The sixth annual Designer Genes sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre saw a new female price record set for the Hereford breed, with 13,000gns paid for Pulham Diadem 6th from PRJ and LR Vincent, Pulham Market, Norfolk.

Pulham Diadem 6th from PRJ and LR Vincent sold for 13,000gns

Following a bidding frenzy, the September 2020-born heifer was knocked down to A Whitfield, Wem, Shropshire. Best heifer under 12 months in the Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders’ Association herd competition, it is by Pulham Ranger which sold to Ireland and out of Clipston Diadem M12.

In all, 13 lots of Hereford females from 12 consignors sold to average £5,645.77, with a clearance of 86 per cent.

The second highest bid of the day at 10,200gns was made by L and L Bowen, Nelson, Glamorgan for Dendor 1 Ruby 37th from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys. Sired by former Royal Welsh Show champion Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine, it is the first daughter from Dendor 1 Ruby 25th to ever sell which is a maternal sister to Dendor 1 Ruby 29th, the 2018 female of the year.

Dendor 1 Ruby 37th from DE, ED and AL Jones sold for 10,200gns

Next in the money was Auckvale 1 Beth 2023T from W and R Kemp and sons, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham which sold at 7,000gns and joined the Pulham heifer in A Whitfield’s acquisitions. Crowned senior female champion at Agri Expo 2021, this heifer was the first female ever sold from the Kemps’ Beth family and goes back to WLB 36N Beth 452S which was the champion female at the 2012 World Hereford Conference in Canada and a former Hereford Miss World.

G and MC Shepherd, Woodplumpton, Lancashire sold August 2020-born Moorside 1 Dawn 2nd at 6,000gns to John Mooney and heads back to its home county. Sired by 13,000gns Coley 1 Pilot, it is out of a daughter of the former Canadian national champion bull CCR Stamina.

From first time consigner, W Awan from Bath was January-2021 born Midford 1 Kate 2nd which saw a top call of 5,200gns made by Gwyndaf Davies, Felinfach, Ceredigion. It is by noted sire Panmure 1 Henry and out of Moralee 1 Kate 2nd which sold at Designer Genes 2017 for 6,200gns.

The second heifer entered from the Kemp family was Auckvale Lively 1971T and realised 5,000gns, selling to N Hooper, Malvern, Worcestershire, in-calf to Ervie Classic S30. A daughter of Auckvale Kalgoorlie 1322K which stood senior male champion at the National Hereford Show 2019, it is out of two-time horned female of the year, Auckvale Lively 1058H.

Having also won supreme championship at the HCBA Christmas calf show that morning, Spartan 1 Polly T122 from SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire was knocked down at 4,000gns to LD and LL Powell, Penpedaorheol, Mid Glamorgan. Sired by the 8,000gns Solpoll 1 Perfection, it is out of Ruckmans 1 Polly 1306.

The first of three females to sell for 3,800gns was Bosbury 1 Laurel 46 from S Hawkins, Bosbury, Herefordshire, adding to A Whitfield’s purchases of the day. It sold in-calf to Grifford 1 Try which sold at the 2021 society autumn sale for 5,500gns. A Netherhall 1 Oz Daffy M024 daughter, it is out of Bosa 1 Laurel 1053 and carried one of the best EBV profiles in the sale.

At the same money was another Coley 1 Pilot daughter, Fardre 1 Maple V216 from GH Morgan, Abergele, Conway which sold to W Milner, Much Wenlock, Shropshire. The Maple cow family is one of the most prolific lines at Fardre and stems back to some very successful Canadian genetics.

Again at 3,800gns, Coley 1 Clara 575 from H Whittaker, Halifax, West Yorkshire was purchased by J and E Logan, Fountainhall, Galashiels. It is the first ever daughter to sell from female of the year Coley 1 Clara 418, a half share of which sold at Designer Genes 2018 for 7,500gns.
The youngest entry in the sale was Porton House 1 Amehtyst 1st from Paul Moyle and Vikki Weller, Porton, Newport sold for 3,600gns to J Torrance, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. This February 2021-born daughter of Dendor 1 Sherlock is out of Ashley Moor 1 Amethyst 33rd, bred by EC and MM Everall.

Another heading north with J Torrance was Bosbury 1 Rosa 52 from S Hawkins, which was secured for 2,500gns. Again by Netherhall 1 Oz Daffy M024, this heifer is in the top 1 per cent for eye muscle and beef yield, and top 5 per cent for IMF, carcase weight and both breed indexes.

Robert Allcock, Hine Heath, Shropshire sold Burmill 1 Dowager 22 to a top call of 2,000gns, made by G Davies and is a daughter of renowned sire Dendor 1 Kohinoor.

Auctioneers: Halls and Dowbiggin Marketing
Averages: 13 heifers, £5,645.77