auctioneers: Farmers Marts.
Last ram leads at Skipton
THE very last ram on offer topped the Dalesbred offering at Skipton, when John Bradley's Pen-y-Ghent shearling attracted a 1,000gns bid.
Sired by a home-bred ram from the Giggleswick-based flock, it is out of a Chris Fawcett ewe and sold to E. Snowden, Stanbury.
At 650gns was a shearling by a Richard Coates ram, from J.A. Stoney and Son, Bewerley, Nidderdale, while B.D. and P.M. Gill and Son, Ingleton, sold a shearling by a Brennand ram for 500gns.
The first-prize shearling from Richard Close, Starbottom, realised 550gns.
The female entry peaked at £250/head and £215/head for pens of three-crop draft ewes from Messrs Coates, Rainscar.
Ewe lambs from P. Bowdin, Buckden, Skipton, sold for £200/head.
Averages – Shearling rams, £320.50; aged rams, £332.50; shearling gimmers, £170; gimmer lambs, £115.20.
Auctioneers: CCM.
Limmy leads at Melton Mowbray
A LIMOUSIN heifer secured the inter-breed champion title before going on to sell for the top price of 8,200gns at the multi-breed sale at Melton Mowbray.
That was Stephen Percival's 17-month-old Burnbank Annemarie from Belper. Originally bred by D. and L. Graham, this Glenrock Terminator daughter is out of the Redpaths Nobleman-sired Burnbank Shakira.
Making 6,800gns for Longwood Farm, Princes Risborough, was five-year-old Calverton Suzy, a Gascoines Ozzyosbourne daughter which sold with its January-born heifer calf at foot by Meadowrig Pedro and back in-calf to Ampertaine Volvo.
Longwood Farm also received 5,200gns for Warwicks Pepsi and a heifer calf by the Meadowrig bull. Pepsi is sired by Mountnelson Luther.
Lincoln Reds peaked at 4,600gns for Rand Esmoorelda, from R. Waring, Lincoln. Born in April 2025 out of the Aichmacoy Xavier-sired Ran Eileen, Esmoorelda is by Holegate Zante.
Hobart Rose, a 30-month-old Hemingby Andrew daughter from A.W.J. and E.L. Bambridge, Norfolk, realised 4,200gns.
A Limousin cross cow and calf outfit from M. McDermott, Iver, topped the commercial entry at £5,000.
Auctioneers: Melton Mowbray Market.
Swales soar to £85,000
ACROSS the two-day sale at Kirkby Stephen, a total of 49 rams sold for five-figure prices with a top of £85,000 paid for Beck Head Briscoe 10 from the Harrison family, Ettersgill in Teesdale.
Selling for that top price for Andrew and June together with daughters, Helen and Diane, the Beck Head ram is by a £28,000 West Briscoe sire and out of ewe by the £17,000 Bull and Cave Knocker. This lad sold in a two-way split to Mark Nelson, Bull and Cave, and Alan Alderson, Barras.
Second best at £45,000 was Ghyll House Q7 from John and Ben Richardson, Appleby, which sold to a trio of breeders – John White, Rigg; Richard Hutchinson, Redgate; and Messrs Handley, Gunnerfleet. It is by a home-bred ram and out of a ewe by the £55,000 Endeavour ram.
The Bull and Cave team received £38,000 from Irish breeders, Eddie Haughey and Martin Conway, with Messrs Nelson retaining a share. This son of the record-breaking £105,000 Ghyll House is out of a daughter of Paul Ewbank Champion.
WATCH NOW: Inside the famous Kirkby Stephen Swaledale Tup Sales I Sale Ring Stories, Ep. 7
The Thursday champion, West Briscoe Yummy, from David and Michael Allinson, made £35,000 selling to Robert Hutchinson, Valley, with a share retained. It is by the £25,000 Cote Gill.
A brace of £32,000 tups included a son of the £62,000 Hallam from Tom and Phillip Hutton, Setmabenning, which sold to Valley and Richard Harker, Grayrigg Hall.
The other at £32,000 was a Helbeck ram from Stanley and Pat Brogden. Sired by a £10,000 Oxnop, it sold to a trio – Messrs Porter, Oxnop; Messrs Richardson, Catlow; and Brandon Acton, Scarr House.
Auctioneers: H + H Livestock.
Aucharroch heifers hit £14,500
HEIFERS soared to £14,500 at the Carroll family's on-farm sale of in-calf heifers near Kirriemuir, where 115 cashed in to average £4,548 with 33 at £5,000 or above.
Selling as far north as Orkney and down to Cornwall, the heifers all changed hands due January onwards to easy-calving Limousin sires.
Selling for that top price - thought to be a record for a commercial in-calf heifer on the UK mainland - via a phone bid to Gordon Cameron, Acharacle, was a March 2023-born Limousin cross bred by Messrs Fowlie, Alford. The Carroll family bred its sire, Edendiack Onthejob, which is a Mereside Lorenzo son bred from a Goldies heifer.
At £7,800 was one of five heading to Cairness with David and William Moir. That was an August 2023-born Limousin cross bred by TW Oliver, Northumberland.
Susan and Allan Campbell, Galston, took home a duo for £7,000 and £6,000. Dearest was a January 2024-born Limousin cross bred by Messrs Moar, Orkney.
The team at Castleview Plant, Stirling, secured a trio of heifers with the dearest at £6,500 being a Limousin bred at West Knock Farms, Stuartfield.
Messrs Moir paid a further £6200 for a Limmy cross bred by TW Dinning and Son, Hexham.
Red roan heifers were the pick of the Miller Farms team Inverurie, whose £6,200 purchase was a Limousin cross bred near Carlisle by R Ackerley.
Auctioneers: Pentland Livestock.
Top of 1,120gns for Bramain Charmoise
THE dispersal of David Eglin's Bramain flock of Charmoise sheep from Bulkington, Nuneaton, saw 533 lives sell through Rugby to a top of 1,120gns for a two-shear ram full of French breeding.
Selling to Messrs Hepburn-Scott, Hawick, it is by Bernard Francois and traced back to the B8121 ram.
Messrs Richards, Herefordshire, paid 1,020gns for a two-shear by a home-bred Bramain ram.
Rams lambs and shearling rams both peaked at 880gns.
Females reached 800gns for a 2024-born ewe by Bernard Francois. Bred from a Bramain ewe that goes back to the French import called Roux, it sold to Messrs Jones, Port Meirion.
Messrs Jones paid a further 740gns for a 2022-born ewe also by Benard Francois.
Auctioneers: Rugby Farmers Mart.
Dairy cattle to £4,100 at Gisburn
A CONTINUING strong trade for dairy cattle saw the 48-strong offering at Gisburn peak at £4,100 and average £3,188.
Topping the entry at £4,100 was a Peak Altagulliver daughter from J. and A.H. Rogerson, Singleton Preston. It has a PLI of £401 and is bred from a dam that recorded 16,216 litres in its second.
READ NOW: A ringside round-up from the South West Scotland Dairy Show
Two from I. Goss, Penistone, Sheffield, realised £4,000 each. First was a Cherry Lily Zip Luster daughter giving 40 litres, and the other was a Blondin Detective daughter yielding 28 litres.
Dearest cow at £3,320 was a 35-litre second-calver from I.R. and N. Bradburn, Orrel, Wigton.
Averages – Pedigree heifers, £3,440; non-pedigree heifers, £2,766; pedigree cows, £3,140; in-calf heifers £2,000.
Auctioneers: Gisburn Auction Marts.
Herefords improve on the year
AVERAGES improved on the year at the autumn show and sale of Herefords at Shrewsbury as bulls increased by £860 to level at £5,220, with show heifers up £2,170 to average £5,425.
The sale peaked at 7,800gns for Midford 1 Crackerjack, a two-year-old son of Kinglee 1 The New One from Will Awan, Bath. This show bull which was champion at the Royal Cornwall and reserve junior male at Three Counties, is out of Gouldinpoll 1 Ravette 738. It sold to N. Williams and Sons, Monmouth.
The male champion, Hollyvale 1 Casper, from A. and P. Massey, Bury, Lancashire, sold to K., C. and P. Hawkey, Bosmin, for 7,600gns. This Fabb 1 Northern Star son was born in March 2025 out of Hollyvale 1 June 2.
At 6,900gns when sold to P.R.J. and L.R. Vincent, Pulham herd, Diss, was 18-month-old Studdolph 1 Keenan from N. Thorne, Milford Haven. Its pedigree features Glenvale 1 Hendre Pollard on to Studdolph 1 Dior 756 VG87.
Show heifers peaked at 5,900gns for the reserve female, Hollyvale 1 Mary Ann 4, from Messrs Massey. Sired by Hollyvale 1 Volcano-sired, it sold to L.T.J. Mottershead and Sons, Bridgnorth.
Speirs Farms, Luton, welcomed 5,600gns from O.H. Jones, Llandrindod Wells, for Pepperstock 1 Miss C1189, a Kinglee 1 Wolfman daughter.
Averages – 11 bulls, £5,220; 3 show heifers, £5,425; 3 sale-only heifer calves, £1,890.
Auctioneers: Halls.
Cheviot champion leads Hexham
BREEDING rams reached £1,800 at the final show and sale of 2026 held at Hexham.
Setting that top price was the champion Cheviot from T.W. Hammond, Branton.
Texels reached £1,600 from R.J. and J. Raine, Townfoot, as well as £1,300 twice from Quickeningcote Partners, Morpeth.
A ram from S. Herdman, Alnwick, topped the Blackfaces at £1,100.
Suffolks reached £850 from J. and J. Farming, Morpeth, with that price matched by a Blue Texel from J. Elliot, Selkirk.
Auctioneers: Hexham and Northern Marts.
Woodhow Shorthorn dispersal hits 16,000gns
A YOUNG cow with calf at foot headed up the dispersal of David and Sally Nesbitt's Woodhow Beef Shorthorn herd from Seascale, Cumbria, when a top of 16,000gns was paid at Cockermouth.
The Rookwith Nice Guy-sired Woodhow Simply the Best is out of the Chapelton Bonanza daughter, Woodhow Snowdrop. It sold with its April-born bull calf at foot, the Jodame Sam-sired Woodhow Yosemite.
A full sister, the 2023-born Woodhow Tia, followed on at 15,000gns when sold with another bull calf at foot, this time the January-born Woodhow Titan son, Woodhow Yorrick.
Six-year-old Woodhow Penny, by Woodhow Maradona, realised 6,500gns and sold with its bull calf by Rookwith Nice Guy.
Woodhow Tilly, a Rookwith Nice Guy daughter, and heifer calf by Jodame Sam realised 6,200gns.
Heifers peaked at 6,000gns for Woodhow Valentine, another by the Rookwith bull that sold having ran with Jodame Sam.
On the same night, the dispersal of commercial cattle from T.J. and E.A. Postlethwaite, Eskdale, Cumbria, peaked at £6,800 for a five-year-old British Blue named Springfield Renee. The Ballygrange Alex daughter sold with its pure Blue calf at foot.
The Limousin stock sire, Lodge Puzzler, was next at £6,000 followed at £5,600 by a 2020-born Blue cross with male calf.
Averages – Woodhow – 20 cows/heifers with calves, £5,517.75; 5 in-calf heifers, £4,830; 6 maiden heifers, £3,447.50; 3 bulls, £3,605. Hollin Head – 20 cows with calves, £4,715.78; 1 bull, £6,000; 18 in-calf cows/heifers, £4,022; 4 maiden heifers, £2,675; 4 native-bred cows with calves, £2,675.
Auctioneers: Mitchells.
Haystar Simmental sets centre record at Swatragh
HEIFERS from Gavin and Kyle Hayes' Haystar herd, Lisburn, led the Elite sale of Simmentals at Swatragh when they sold for 9,200gns, 7,000gns and 6,400gns.
Top price and setting a centre record was Haystar Beauty 6, a 16-month-old Raceview Mattie J Beauty M daughter bred from Raceview Lady W Nicolette. Beauty sold to Stephen MacAuley, Hillfield herd, Crumlin.
Danniel Harrison, Annalong, paid 7,000gns for the youngest in the catalogue, Haystar Dora 3. Sired by Lissadell Nailer, its dam is Clonagh Moonlight Dora which is a full sister to the €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer.
Another Lissadell Nailer daughter, Haystar Divina 5, stood champion at the pre-sale show before selling to Messrs Harrson for 6,400gns.
Making 6,000gns was Corrick Senator, a Curaheen Drifter son from Cecil and Scott McIlwaine, Newtonstewart. Bred from Skerrington Rhona 41, it sold to S. McLaughlin, Dungiven.
Roger Henderson, Magharefelt, paid 5,100gns for the Clonagh Tiger Callant-sired Omorga Shona from John Moore, Omagh.
Averages – 15 maiden heifers, £4,858; 4 bulls, £4,331.25.
Auctioneers: Swatragh Livestock Market.
