Farming Eye

Having had phenomenal success with past herd sire Blelack Evergreat H003, Victor and Paula Dobson have secured more genetics from the Massie family’s noted Dinnet, Aberdeenshire-based Blelack herd in the form of new stock sire Blelack Ensign L796,  for their Water End herd of Aberdeen-Angus cattle, based at Holme-on-Spalding Moor, York.

Purchased privately for a five figure sum, Ensign L796 is by the highly successful past Blelack herd sire Netherallan Peter Pershore E052 and is out of the Nightingale Ernie B133 daughter Blelack Eyrie G197 who was sold last month at the Blelack Matron’s sale for the record Angus female price of 32,000gns.

This bull is, therefore, full brother to the Massie family’s stock bull Blelack Equity J127 who has left some impressive progeny on the ground at Blelack. Ensign’s pedigree is also backed by some impressive figures as he carries a Terminal Index of +43 and a SRI of +56

Commenting on his purchase, Victor Dobson said: “Evergreat has bred us some great cattle including the 2011 Winter National Show calf and overall female champion Water End Miss Betsy L090 and off the back of her success we’ve had plenty of offers for him. However, Neil and Graeme Massie expressed a desire to have him back at Blelack and have since bought him back and he will return to Blelack after being used next year, so naturally we needed to find a replacement.

“Having been impressed with the full brother Equity and also the top priced dam, Ensign was an obvious choice for us and we look forward to using him on Evergreat daughters.”

by Jonathan Long

Trade for the top prizewinners was strong at the English Winter Fair yesterday, with the beef champion from Gilbert Brooke grossing £7300 or £12.37/kg when selling to The Yorkshire Butcher, Northerallerton.

The day’s reserve champion from the Edwards family then sold for £3000, or £5.08/kg to judge Jimmy Mulholland. The champion beef carcass from Mike Rowlands earned him £1628, or £4.70/kg when bought by Owen Taylor, with the reserve from Bryan and Carol Wilson selling at £1381 or £4.50/kg to Robert Bowring, Mansfield.

In the sheep lines as already reported the champions from Steve and Sara Gibbons sold for £950/head (£19.34/kg) to Andrew Froggat, with the reservs from the same home making £340 (£7.37/kg)  to Martin and Val Brown.

David Wadland’s champion carcass then made £178.50 (£5.50/kg) to David Prince of Ashover, with the reserve from Stuart Clatworthy fetching £127.80 (£6/kg) also going to David Prince. Robin Slade’s Live/Dead carcass lamb made £125 (£6/kg) to Messrs Cropper, Accrington.

The championship winning pair of live pigs from the Brethertons were bought at £170 apiece (£1.95/kg) by John Penny Meats on behalf of a client, with Mr Penny taking the reserve champions too at £95/head (£1.49/kg) on behalf of another client.

The pig carcass champion from Reaseheath College then sold at £203.67 (£3.10/kg), with the reserve making £185.50 (£2.85/kg), both these were bought by the Yorkshire Butcher.

Averages;live cattle £2.92/kg, live sheep £2.78/kg, live pigs £1.22/kg, beef carcasses £4.17/kg, lamb carcasses £4.21, pork carcasses £2.31 (Bagshaws).

by Jonathan Long

It was most definitely ladies day here at the English Winter Fair today, with all the major cattle titles taken by heifers.

Lifting the day’s overall cattle championship was the crossbred cattle champion and crossbred heifer champion from Gilbert Brooke. This was Roxy Rose, a 590kg Limousin cross bred by Emily Jones and bought out of Brecon Show Potential sale in the spring. She is by Haltcliffe Chico and out of a Limousin cross dam.

Following her through from the crossbred heifer classes to take the reserve crossbred and reserve overall championship was Bang Tidy, a UFO sired Limousin cross heifer from the Edwards family. This August 2011-born heifer is out of a British blue cross dam and had come through from the exhibitor bred and fed classes.

Crossbred steer champion honours fell to the Alford family, with their multi-award winning Limousin cross steer No Likey No Lighty. This one, by a son of Fieldson Alfy, was bought at Brecon from Trevor Powell in the spring. He had been reserve overall at Agri-Expo, steer champion and reserve overall champion at Countryside Live. He has previously been steer champion at the Royal Welsh, interbreed champion at Frome, reserve overall at Royal Cornwall and overall champion at Three Counties.

Reserve to him was Berwyn Hughes’ Blonde cross steer Basil Brush. This Ffronedw Brenin Y Ser son was boght by the Hughes family at Llandovery in the spring for £780 and was on his first show outing. He is out of a Lim x British Blue dam and weighed 595kg.

In the pedigree section the champion was Bishops Goldilocks from the Alford family. Sired by Waindale UFO,she is out of Scorboro Custard.

Reserve here were Keith and Mark Harryman with Keskadale Gamel, a Sarkley Volvo daughter.

Native champion was Oakchurch Dawn from Elfed Williams, with this being by Oakchurch Domiator. Standing reserve to her was Blackcroft Dizzy Rascal from Mike Kirby. He’s another by Dictator and is out of Lockerley Kind Princess.

by Jonathan Long

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