As the Royal Welsh Spring Festival returned to the showground at Llanelwedd, Albany Laramie from FW Cook and son strode into the champion position concluding the Traditional Hereford class judging, making the long trip from Fen Over, Cambridgeshire worthwhile. Born in February 2020, this young female is by Albany Lincoln and out of Albany Lilypad, a daughter of Boresisle Mentor.

Judging was Herefordshire’s Clive Davies of Westwood Herefords. Clive described the champion senior heifer as ‘long, fleshy, carrying clean lines’.

He placed Caebach Unity Amorous from N and R Johnson, Caerphilly into the reserve supreme and reserve female position. April 2021-born, is it by Caebach Sydney which was reserve male champion on the day. It is out of Rhydri Cashmere Amorous, a daughter of Baytal Jack.
Clive said the reserve supreme was ‘impressive for her strong spine, excellent hind leg shape and breed character’.

Having nipped across the border from Worcestershire, Helen MacLeod was presented the male champion title for home-bred bull Carpenters Morgan. By stock bull Shefford Monarch bred by P Carter, it is three generations from Free Town Kendal which sold for 17,000gns in 1976. This two year old bull is out of Carpenters Venus 4th which is by Llandinabo Zest which was born in 1999.

Adding another title to the day’s rewards for breeders N and R Johnson was three year old bull Caebach Sydney. This bull is out of Rhydri Laura which goes back to the Westwood Laura line which itself came from the Shucknall herd many years ago.

Commenting on the stock in front of him, Clive said: “The standard was high, uniform and pleasing, The classes had sound, practical and functional animals. It was good to see cattle of useful conformation and free from waste.”

Cornriggs 1 Vancouver from Mr and Mrs H Elliot, Cowshill, Durham led a small entry of Herefords at Harrison and Hetherington’s native sale at Carlisle at 3,600gns. Born in October 2020, it is by Minlacowie Jubliant J123 and out of a home-bred Cornriggs 1 Valerie 3rd daughter. This October 2020-born bull was bought by R and I Watson, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Making 3,000gns and selling to TE Stephenson, Whitley Chapel, Northumberland was Barwise 1 Viking MU 1175 from the home of society president Carolyn Fletcher, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria. By Moeskaer Ultra 1582, it is out of a Moeskaer Patriarch 1458 daughter from Barwise’s Rose line.

Having travelled west from Forest-in-Teesdale, Durham, TW Hutchinson’s Kingshaugh 1 Upgrade sold at 2,800gns to J and A Currie, Carluke, Lanarkshire. This April 2021-born bull is by Solpoll 1 Dynamite and out of Kingshaugh 1 Lady, a cow bred from semen of the Canadian sire Axa Golden-Oak Xceed 704X.

In the female section, the top call was made at 2,200gns for March 2021-born heifer Kingshaugh 1 Una from TW Hutchinson, selling to JG Smith and RJ Staveley, Gisburn, North Yorkshire. Another by Solpoll 1 Dynamite it is out of a home-bred JSF 271 Dice ET 10M daughter.

Carolyn Fletcher’s Barwise 1 Wild Rose MU T1163 changed hands at 2,000gns to BPF Norwood, Heads Nook, Cumbria. Another Moeskaer Ultra 1582 son, it’s dam, Barwise 1 Wild Rose is a daughter of Dendor 1 Goblin. This May 2020-born heifer had been running with Barwise 1 Tortuga in the autumn.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington

Averages: 3 bulls, £3,290; 2 females, £2,205

Balmoral Show returned to its normal May fixture in 2022, following disruption over the Covid period, making it the second show at the showground in eight months.

Northern Irish breeders put forward a strong entry of 46 cattle from 13 different exhibitors and were pleased to welcome South African judge PJ Budler to the show to sort the line ups. These days, PJ is best known for his organisation of the Hereford Champion of the World competition which he runs from his Texas base and over time has enjoyed success within the Hereford, Angus, Red Angus, Braford and Brahman breeds.

Leading Wednesday’s judging and taking the supreme champion title was Dorepoll 1 Sally 679 from JE and RI and W Haire, Dundrod, Co Antrim. This heifer was born in February 2021 and led the youngest female class in the show, before winning the grand female and supreme titles. With a pedigree packed full of Dorepoll breeding, it is by Dorepoll 1 639 Perfection, while grand dam Dorepoll 1 262L Sally also stood champion at the show, back in 2013. It also won the breed’s junior and female championships.

Taking the reserve supreme was Richmount 1 Treadstone from James Graham, Portadown, Co Armagh. By Australian sire Mawarra Mustang, it is out of Richmount 1 Laura, a Barbern Gargantuan daughter. Born in September 2019, it was also the grand male championship after standing at the top end of the most senior bull class. This bull’s maternal sister stood reserve champion at the 2019 Balmoral Show. The first calf born from Treadstone was exhibited at the foot of the first prize winning cow, Richmount 1 Mabel.

Co Antrim’s Stephen Cherry secured the reserve grand female position with Ballypallady 1 Top Notch. The winner of the senior heifer class, it is a daughter of one of the herd’s foundation females Hawkesbury 1 Veronica and was sired by Dorepoll 1 499 Heritage, a bull which twice won the senior bull class at Balmoral Show.

The Haire family also lifted the reserve male championship with the five year old stock bull Dorepoll 1 639 Perfection, the first calf of which is this year’s champion Sally 679. Its pedigree is full of home breeding being a son of Manhattan and out of Tessa 545E, which is also a previous Balmoral reserve female champion.

Another victor from the Graham stable, this time Richmount 1 Mabel led the senior female class. By Richmount 1 Kaiser which is a Greenyards 1 Dougie son this seven year old is a maternal sister to the 2011 Balmoral Show female champion.

Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 from J and W McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down took the red ticket in the intermediate heifer class. This October 2020-born daughter of the 2018 Balmoral champion Starlet P2 was sired by Herberry 1 Herbert. The Solpoll team also won the group of three with Starlet V11, Duchess V23 and Herberry 1 Humberto.

Irish-bred Country Crest Jack from Peter and Ciaran Kerr took the bull, born on or after 1 April 2020, and on or before 31 December 2020 class. By Moyclare Phoenix, it is out of Ballyaville Isla and was senior male champion at last year’s calf show.

The youngest bull class was led by Kinnego 1 Valentino, again from Peter and Ciaran Kerr which went on to take the reserve junior champion title. January 2021-born, this junior bull is by Kinnego 1 Rocketman and out of Lusky 1 Hope, a Solpoll 1 Classic daughter. No stranger to success Valentino was placed best spring-born calf in last year’s herd competition.

The progeny pair was won by James Graham and his duo of Treadstone and Tabitha, both sired by Mawarra Mustang.

Judge PJ Budler congratulated exhibitors who had brought out cattle and commented he hoped the UK could again become a global source of genetics for the Hereford breed. He gave comments on every animal present during their classes and before tapping out his supreme champions commented the champions had the ability to work in a variety of markets across the world and said he was impressed with the strong entry of quality cattle in front of him.

During the week’s interbreed classes, Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 was native and reserve interbreed beef performance champion, while Solpoll 1 Duchess V23 stood reserve native champion for J and W McMordie.

The last class of the week was the native team of five which was won by the Herefords . Representing the breed was by Richmount 1 Treadstone from J Graham, Ballypallady 1 Top Notch from Stephen Cherry, Solitude 1 Helen T991 from A McMordie, Solpoll 1 Starlet V11 from J and W McMordie and Dorepoll 1 Sally 679 from JE, RI and W Haire and were chosen as winners for the second year in succession.

Judge William Smith, Meath said: “There’s a good bull dominating four exceptional females. The females are really well balanced. The group caught my eye from the minute they came in, they’re easy winners.”

Elsewhere, the Hereford team won the interbreed stockjudging competition, and consisted of William McMordie, Solpoll Herefords; Will Awan, Midford Herefords; Ciaran Kerr, Kinnego Herefords and Greer Watson, Barnburn Herefords.

The Lewis family has been involved in the Hereford breed for six generations, and in 2022 celebrate their bicentenary of breeding the red and white cattle.

To mark this momentous milestone, both Haven and Boycefield Herefords will be holding  a special sale of heifers at The Haven, Dilwyn, Herefordshire on Friday 1 July. View the catalogue here.

Not many farming families can make claims like these Herefordshire-based breeders: the oldest herd of Herefords in the world to be continuously owned under the same family name; exports to 24 different countries and a heavy influence on the Hereford breed globally.

The Lewis’ story starts way back in 1822 when Thomas Lewis founded his herd of Herefords. Before the creation of prefixes or herd names, at this time not even the first volume of the herd book had been published, which followed in 1846.

At the end of the 19th century, the influx of British-bred cattle to the United States of America was gathering pace. In the boom years of the 1880s, a good number of Lewis-bred animals were exported to the USA. Purchased by breeders Gudgell and Simpson in 1881, among these sales were Anxiety 4th from Stocktonbury and Dowager 6th from Thomas Lewis, with the latter the most influential, and together they became the cornerstone of the Hereford breed in the USA.

The policy of Gudgell and Simpson was to line breed their early imports, and their most notable achievement was the breeding of Prince Domino in 1914, regarded as the greatest bull in the early development of the North American Hereford which went back to both Anxiety 4th and Dowager 6th seven times. Prince Domino and its sons appears in pedigrees around the world and also played a part in the creation of the American Line One programme.

Thomas’ nephew James (senior) Lewis moved from The Woodhouse in 1888 when he married Margaret Bray, whose grandfather quite fittingly was a nephew of Benjamin Tomkins, regarded as the founder of the Hereford breed. On leaving The Woodhouse, a dispersal sale was held, which saw 133 head of Hereford cattle sold.

On relocating though remaining in Herefordshire, they set up home at The Haven, Dilwyn and continued breeding Herefords for the next 40 years. One of the cows which travelled with James from The Woodhouse was Teresa 2nd which founded the Tiny and Thrush families which are still very prominent with the Haven herd today.

The Lewis family were always just ordinary Herefordshire farmers, while the likes of dukes and lords were showing at the Royal at that time. One of the most influential bulls purchased during the time James was at the helm was Leyburn from Allen Hughes, Wintercott, Leominster. An outstanding son of this well-regarded bull was Turgot which stood champion at the 1917 Hereford show and sale, selling to Messrs Liebigs of South America for 2,000gns. Adding to the significance of this bull, as son Edward (senior) was away at the First World War, James’ daughter Gwen brought out the bull and was the first lady in Hereford Market to do so.

It was roughly at this time that herds, including that of the Lewis family, started putting the herd name before the animal name, making it a prefix.

In 1928, as the developed economies of the world lay in depression, Edward (senior) took over The Haven from his father James (senior) when he married. In the first decade of his time in charge, it was a case of survival, while the price of pedigree cattle was at its lowest for over a century. However, Edward (senior) endeavoured to preserve the standard of his herd and managed this by acquiring Free Town Bodyguard in 1946, which moved the herd into the spotlight.

At the first February show and sale after the Second World War at Hereford Market, Haven Victory, a son of Free Town Bodyguard, sold to Senor Duggan of Argentina for 1,900gns, while another son, Haven Broadside, was the first bull to make 1,000gns at the Hereford April sale, selling to the Duke of Newcastle.

At this time Edward (senior) was also fortunate to rent the neighbouring farm, Henwood, from his uncle George Bray, and these additional pastures enabled the herd to double its size in the forthcoming years.

In 1949, Edward (senior)’s son Leslie and daughter Sybil joined their father to form EL Lewis and son, the name associated with the business at The Haven today. This newly formed partnership’s first purchase was Shucknall Favourite which proved to be one of the best sires within the breed for nearly a decade and progeny was nearly unbeatable in the show ring. During this period, The Haven also purchased some top female families, including the Pinky, Prunella and Julia lines from The Vern and Lady Lynda and Martha bloodlines from Tarrington.

Leslie had been stricken by polio when in his teens and was the only survivor of 13 admitted to hospital that week. Since then, he had always walked with a stick, and although not able to do a lot of physical work, he became a master of marketing and built up an export business which no other herd of any breed ever matched, nor probably will.

The old established herd of The Haven really hit the forefront at the 1952 Kington Show, a key event within the breed at the time, where they took the grand male and grand female titles with Haven Lion and Haven Crocus, which later combined to produce Haven Postman. The double championship was again taken the following year at Kington, with Haven Cottage Rake and Tiny 16th.

Haven Lion, male champion at the 1954 Kington ShowEdward (senior) was elected as president of the Hereford Herd Book Society in 1956 and won the first ever herd of the year award in the same year, due to the great influence of Shucknall Favourite.

Vron Gaffer followed in the footsteps of this herd sire at The Haven and was a son of Vern Drummer, and again left his mark, breeding many successful animals. Another bull of the year, this was EL Lewis and son’s first Royal supreme champion.

In 1958, Haven Nobility stepped up as senior herd sire and bred three Royal Show victors; Haven Showman which took the reserve grand male title at the 1963 Royal and Haven Tommy which won the junior class at the three main shows in 1963 and was purchased by Bar Pipe Ranch, and he became a top sire in Canada.

Havenfield Eclipse which stood reserve supreme and grand male at the 1964 Royal as well as being bull of the year and then of the decade.
Haven Showman took the Royal Highland Show supreme championship before heading up the winning interbreed team, being the first time the Herefords had done so, and has been won only once since. A very noteworthy sire, Showman also sired three successive Royal Show female champions, including female of the year, Havenfield Regina 2nd which stood reserve in the Burke Trophy with Havenfield Eclipse in 1964. Showing his worth even more, by 1970, 63 sons and daughters of Showman had been exported overseas.

Leslie Lewis is admired for the sheer volume of exports achieved at The Haven, with 323 live cattle exported to 21 different countries between 1956 and 1976.

Through the sixties, Haven cattle were selling very well, and were all moving through Hereford Market. There had been a healthy level of competition between the herd at The Haven and Captain de Quincey’s Vern herd which dispersed in 1966. In front of a packed ring from all corners of the world following de Quincey’s death, E L Lewis and son purchased Vern Rooti for 12,000gns which went on to sire Avon Priam, a Royal Show champion and 1971 bull of the year. Haven Evolution then took the 1972 bull of the year title, while Haven Frontier won the accolade in 1973.

Success continued through this decade and in 1974, Haven Oyster Girl 36th, grand female champion at the Royal Show, sold for a British record price of 6,500gns to Bert Reyes of San Antonio, USA. The following year, BP Silver Standard Tommy 128G was purchased for $10,000 at the Bar Pipe sale in Alberta, Canada, and was out of a daughter of Haven Tommy, bringing these genetics back home to Herefordshire. BP 55C Britisher 1M was later purchased in 1982 from the same Canadian breeders for $26,500.

A British record price, Free Town Kendal, was purchased by the Lewis family in 1976 for 17,000gns. Between 1976 and 1981, six very successful annual production sales were held at the family’s Boycefield Farm, with 700 pedigree cattle going through the ring, many finding homes in the UK, but a great number were exported. Not only did these sales fuel the success of the Lewis’ herd, but also helped to put the Hereford breed in the limelight.

At the third Haven sale in 1978, opened by TV personality Ted Moult, new breeders paid high figures peaking at 12,000gns for Haven Lumberjack, by Nuelands Giles, purchased by John Leroy from Kent along with six heifers. The second highest price paid was 9,000gns for Haven Nugget, sired by the Canadian bull, BP Tommy 128G. At the same sale, Haven Pearl 2nd broke the female record price at 6,600gns, selling to George Hughes, the owner at Hampton Court, Herefordshire, who that day bought six heifers totalling 19,650gns.

At the following year’s sale, George Hughes again paid a new British record when purchasing Haven Performer for 22,000gns, along with Haven Pirate by BP Tommy for 15,000gns and eight heifers for 15,800gns.

Another record breaker at 1980’s Haven sale was the male record of Haven Reign On, knocked down to Jim Cross of Canada at 27,000gns who ran the Bar Pipe Ranch, where the Lewis family was a repeat purchaser. This price record remains in place to this very day.

The 1981 Haven sale saw Haven Samson by Hi Standard Brit Lad 26G top the trade at 20,000gns. The Lewis family retained a half share while semen went three ways to B and H Herefords, Canada; RC Atkin, Utah and the Zambian Government Developments.

In 1984, at the age of 21, Edward (junior), Leslie’s son, joined the partnership to become the fifth generation of the Lewis family to breed Hereford cattle. He had success in his own name with EBL Haven Tiny which took the grand female championship at the Royal Show in 1984. In the same year, Haven Trafalgar was supreme champion at the National Hereford Show at Tenbury Wells.

Such was the recognition of quality of Haven-bred cattle, in 1986 a £10 premium scheme commenced offered by the Somerset-based Mid-West Calf Group for Haven sired calves.

In 1987 Haven cattle headed to Germany, making it the 26th country to be exported to. The following year in 1988, a unique written auction took place, to celebrate 100 years at The Haven.

Leslie was responsible for the importation of semen of SNS Generator 28X, which became a widely-known bull, and arguably a breed changer, having sired three of the top price bulls at Calgary 1992. The National Show of 1996 saw three top prize winners exhibited from The Haven, all by SNS Generator 28X. Leslie can also be credited for master-minding the National Hereford Show, established in 1983 which has run at Tenbury Show ever since, where now son Edward has stepped up as show organiser, leading on sponsorship.

Edward comments: “My father Leslie brought Generator semen into the country which helped move the breed forward and bring it into the modern era. He strived to find the best genetics, and not only did they benefit our cattle at The Haven, but also the wider breed.

“In the 1980s, the whole system went against the breed with cheap grain which suited the production of continental breeds but the circle has come back around and meat quality and flavour along with grass-feeding is playing an increasingly important role.”

Haven Joker, a Generator son, took the supreme championship at the 1993 Royal Welsh Show. This was the first major supreme championship to be won by the herd since Haven Great Heart at the Three Counties 20 years earlier. Its dam, Haven Patch 73rd, had won the female championship at the Royal Welsh Show the previous year.

In 1995, the year which Leslie passed away, Edward and wife Carol moved to The Haven while brother James and his wife Lucinda moved to Boycefield Farm. In 2003, the business split with Edward and Carol continuing the Haven prefix, while James and Lucinda bred under the Boycefield herd name, which had been previously utilised as the Lewis family’s poll herd name.

From here on in, Haven champions were being brought out more and more, with the help of stockman Mike Chandler, with the first National Show champion of the 21st century was yet another Haven-bred bull, this time Haven Smurf, a son of Haven Leopold and grandson of SNS Generator 28X.

Haven Wizard stood champion at the Three Counties Show in 2005, with onlookers noting its similar type to the Haven animals of former years, despite little home-breeding in his pedigree.

Now farming in his own name, James took the reserve overall champion title with Boycefield Congo at Kington Show in 2006. Congo went on to stand reserve male champion at the Royal Show in 2007.

Today, it is thought The Haven is one of the only two true traditional Herefordshire farms still in operation, with a mix of Hereford cattle, cider fruit and hops. The other farm in mind is Sarah Hawkins’ The Farm in Bosbury.

Edward explains: “Today the cattle have to fit into our system. They have to be easily managed and cannot take up too much of our time.”
Nowadays, Edward farms with son Ben at The Haven where they keep 70 cows while James works with his son Billy at Boycefield Farm, just up the road, where they run 30 cows and won the 2021 HCBA medium herds competition.

With a similar eye for stock, the two herds have recently bought semen from Yarram Park Unique P160 from Australia.

Ben visited the Mawarra herd while in Australia following the completion of his degree from Reading University and in 2021 Edward and Ben purchased Mawarra Influential as part of a syndicate alongside PRJ and LR Vincent, Norfolk and Australia’s Graham Genetics for AUD$42,000. Influential was brought from the Wodonga National Sale, where it was a class winner.

Ben comments: “The cattle at Mawarra are run under a hard selection process, partly due to the environmental conditions. This means it is a good destination for genetics for us as they are proven through performance.”

Edward continues: “Today the Hereford has better live weight gains and maternal characteristics which puts the breed in a great position for the future. Everything about the animals has improved and we see this when we use old semen which we remember as producing some leading animals but now just doesn’t compare to the breeding of today.”

Although Haven Herefords are regularly spotted in the show ring, Edward says he finds the biggest sense of achievement when customers return to The Haven having already purchased stock which has performed well for them.

Ben adds: “We find there are cows which stick in our mind more than bulls. The Dowager, Lady Lynda and Splendour lines have been particularly influential for us.”

“We don’t tend to show females as we like them to be at home doing the work,” adds Edward.

“One of the most important shows for us now is the Christmas calf show at Shrewsbury Auction Centre. We see it as a barometer of the herd to see where we are, with both the horned and poll strain coming head-to-head. It is a proper national show.

“We have had two male champions at the HCBA Christmas calf show: Haven Neptune and Havenfield 1 Robin Hood. We have won the grand male championship at the National Show a total of nine times.”

Although synonymous with horned breeding, some poll animals were acquired by the family in the 1960s, and over the past six or seven years, the poll strain has been reintroduced with 10 cows residing at The Haven, mainly based on Dendor, Romany and Solpoll breeding.

Edward says: “Having a number of poll animals gives a choice to buyers and provides us a challenge. At the end of the day, all strains of the breed are Herefords.”

Edward and Ben consider the best poll stock bull they have bought as Solpoll 1 Lawman which was born in 2013 and is a Panmure 1 Henry son.

At The Haven, 95 per cent of bulls are sold off-farm, and Edward says they like to show purchasers the whole farm and the system they are running.

Up the road at Boycefield, James and Billy are working to increase cow numbers, aiming for 40 cows, all of which are horned. Calving takes place both in spring and autumn at an equal split, with the spring calvers getting on with it outside.

James says: “I like an animal with a nice level top, which is kind to the eye and hassle free.”

In recent years herd sires at Boycefield have included the Irish-import Corlismore General 700 and Lisrace Lumberjack 16th, purchased from Northern Ireland’s David Wilson.

James and Billy feed home-grown oats, while their wheat goes for milling. They grow bird feed and legume rich pastures and have 20 acres in the mid-tier option of the ELMS scheme.

Both herds register most of their heifer calves and roughly half of their bull calves. All males are kept entire and breeding decisions are made at 15 months. Anything which doesn’t make the grade is finished and sold through ABP at Shrewsbury they both like to keep the pedigree bar high.

Largely fuelled by their forward-thinking sons, both brothers have gone down rotational grazing routes with both Ben and Billy keen on pursuing a regenerative farming approach.

At Boycefield, Billy says “The cattle are kept in appropriate groups and moved every 48 hours. The aim is to enter a paddock at 4,000+kgDM/ha covers and come out at around 2,500kgDM/ha. The paddock is then rested for 30 to 50 days before being grazed again.”

Ben says: “We like to move the cattle on to higher covers so there is not too much stress. We have over seeded clover, plantain and chicory. With these adding to both protein and mineral levels, as well as creating more resilience in the sward especially in the drier weather.”

Edward says keeping pedigree Herefords makes farming interesting and adds a challenge.

He says: “Through attending the World Hereford Conferences and visiting people in the UK and overseas, we have been lucky enough to meet a lot people in the ‘Hereford family’ and have had a great deal of enjoyment out of the breed.”

James concludes: “Both Edward and I find it very satisfying to have our sons working alongside us. Moving forward with Ben and Billy involved in both Haven and Boycefield, we are safe in the knowledge our breeding will continue for the sixth generation.”

Cow families at The Haven

Dowager
Curly
Lady Lynda
Louisa
Splendour
Prunella
Tiny
Thrush
Polled:
Ruby
Lucy
Stardust

Cow families at Boycefield

Curly
Louisa
Pinky
Acorn
Purport

Haven farm facts

162 hectares (400 acres)
55 ha (135ac) cider apples – supplying Bulmers/Heineken, Westons and Magners
2.8ha (7ac) Fuggles hops
40ha (100ac) arable – wheat, barley and oats
60 pedigree females

Boycefield farm facts

121ha (300ac)
250-300 North Country Cheviot cross mule ewes
28ha (70ac) arable ground
Building up to 40 pedigree Hereford females

Cleland 1 Cheerful 7^th topped the dispersal sale of Hungerford-based AE Nesbitt Farms’ at 6,200gns which was incorporated into Halls’ spring Hereford day, selling to Ryan Coates, Newton Harcourt, Leicestershire. This nine year old cow is a daughter of Bromley 1 Midas, a Dorepoll 1 Crown Royal son and, out of a home-bred cow. It sold with its fifth calf at-foot, heifer Cleland 1 Cheerful 18^th, which is sired by Havenfield 1 Robin Hood.

At 5,800gns, Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 51^st from AE Nesbitt sold to a top call of 5,800gns to N Hooper, Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire. By Solpoll 1 KitKat, a son of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry, the female sold at three years of age with its first calf Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 56^th, which is another daughter of Havenfield 1 Robin Hood.

Going to the same home was Cleland 1 Cheerful 14^th, which sold with its first calf Cleland 1 Cheerful 17^th for 4,700gns, again to N Hooper. This three year old female is out of a Bromley 1 Midas daughter and by Cleland 1 Nelson which sired both the grand female and male champions of the 2021 National Poll Show.

Five year old cow Cleland 1 Glissade 27^th sold with its second calf, Cleland 1 Glissade 29^th, for 4,200gns, adding to N Hooper’s purchases of the day. This cow is a daughter of Cleland 1 Luther, the South of England Hereford Breeders’ Association 2018 bull of the year, while its calf is another by Havenfield 1 Robin Hood.

Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 32^nd sold for 3,600gns and also travels to Worcestershire with N Hooper. Out of Titcomb 1 Oyster Gem 3^rd, it is by the successful show bull Cleland 1 Jackson.

The most senior stock bull in the Cleland dispersal was Havenfield 1 Robin Hood, which sold at 3,200gns to a telephone bidder. As a youngster, Robin Hood stood reserve supreme at the 2018 National Calf Show at Shrewsbury. By Romany 1 Lawbreaker RE L23, it is out of Dendor 1 Ruby 20^th.

In the main run of the sale, it was Dendor 1 Voodoo from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys which led the money, and was the day’s top priced bull at 4,400gns. Born in October 2020, it is by Dendor 1 Nairobi, the 2018 National Poll Show supreme champion. Out of Dendor 1 Ruby 9^th, it went home with JL Forsey, Broadoak, Dorset.

At 13 months of age Glenvale 1 Fabulous from TG, EI and EN Thorne hit a top call of 2,600gns to A Whitfield, Derrington, Staffordshire. By the breeders’ stock bull Vexour 1 Palmer, it is out of the Thornes’ Angela line, sired by Dendor 1 Ledley.

The gavel went down for 14 month old Glenvale 1 Fireball at 2,500gns. From TG, EI and EN Thorne, the current national herd of the year title holders it was purchased by DP Jones Agricultural Contracting, Coleshill, Warwickshire.

Having travelled south from Northumberland, T and D Harrison’s Moralee 1 Kathryn KS R17, a four year old second calver, sold with its daughter at-foot to A Whitfield for 2,600gns. Its calf is by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12, the Hereford champion of Europe 2021.

Coley 1 Willow 489, a three year old from Heather Whittaker, Halifax, was knocked down at 2,300gns to Duncan Law, Bassaleg, Newport. By the 2019 bull of the year, Romany 1 Prime Time BL P62, it is out of Grangefell 1 Wyandot A63G, an Ervie L1 Achiever 91163G daughter. It sold with its first calf, the bull calf Coley 1 William which is by Coley 1 Spear, a son of the Canadian sire, Tlell 8N Red Zulu 1Z.

Within the maiden heifer section, Moralee 1 Ishbel RB V11 from T and D Harrison realised 2,000gns, and was also purchased by A Whitfield.

Auctioneers: Halls

Harveybros 1 Versace from G and S Harvey, Balfron, Glasgow sold for a top call of 4,200gns at Stirling’s May bull sale, going home with commercial men, Robert Simpson and son, Crieff, Perth and Kinross.

Sold at 15 months of age, it is a son of the Australian sire Wirruna Matty M288 and out of Harveybros 1 Crocus S2 from the only female line the Harveys keep, which has performed so well for the breeders over the years. This female is sired by Normanton 1 Laertes, the 2016 Royal Highland and Royal Welsh interbreed champions.

Auctioneers: United Auctions

Average: 1 bull, £4,410

With a packed ring at Dungannon Farmers Mart, the spring show and sale laid host to a solid trade for bulls and a new centre record price set for the breed.

Leading the trade and taking the championship for the first time was Bertie and Greer Watson, Raffrey with Barnburn 1 Ulsterman. After spirited bidding it was knocked down for 5,600gns to join the line-up at AI Services. Born in September 2020, it was the first son for sale by herd sire Solpoll 1 Ringo. Its dam, Barnburn 1 Priscilla, stood reserve female champion at the 2018 Balmoral Show and is a Pinmoor 1 Kingsley daughter, a former Northern Ireland bull of the year, bred by Gary Hall, Merseyside.

Taking the reserve championship, as judged by Ben Sinnamon, was Solpoll 1 Valencia, an 18 month old Solpoll 1 Promoter son from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan. A heifer’s calf, its dam Solpoll 1 Amber S3 was sired by previous UK bull of the year, Costhorpe 1 Granite. Backed with good figures for calving ease and eye muscle, it sold for 5,000gns to William Crea and son, Strangford.

Next in the money at 4,700gns was the 20 month old Glenmount 1 Van-the-man from Jim and Ann Henning, Mountnorris. Sired by Blakesley 1 Nathan and with a Fisher-bred dam, it sold to William Adams, Glarryford.

The Watsons also sold the youngest bull forward the 15 month old Barnburn 1 Ultimate at 3,900gns. Again sired by Ringo, its dam was the Panmure 1 Henry daughter Barburn 1 Nolana. Second prize winner in the last class of the day, it sold to Lawrence Heslip, Ballygawley.

From Co Fermanagh-based Mervyn and Henry Richmond, Corraback Tom, a May 2020-born bull sold for 3,100gns. The young bull has been used in the Corraback herd and won its pre-sale show class. It was one of two Kye Rodge sons sold, going home with O Mitchell, Omagh.

Black Water Unique, one of two sons of stock bull Clondrina 1110th offered by Nigel Heatrick from Middletown sold at 3,100gns to C and J McAleer, Omagh. August 2020-born, it is out of Black Water Locket, which is a daughter of Kye Sting 595.

Another Promoter son from the McMordies, the 20 month old Solpoll 1 Vicon sold to G McAdoo, Cookstown at 3,000gns and stood second place to the champion in the pre-sale show. It is out of a Starlet female, sired by Moeskaer Upgrade.

Lisnaree 1 Tina Turner from Marcus MurdockThe small offering of females topped at 2,600gns for the female champion Lisnaree 1 Tina Turner. Bred by Marcus Murdock, Newry it was a May 2020-born daughter of the home-bred Lisnaree 1 Romeo and sold in-calf to Dendor 1 Kohinoor to join Derek McCrea in Strabane.

Marcus Murdock also sold the March 2021-born Lisnaree 1 Velvet Red. By two home-bred parents, it is by Lisnaree 1 Samson and out of Lisnaree 1 Millie, by Dorepoll 1 60G Chinook and sold for 1,800gns to L Young, Magherafelt

Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart

Averages: 10 bulls, £3,707

Traditional Hereford Breeders Club has launched a new online sale of bulls, females, semen and embryos which will run from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 July.

Traditional Herefords are famed for their ability to thrive on pasture-based diets, using low inputs to produce a high-yielding, compact beef carcase and the sale poses an opportunity to secure these genetics.

Running under the ‘Grass Masters’ title, entries are now open and catalogues will be available at the end of June. Enter here. 

The online timed auction will be run via Denis A Barret Auctions, and the auction page can be found here.

Any enquiries should be directed to sale organisers Chris Adamson and William Awan at Agri Marketing.

At the spring show and sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre, bids reached 11,000gns for bull Rempstone 1 Virus N598, while a new record bull average was set as 27 bulls sold to average £4,404, clearing at 79 per cent.

A buoyant trade spread through Shrewsbury Auction Centre as Rempstone 1 Virus N598 from M Ludgate reached a top call of 11,000gns, paid for by Robert Allcock to join his Shrewsbury-based Burmill herd.

January 2021-born, this Solpoll 1 Nobility son also stood grand male champion in the pre-sale show, which saw silverware return to the fixture for the first time since the pandemic and was ably judged by Alistair Smith, Newark. Nobility, a Panmure 1 Henry son, has worked within the Rempstone herd as a stock bull, having also bred the 2021 Agri Expo supreme champion Rempstone 1 Curly N604. Out of Blakesley 1 Myrtle, a Dendor 1 Krypton daughter, it is from an easy calving line at Rempstone, with this dam’s first three calves having averaged 34kg at birth.

With official auctioneer Jonny Dymond in the box, next in the money at 8,500gns was Classic 1 Theodore from R Edwards and E Smith, Swindon, Wiltshire, purchased by Pete Cobley, Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire. With Costhorpe breeding in both sides of its pedigree, it is by Kinglee 1 Nimrod and out of home-bred dam Classic 1 Showgirl, which is by Frys Cross 1 Oberon. April 2020-born, this bull was also tapped out as reserve senior male in the pre-sale show.

The only horned bull in the sale, senior male champion Pulham Victory from PRJ and LR Vincent, Pulham Market, Norfolk sold for 6,500gns to W Shaw, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire. September 2020-born, it is by the Irish import Shiloh-Farm Elite which stood breed champion at Ireland’s Longford Show 2018. It is out of Pulham Blossom 16th, which is a Haven Hotspur daughter and bred from the famous Badlingham Blossom line. Not a stranger to the Shrewsbury ring, it also stood male champion at the Christmas Calf Show in December 2021.

Another Ludgate-bred bull, this time Rempstone 1 Vicenzo N600, changed hands at 6,000gns to RA Bradstock and partners, Tarrington, Herefordshire. Another Solpoll 1 Nobility son, it is out of Rempstone 1 Dowager V424, a Hawkesbury 1 Vespa daughter. This bull stood third in its class to two other Rempstone males and in all the three averaged an impressive £7,665.

Hoghton View 1 Jackpot from S and E Walker, Preston, Lancashire, realised 5,600gns, selling to EL Lewis and son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire who celebrate their 200th year of breeding Herefords this year. Homozygous polled and January 2020-born, it is by the 2021 National Poll Show senior male champion, Hoghton View 1 Jackaroo.

Having made the trip south from Co Durham, W and R Kemp and sons achieved 5,500gns for Auckvale 1 Trafford 1991T, with a top bid made by Powys-based Steven O’Kane and Helen Morgan to take on the role as herd sire at Keadyview Herefords. By two home-bred parents, it is by Auckvale 1 Ramesses 1711R, a Laertes son. Its dam is Auckvale 1 Janet 1649P, a daughter of Dendor 1 Muttley which is the first stock bull the Kemps have bought in the last 20 years.

At 5,000gns, Normanton 1 Van Gough from TD and WT Livesey sold to Anthony Whitfield, Derrington, Staffordshire. By Dendor 1 P.Coltrane, a son of the Royal Welsh champion Bakgard 1 Keno 1178, its dam is by Days Calibre G74.

Rempstone 1 Venom N597 from M Ludgate sold for 4,900gns to GE and SE Jackson, Hilderlsley, Herefordshire. Selling for use on British Blue cows, Taymar 1 Valentino from S Taylor and D Marsh, Leyland, Lancashire sold at 4,800gns.

In the heifer section, a selective trade saw some impressive prices. Topping this section at 8,000gns was the day’s grand female champion, Normanton 1 Blue Leg 13th V555 from TD and WT Livesey, Normanton-le-Heath, Leicestershire. A Panmure 1 Pudding daughter, it is out of a Laertes sired dam. It was purchased by Anthony Whitfield.

Barwise 1 Anise MU 127T, a class winner from Mrs CS Fletcher, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria sold for 6,400gns and joined Anthony Whitfield’s purchases of the day. Sold as having run with bull Barwise 1 Tortuga, a son of Square-D Tortuga 953T, it has been scanned in-calf. This dark heifer carries HF 4L Beyond 36N, Dendor 1 Goblin and Barwise 1 Wellington in its pedigree.

Having travelled across the Irish Sea, Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down found a new home at 6,000gns, selling to the Allwood herd of FJ Wood and sons, Moreleigh Totnes, Devon. Having placed second in its heifer class, it by Moeskaer Mentos and out of the Panmure 1 Henry sired Solpoll 1 Pansy M16, this heifer is full sister to Solpoll 1 Powerhouse which holds the Northern Irish public auction records.

At 4,800gns, Normanton 1 Fistulina 35th V569, again from TD and WT Livesey sold to N Hooper, Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire. This class winner is another by previous stock bull Panmure 1 Pudding and out of a Dorepoll 1 579 Knighthood daughter.

Two heifers sold for 4,000gns. The first was Pepperstock 1 Orchid V707 from Speirs Farms, Luton, Bedfordshire which was another purchase made by FJ Wood and sons. Having run with a Rockafella 1 Trevor, this heifer is the first to be offered by Pepperstock 1 Rebellious which was supreme champion at Bucks Show 2019.

At the same money was Spartan 1 Oyster’s Vienna from SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, selling to P Pimlott, Market Drayton, Shropshire. By the 8,000gns Solpoll 1 Perfection which the Hartwrights purchased at the 2019 spring show and sale, it is out of Cleland 1 Oyster Gem 50th.

There was a 100 per cent clearance in the for sale only female section, which was led by Alderoak 1 Lilac 7^th from P and E Williams, Montford Bridge, Shropshire and Fellowhills 1 FR Julia from J Hodge, Horndean, Berwickshire, both selling for 1,500gns.

Averages: 30 show females, £2,973; 27 bulls, £4,404; 6 for sale only females, £1,330
Auctioneers: Halls

C and D Auctions conducted the annual spring live and online bidding sale of Hereford and Aberdeen Angus bulls at Mains of Airies, Kirkcolm, Stranraer on behalf of John Douglas and family.

A grand crop of 38 rising two year old, naturally shown, unpampered bulls was presented to a large crowd of both local and distant buyers who travelled to the far south west of Scotland along with online bidders. With 11 bulls sold online and a 100 per cent clearance, the sale averaged £2,852.

Ervie Advance 202699 topped the Herefords at £5,000. Much admired from the Lisette family, and sired by imported herd sire, Ervie RL1 Achiever 151966N, it was purchased by long-term repeat customer, Robert Parker, Drumdow Black Baldies.

The sum of £4,600 was paid for Ervie Advance 202726. Another from the Lisette family, and again sired by 151966N, this young bull was purchased by another Wigtownshire-based Black Baldie breeder and repeat buyer, G McKie and co, Ballaird.

Ervie Advance 202776 from the Crocus family sold at £3,600 to yet another repeat buyer, DT Lang and son, Wellhead, Lanarkshire for commercial and pedigree breeding.

Ervie Advance 202868 was knocked down at £3,400 in a joint purchase to RT Davies and co of Westwood Herefords and W Chase, Chase Herefords, both based in Herefordshire.

Volume buyer for bulls to use on their dairy herd was another repeat buyer, James and Becky Ward, Stranraer, buying five Hereford bulls for an average of £2,200. Scott Shearlaw, Maybole, bid online to a top price of £3,400 and secured four good Hereford bulls to average £2,825.

Auctioneer: C and D Auctions

Average: 33 Hereford bulls, £2,709