Trade topped at 3,300gns at the dispersal of the Claxton herd of pedigree Herefords at Shrewsbury Auction Centre of 149 head.

The sale was led by Claxton 1 Countess, a 2014-born Coston 1 Mike Daughter with its Bittern 1 Dambuster sired steer calf at-foot, sold at 3,300gns to RD Livestock, Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

There was a small number of cows with heifer calves and 2017-born cow Claxton 1 Harebell, realised 3,000gns and sold with Bittern 1 Fabulous sired twin heifer calves to S and S Murray, Pattingham, Staffordshire.

This was followed by a trio of cows with heifer calves at-foot selling at 2,500gns. Firstly 2012-born Claxton Ruby C, again secured by S and S Murray followed by two 2014-born cows Claxton 1 Sabrina (M) and Claxton 1 Mirriam M which both sold to G Quant and son of Newton Abbot, Devon. Pedigree cows with steer calves at-foot sold readily between 1,600gns and 1,900gns.

The in-calf cows were an impressive show and topped at 2,600gns for Claxton 1 Anna M, another 2014-born daughter of Coston 1 Mike, due in July to Fabb 1 Pure Force which sold to the Spartan herd with GC and SL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. At 1,900gns was cow Claxton 1 Anne Boleyn, due in June to Bittern 1 Fabulous. This Reydon 1 Jack pot daughter travels to North Wales to Vaynol Estates, Bangor. The same buyer secured Claxton 1 Foxglove, due in July to Fabb 1 Pure Force for 1,800gns.

Maiden heifers met a buoyant trade, as per the current market trend within the breed. A top call in the section of 2,550gns was made for a wonderful heifer Claxton 1 Esme, sired by Dambuster this dark stylish heifer and was secured by RD Livestock. At 2,200gns was Claxton 1 Blondy by online purchaser Mark Voss, Somerset. Not far behind at 2,100gns was Claxton 1 Kirsty, a Reydon 1 Leo Daughter, which sold at 2,100gns to A Wright, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Auctioneers: Halls

Averages: 32 cows and calves, £1,883.44; 21 in-calf cows, £1,635; 6 in-calf heifers, £1,645; 21 bulling heifers, £1,615; 35 yearling heifers, £724.80.

The National Hereford Show held at Tenbury Countryside Show has been cancelled for the second consecutive year.

A show purely for horned Herefords, last year saw a very successful online show in place of the usual event, with more than 200 photographic entries from society members from across the UK.

Hereford Cattle Society and the National Hereford Club look forward to returning to Tenbury in 2022.

The spring sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart yielded another 100 per cent clearance for Hereford bulls following on from the record-breaking February sale.

Thornbank 1 Romeo sold at 3,100gns

Leading the trade was rising three year old Thornbank 1 Romeo selling at 3,100gns to join the Clogher Valley pedigree Herd of Ian Brown Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone. Bred by Hunter Stewart, Co Tyrone, it was sired by the home-bred Thornbank 1 Mighty Man and out of a home-bred Solpoll 1 Dynamite daughter.

Solpoll 1 Telstar sold at 3,000gns

Following closely behind at 3,000gns was the youngest bull in the sale at 15 months old, from John and William McMordie, Co Down. By Moeskaer Mentos, Solpoll 1 Telstar is another Solpoll 1 Dynamite sired dam and sold to John Wauchob, Co Tyrone.

Brookfield 1 Thor sold at 2,900gns

Alex Ferguson, Co Tyrone purchased the 19 month old Brookfield 1 Thor at 2,900gns from Roy and Pat McClenaghen, Co Down. Qualifying as a superior carcase sire, this Moorside 1 Joseph son is out of a Wirruna Daffy sired dam.

Corraback Nilo sold at 2,700gns

The first bull into the ring, Corraback Nilo, sold at 2,700gns for Mervyn and Henry Richmond. Sired by Kye Rodge and out of a Ballyaville Don dam it travelled back to Co Fermanagh with John Gilleece.

Average: 6 bulls, £2,853

Hereford Cattle Society has become the first cattle society to work to prove its breed’s sustainable merits to the wider beef industry, retailers, food industry and the consumer.

The news comes during Great British Beef Week (23-30 April) and is a project connected to the UK Cattle Sustainability Platform and the European Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

Hereford cattle are known for their ability to grow and finish off grass. With the environment becoming increasingly important for every stage of the beef supply chain, the society is seeking to cement some of the benefits of the breed.

Working with Dr Liz Genever, beef and sheep specialist, members are recording the efficiency of their breeding females and therefore environmental impact to confirm the benefits of Herefords when compared to industry averages. Nearly 2,000 cows are being assessed for cow fertility, calf survival and growth rates to weaning.

In addition, carbon audits are being carried out to gauge the carbon footprint across its membership and commercial systems utilising the breed. Soil organic matter levels are also being taken into account, and therefore carbon storage, and this information will be benchmarked against the industry to confirm the benefits Herefords bring to a system.

A review of genetic trends is being conducted with the aim of providing guidance for members who are performance recording on areas of focus to ensure the Hereford dam becomes even more suited to future beef production.

In conjunction with Dawn Meats, information is also being gathered from finishing suppliers who provide Hereford sired cattle for various retailers.

Phil Allman, chairman of Hereford Cattle Society, said: “The society is undertaking a number of projects to help the society pull all the evidence of sustainable production together and help producers move to the next level.

“The society’s council is acutely aware of the shift in perception of eating beef and the environmental connotations which are now attached to red meat.

“In any sector, whether food or other, if a brand is not addressing its sustainability credentials in some way, it will be left behind as consumers’ priorities change. As a society, we are not willing for that to happen to Hereford Beef and are pleased to be able to work with Dr Liz Genever to put some hard-and-fast facts behind what we has known about the Hereford breed for decades.”

He continued: “Sustainability is all about the planet but also profit and people. If we can prove Herefords and Hereford crosses are a more profitable animal due to an increased margin, this will give many producers the confidence they need to further invest in the breed. When it comes to people, the docile temperament of Herefords is undisputed, providing a safer working environment for stockmen and abattoirs. With the largest section of the herd book being for the poll strain, this also brings an added benefit in terms of health and safety, along with animal welfare, with dehorning not required.

“The Hereford is both prolific and efficient at turning forage into a high-quality source of protein, therefore bringing human health benefits due to a higher level of omega-3 than cattle fed on concentrates. As a natural grazing animal, the Hereford can also play an important role in carbon sequestration by utilising a mainly grass-based diet, helping to build soil fertility, capture CO₂ and encourage wildlife.

“Whether accurate or not, the continual pressure from the UK media to eat less meat cannot be ignored. We are working towards positioning Hereford Beef as a sustainable option. If people are eating less beef, we want to make sure it is Hereford.”

Working on the project, Dr Liz Genever explains sustainable production requires social responsibility, economic viability and environmentally sound practices and urges producers to view sustainability as more than solely carbon footprint.

She explains: “Thinking wider than the UK, beef production is being associated with deforestation in South America to graze cattle or grow crops for cattle, feedlots, high water use, antibiotic growth promoters, methane belching and is thought to be one of the major causes of climate change. Alongside this is the highly publicised concerns about red meat consumption and health. The beef industry is being challenged by many people and organisations.”

To counter the growing concerns about beef, the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef was established in 2010 and brings together a wide range of organisations to develop a common understanding. The European Roundtable of Sustainable Beef established targets around the four priority areas – environment (greenhouse gas emissions), animal medicines, animal health and welfare and farm management. The UK Cattle Sustainability Platform feeds into these organisations, which the Hereford Cattle Society sustainability project is aligned to.

Liz continued: “Within the UK, Hereford cattle are the most used breed within pasture-only systems and will play an important role in grazing systems that help damaged and depleted soils. This will sit alongside the need to reduce inputs, such as feed, fertiliser and fuel, to help systems be financially viable especially as the UK subsidy system evolves.

“These inputs are the biggest contributors to beef producers’ carbon footprints, particularly from methane from the animal itself, so their reduction needs to be the focus of future animal systems. Hereford cattle have a strong track record in these low input, high output systems and this needs to be highlighted to more people.

“The Hereford breed is in a very strong position to be a key part of sustainable beef production, with animals that can thrive on grass and forage systems that help to increase the carbon and water stored in soils. They can cope in systems with reduced inputs, which helps to make more financially viable businesses with improved wellbeing.

“Together with the society I look forward to bolstering the Hereford’s sustainability credentials as the project progresses.”

Phil concluded: “Hereford Cattle Society is just starting out on its journey to being synonymous with sustainability, but has ambitious plans.”

The dispersal sale of the Norfolk-based Claxton herd of pedigree Hereford cattle on behalf of Mr and Mrs J Heathcote has been rescheduled for Saturday 15 May 2019.

To be held at Shrewsbury Auction Centre and conducted by Jonny Dymond, there will be approximately 160 heads forward for purchase. The breeders’ pedigree registrations can be viewed here.

For further details contact Jonny on 07803 412617 or Shrewsbury Auction Centre on 01743 462620.

On the inauguration of its new Shrewsbury venue, the Hereford Cattle Society’s spring parade and sale saw trade rocket, setting a new society female record average at £3,934 which cleared at 93 per cent, with an overall sale clearance of 95 per cent.

Glenvale 1 Polly 721 from TG, EI and EN Thorne sold for 5,200gns

Topping this lively heifer trade conducted by Halls’ Jonny Dymond, was Glenvale 1 Polly 721 from TG, EI and EN Thorne, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire at 5,200gns, after 40 years of private-only female sales for the breeders. April 2019-born, this Netherhall 1 OZ Daffy M024 daughter was sold served to Vexour 1 Palmer. It was purchased by HS and I Griffiths and partners, St Davids and returns to Pembrokeshire as the purchasers re-enter the breed.

Glenvale 1 Polly 712 from TG, EI and EN Thorne sold for 4,600gns

Another heifer from the same home was Glenvale 1 Polly 712, selling at 4,600gns. From the same female line which performs so well for the breeders, and paternal sister to the top price, it was served in January to Fisher 1 Rancher R483 and was also purchased by HS and I Griffiths and partners.

Dendor 1 Keepsake 22nd from DE, ED and AL Jones sold for 4,600gns

Also realising 4,600gns was Dendor 1 Keepsake 22^nd from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys. March 2019-born, it is a daughter of Bakgard 1 Keno 1178 which stood Royal Welsh supreme champion in 2017. The heifer sold in-calf to Dendor 1 Moonshine which was the 2018 Royal Welsh and Royal Three Counties’ supreme champion. It went home with J Porter of Whites Herefords, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Vicky Weller, Porton, Newport sold 12 month old Porton House 1 Sansa at 4,150gns on her public auction debut. By Moralee 1 Rosco KS R9, it is out of Porton House 1 Poppy and was purchased by JL Forsey, Bridport, Dorset.

Coley 1 Mynte 531 from H Whittaker sold for 4,100gns

Next in the money was April 2020-born Coley 1 Mynte 531 from Heather Whittaker, Halifax, selling at 4,100gns to W Milner, Much Wenlock, Shropshire. With a pedigree packed with Danish breeding, it is by Moeskaer Vegas 1451 and out of Bondes 1 Mynte.

Riverdean 1 Diane from G Brindley and B Birch and NJ Griffiths sold for 3,800gns

Other top prices included Riverdean 1 Diane from B Birch and G Brindley and NJ Griffiths, Weston, Staffordshire selling at 3,800gns to P Murdock, Kilmore, Co Armagh and Rempstone 1 Fashion D559 from M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire at 3,700gns to B Nicholls, Parracombe, Devon.

Barwise 1 Samson from CS Fletcher sold for 7,200gns

A sound average and clearance of 91 per cent continued into the bulls with a top call of 7,200gns made by Martin Jenkins for 24 month old Barwise 1 Samson MO 0835 from Carolyn Fletcher, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria and will join the Gloucestershire-based Appleridge herd. Qualifying as a superior carcase sire, this Moeskaer Online 1444 son has terminal sire and self-replacing indexes in the top 1 per cent, and lies in the top 5 per cent for growth, eye muscle and retail beef yield. It is out of Barwise 1 Grace K2, and is the female line responsible for producing the 2018 UK Hereford sire of the year Barwise 1 Lancer.

Haven Tarzan from EL Lewis and son sold for 6,800gns

Haven Tarzan from EL Lewis and son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire saw the hammer fall at 6,800gns to Francis Elmore of Essmore Herefords, Co Louth, Ireland. October 2019-born, it is the first son to be offered by the 2018 National Show champion Mara President and is out of Haven Louisa 65^th, one of the strongest cows for the Lewis family who celebrate 200 years of breeding in 2022.

Harveybros 1 Thomas-The-Tank from G and S Harvey sold for 6,400gns

Making the journey south from Glasgow, George and Sophie Harvey’s 16 month old Harveybros 1 Thomas-The-Tank changed hands at 6,400gns and joins JL Forsey’s purchases from the day. By Normanton 1 Laertes, interbreed champion at the Royal Highland and Royal Welsh shows, it is out of Harveybros 1 Crocus N5. It sits in the top 1 per cent for retail beef yield and top 5 per cent for gestation and calving ease daughters.

Solpoll 1 Trooper from J and W McMordie sold for 6,200gns

Travelling across from Co Down, John and William McMordie’s Solpoll 1 Trooper heads to Gloucestershire with HA Colburn following a call of 6,200gns to join the Crickley herd. It is a grandsire of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry and a Solpoll 1 Perfection son which was top price at the 2019 spring sale at 8,000gns. At 18 months old, it lies in the top 1 per cent for 200, 400 and 600 day weights, scrotal size and terminal sire and self-replacing indexes.

Barwise 1 Tamerlane from CS Fletcher sold for 6,200gns

Another from Carolyn Fletcher, this time the 21 month old Barwise 1 Tamerlane BN 108, sold for 6,200gns to G and A Speed, Carhampton, Devon. By Barwise 1 Nabucco, it is in the top 1 per cent for 200 and 600 day weights and retail beef yield and top 5 per cent for eye muscle and calving ease daughters.

Grifford 1 Try from NJ Griffiths sold for 5,500gns

Nick Griffiths, Penkridge, Staffordshire sold Grifford 1 Try at 5,500gns to Sarah Hawkins, Bosbury, Herefordshire while Classic 1 Scorpio from Richard Edwards and Emma Smith, Leigh, Wiltshire was knocked down at 5,200gns to Jans Boomaars, Woldingham, Surrey.

Classic 1 Scorpio from R Edwards and E Smith sold for 5,200gns

In the for sale only female section, every animal sold. The top price was gained by 12 month old Newtoncroft 1 Jolly 418 from Newtoncroft Farms, Newton Harcourt, Leicestershire which was purchased at 2,350gns by MA Quiney and SM Spears, Moretonhampstead, Devon. Sired by Maxstoke 1 Rambler, it is out of a home-bred Solpoll 1 Hollywood daughter.

Auctioneers: Halls

Averages: 14 show heifers, £3,934; 31 bulls, £4,027; 7 for sale only females, £1,493

The spring parade and sale catalogue is now available online and in hard copy upon request.

You can view the catalogue online on ISSUU format or as a PDF.

The sale is to be held in Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Saturday 10 April. Due to Covid-19, a parade of animals will replace the usual spring show and will commence at 9.30am. The sale will begin at 12 noon and be conducted by auctioneer Jonny Dymond.

As usual, superior carcase sires will be marked in the catalogue. These bulls have some of the best carcase traits in the breed and  should be seen in the quality and performance of subsequent progeny. Making the decision to buy a superior carcase sire even easier, is the £5 per head claim which can be made on the first 100 calves born.

For the first time, cattle entered from herds which have a completeness of recording rating of 4* or more will also be marked in the catalogue.

Online bidding will be available via MartEye. Online bidders should register before 10am on sale day to ensure their bids are approved.

Please contact Hereford Cattle Society on 01432 272057 or the auctioneers on 01743 462620 with any enquiries.

Phil Allman

Philip Allman has been re-elected as chairman of council of the Hereford Cattle Society for the ensuing three years, following the February council meeting.

Having picked up the reins in the middle of the last council term, Phil became chairman in March 2019, after acting as vice-chairman from February 2018.

Phil is now in his seventh year as a council member, having represented both Scotland and the West Midlands. With a long history in the breed, he is a face known to many, having won the Royal Show breed championship in 2006 and again in 2008 with Greenyards 1 Archie. He is also a regular judge at some of the UK premier shows.

Now running his new Geneyards herd based in Herefordshire, Phil says he is pleased by the show of confidence from his fellow council members and looks forward to continuing to push the society forward.

He said: “I am looking forward to the next council term and building on the great work already achieved by council and staff, particularly now with the addition of our director of operations. We have a breed with a great future.”

Following the ratification of a rule regarding the remit of a vice-chairman, Philip Vincent of Pulham Hereford, Pulham Market, Norfolk was elected as vice-chairman.

A research paper just published in the scientific journal Future Foods, suggests certified grass-fed beef could be recognised legally as a ‘source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids’, following work carried out at Newcastle University.

In humans, these omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory properties and a deficiency contributes to a wide range of adverse mental and physical health conditions, including coronary heart disease. However, a major weakness of many modern diets around the world is a shortage of these types of fatty acids, exacerbated by excess omega-6 fats.

“While differences between organic and conventionally reared beef have been studied before, this is the first record of the extra benefit from cattle fed 100 per cent forage diets throughout their entire life,” says lead researcher Gillian Butler.

“We found that Pasture for Life beef has more than 40mg long-chain omega-3/100g of the meat. This means certified farmers could make a nutritional claim when selling their beef, as it qualifies as a ‘source for omega-3 fatty acids’ under European Food Standards.”

Non-organic and organic sirloin steaks were bought from two supermarkets during May and June 2019. These were compared with steaks from cattle from two farms certified Pasture for Life – meaning they were 100% pasture-fed. Steaks from animals kept primarily for vegetation management, also known as conservation grazing, all of which were 100% pasture-fed, were also included in the study, which considered the fat composition of each steak.

“The results show clear differences between the concentration of the good long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the not-so-good omega-6 fatty acids in the meat between the cattle diets (see figure 1).

“They confirmed that feeding grains and cereal by-products produces less omega-3 fatty acids in the meat and more of the less desirable omega-6 fatty acids. The ratio of the omega-6 to omega-3 is also much poorer for grain-fed beef at 7:1 compared to a healthier 2:1 for beef from 100 per cent pasture-fed cattle.

“This research clearly shows that what animals eat has a direct impact on the quality of the meat which consumers eat,” says Jimmy Woodrow of the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association, which lies behind the Pasture for Life meat and dairy certification standards.

“The fatty acids we need to eat more of, occur in far higher concentrations in meat from animals fed just on diverse pasture and forage.

“This is exciting news; the scientific evidence is increasingly backing up what our farmers are doing and shows their meat is of the highest nutritional quality for people to eat.”

The paper, ‘Forage-fed cattle point the way forward for beef?’ is published in ‘Future Foods – A Dedicated Journal for Sustainability in Food Science’ and can be read here.

Peter Eccles

After being named Farmers Weekly’s farm manager of the year earlier this week online, Peter Eccles has also been announced as the awards’ overall farmer of the year.

Charged with the running of Saughland Farm, Midlothian for the last four years, Peter has led the farm to change the base of its beef production from a 70-head herd of bought-in Limousin-cross cows to 100 spring-calving Hereford cross Angus cows, with size and progeny better suited to the land and market.

A member of the Hereford Cattle Society, Peter also runs the Rockness herd of pedigree Herefords at his parent’s property which has had its own share of success. Peter utilises his own home-bred bulls on the commercial herd at Saughland, along with Angus sires.

Peter aims for each cow to produce a calf weighing 50 per cent of its bodyweight at 200 days. The best of the cows are achieving more than 68 per cent, with cows weighing 608kg at weaning, producing a 413kg calf at 200 days.

Sheep numbers have also jumped from 950 Scotch Mules to 2,100 Aberfield ewes and hoggs while a reduction in the arable acreage has made way for more grass, supplemented by fodder beet.

The environment and conservation are also a key part to Peter’s plan, and his apparently limitless energy drives not only a constant search for high-level technical performance, but also a desire to learn from and share with others.

Technology plays a huge part in the operation, with comprehensive electronic identification management used alongside the Agriweb app to record frequent stock movements across 100-plus rotational grazing paddocks, as well as crop treatments and measurements.

Peter said: “I am just really shocked to have won this award. I was more than surprised to have won the farm manager award earlier in the week so the farmer of the year title was something else. I must also say well done to all the other finalists and thank you to everyone who helped me in my career to date.”

Adding to the success for those making sound commercial use of the Hereford breed, were Esther and Henry Rudge from Herefordshire, winning the mixed farmer of the year title.

The Rudges run a 200-head beef unit. Opting for Stabiliser cows, two high performance Hereford bulls are utilised with estimated breeding values in the top one per cent of the breed. This has improved calving ease and a calving jack has not been used on the farm for the past two years, with calves weighing just 35kg at birth.

Calves are weaned at a minimum of 50 per cent of their mother’s weight and sold fat from 16 to 20 months of age, under contract to Waitrose on the Hereford beef scheme, averaging £1,231.

The family always achieves top-10 supplier status and won this year’s producers category.