At the Hereford Cattle Society’s spring show and sale at Shrewsbury, a top call of 12,000gns was heard for October 2021-born Normanton 1 Whiskey from TD and WT Livesey having already stood junior male champion in the pre-sale show before selling to Paul and Vicky Moyle, Newport, Gwent to join their Porton House herd.

Normanton 1 Whiskey from TD and WT Livesey sold for 12,000gns

By Dendor 1 Rosco P. Coltrane, a son of the 2017 Royal Welsh Show champion Bakgard 1 Keno 1178, it is out of Normanton 1 Fistulina 25th S192, a daughter of Normanton 1 Laertes which stood interbreed champion at the Royal Welsh and Royal Highland Show in 2016. This sale leader was one of six bulls forward from the Liveseys’ stable which sold to an average of £5,195.

Across the board, 38 bulls averaged £4,302.24, having cleared at 91 per cent with a seemingly stronger appetite for junior bulls.

Havenfield 1 Wilf from EL Lewis and sons sold for 7,500gns

Next in the money having already stood in the reserve spot to the Normanton bull in the junior male championship was Havenfield 1 Wilf from home of the breed, EL Lewis and son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire. At 15 months old, it changed hands at 7,500gns to L and L Bowen, Nelson, Glamorgan to join the Bowendu herd. A Solpoll 1 Dynamite son, it is out of Dendor 1 Ruby 20th, from one of the most well-known female lines in the breed at present, having already produced heifers to 7,800gns and 5,800gns, sold at the herd’s bicentenary sale last summer.

Auckvale 1 Winchester 2133W from W and R Kemp and sons sold for 7,000gns

Not far behind at 7,000gns was July 2021-born Auckvale 1 Winchester 2133W from W and R Kemp and sons, Bishops Auckland, Co Durham, paid for by W Shaw of Welburn Herefords, Kirby Moorside, North Yorkshire. Sired by Auckvale 1 Ramesses 1711R, it is out of Auckvale 1 Beth 1796R, a Canadian embryo import, flushed from CBB 4R Iggy 511C which the Kemps own a share of in Canada.

Rempstone 1 Waspy from M Ludgate sold for 5,800gns

Rempstone 1 Waspy from M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire sold at 5,800gns finding a home with another pedigree purchaser, this time SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire to join the 2022 show herd of the year, Spartan Herefords. One of the youngest animals forward at 14 months old, it is by Dendor 1 Nairobi, the 2018 National Poll Show supreme champion, while its grand dam Blakesley 1 Kimberely stood reserve champion at the same show twice.

Normanton 1 Willywonka from TD and WT Livesey sold for 5,800gns

At the same money was another Normanton offering, this time August-2021 born Normanton 1 Willywonka which travels to Northern Ireland to AI Services NI, based in Co Antrim. Out of a home-bred dam, it is an AI son of the AUS$95,000 Minlacowie Jubilant J123 which was beef interbreed champion at the 2016 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Born in the same week, stablemate Normanton 1 Woodville W471 was next through the ring, realising 5,400gns and travelling to Derbyshire with Atkin Bros, Barrow on Trent, Derbyshire. By Alvian 1 Emperor, it is out of another home-bred female, this time Normanton 1 Blue Button 5th.

Midford 1 Whistlejacket from W Awan sold for 5,200gns

At 5,200gns was January 2022-born Midford 1 Whistlejacket from Will Awan, Midford, Bath selling to JR, JK and RJ Pike, Bromham, Wiltshire and joins the Bromham herd.

Pepperstock 1 Vanquish from Speirs Farms sold for 5,000gns

February 2021-born Pepperstock 1 Vanquish from Speirs Farms, Luton was purchased by Robert Snelling, Long Meadow, Berkshire at 5,000gns to join the Sarabande herd. At the same money was Fisher 1 Valiant V542 from RJ Hutchings, South Mundham, W Sussex, paid for by Stratfield Saye Farms, Hampshire.

Grifford 1 True Lush from NJ Griffiths sold for 8,000gns

The female section saw 21 females average £3,400. The trade was led by strength and stature with October 2021-born Grifford 1 True Lush from Nick Griffths, Bickford, Staffordshire generating 8,000gns, selling to Jimmy Hodge, Berwick-upon-Tweed and joins the Fellowhills herd. By Irish sire Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman, it is out of Greenyards 1 Truelove M314 which Nick purchased in partnership with Sky High Herefords for 10,200gns at five years of age back in January 2020.

Grifford 1 True Breaker from NJ Griffith sold for 5,500gns

Following its maternal sister through the ring was December 2021-born Grifford 1 True Breaker and was secured by the same buyer at 5,500gns. This heifer is by Romany 1 Lawbreaker RE L23 and was the natural daughter out of the two sisters.

Porton House 1 Duchess 2nd from P and V Moyle sold for 4,300gns

Porton House 1 Duchess 2nd from Paul and Vicky Moyle sold for 4,300gns to a top call from Bethan Hutchinson, Greatham, County Durham and joins the Bethanfield herd. By Dendor 1 Sherlock, it is out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 978 from another renowned cow family. The highest priced junior heifer on the day, the breeders have performed consistently in this section in recent times.

Moralee 1 Kylie KS268 from T and D Harrison sold for 4,100gns

Moralee 1 Kylie KS268 from T and D Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland sold for 4,100gns to C Codd and R Lewis, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire of Furzy Herefords. By the 2019 sire of the year SMH King Size 87K, it is out of Moralee’s original Kylie female, bred from the Romany Ishbel line.

Harveybros 1 Crocus Vanilla form G and S Harvey sold for 3,300gns

A consignment of three heifers from Balfron-based George and Sophie Harvey peaked at 3,300gns for Harveybros 1 Crocus Vanilla, the day’s reserve female champion, secured by H Davies, Anglesey to join its half sister purchased in October 2021.

Auctioneers: Halls

Averages: 38 bulls, £4,302.24; 21 heifers, £3,400