Farming Eye

Carrying on a strong run of form of late with demand for Charolais bulls at a high from both pedigree and commercial breeders, the Dungannon sale on Friday saw a top price of 8800gns for the reserve intermediate male champion Dartonhall Grant, a 17 month old by the 19,000gns Corrie Alan and out of a homebred dam bred by J A Erskine, Killylea, County Armagh. he sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Dartonhall Grant at 8800gns

Next selling at 5500gns was the 15 month old junior male, overall male and supreme champion Tullygarley General. With a TI of +37 and a SRI of +27, this Major son is out of a homebred dam. Bred by J K Currie, Ballymena, County Antrim, this one was secured by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, County Londonderry.

Tullygarley General at 5500gns

He then recouped 4000gns with the sale of Coolnaslee Goldmine to W Reid, Florencecourt, County Fermanagh. This 18 month old is by the 9000gns Goldies Carnival and is out of a homebred dam sired by the 14,000gns Allanfauld Superscot. Mr Crawford went on to take 3600gns from J Giles, Omagh, County Tyrone, for the first prize winner Coolnaslee Gabriel, a 15 month old by the 55,000gns SportsmansColumbo and out of a homebred dam..

by Chrissie Long

One of the more fancied Charolais bulls at Stirling last month, Goldies Gladiator, a Goldies Uppermost son, has been retained by Hamish Goldie for use as a junior stock bull in the Goldies herd.

Goldies Gladiator

Out of Goldies Ena, a Goldies Ambassador daughter and with a TSI of +75 and an SRI of +75 too, he was retained having gained a first prize ticket in the pre-sale show and carries a calving ease figure of +6.7 and a milk figure of +11.

Explaining the decision to retain Gladiator, Hamish Goldie told Farming Eye that he’d always thought the bull would make a stock bull. “I knew going to Stirling that I was needing another stock bull, but finding a good bull with decent figures and from a successful cow family is never easy. When it came to it I felt Gladiator was the bull which met all my criteria, so chose to retain him instead of offer him for sale.”

by Jonathan Long

Charolais have been the pick of the bull trade at Thainstone today in ANM’s bull sale held in conjunction with the Royal Northern Spring Show.

Topping the trade was an 11,500gns bid for Kinclune Golden (lot 28) from Jock Wilson. This son of 20,000gns Crownprince is out of Kinclune Bertha, a Maerdy Rumbull daughter, he sold to Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone herd.

Kinclune Golden 11,500gns

Kinclune Grandee (lot 22) from the same home and by the same sire went unsold at 8200gns. He is out of Kinclune Blossom, a Caylers Solomon daughter.

Then at 8000gns was BonnyKelly General, a Newhouse Challenger son from Robert Leggat. He is out of Bonnykelly Colleen, a Burradon Talisman daughter and sold to J A Cruikshank, Elgin.

And making 6500gns was Blelack Garfield from the Massie family (lot 7). This one is a son of Goldies Dynamite and out of Blelack Armelle, a Pedr Tennessee daughter. Buyer here was A Adam and son, Huntly.

Following him at 6200gns was Jock Kincline Gallagher, again by Crownprince he is out of Kinclune Anna, a Caylers Solomon daughter. He sold to Peter Ferries, Banchory. Then at at 5800gns and selling to A Blackhall, Aboyne, was another Crownprince son, Kinclune Garth (lot 26) out of another Caylers Solomon daughter, Kinclune Angela.

While making 5500gns was Neil Barclay’s pre-sale champion Harestone General, a Royal Mozard son out of Ballyblood Hannah, a Bowerhouses Topper daughter. Buyer here was D M McCallum, Dingwall.

Harestone General 5500gns

A trio of Charolais then made 5000gns, with the first of these being Blelack Golden (lot 16), a Swalesmoor Bayonet son out of Blelack Victoria, a Bassingbourn Ralph daughter. Second at this money was Kinclune Glory (lot 23), yet another by Thrunton Crownprince. He is out of Kinclune Serena, a Thrunton Normande daughter.

The last 5000gns bid was made for Kinclune Goliath (lot 27), again by Crownprince he is out of Kinclune Tina, another by Thrunton Normande.

A total of 59 bulls averaged £4291.65.

by Jonathan Long

Some of you will recall some big money being paid for show steers in America last spring with prices of $460,000 at Houston and $230,000 at Forth Worth.

Well,while this year’s prices haven’t rivalled those levels, already this year there has been some big money which makes the recent prices at Ruthin and Brecon look like small change.

At Forth Worth earlier in the month the overall champion sold for $205,000, while at San Antonio last week the champion netted it’s owner a cheque for $120,000, a new show record.

The Fort Worth winner and sale leader, Lunchbox, was shown by 12 year old Stock Martin and weighed in at 604kg. And while the price may not be as high as last year, it is the third highest ever paid at the show.

The reserve champion steer at Fort Worth, 594kg crossbred named Blackie, was sold for $105,000.

The winner at San Antonio was Eminem, a 595kg Charolais x Charolais x Hereford from 17 year old Jonathan McAlnulty which broke the event’s previous record of $112,000 set last year.

Not to be outdone the reserve champion then went on to sell at $60,000, surpassing the previous record for a reserve champion by $20,000.

by Jonathan Long

Leading yesterday’s sale of Charolais bulls at Tullamore was judge and owner of the Allanfuald herd, Archie MacGregor’s junior champion Crossmoilina Harry (lot 55). Forward from Alan Wood, Co Mayo, this February 2012-born son of Prime Roberto is out of the Doonally New daughter Crossmolina Bertie and sold for €7100.

Second best selling at €6500 wasLisnagre Galway Boy (lot 26), an ET-bred son of Texan Gie forward from James Geogheghan, Co Westmeath. This one is out of the Hermses daughter Ballydownan Simone.

The third highest priced bull on the day was the senior champion Crossmolina Gerard (lot 28) from Alan Wood again. This one is by Pirate and is out of the Doonally New daughter Crossmolina Tea and was knocked down at €6200. Then trading at €6000 was Co Carlow-based Patrick Stephen’s Rosanna Harvet (lot 61). This one is homebred on both sides being by Rosanna Fameux and is out of Rosanna Daisybell who carries Surea in her pedigree.

Then at €5500 was Monksland Hercules (lot 54) from Michale McGlynn, Co Louth. By Monksland Apollo, this one is out of the Doonally Nicefor daughter Monksland Birdie. Then at €5200 was Fieldview Hendry (lot 65), the reserve junior champion from Co Monaghan-based David Erskine. This one is by the Corrie Alan son Dartonhall dougal and is out of Fieldview Demi who is by the OScar son Eddercloon Brutus.

Female trade topped at €6000 for the September 2010-born Ballybrown Fifi from Messrs B and P O’Connell, Co Limerick. This ET-bred Texan-Gie daughter is out of the ET-bred Roundhill Uma, who is a Hermes daughter. She sold having been served to Hermes.

(Images, buyers details and averages to follow tomorrow)…..

by Chrissie Long

John White, Rigg Farm, was in dominant form yesterday at Middleton in Teesdale Mart where he scooped all four championship awards in the February show and sale of store cattle.

The sale, noted for its selection of show potential cattle, saw Mr White collect the bullock and heifer championships and the reserve awards in both sections too. Leading the day’s trade was the steer champion, a Limousin cross which went on to sell for £2700 to Robert Naylor.

At the same money was the reserve heifer and reserve overall champion, another Limousin cross from the same home which sold to T D Hough and Son.

Then at £2000 was the day’s heifer and overall champion, another Limousin cross from Mr White. Buying this one was Andrew White, the day’s judge.

And at £1600 was the reserve steer champion, this time a Charolais cross from the Rigg Farm team, with this one knocked down to Mr White too.

Following that at £1500 was a British Blue cross heifer from Messrs Stobart, Grains O Beck. The third place Limousin bullock from John White then sold at £1400 to Robert Naylor.

(Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

Champion and Top price Elgin Glenlivet with some of the Milne family

The Charolais bull sale has averaged a healthy £6948 for 174 bulls sold, an increase on the number sold of six bulls on the same sale last year, but with the average back by about £700 on February 2012.

That said it was a more than healthy sale, with all vendors more than happy with the trade and a good number of the bulls unsold through the ring being sold in the pens after the sale.

That’s us done here for today, we’ll be back in action first thing in the morning with more news from across the UK.

by Jonathan Long

Yesterday’s female champion Allanfauld Geranium (lot 560) from Archie and John MacGregor has kicked off female trade selling for 5000gns. By Elgin Davinci, she is out of the Harestone Tadorne daughter Allanfauld Beaujolais. She was junior champion at the National Congress Show at the Highland and carries a TSI of +53, she sold to Messrs MacGillvray, Glastullich, Ross-shire.

Allanfauld Geranium 5000gns

The best from the Thrunton draft of heifers so far is a call of 4500gns for Thrunton Flair (lot 570), a June 2010-born heifer by Newhouse Bigal out of a Talisman daughter, she sold to James Nesbit, Sorn Mains, Mauchline.

by Chrissie Long

John Jeffrey has taken his best bid of the day, selling Kersknowe Groom (lot 522) at 9200gns. Another by Sackville Casanova, he is out of Kersknowe Britney, an Elrick Solution daughter and sold with a TSI of +68 and an SRI of the same value, he sold to Messrs MacNeill, Triaghoil, Bunessan, Mull.

And as we get towards the backend of the junior bulls now trade is slowing a little, but good bulls are still trading well, with Loganbar Gazebo from Murray Lyle making 5200gns. Sired by Balmyle Addition he is out of Loganbar Vachette, a Firhills Regal daughter, sold to A Malcolm & Son, Wester Coilechat, Callander.

Following him at 8000gns was another Casnova son, Kersknowe Gruffalo (lot 526). He’s out of Kersknowe Alana, an Elrick Solution daughter, selling to F T Walton, Flotterton, Thropton, Morpeth.

Peter Heath then sold Sackville Grenadier (lot 530) at 4500gns. This Bollinger son is out of Sackville Sapphire, a full sister to Casanova. He sold with a TSI of +49 and an SRI of +52 to Murray Lyle, Loganbar.

Esmor Evans then sold Maerdy Gantry at 5500gns. Sired by Clyth Diplomat he’s out of Maerdy Cindy, a Thrunton Voldemort daughter, selling to J W Girvan, Gateshaw, Kelso.

In to the last class of the day and things are slowing a little, but selling away at 8500gns was Liscorran Gemt (lot 546), a Newhouse Bigal son out of Thrunton Dancer, a Talisman daughter. He sold with a TSI of +42 and an SRI of +30 to Jim Innes, Dunscroft.

Sandelford Gucci (lot 552) then sold at 9200gns. This Goldies Usher son is out of Sandelford Seles, a Drummeer Major daughter and went with a TSI of +46 and an SRI of +43 to J A Rees, Powys.

Sandelford Gucci 9200gns

And that wraps up the bull trade for today, we’ll be on with the females in just a few minutes time and will bring you the average as soon as we have it. Its been a barn storming sale with we believe a total of 26 bulls selling at 10,000gns or above.

by Jonathan Long

The next from the Milne family, Elgin Gregory (lot 503), has just gone at 5200gns showing there isn’t much let up in this junior offering. This first prize Esgob Deano son is out of the Gower Versace daughter Elgin Dixiechick, he is half brother to the 14,000gns Elgin Findlay and sold to Grove Farms, Dumfries.

Then at 7000gns was the Archer family with Coningsby Grandprix (lot 504). Another Blelack Digger son this one carries a calving figure of +11.2 and is out of the Inverlochy Topsire daughter Coningsby Chloe sold to DM Keay & Son, East Balloch, Kirriemuir.

The first in the ring from the Clark family, Teiglum Godfather (lot 506) has followed at 7500gns. This is an Elgin Davinci son out of the Alsnow Hurricane daughter Teiglum Dynasty. This one was a first prize winner at the Stars of the Future Calf Show, sold to Duncan MacVicar, Balfron, Stirlingshire.

Teiglum Godfather 7500gns

The next in from Danny Swrij, Swalesmoor General (lot 508) has just been knocked down at 7000gns. By Goldies Uppermost, this one is an ET-bred son out of the Bassingbourn Ralph daughter Blelack una and is full brother to the 12,000gns Swalesmoor Cupid to Fowlie, Alford. And straight after was his full ET-bred brother Swalesmoor Grampian (lot 509) from the same home selling for 5000gns to Messrs Simpson, Knowhead of Duntrune, Dundee. And then yet another full ET-brother Swalesmoor Galloway (lot 512) has wrapped up Danny’s offering for a bit selling at 5200gns, selling to H Swanson, Tister, Halkirk, Caithness.

Helping a strong pen average for the Bothwell family, Killadeas Garvey (lot 516) has gone at 8500gns. By Blackford Dynamite, he is out of the Dunlon Ulick daughter Killadeas Crocus and sold to Alan Doig, Glenalmond. Their next, Killadeas Gordon (lot 517) has followed straight after at 5500gns. This one is again by Dynamite and is out of a ulick daughter again, sold to EM Purdon & Son, Wester Moffat, Airdrie.

Billy and Sarah Turner’s Brampton Grenadier (lot 521) has gone at 5200gns. By Newhouse Diablo, he is out of a Bassett Pearlyking daughter, sold to A Sharp & Sons, Farmton, Tough.

by Chrissie Long