Black and White sale peaks at 9,000gns
The Black and White sale at Carlisle topped at 9,000gns and averaged £4,210 overall. The sale leader was Auchensala LH Kedar Temper Tantrum Red consigned by Ali Cook, Auchensala Genetics, and Jonny and Jess Lochhead, Kedar herd, both from Dumfries. This daughter of Blondin Alpha was a direct daughter of the All-American winner, Milksource Tantrum Red EX94 and sold to the partnership of the Messrs Laird, West Linton, and Messrs Brewster, Glasgow.
Making 7,000gns for Absolute Genetics and Auchensala Genetics was Auchensala Ambrose Manhattan by Progenisis Ambrose. Its dam was the winning autumn Red and White two-year-old at the Royal Winter Fair. It sold to Rory Scott and Adam Smith, Ayrshire.
Holstein milking heifers topped at 7,000gns for two-year-old Denmire Ferraro Reba by OCD Ferraro from the Dennison family, Ulverston, which sold to John Lyle, Fife.
Several Holstein lots sold for 6,000gns including the calf, Overside Eye Candy Vada from the Neilson family, Strathaven, which went to Mitchell Young, Lanarkshire.
The Firstlook Holstein herd owned by James and Steph Doherty, Shrewsbury, sold a flush session from Firstlook Jackpot Sara for 6,000gns to the Awde family, Penrith. Sara was the winning Winter Milking Yearling at both UK Dairy Expo and UK Dairy Day this year.
Tim and Lauren Fitzmaurice, of the Leagh Holstein herd in the Republic of Ireland, sold a choice from four heifer calves for 6,000gns to Enda Doran, Roscommon. The calves, by Dropbox out of Siemers LBA Hannina EX94, are sisters to the record-breaking 90,000gns Riverdane KD Hannah.
Jersey heifers topped at 8,000gns for Royal Flush Genie In a Bottle by Victorious consigned by Adam Smith, Cornwall, which was knocked down to Mrs Herbert, Penrith.
Averages - 4 Holstein heifers in-milk, £6,720; 6 Holstein in-calf heifers, £3,243.71; 49 Holstein heifer calves, £4,105.16; 4 first choice heifer calves, £5,250; 1 flush session, £6,300; 1 Ayrshire heifer in-milk, £3,150; 2 Jersey heifer calves, £5,145; 16 embryos, £695.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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Rosehill dispersal tops at 4,000gns
The dispersal of the Rosehill herd of 230 pedigree Ayrshires on behalf of W.R.C. and J.E. Christophers, Truro, topped at 4,000gns for Rosehill Hawaiian Pamela VG87, a Pam Ayrs Hawaiian daughter which sold to Jake Sayer and Ben Broadley,
Rosehill Pickle Phlache, a fresh third calver by Rosehill Mr Pickle, made 2,600gns to Messrs Astley, Powys, who also paid 2,300gns for the fresh second calver, Rosehill Very Mega Jiggy VG86 by Rosehill Megastar. The Christophers' granddaughter, Meg, sold her own Megarose Hawaiian Sapphire VG8, an August-calved heifer by Pam Ayrs Hawaiian for 2,300gns to James Warren and family, Penzance.
Dry cows topped at 3,500gns for Rosehill Pink Indianna VG88, a Rosehill Pink Floyd daughter which was champion at Royal Cornwall Show this year and is due in January to Astorwell. It sold to Rob Higgins, Shropshire.
Making 3,200gns was Rosehill Panache Whiskey VG88, a second calver by Haresfoot Panache which was heifer champion at Royal Cornwall in 2023 and reserve breed champion this year. The buyers were Nicola Bottom and family, Truro.
In-calf heifers topped at 3,800gns for Rosehill Fantasy Magenta by Hunnington Fantasy, which sold due in April to Ravenhill Revolver to Julian Walters, Okehampton.
Heifer calves sold to 2,500gns for the show calf, Trerose Daring Babycham by Troutbeck Daring, which went to Sophia Warren.
Averages - 115 in-milk cows and heifers, £1,584; 32 in-calf and served heifers, £1,029; 17 bulling heifers, £592; 27 yearling heifers, £528; 36 heifer calves, £536.
Auctioneers: Kivells.
Blue Texels top at 4,000gns at Carlisle
Topping the sale of Blue Texels at Carlisle at 4,000gns was Knockmult Holly, a shearling gimmer by Drumard Ed out of Derg Fantasy, which was a full sister to this year's RUAS Balmoral champion. Consigned by S. Allen and A. Shortt, Strabane, it sold, in-lamb to Derg Jackpot to Messrs Wright, Hartington.
The same vendors sold Derg Heavenly, a Matt's Firetrap daughter in-lamb to Beili Blue Hulk for 2,200gns to Messrs Jones, Pencader.
Messrs Philip, Inverness, paid 1,600gns for Derg Hula, also by Matt's Firetrap and in-lamb to Derg Jackpot from the same home.
The pre-sale show championship went to Longhouse Hyacinth, an in-lamb shearling gimmer by Beili Blues Euphoric from Rosemary Hamilton and Iain Lammie, Cumnock. It sold for 1,600gns to Messrs Graham, Annan.
Messrs Graham also secured the top price ewe lamb at 500gns. This was Solway View Jessica by Caryl's Blues Hulk from Kevin Watret, Annan, who also had the reserve champion, Solway View Hakky. This shearling gimmer by Sunnybank Exchange Rate, sold in-lamb to Solway View Jagerbomb for 1,200gns to Messrs Jones, Llandeilo.
The sale included the dispersal of the adult portion of the Hodge flock for J. Hodge, Cumnock, which topped at 3,500gns for the prolific show winner, Hodges Gold Dust by Pistyll Empire out of Grahams Essexgirl. It sold to Messrs Lee, Kidwelly, who also paid 2,000gns for the Pistyll Dynamo sired, Ranachan Flora.
Gold Dust's full sister, Hodges Goddess, served by Cairnrock Jagerbomb, sold for 2,500gns to Messrs Morrison, Girvan, and at the same money, its dam, Grahams Essexgirl by Joe's Alvin, was snapped up by Messrs Graham, Stirling. A maternal sister to Gold Dust and Goddess, Hodges Havana made 1,800gns to Messrs Francis, Dyfed.
Averages – 4 in-lamb ewes, £538.13 (-£266.87 on 2023); 56 in-lamb shearlings, £848.36 (-£11.36); 3 ewe lambs, £455 (+£10); Hodge flock – 10 in-lamb ewes, £1,512; 8 in-lamb shearlings, £1,239.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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Gisburn dairies sell to £3,500
In Gisburn's first of two Christmas dairy sales, a pedigree Newbirks heifer topped the 118 catalogued entries at £3,500.
This was the 35kg Endco Viewpoint heifer from Wharfedale breeders A. Lawson and Son's Jazz family. Out of the same dam and leading the pedigree cow section at £3,020 was the Lawsons' 39kg second calver, Newbirks Jalapeno Jazz 1972, which was reserve champion.
At £2,950, from S.J. Sugden, Keighley, was the three-weeks-calved Bailmoor Ferraro B Magpie out of a Butz-Butler Atwood Brady dam. The show champion was the 36kg heifer Parkgill Applejax Minnie from J. and A. Parkinson and Sons, Preston, which made £2,880.
Non-pedigree heifers sold to £2,620 for a 26kg entry from J. and B. Rowland, Preston. Topping the non-pedigree cows at £2,520 was W.T. Eastham and Son, Goosnargh, with a 40kg third calver.
Taking the championship in the cast cow show was a 774kg British Blue cow from D.A. Wilcock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, which sold at 330p/kg (£2,554) to judge John Lancaster, Leyburn, with the 111 cast entries averaging 184p/kg.
Heading the Christmas show calf trade at £700 was the champion, a seven-and-a-half-week-old British Blue bull from R.G. and M. Falshaw, Bury.
Another British Blue bull, from W.J. and I. France, Chipping, took the reserve championship and sold for £605. J.C. Lees, Walmersley, sold a five-week-old Charolais bull at £570, while the second and third prizes in this other continental class were won by Messrs Falshaw, later selling at £590 and £535 respectively.
British Blue heifers sold to £460 for the third prize winner from Messrs Falshaw.
Averages - Pedigree newly calved heifers, £2,247; pedigree newly calved cows, £2,350; non-pedigree newly calved heifers, £1,969; non-pedigree newly calved cows, £2,050; in-calf heifers, £1,585.
Auctioneers: Gisburn Auction Marts.
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Peacehay gimmer leads Worcester Texels at 1,600gns
The Chave family's Peacehay flock, Wellington, produced the day's top price of 1,600gns at the Gloucester and Border Counties Club's in-lamb sale at Worcester.
Sale topper was an Usk Vale Fandabidozi daughter out of a dam by Peacehay Untouchable and in-lamb to Strathbogie Epic. It sold to Maria Cork, Ashbourne.
Next, at 1,200gns, was a ewe lamb from James Theyer's Clanfield flock, Oxfordshire. The daughter of the 160,000gns Rhaeadr First Choice was out of a Hexel-bred dam by Plasucha All Star and was champion in the pre-sale show.
Making 1,050gns was another Peacehay gimmer by Clarks Wizard out of a dam by Tullagh Dizzee Rascal, which sold in-lamb to Usk Vale Fandabidozi to M. Toon, Daventry.
At 1,000gns was another Clanfield ewe lamb by Auldhouseburn Grey Goose and out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Expression, which went to Trevor Prew, Burford, Oxfordshire.
Averages: 24 in-lamb gimmers, £678; 4 ewe lambs, £840.
Auctioneers: McCartneys.
Norwich Christmas show and sale
At Norwich's Christmas show and sale, the store cattle champion was an eight-month-old Limousin cross steer from Cook and Colman, Smallburgh, which sold for £1,650.
Also making £1,650 was the reserve champion, an eight-month-old Limousin cross heifer consigned by I. Hodge, Pulham Market.
Prime cattle topped at 215p/kg (£1,784.50) for M.G. Searle, Kenninghall, and store bulls sold to £2,000 for B. Jones, Diss.
The seven cows and calves on offer sold to £1,600 for S. Steggles, Norfolk. Store cattle topped at £1,740 for steers from Intwood Farm, Honingham, and heifers at £1,670 for C.J. Hancy, Banham.
The champion calf was a British Blue cross bull from F.S. Dann and Son, North Tuddenham, which topped the section at £502. Heifer calves sold to £355 for R. Patterson, Shipdham.
The champion lambs weighed 46kg/head and for 522p/kg (£240/head), with the reserve 43.5kg lambs from J. and A. Bradshaw-Hird, Dereham, making 437p/kg (£190/head).
Auctioneers: Norwich Livestock Market.
Limousin heifer takes Darlington supreme
Claiming the prime cattle championship at Darlington's Christmas primestock show was Alan Barnett, Shap, with a 640kg black Limousin crossed heifer which went on to sell for 690p/kg (£4,416) to the judge, Ian Brown, of Browns Quality Butchers, Ulverston.
The reserve champion ticket went to Georgina Laws, Leyburn, with her 690kg haltered red Limousin steer which made 530p/kg (£3,657) to Kitsons Butchers, Northallerton. Both champion and reserve were bred by John Smith-Jackson, Haydon Bridge.
The best home-bred prize went to W.M. Fleming, Kelso, with a 586kg Limousin heifer which sold for 500p/kg (£2,930) to H. Taylor and Sons Butchers, Darlington.
The champion bull was a home-bred 779kg Limousin consigned by Neil White, Marrick, which went on to sell for 380p/kg (£2,960) to Messrs Jewitt.
Taking their third prime lamb championship in four years were the Askwith family, Crook, with a trio of 48kg Beltex-sired lambs which sold for 666p/kg (£320/head) to J.A. Jewitt, Spennymoor.
The Askwiths also claimed the reserve championship with a pen of 45kg lambs which were second to the champions and made 577p/kg (£260/head) to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton.
Charity auctions at the mart on Christmas sale days raised more than £4,600.
Auctioneers: Darlington Farmers Auction Mart.
Caithness champion sells for £5,000
At the Caithness Christmas show and sale a 648kg Limousin cross heifer from the Begg family, Vauldale, stood overall champion in the prime cattle section. It went on to sell for the top price of £5,000 to MacKay's Hotel, Wick.
The reserve champion was a 664kg Charolais cross heifer from W.M. Barnetson and Sons, Watten, which sold for £2,300 to Kepak, McIntosh Donald.
In the Young Farmers section, the champion was a 641kg Limousin cross heifer from Tilly Munro, Ardgay, which sold for £2,900 to the judge, Blair Duffton, Huntly.
Best native was awarded to Messrs Barnetson with a home-bred 702kg Aberdeen-Angus bullock which realised £2,372.76 (338p/kg).
The champion lambs were a pair of 49.5kg continental lambs from Messrs Swanson, Castletown, which sold for £650/head to MacKay's Hotel, Wick.
The reserve champion were a pair of 62.5kg Texels from D.N. Campbell and Sons, Westfield. They sold for £320/head to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant, which also paid £400/head for the Young Farmers champions, two 48kg continental lambs from Bethany Swanson, Thurso.
Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts.
J36 championship goes to Beltex
At the Christmas primestock show and sale at J36 the champion lambs were a pen of three Beltex from J. Smith, Brookhouse, which sold for 500p/kg (£230/head) to the judge, George Hamlet, Hamlets Butchers, Garstang.
The second prize winning lowland lambs, 53kg Texels from L.E. and A. Ridding, Selside, made £200/head and a single Texel lamb from A.G. Butler, Hambleton, sold for £179. M. Bereford, Kirkby-in-Furness, sold Beltex lambs to £176/head.
In the show and sale of prime pigs the top price was £225/head for the reserve champions, the second prize winners from the over 90kg class from J. Stott, Kingsland. The champions from C. Woodhouse, Nateby, sold for £190/head.
Auctioneers: North West Auctions.
Westwood flock leads in-lamb Worcester trade
Leading the in-lamb Blue Texel female sale at 1,100gns at Worcester was a shearling ewe from N. Legge's Westwood flock, Leominster.
By Sunnybank Galahad and out of a home-bred female by a Blue Stone ram, it sold having been served to the winner of the ram lamb class at this year's Royal Three Counties Show. The buyer was T. Davies and Co, Llanwrtyd Wells, who also paid 900gns for the pre-sale show champion, Dulas Heather by a Rathbone ram from Messrs Jones and Co, Gelli, Powys.
Aged ewes sold 780gns for 2022-born Tordown Girl Power from Steven Ley and Hannah Payne, Liskeard, which went to J.G. Bosustow, Helston.
Ewe lambs saw a top of 650gns for Statesman Jem by Saltire Blue Gentle Giant from Ben and Tom Stayt, Chipping Norton, which was the pick of Trevor Prew, Burford.
Averages: 6 aged ewes, £507.50; 24 shearling ewes, £579.68; 11 ewe lambs, £413.79.
Auctioneers: McCartneys.
Lambs to 615p/kg at Hawes
The annual Christmas show and sale of prime lambs at Hawes saw a bumper entry of 2,465 forward selling to a strong trade.
The judge, Matthew Prince, Highfield Farm Shop, Chesterfield, awarded the championship rosette to the first prize pen of Beltex lambs, weighing 52kg from B.C. Gregg, Ellingstring, which he went on to buy for £320/head (615p/kg).
The reserve champion rosette went to the first prize pair of Texel-sired lambs from D. Hodgson, Askrigg, weighing 49kg, which sold for £250/head, also to the judge.
The champion pen of horned lambs were the winning pen of 39kg Scottish Blackface lambs from P. Turnbull, Whitby, which sold for £126/head.
The overall market average was 293p/kg, with well fleshed lambs in demand. Heavy weight lambs were slightly easier, but standard weights and handy/light weights continued to be just as dear. Good quality continental lambs sold between 330p/kg and 370p/kg. Heavy weight continental lambs sold from £155-£180.
The 990 Mule lambs averaged £135.30 (292p/kg) topping at £147.50 for Libby Winspear, Hawes. Handy weight well finished Mules between 44kg to 47kg sold at 300p/kg or more. Swaledale lambs sold to £145 for 49kg lambs from J.A. Alderson, Barras.
Averages – Beltex, 345p/kg; Texel, 305p/kg; Suffolk, 308p/kg; Swaledale, 276p/kg; Mules, 292p/kg.
Auctioneers: Hawes Farmers Auction Mart Co.
