Taking the Breed Championship in the first breed classes of the season for Traditional Herefords was the in-calf heifer Carpenters Curly 20th from I & H MacLeod, Malvern, which then went on to be selected as the Reserve Interbreed Champion cattle exhibit at the festival, held on 17 & 18 May at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd. Sired by the renowned AI bull Free Town Klondyke born in 1975, this smart heifer caught the eye of judge and Doncombe British Blonde cattle breeder David Knight, Bristol, who tapped her out as his Hereford champion.

Taking the Breed Championship in the first breed classes of the season for Traditional Herefords was the in-calf heifer Carpenters Curly 20th from I & H MacLeod, Malvern, which then went on to be selected as the Reserve Interbreed Champion cattle exhibit at the festival, held on 17 & 18 May at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd. Sired by the renowned AI bull Free Town Klondyke born in 1975, this smart heifer caught the eye of judge and Doncombe British Blonde cattle breeder David Knight, Bristol, who tapped her out as his Hereford champion.

 

Topping the bull trade at £3,150 was Senior Bull Class winner – Lot 4 Free Town Ajax, selling locally to Matthew Dent, Withington Herefords.

Female trade topped with an unshown female from E.L.Lewis & Son, 14 month old Lot 23 – Haven Curly 156TH selling at £2,205 to Nigel Hooper, Malvern who also added Reserve Female Champion Lot 22 – Haven Louisa 104TH at £2,100. Both the in-calf heifers sold the buyers pick through the sale ring was the heifer from M Gray & L Crowther Lot 10 – Buckenhill 1 Iona W356 selling for £2100 to AB Bomford, Droitwich.

Female Champion from Sarah Hawkins was Lot 18 – Bosbury 1 Brownie A149 GT sold to Steve Chilman, Kinsham Herefords, Presteigne for £1890.

With majority 12-14 month yearlings on sale, the 10 heifers averaged £1,827 at 55% clearance.

The HCBA would like to thank judge Robert Clarke , sponsor JG Animal Health, McCartneys Worcester Team for a well run day and the successful buyers with their purchases.

Despite the slow start to the spring buyers were out in force at Dungannon Farmers Mart for the April Sale. Brisk trade for strong Hereford bulls resulted in 10 selling from the 11 forward to average £2993.

Leading the prices at 3400gns was Brookfield 1 Wisdom from Roy & Pat McClenaghan. Born in April 2022 this son of the widely used AI sire Fabb 1 Northern Star from the purchased dam Graceland 1 Sarah. After finishing 2nd in the Senior class he followed through to be Reserve Champion before selling to Gerard Mooney, Dungannon.

Mark & Lawrence Moore had a successful day selling their 3 bulls to average £2905, leading their pen was the January 2022 born Annaghbeg Koala. Sired by Mara Pristine his dam was the homebred Annaghbeg Dakota, he stood first in his class before being placed Champion. The first bull into the ring he sold for pedigree use to David Smyth, Ballynahinch for the days second top price of 3000gns. Following close behind was his herdmate Annaghbeg Kodiak selling for 2900gns to Brian Henry Cookstown. Another April 2022 born bull he was sired by stockbull Cill Cormaic Nevada from another homebred dam Annaghbeg Gertrude.

Robin & James Irvine sold two sons of stockbull Blakesley 1 Nobility for 3000gns & 2900gns. First up was the June born Graceland 1 Watson who sold to Kennedy Hunter, Magherafelt, with the July born Graceland 1 Arthur also going to Magherafelt to join Thomas Anderson.

Also selling for 2900gns was Cassan Rory from Gordon Buchanan, born in July 2022 he was a son of Allowdale Rory and sold to Matthew Henderson, Trillick.

Alan Shaw sold his September 2022 born Benburb 1 Alfie for 2800gns. Another son of Fabb 1 Northern Star he stayed local in Dungannon with Edward Robinson.

The 2 youngest bulls forward were from Bertie & Greer Watson. Both were sons of Solpoll 1 Ringo and sold for 2600gns a piece, the 17 month old Barnburn 1 Albert sold to Paul Hurrell, Ballymena with Patrick Barker, Dungannon purchasing the 16 month old Barnburn 1 Aladdin.

The NIHBA would like to thank the judge Ian Watson, Dungannon Farmers Mart and the successful buyers with their purchases.

The sun made a much-awaited return on Saturday, April 13th, following a prolonged period of rain – just in time for the Spring Show and Sale of Pedigree Hereford Cattle at Shrewsbury Livestock Market.

Leading the trade was Rempstone 1 Woody S658, fetching an impressive 8,000gns. Bred by M. Ludgate of Thame, Oxford, the top priced bull caught the eye of judge Sally Mitchell, Lanscombe Herefords within the society show. Leading Woody not only to secure first place in his class but moving forward to claim the title of Senior Bull Champion and Grand Male Champion.

Born from Fisher 1 Cherry N431 and sired by Fisher 1 Socrates S509, Woody boasts impressive calving figures, placing him in the top 10% of his category. He was eagerly sought out by new breeder Andrew Thomas, Ffynnon Luan Farm, Maes Y Bont, Llanelli, who is in the initial stages of establishing his own pedigree Hereford herd.

Another success within the Rempstone collection saw offering Rempstone 1 Alcatraz N685 stand as Reserve Junior Male Champion and finish the day selling for 3,900gns. S & E Walker will be taking him home to Preston, Lancashire to join their herd, Hoghton View Herefords.

Rempstone 1 Alcatraz N685 from M LudgateThe Rempstone herd has demonstrated a notable trend, securing the male championship cup, as it returns for the third consecutive occasion.

All animals brought forward from the Rempstone stable garnered rosettes within the ring and achieved an average of 4,900gns.

Across the board, 44 bulls averaged £3,612.00, having cleared at 68 per cent.

Blazing the trail in the female trade, following behind Rempstone 1 Woody S658, Harveybros 1 Crocus Aurora from Father-Daughter team, George, and Sophie Harvey, Balfron, Glasgow who saw the heights of 6,400gns securing the purchase for Vaughan Farms Ltd, Hereford.

February-born, the heifer has been racking up the ribbons throughout last year, notably Junior Female Champion at Agri Expo as well as Overall Junior Champion and Reserve Native Interbreed Champion Stars of the Future.

Her winning streak did not stop at the pre-Christmas shows. Shortly after she claimed the top spot within her class, she strode into poll position as Grand Female Champion.

From the Crocus line, out of Harveybros 1 Crocus Tiara and sired by Sky High 1 Take-a-Chance, the time spent on the show circuit paid the breeders dividends as admired from afar, she has found a new home in Leominster, Herefordshire.

Following through the ranks, securing second place within the same class, and joining Aurora on the podium within the Female Championship as reserve was Harveybros 1 Crocus Ariel.

With a flurry of excitement, the auction ended with a resounding bid of 5,300gns. The lucky vendors to secure the final bid was Bethan Hutchinson, Billingham, Cleveland.

The last of the offerings from George and Sophie Harvey, Harveybros 1 Crocus WooWoo was tapped out in first place by Mrs Mitchell. Later the gavel dropped on 3,500gns. Leaving the average for the three heifers at 5,066gns.

Continuing to fly the flag for Scotland, breeder Robert Wilson, supported by daughter Lottie and son Henry, saw the hammer fall on 6,300gns for their bull, Romany 1 Avatar FR A22, purchased by Highridge Farm Partners, Oxted, Surrey.

From their Ishbel line, out of Romany 1 Ishbel H12 M33 who’s sire Romany 1 Heavyduty A84 previously stood as Champion at the Royal Highland Show, proving that the winning touch runs within the family as Avatar claimed second within his class on sale day.

From the same home, commanding strong money was Romany 1 Ali-Price FR A41, earning the breeders from Kelso 4,600gns. Romany 1 Ali-Price FR A41 was purchased by HA Colburn & Son from Crickley Barrow near Cheltenham. Both bulls are sired by Fabb 1 Rocco.

Romany 1 Avatar FR A22 from R Wilson

Joining the society in 2021, Will Medforth, Llanrug, Gwynedd, attended previous sales sitting amongst the buyers. It was his establishing year that he attended the Sky-High reduction sale, hosted at the Society sale purchasing Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire for the top call of 7,000gns from breeder Boomer Birch and Graham Brindley, Weston Staffordshire.

No stranger to pedigree breeding with rare breed horses and Suffolk sheep at home, Mr. Medforth made his way back to the market hall. This time taking on the role of a seller at his inaugural sale. Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire, his earlier acquisition, proved her worth by yielding Penryhyn 1 Watchman, Medforths first sale who fetched 5,000gns before he exited the sales ring. He’ll be travelling the short distance from the mart to Craven Arms under the ownership of JH Morris & Son.

JM Cant and Partners presented a formidable entry from the Panmure herd, showcasing exceptional quality that justified the price. Leading the trade for the breeders was Panmure 1 Plum W9, a daughter of the esteemed Panmure 1 Plum L7. Plum L7 had previously secured Female Champion and Reserve Overall Champion titles at the Royal Highland in 2016. After claiming second place in her class, Plum W9 was sold for 5,800gns to Devonshire based breeder, Gerald Wood of FJ Wood & Sons.

In the male portion, Panmure 1 Apollo lead his class. Previously shown at Agri Expo at the back of 2023 with success, he shares blood with heifer Panmure 1 Plum W9 through grand dam Panmure 1 Plum L7 and is the paternal sister to the heifer. He sold to Mrs R Williamson, Nantwich, Cheshire for 4,900gns.

Next in the money was Studdolph 1 Angela 871. Out of homebred, Studdolph 1 Angela 623 and sired by Vexour 1 Palmer, the October born heifer earned breeder Non Thorne 4,000gns and a second place ribbon within her class.

She has found a home with R Hamilton & I Lammie, Cumnock, East Ayrshire as a foundation female for their newly established Hereford herd.

Also from the Thorne family, Glenvale 1 Hoskins Sotutu came out on top within the Junior Male Championship after winning his class.

Out of Havenfield 1 Lady Lynda, sired by Solpoll 1 Lawman, EL Lewis & Son presented Havenfield 1 Archer through the showring. Tapped out in the red within his class and Reserve in the Senior Male Championship, the Herefordshire bred bull went forward and sealed the deal for 4100gns, selling to H Jackson, Goscombe Farm, Gundleton.

Normanton Herefords from TD & WT Livesey, brought forward a sizeable entry, accumulating to seven bulls, all with great consistency and quality throughout.

Notably class winner, Normanton 1 Availabull A686 inspired spirited bidding concluding at 4,000gns. As a heifer calf, his dam was shown locally with great success as is one of the top performing cows within the herd. Normanton 1 Availabull A686 headed home with purchaser, JE Jones & Son from Montgomery, Powys.

Within the same class, standing third, was Normanton 1 Amorous A693. Paternal brother to Normanton 1 Availabull A686 out of homebred Normanton 1 Jews Ear 33rd, Amorous A693 sold to the Coombs Brothers for 3,600gns.

The Normanton entries averaged 3,187gns.

Breeder, Carolyn Fletcher, Barwise Herefords, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria’s consignment averaged 3,700gns with lots heading to Stratfield Saye Farms, Reading, Berkshire and Weybrook Farm, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

We would like to thank our judge Sally Mitchell from Lanscombe Herefords, as well as the stewards for all giving up your time to ensure the show runs smoothly.

A big thank you to our sponsors for their continued support.

Brown & Co, Caisley Tags, Dunbia, Farmers Guardian and Herdwatch

Heifers – Clearance 67% with an average sale price £3,533.25

Bulls – Clearance 68% with an average sale price £3,612.00

Overall average – £3,592.31

A small but powerful consignment of Herefords entered the ring at the February Stirling fixture. All met a strong demand seeing the entire offering heading to new homes.

Leading the trade was Fellowhills 1 Watt, from Jimmy Hodge, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

March 22-born, the bull is out of Rempstone 1 Curly D561, a cow classified as VG 86 and a maternal sister to last year’s Three Counties Champion as well as the Agri Expo Champion 2021.

Mr Hodge was an early adopter of the classification service and one of the first to utilise the information at a sale.

Sired by Fellowhills 1 Talisman, the bull caught commercial breeder, Robert Parkers eye last year following his participation judging the Scottish segment of the National Herd Competition. When Fellowhills 1 Watt was entered into the sale at Stirling, Mr Parker headed to the auction to secure the purchase for 4,000gns.

Heading back to Drumdow, Watt will be used within Roberts Black Baldy system, breeding replacements for the suckler herd and young stock to be sold on.

 

For Criffel 1 Warrior from E Burgess, Dumfries, the bidding climaxed at 3,500gns. Born in May 2022, he is by Criffel 1 Thor, the Supreme Champion at Stirling in 2022, out of homebred Criffel 1 Souvenir, who is a daughter of New Zealand bred, Otapawa Minerva 7005.

The bull sits in the top 5% for both the terminal and self-replacing index, IMEG, eye muscle area and carcase index.

Closing the Hereford portion of the sale was a heifer from Northumberland breeders, Tom and Di Harrison. Moralee 1 Kylie RK287 strode into the ring and sold for 3,000gns to Tracey McKenzie, Lauder, Scotland. By Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12, she is out of Moralee 1 Kylie 2^nd.

*Average price up from Stirling sale in February 2023

The first dispersal of the Margartia herd of Traditional Herefords held on behalf of Roger Hodson-Walker at Melton Mowbray market peaked at 2,700gns for Margarita Countess R224, a 2018-born female. By Boresisle Onedin it is out of a home-bred female by Baytal Charles and sold to young breeder L Smith, Crofton, Wakefield.

At 2,350gns was Margarita Linnett S241, and travels to Wakefield with its top price stablemate. By West Wales-bred Laxfield Jefferson, it is out of Penylan Linnett 48th, which is sired by the 1963-born Free Town Velox.

Purchased by MJ Sharlot, Weston under Wetherley, Warwickshire for a call of 1,450gns was Margarita 1 Sally N208, a seven year old poll cow. By Hollowseal 1 Gambler, it is out of Spurstow 1 Sally 2nd, a Remittall First Class ET 113R daughter.

Margarita Oyster Girl V271 was secured by the same buyer at 1,350gns. Another Jefferson daughter, it is out of Margarita Oyster Girl P218 which is bred from the line of the same name at Albany.

Just behind at 1,300gns was Margarita Countess P214, purchased by Maxwell Eagle, North Pickenham, Norfolk. Born in March 2017, it is another by Boreisle Onedin, this time out of Llandinabo Countess 17th.

Auctioneers: Melton Mowbray Market

Finding the peak of the trade in the second annual Grass Masters online auction was the May 2021-born bull Albany Sailor from the Cook family, Cambridge, selling for £3,000 to Oliver Stanley, Bath. Having claimed breed championships at both the Shropshire County and Royal Three Counties shows this year, this bull finishes the season with a move to the organic and Pasture For Life certified Lilliput Farm. A well-established traditional grazing enterprise, there are plans afoot for an on-site farmhouse kitchen with dry-ageing facility to market their finished cattle and sheep which graze the Cotswold Edge.

Knocked down at £2,550 was another two-year-old bull, Carpenters Brigadier from Helen MacLeod, Malvern, Worcestershire. One of only a few contemporary cattle sired by AI from the 1962-born MMB bull Ffostil Brigadier, this June 2021-born bull sold to the Eutierria prefix of Sarah Cowle, Aylesbury.

Leading the female trade was another from FW Cook and son, the in-calf 2018-born cow Albany Oyster Girl 20th which sold to P and E Lynn, Nottinghamshire for £2,225. Representing a particularly rare female line of which only 10 were identified in 2023 census, this cow was selected by the Lynn family to expand the existing base of bloodlines within their growing Hockerwood herd.

Another standout female line which breeders had the chance to pick up in this year’s online event, emanating from the original Free Town C family, came in the form of the 2019-born in-calf cow Carpenters Caroline, bred and sold by Helen MacLeod for £2,000 to repeat purchasers Courteenhall Estate, based near Northampton, who also secured in-calf heifer Carpenters Gaymaid 2nd from the same vendor for £1,500.

New breeder Harry Wreathall, Bury St Edmunds, purchased two 2017-born cows, both sired by Boresisle Lawrence. Gavelock Sybilla with her steer calf at foot from Carolyn Redmayne made £1,600, and in-calf Albany Lisbon from FW Cook and son sold for £1,525.

Two further lots from vendor Helen MacLeod both sold into Wales, with the yearling bull Carpenters Monroe knocked down at £1,500 to Ben Jones, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire and maiden heifer Carpenters Curly 19th to Rob Turner, Llanymynech, Powys for £1,200.

The final lot in the auction was a pair of embryos offered for sale by P and E Lynn. Sired by Margarita Sebastian and from the family’s home-bred and show-winning donor dam Hockerwood Lucy, they were purchased for £250 per embryo by James Reed of ND Dibben Farms, Salisbury.

Sales manager: Agri Marketing/Traditional Hereford Breeders’ Club

Averages: 3 bulls, £2,350; 4 in-calf females, £1,812.50; 1 cow and calf, £1,600; 1 maiden heifer, £1,200; 2 embryos, £250

First lot through the ring at the Santa Maria dispersal sale held at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on behalf of Tony Vasami, Ceredigion was Rempstone 1 Bertha H311. The 2019 Royal Highland Show senior female champion which sold at 3,000gns to its breeder M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire. Born in May 2014, it is a Solpoll 1 Hollywood son, out of Llancillo Hall Bertha 3^rd and was purchased for the Santa Maria herd at the 2019 Designer Genes sale.

Split from its Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks sired bull calf in the ring, Santa Maria 1 AJ sold separately at 1,100gns to Ian Braithwaite, Wolverhampton, seeing the outfit generate 4,100gns.

Dendor 1 Greta 29th with Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman sired bull calf Santa Maria 1 Alcatraz was secured by Keadyview Livestock Services, Welshpool at 3,000gns. The same buyer was successful in securing Claxton 1 Catherine Of Aragon, a 2018-born cow with a Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman sired heifer calf at-foot for 2,600gns.

Moralee 1 Kylie KS S10 with its Moeskear Waterloo bull calf reached 2,400gns, secured by JA Pudge for the Black Hall Herd.

In-calf heifers peaked at 2,200gns for Sky High 1 Demeter, daughter of Alderville 1 Diane, due in January 2024 to Gouldingpoll 1 Duncan purchased by Messrs J and R Hall, Warwickshire. Maiden heifers were again topped by Sky High breeding in the form of Lady Lambo, the daughter of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 967 which sold for 1,800gns to JA Pudge.

The Moralee reduction of cattle entered by Tom and Di Harrison, Mickley, Northumberlad saw a great trade for young cows and calves topping at 2,200gns for Moralee 1 Twinkle Gem KS T3, a powerful King Size daughter with Moralee 1 RHS Prince KR R8 daughter at-foot secured by Hesketh Farm, Yorkshire. Other heifers with calves from the Moralee stable sold at 2,100gns. Moralee-bred maiden heifers topped with Moralee 1 Willow Gem TE279, out of the aforementioned Moralee 1 Twinkle Gem KS T3, it is by Dendor 1 Tecwyn and at 14 months old sold for 1,650gns to JA Pudge.

Other cow and calf outfits peaked at 2,400gns for Graham Shepherd’s Moorside 1 New Dawn 6th, a heifer sired by the 13,000gns Coley 1 Pilot with a Hoghton View 1 Jackaroo sired heifer calf at-foot.

Commercial Hereford cross outfits from MA De Quincey saw rapid interest peaking at £1,900 for a 2018 cow and heifer calf at-foot.

Humblebee Grange herd reduction section of the sale, held on behalf of Derbyshire-based Walker Farms saw cows and calves reach 1,700gns for Humblebee Grange 1 Diadem 3rd bred from the Laxfield Diadem line with its April 2023-born Fabb 1 Push Over sired bull calf. These outfits consistently sold between 1,450gns and 1,650gns. The 2020-born stock bull Humblebee Grange 1 Victory attracted great interest and achieved 2,800gns for use on a local dairy farm.

Auctioneers: Halls

Averages: 60 cows and calves, £1,744.67; 1 in-calf cow, £1,102.50; 13 pedigree maiden heifers, £1,373.08; 2 pedigree stock bulls, £2,336.25; 4 pedigree in-calf heifers, £1,824, 2 embryos, £100

One of the largest exports of Herefords from Northern Ireland has seen 13 cattle join six herds spread throughout France.

Following a successful visit by breeders in April, eight bulls and five maiden heifers arrived after a long journey in late May with all the purchases coming from the Solpoll herd of John and William McMordie from Ballygowan, Co Down.

Despite being the home of the continentals, Herefords are gaining rapid popularity in France with the country hosting the 2022 European Conference. Keen to add proven genetics that will be new to France, all six herds purchased at least one bull with nine of the purchases being sired by the herds home-bred stock bulls, Solpoll 1 Promoter and Solpoll 1 Real Good. Purchased at between 11 and 16 months they were from some of the leading cow families in the 70 cow herd.

Commenting on the sale, John McMordie said: “This is our first volume sale of Herefords to mainland Europe since heifers went to Sweden in 1970. Being able to supply bulls by different sires was important as was high health status and good Breedplan figures. Bulls from the herd regularly sell to Great Britain and Southern Ireland with others going to France and Spain in recent years, but with exports from GB to Europe currently more difficult we hope this market will increase in the coming years.”