Farming Eye

Taking top spot in the first baby beef heifer class was The Hughes family with 266kg Miss 2012, second here was Lilly May at 278kg from Messrs Rowlands, third went to J B and F K Jones with Penyfan Jubilee at 266kg.

The second class the went to Eye Catcher from G and E Jones at 284kg, with Rhys Millichap second with Swagger Jagger and third here was Emily Jones with Cojo Girl at 301kg. And in the third class of the day the winner was D Thomas with Spice Girl weighing 318kg, second here was Paul Dawes with Dinmore Honey at 310kg and third went to Owen Brothers with Look At Me Boys at 321kg.

by Jonathan Long

The stage is set here in Builth for the second, climatic day of the Welsh Winter Fair, with the main championships being awarded in all sections today.

First up is the baby beef judging in the cattle ring, followed by the sheep championships and then the cattle championships a little later.

The Farming Eye team will of course be bringing you all the action from the judging rings throughout the day, so stay tuned.

by Jonathan Long

Leading the way in the Balwen lambs here at Builth were a pair from J and M E Price at 62kg, with Matthew Bevan second with a 62kg pair and Messrs Price third with a pair weighing 63kg.

The Hill Speckled class was won by B L and J e Jones with a pair which tipped the scales at 86.5kg, with second spot going to T and B Evans with a 78kg pair and third taken by the Jones again with a pair at 86.5kg.

Lleyn class winners were a pair of 81kg lambs from S and R Downes, with John Davies second and Richard Downes third.

Welsh Mountain (pedigree) honours fell to T E and M I Price with a pair weighing 69.5kg, with Richard Lloyd second with a 76kg pair and D a Williams third with a pair at 71kg.

The AOB Welsh Mountain class was won by Adrian Watkinson, with D A Williams second. And then in the class for lambs by a Charollais sire and out of Welsh Mountain or Speckled ewes the winner was Neil Dillon with a 96kg pair and second was Messrs Jones and Hovers with a 101kg pair and third was a pair from D G Davies at 79.5kg.

Following that was the class for Welsh halfbred lambs, with this one won by R A George with a 94kg pair, second was L K Levenge with a pair at 97kg and third was a 90kg pair from E APrice.

Welsh Mule winners were from Neil Dillon at 103.5kg, with second here going to Robert Lewis with his 88.5kg pair and third to Adrian Watkins with a 98kg duo.

And, taking the AOB class was a pair from Messrs Price and Parry weighing in at 93kg, seond was a pair from Brian Davies at 79.5kg and third was Neil Dillon with an 82kg pair.

Kerry Hill winners were R A and a M Howell with their 84.5kg pair, then in second were Messrs Evans with a pair of 84kg lambs and in third was M L Holmes with a 73.5kg brace.

Hill Radnors followed them with this class won by Hugh Prothero and his 84.5kg pair, second was Gwilym Richards with a pair at 75kg and third was Messrs Jones and their 92kg pairing.

In the Lowland section the winner of the Llanwenog class was G and W I Evans with an 84.5kg pair. Second to them was a pair of 79kg lambs from J and M Green and third was A and R c Williams with their 82kg pair.

Taking the Poll Dorset class honours as Myrddin James with his pair at 90kg, he also stood second with his pair of 79kg lambs and third was Messrs Griffiths and Davies with their 73.5kg lambs.

Suffolk winners were Neil Dillon’s lambs at 106kg, second was Brian Davies with a pair at 105kg and third was Brian again with another 105kg combination.

Then in the ryeland class the winners were a pair from G O Jones at 88kg, second were R a and a M Howell with their 77.5kg lambs and third was the same exhibitor’s 86kg pair.

And the Southdown class was won by Messrs Wakeham Dawson and Harmer with their 81.5kg pair, second was Jon Aisbitt’s 88kg pair and third was the Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer team again with a 103.5kg pair.

by Jonathan Long

The final Irish Limousin Cattle Society sale for 2012, took place on Saturday at Roscrea Mart. With 88 top quality in-calf and maiden heifers forward the sale saw a top price of €7600 and an average of €3357, up considerably on last year’s €2786.

Topping the sale with the two highest prices were the father and son team of Daniel and Edward Tynan, Mouthrath, Co. Laois. At €7600 was the September 2011-born heifer Elite Galway. Placed first in her class in the pre-sale show by judge Joan Gilliland of the Ballyrobin herd. By Emerson and out of Bremore Cindy (ET), this heifer’s back-breeding includes Objat, Nenuphar and Ideal 23. She sold with a Maternal Index of €125 and Terminal Index of €112 to John Meehan, Newarket on Fergus, Co Clare.

The reserve junior champion and Wilodge Cerberus daughter Ardlea Ghost then traded at €7200 for Daniel Tynan. Ghosts’ dam – Tahiti B has a pedigree that includes Ramses and Jordy. She sold with five star ratings in most traits including docility and carcass weight and with a Maternal Index of €189 and Terminal Index of €122 to Joseph McGarry of Caldragh, Co. Longford.

Richard and Eithne O’Beirn took home €6600 for Millburn Grace another Wilodge Cerberus daughter. Grace took the junior championship and came to the ring with five star ratings in most traits. She boasts a Maternal Index of €202 with a Terminal Index of €130. Her pedigree stack includes Imperial and Geant and sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Second prize winner Melwood Gigi exhibited by Michael Hickey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary sold for €6200. A stylish Brookland Dynamite daughter out of the homebred dam Melwood Ellen, Gigi’s back breeding includes Wilodge Vantastic, Lino and Sauvignon. Messrs D and R Cornthwaite, Lockerbie, Scotland purchased her for their Maybe pedigree herd.

Two heifers sold for €5500, the first of which was the incalf July 2010 heifer Derrygullinane Fifi from John Joseph Walsh, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Fifi came to the ring with five star ratings in Carcass weight, Carcass conformation, Daughter calving difficulty and Daughter Milk. She has a Maternal Index of €195 and Terminal Index of €116. Incalf to Cloughhead Lord since 17^th of May, her pedigree includes Sympa, Nenuphar and Farceur. Fifi returns to County Mayo to the herd of Aidan MacHale, Knockanillaun.

Fifi’s full sister Derrygullinane Gabby was the second heifer to realize €5500. This May 2011-born heifer took the reserve senior championship. Gabby came to ring with a Maternal Index of €206 and Terminal Index of €123 and was knocked down to Patrick Kenny of Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

by Chrissie Long

Steer judging has been occupying the cattle ring this afternoon, with John Litte, Cumbria, doing the honours.

The first class, for Charolais sired steers was won by John Williams with Charlie, a 726kg steer, second was Elfed Williams with Stop the Clock at 672kg and third was Messrs Roberts with Hot Pants, a 652kg steer.

The next class for Blue sired steers went to Aeron and Berwyn Hughes with El Bandito at 642kg, with I J and B M Hall taking second and third with Tip Top and Top of the Pops, respectively.

The first of the Lim steer classes was won by Frank Lewis Cook with Bordeaux, a 568kg bullock, then in second was Teulu Williams with Bullseye weighing in at 568kg and third was Messrs Howatson with Will=I=Am at 570kg.

Following that in the second Limmy steer class the winner was Elfed Williams with Tick Tock at 596kg, second was A and M Pritchard and Sons, with 604kg Basil Brush and third was Jackpot from Matthew Jones at 646kg.

The final Limousin steer class was won by Dylan and Yvonne Hughes with Master Blaster at 700kg, second was  the Alford family with No Likey No Lighty at 688kg and third was Andrew Phillips with Mr Duke at 688kg.

And clinching top honours in the class for Hereford sired steers was Sandwell Borough Council with its steer Hawthornes Dell Boy at 606kg, second was H MacLeod with a 516 entry going by the name of Tubbs and third was F g Goodall with Dieago at 644kg.

Then in the AOB Continental steer class the winner was the sold entry from Aeron and Berwyn Hughes, Basil Brush, at 592kg.

A sole entry was the winner of the AOB native class too, with this being W T P and E A Rees’ steer Quatro.

Top spot in the Welsh Black purebred class then went to W, M and a Davies with Lluest Jonsi, a 656kg entry. Second to him was Tecwyn Jones woth Seisiog Twm 30, a 550kg bullock and third went to E Evans with Cwmtynant Gilbert at 688kg.

The final class of the day was  the pedigree Limousin steers, with this won by Andrew Bishop’s 634kg steer Bishops Gadolfin. Second here was Aeron and Berwyn Hughes with Powerhouse Giggs at 540kg and third was Tomos Jenkins with Brutus Glen, a 568kg steer.

by Jonathan Long

One of the most promising young bulls in the Aberdeen-Angus breed capped a successful show ring career on Saturday by winning the yearling bull championship at the Black Beauty Bonanza show of Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie,

Logie Politician

The 19 month old bull, Logie Politician L137, exhibited by Scotia Homes chairman, Bill Bruce, from his Logie herd at Ellon and paraded by stockman, Andrew Reid, was bull calf champion at the show last year and took the junior bull, reserve junior and reserve male championships at the Royal Highland Show in June.

He is one of the first crop of calves by Blelack Lord Hildago H972, supreme champion at the Stirling bull sale in February, 2010, when purchased for the Logie herd for 25,000gns, and is destined for next February’s Stirling sale.

The judge, Ian Campbell, Thrunton, Alnwick, Northumberland, described the bull as a “great prospect” and praised the overall standard of the show which is organised by the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club and attracted an entry of 105 calves and yearlings from Shetland and Orkney to Angus. “The tops in all sections were impressive and the standard of presentation exceptional,” he said.

Blelack Jubilant Eric

The breeder of the Blelack sire, Graeme Massie, from Dinnet also had a successful day, winning the bull calf championship with the seven month old Blelack Jubilant Eric M908, while his nephew, 15 year old George Massie, stood reserve with the seven month old Morven Kilo Master M896. Both were sired by Blelack Equity J127. George, who has two cows of his own, also won the award for the best animal from a herd of 10 cows and under.

by Jonathan Long

Just as in the sheep lines the cattle ring has been busy all morning and winning the second of the Limmy heifer classes was R Kingston with Ghost, a 578kg entry, second to this one was T C Edwards with Thrivon, a 574kg heifer and third was Tecwyn Jones with Black Beauty at 560kg.

In the next class of Limmy heifers the winner was Aeron and Berwyn Hughes’ heifer Sindarella at 678kg, second here was Mervyn Yates with Bobble at 616kg and third was T C Edwards with Miss Style at 678kg.

Winning the native heifer class was Elfed Williams with Smurf at 592kg, second was Messrs Walters and Kinnish with 512kg Welsh Maid and third was Stephen Griffiths with Pantmawr Laura at 470kg.

Taking top honours in the pedigree Welsh black heifer were W, M and A Davies with 560kg Eigiau Grugan 19, second was Derrick and Lynn Davies with Cwmbyr Ann at 540kg and third was E Evans at 572kg.

Messrs Howatson took the red ticket in the Pedigree Limousin heifer section with Brenig Gain at 524kg, while second was Paul Dawes with Dinmore Glorious at 552kg and third was P Jones and Son with Janos Geraldine at 596kg.

by Jonathan Long

In the first of the butchers’ weight classes, for pairs up to 73.5kg the winners were a pair from Robin Slade at 67kg, second was a pair from Roger and Jill Williams at 72kg and third was W Gittoes with a pair weighing 71.5kg.

The next class for pairs from 74kg to 79.5kg was won by John Hall with a pair at 74.5kg, second were the Williams with a pair weighing 78kg and third were David and Linda Wadland with a 78.5kg pair.

And taking the red ticket in the class for pairs from 80kg to 85.5kg was Dafydd Lewis with an 83.5kg pair, next were Steve and Sara Gibbons with a pair at 85kg and third were Roger and Jill Williams with a pair weighing 80.5kg.

The next class was for pairs from 86kg to 90.5kg and was won by John Hall with his pair at 90kg, second to him was Huw Rees Jones with a pair at 88kg and third was a pair of 90.5kg lambs from Robin Slade.

Winning the final butchers section class was a air from Phil and Carol Houldey at 92kg, with Steve and Sara Gibbons second with a 91kg pair and Michael Owens third with a pair at 95kg.

Top spot in the untrimmed lamb class was won by Stuart and Jen Clatworthy with a pair of 83.5kg lambs, second to these were David and Linda Wadland’s 85.5kg pair and third was Huw Rees Jones with a pair of 92.5kg lambs.

by Jonathan Long

Taking the red ticket in the first cattle class of the day at the Welsh Winter Fair was Roy Kinnish with his Blonde cross heifer Sue-Bo at 628kg, second was Andrew Bishop with a 624kg Blonde heifer J-Lo and third was D Thomas with a 512kg Blonde heifer Gwyneth.

The second class for Charolais heifers was on by the Jenkins Family with Charlie Girl at 540kg, with T and K Coney second with 582kg Chardonnay and John Owen third with Seren at 532kg.

In the first of the Blue cross heifer classes the winner was Elfed Williams with Blackberry at 598kg, second was the Jenkins Family with 568kg Miss Marble 2 and third was Hefin Parry with Adell weighing 538kg.

Then in the second Blue heifer class the winner was Aeron and Berwyn Hughes with Socs at 662kg, second in this class was Messrs Edwards with Adele at 612kg and third was Dylan and Yvonne Hughes with Flash Dance at 688kg.

Ann Lewis took top spot in the first of the Limousin classes, winning with Black Mist at 536kg, second was Messrs Donaldson and Hall with Misty at 548kg and third was Tecwyn Jones with Tequila at 500kg.

by Jonathan Long

Judging in the sheep rings here at Builth is progressing well, with Paul Slater cracking through the Continental section before moving on to the Butchers’ lambs.

In the first class of the day, the purebred Texel class the winner was a pair of 42.5kg lambs from Steve and Sara Gibbons, the same exhibitors then took the top ticket in the second class for Beltex lambs, this time with a pair of 44.25kg lambs. Second in this class were the Hall family, with a pair of 47kg lambs and third was Terwyn Glyn Davies with a pair of 41.75kg lambs.

In the AOB Continental class the winners were a pair of 40.5kg Blue Texels from Enfys Williams, with Steve and Sara Gibbons second with a pair of 47.75kg lambs and third was Dafydd Lewis with a pair of 49.25kg lambs.

Taking top spot in the first of the Hill lamb classes, the South Wales Mountain class, under judge Alwyn Davies, was a pair at 75.5kg from G M Groucott. Second to them was a pair from Adrian Watkins weighing 80kg the pair and third was Messrs Groucott and Morris with a 69.5kg pair.

The Tregaron Welsh Mountain class was won by Irwel Jones with a an 81.5kg pair and second here was D Morgan Evans with a pair at 80kg and third was Yvonne Edwards with a pair at 82kg.

In the Talybont Welsh Mountain class the winners were T C and A J Tyne with an 82.5kg pair, with Neil Dillon second with a 100kg pair and third were J and M E Price with their pair at 86.5kg.

Winning the Black Welsh Mountain class was the Workman Family with a pair at 71.5kg, the same exhibitor was second with a pair at 64kg and third was E O Williams with a pair at 70.5kg.

by Jonathan Long