Farming Eye

Taking top spont among the sheep entries here at the English Winter Fair were Steve and Sara Gibbons, with their pair of purebred Blue Texel lambs which had earlier won the day’s pedigree championship. This pair by Whatmore Siren, the sire of this year’s Royal Welsh breed champion. This pair tipped the scales at 98kg the pair and later sold at £950 apiece to Andrew Froggat.

Reserve overall secured domination for the Gibbons family, with their Beltex cross pair taking the reserve honours. This pair, by Llymbrain Nelson weighed 92kg and sold at £340 to Martin and Val Brown.

And completing the set for the Gibbons was their purebred Beltex pair which picked up the reserve pedigree championship for them.

by Jonathan Long

Taking the overall honours in the pig rings here at the English winter Fair were Alan and Jackie Bretherton with their pair of 91kg pure Pietrain pigs. This homebred pair are the first pigs the couple have shown and are from the three sow herd run alongside 150 ewes, 400 Christmas turkeys and a small suckler herd.

Reserve here were Messrs Fieldhouse, with a pair of Landrace crosses.

by Jonathan Long

Championship honours in the baby beef lines have gone to Phil and Sharon Sellers with their Limousin cross heifer Sexy N I Know It. This 365kg heifer is out of a Limousin dam and was bred by the Richardson family, Ghyll House.

Reserve overall and reserve heifer champion was Keith Harryman with his Limousin cross heifer Black Magic. This one, bred by W r Sparke and Son, is by a bull bred by the Harrymans, Keskadale Eyefull and is out of a Limousin cross dam. She tipped the scales at 385kg.

by Jonathan Long

Yesterday’s carcass judging here at the English Winter Fair, Stafford, saw David and Linda Wadland pick up the lamb carcass championship with a 32.4kg Beltex carcass from their Northamptonshire-based flock. This one graded E4L and was described by judge Nigel Coles as a perfect butchers’ carcass.

Reserve champion lamb carcass went to Stuart Clatworthy, Somerset, with a 21.3kg, E3 graded Dutch Texel carcass.

And master showman Robin Slade claimed his 13th Live/Dead championship at Stafford with a purebred Dutch Texel trio.

In the beef carcasses the championship fell to Mike Rowlands with his British Blue cross heifer with a carcass weight of 346.5kg. This one was bred by Wendy Morgan and Trevor Price, Builth Wells.

Reserve honours here fell to Bryan Wilson with a pure bred Limousin steer carcass which graded U3 and weighed 307kg dead.

Taking top spot in the pig carcasses was Reaseheath College with a Large White x Landrace carcass at 66.2kg.

With the reserve here going to Messrs Fieldhouse, Tadcaster, with a Large White carcass which weighed 66.5kg.

by Jonathan Long

Yesterday saw the individual classes judged in the sheep and cattle classes at the English Winter Fair here at Stafford.

Taking the first of the weekend’s cattle classes, the class for pedigree South Devons was the Bunkum’s with Tregarick Bussell, a Sexton Poll Polaris daughter. Second to her was Kestle Dorothy 176 from R K Rundle and third was the Bunkum’s again with Tregarrick Bonnie.

The next class, for Charolais heifers, went to Messrs Parr and Geary with Rushfield Fizzy Wizzy, a Newroddige Bruno daughter, second here was Messrs McInnes and McMillan with Two Macs Grace.

In the purebred Blondes the winner was M Donaldson with Ark Grace, a Shapfell Bongo daughter, second in this class was Willie Seels with Burghwallis Go Gentley and third was Hallfield Gypsy from L Corner.

Winning the Limousin steer class was Berwyn Hughes with Powerhouse Giggs, an Attirant son, second was Andrew Bishop with Bishops Gadolfin and third was Judy Fountain with Cothi Golddigger.

Taking the Limousin heifer class was the Alford family with Bishops Goldilocks, with second spot going to Keith Harryman with Keskadale Gamel and third was Plas Golddust from L Pidsley.

Then taking the Blue steer class was Bringlee Gilroy from S Madeley, second here were Tim and Kitty Bodily with  Llanymynach Fabio and third was Elaine Wilson with Fonzo.

Blue heifer honours went to Jason and Sarah Wareham with Warehams Georgina, second here was Lisa Todd with Givenchy Dahlia Noir and third was Jonathan Timm with Beck Farm Gloria.

Top spot in the Devons was taken by Stuart and Jen Clatworthy with Roly Poly.

In the AOB native classes the winner was Mike Kirby with his Angus steer Blackcroft Dizzy Rascal, with Messrs Evans second with another Angus, Tree Bridge Pollstar and third was Newtoncroft Farms with Hereford steer Englefield Hubert.

The AOB Native heifer class went to Elfed Williams with Oakchurch Dawn, with Newtoncroft Farms second with Newtoncroft Queen Mae and third was the same exhibitor with Newtoncroft Bluebell.

by Jonathan Long

Today’s production sale form Jimmy Douglas’ Cairness flock of Suffolks topped at 8000gns for a gimmer by Cairness Cylone. This one, 33H 11 101 is out of a dam by Muiresk King of Diamonds and goes back to the great breeding Muiresk Rainbow Quest. This ET sister to Cairness Custom sold in-lamb to Cairness Diamond Jubilee, a homebred tup lamb which Jimmy regards as one of the best he’s ever bred. She was claimed by Gary Beacom, Northern Ireland.

Following that in the Cairness run was a ewe by Cairness Achievement 33H N14. She is out of a dam by Whitestone Warrior and sold carrying lambs to Rhaeadr Roger Ramjet. Buying her was Gordon Troup, Aberdeenshire.

And at 2600gns Jimmy then sold another ewe, this time 33H L67, a Cairness Just the Best daughter out of a dam by Muiresk Zidane. In-lamb to Bailesy Streets Ahead and a full ET sister to Cairness Achievement, she was bought by E Williams, Yyns, Monmouthshire.

Then making 2100gns and selling to Sandy Fraser was a gimmer by Cairness Caius, 33H 11 016. This one is out of a dam by Cairness Coldplay and goes back to Muiresk Manat. She was sold in-lamb to Rhaeadr Roger Ramjet.

In the draft from Robbie Wilson’s Strathisla flock the top call was a bid of 4500gns for a gimmer by Strathisla Sea Bird, FNV 11 135. She is out of a dam by Strathisla Schumacher and is in-lamb to Rookery Rooney. Taking this one back across the water was Mark Priestley for the Limestone flock.

Another gimmer from Robbie then sold at 3000gns to the Soulsby family, with this one being FNV 11 077. Sired by Cairness Kaos she is out of a dam by Schumacher and was in-lamb to Forkins Figo.

At 2800gns came a bid from Messrs Wilson, Kelton, Castle Douglas for a gimmer by Glenhead Golden Phoenix and out of a dam by Strathisla Seabird. This one, FNV 11 117, is in-lamb to Strathisla Stifler.

Robbie then took 2600gns from Mark Priestley for a Sea Bird daughter out of a dam by Stathisla Speed which is ET sister to Schumacher. She is in-lamb to Stifler too.

Ross Lawrence then bid 2000gns for a Kaos daughter, FNV 11 052. She is out of a dam by Speed and was sold in-lamb to Forkins Figo.

Best from John Sinnett’s Stockton offering was a ewe lamb at 4000gns which sold to Jimmy Douglas. This one, 72H 12 1649, is by Conchar PR and out of a dam by Cairness Impact.

And topping Gordon Troup’s Whitestone draft was another heading back to Cairness. This was a gimmer, L25 11 006, by Cairness Liam and out of a Kings High and Mighty daughter. She sold in-lamb to Cairness Diamond Jubilee.

by Jonathan Long

Judge Paul Gentry of Newark Livestock Market has gone for Limousin genetics all the way in the interbreed line up at the Forfar Stars of the Future Calf Show just now. His senior interbreed champion went the way of Moray-based Stephen Irvine’s November 2011-born Anside Gigolo. This one is by the 22,000gns Derriaghy Enfield who was purchased in Carlisle, October 2010, in partnership with Emslies Livestock and is out of Larkhall Didi, a Wilodge Tonka daughter.

Anside Gigolo

The junior interbreed champion went to the April 2012-born bull calf Lodge Hydro from Ian and Wendy Callion, Stirling. By Rossignol, he is out of the Attila daughter Lodge Electra.

Lodge Hydro

by Chrissie Long

Ernie Hemming’s dispersal of his Paulern herd which took place today on farm in Gloucester topped at 4450gns for the January 2007-born Paulern Carol (lot 16), an ET-bred Tamhorn Sumo daughter out of the Dafydd D’Ochain daughter Zwarte 11 ET VD Wildebee.

Next best was a call of 4200gns which secured the best of the bulls in the form of the January 2011-born Paulern Gloucester (lot 112). This one is home bred on both sides and is by Paulern Aquita and out of the Cristal De Somme ET-bred daughter Paulern Diamond.

Sale leader in the maiden heifer offering was the October 2010-born Paulern Fanella (lot 53). Again by Aquita this one is out of the Affute Du Ry Ossogne ET-bred daughter Paulern Violet and was knocked down at 4000gns to Messrs J Taylor.

Second highest price bull on the day at 4000gns was the November 2009-born Paulern Edwin, an ET-bred son of Serum D’Anloy out of the Tahorn Sumo ET-bred daughter Paulern Claire. This one sold to Messrs Bainbridge. Next best trading at 3900gns was Paulern Fantastic (lot 107). By Paulern Declan, this December 2010-born bull is out of Paulern Delmira, a Cajoleur De Rettigny daughter and sold to Messrs Ivory.

Then at 3500gns was another bull, this time the Paulern Aquita-sired Paulern Gregory (lot 116). Born March 2011, this one is out of the Newfields Oasis daughter Paulern Vera. Averages to follow in due course.

by Chrissie Long

In the British Blue classes today a pair of December 2011-born Gregmaur Osman x Woodview Eve ET-bred siblings from the Patterson family have taken top honours int he senior section. The senior female and senior overall title went to Aultmore Gucci, while the senior male honours went to Aultmore Gangster.

Aultmore Gucci

Aultmore Gangster

In the juniors, Alan Wight’s March-born heifer calf took the top spot. Midlock Harriet is an ET-bred Empire daughter out of Lyon Park Evelain. The junior male championship honours went to Sheena Kennedy’s January-born calf Overton Hamish. This one is a Bringlee Blackstar son out of Ridge Dean Bonnie.

Midlock Harriet

In the small offering of Highland cattle, Her Majesty The Queen took top honours in both the junior male and junior female classes (no seniors forward in the classes). The junior female and overall junior championship went to Lady White 97th of Balmoral, a Cliadhamh Mor of Balmoral daughter out of Lady White 78th of Balmoral.

Lady White 97th of Balmoral

Meanwhile, junior male champion was 100346 of Balmoral, a February 2012-born son of Hamish Mhor 3rd of Calachallyu out of Lady White 51srt of Balmoral

100346 of Balmoral

That’s judging of the section classes now done, we’ll bring you the news of what interbreed judge Paul Gentry of Newark Livestock Market does shortly.

by Chrissie Long

Judge John Hunter has finished his stint in the Hereford ring at Forfar where he tapped out Messrs Can and Partners’ August 2011-born Panmure 1 Jake, a polled bull by Romany 1 Distiller to take the senior male and senior championship. This one is out of Panmure Plum. The senior female championship wen to John Cameron and Son with Baldinnie 1 Fly 13th, a polled Sepember 2011-born heifer by Solpoll 1 Dynamite out of Baldinnie 1 Fly 5th.

Panmure 1 Jake

The Cameron family then continued their winning ways by clinching the junior male and overall junior champnship with Baldinnie 1 Victory, a March-born bull calf by Baldinnie 1 Orient out of Baldinnie 1 Vera. They also took the junior female championship with Baldinnie 1 Domlass 15t, another March born Orient sired calf, this time out of Baldinnie Dom Lass 10th.

Baldinnie 1 Victory

by Chrissie Long