Farming Eye

Here’s an absolutely stunning picture gallery from yesterday’s show and sale of Highland cattle at Oban. As ever there’s a few teasers below to get you to have a look. All images can be purchased from MacGregor Photography.

by Chrissie Long

Today’s pre-sale Highland female champion at Oban has sold for 3500gns to Messrs G Brown, Penicuik. Taking the championship honours was Iseabal 19th of Carsaig, an April 2009-born daughter of Gille Dubh of Craigowmill from Lady Lithgow. This one is out of the Hamish Mhor 2nd of Callachally daughter Iseabal 13th of Carsaig and sells in calf to Callum 2nd of Goldenberry, the champion bull at Oban in 2010.

Iseabal 19th of Carsaig

The same buyer also took home Mairie Mhor 7th of Ormsary at 2600gns, a March 2009-born female from Sir William Lithgow. This one is by Oskar of Hyndford and is out of a Kirkbost of Ardbhan daughter. She sold in calf again to Callum 2nd of Goldenberry.

Just shy of the top female price tag was the March 2012-born heifer Luss Peigi 1st of Glenkinglass selling at 3400gns. This white heifer from Messrs Schuster is by Angus Ruadh of Gartchonzie and is out of a Seamus of Carsaig and sold to Donatella Acella, Italy.

Luss Peigi of Glenkinglass

by Chrissie Long

Trade for Highland bulls in Oban is currently topping at 5000gns for the second prize Angus Mor of Glengoyne from Ewan Mackay. This March 2011-born red bull is by Brogach of Craigowmill and is out of the Ringdean Ruadh of Torloisk daughter Dossan Ruadh 13th of Coirefuar. He was knocked down to R Chilton, Welshpool.

Angus Mor of Glengoyne

Next best in the money today so far was the February 2010-born senior bull Cnoc Dearg 2nd of Cladich from John Strickland. This one is a Aonghas of An Sidhean son out of the Eoin Mhor of Beinn-Latha-Ur daughter Frangag Donn 10th of Torloisk. He traded at 3100gns.

Cnoc Dearg 2nd of Cladich

So far after that there have been three bulls selling for 3000gns, the first of which was the first bull in the ring Torquil 2nd of Ubhaidh from Roy Tylden-Wright. This one is by Torquil 1st of West Merkland.

Next was the second bull in to the ring, the February 2010-born Harris of Sorne from Ken Headspeath Jnr. This one is a son of Blair Jake 1st of Heathergills Glenlivet. Next at the same money was the pre-sale champion Maclean of Allanfearn from Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton. This April 2011-born son of Crusoe of Brue is out of the Ewan of Tordarroch daughter Abigail 2nd of Tirry-Side.

MacLean of Allanfearn

Then at 2800gns was Jacobite of Benmore, a red 2006-born bull bred by Emma Paterson and forward by Messrs Prentice. This one is by MacDomhnull of Beinn-Latha-Ur and sold to Pollards Farms, South Yorks.

Images will follow later…….

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

Claiming the Longhorn title earlier today was John Close and Son with the March 2010-born heifer Fishwick Kanara, a Bollin Eugene daughter out of Fishwick Fi. Reserve to her was the winner of the cow and calf class, Carreg Idesia from Bernard and Margaret Llewellyn. Born April 2008, this one is by Southfield Aristocrat out of Carreg Damson.

In the British White classes, the top honours went to the senior bull Latchygors Teabone from Messrs Cook and Son. Born April 2010, this one is by Dadley Margrave and is out of Latchygors Tabatha and was bred by the Schofield family. Reserve to him was the yearling bull Dallyashes Howitzer, a February 2011-born Castleton Trident son from the Hamilton family.

Meanwhile, the Murray Grey championship went to the winner of the cow and calf class and female champion Ashrose Rita 15th from Messrs Otter and Co. Born January 2008, she is by Bundaleer Xroad and is out of Ashrose Rita 11th. The reserve came from the same home in the form of the senior bull and male champion Ashrose Xcalibur, a 2010-born son of Ashrose Tornado.

Clinching the Dexter championship under Denise Hasshill was Charlmoor Harriet, a July 2008-born cow from Miss A Thomsett. She is by Charlmoor Expolsive and was bred by the Park family. Reserve here was the Attwell and Rendall partnership with the senior bull Withybrook Commander, a July 2006-born Santaire Bumble Bee.

by Chrissie Long

Championships in the beef rings here at Yorkshire are nearing conclusion and one of the first to be decided today was the Beef Shorthorns where Charles, Sally and Harry Horrell have taken top spot with thier March 2010-born heifer Podehole Tessa Delightful who is by Trojan of Craigeassie, last year’s interbreed winner.

Standing reserve to her was the senior bull Dacre Rock Star from the Wood family. He is by Chapelton Promoter and was part of the reserve interbreed native pair and reserve group at the Royal Highland Show last month.

In the Aberdeen-Angus rings judge Gayle Bersey has tapped out the yearling heifer Haughton Laura L026 from Whittaker and Co Farms with Fraser Cormack at the halter. By Rawburn Elysium, she was junior champion at the Highland.

The reserve in this section went to the reserve female champion Belhaven Eye Catcher L345, an April 2011-born heifer again by Elysium.

Standing top of the line in the Hereford classes was the male champion Blakelaw 1 Calzaghe from Heather Whittaker. Having taken the reserve male championship at the Highland, he is by Aldersley 1 Dwight.

Reserve went to the female champion Romany 1 Jane, a Baybridge 1 Atlas daughter from the Shepherd family.

The Highland champion came through from the male section in the form of Michale Poland’s February 2010-born Eoin Mhor 8th of Mottistone, by Eoin Mhor of Miungairigh, while the reserve here went to Morag Odhar of Mottinstone, again from Michale Poland. She is half sister to his champion bull and was champion at last year’s Royal Highland Show.

by Chrissie Long

Today’s sale of Highland cattle at united Auctions’ Stirling Mart saw a top price of £2400 paid for Duchess of Bien Esk, a seven year old cow which was part of Messrs Mackie’s Merkland Fold dispersal.

Duchess, a daughter of Thorn of Bien Esk, was sold with a heifer calf at foot.  The pair were purchased by Patricia Smith and Paul Burns, Craigengelt, Stirling.

Next top was £1400 paid for Eilidh of Glengarnock, a five year old cow also owned by Messrs Mackie.   Eilidh was sold with a heifer calf at foot and the pair were purchased by D J Welsh, West Broadmoss, Fenwick, Kilmarnock

Bulls sold to £1000 for Kelso 1 of Sauchie, a two year old consigned by William Roddie, Sauchieburn Estate, Stirling.   Kelso was purchased by Patricia Smith and Paul Burns.  The eight year old stock bull, Philip Ruadh of Tulloch Ard, from the Merkland fold made £960 and was purchased by Duncan McGregor, Burnhead, Queenzieburn, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

Heifer calves sold to £420 twice, both coming from the Gilliesfaulds Fold based at Cupar, Fife and owned by T and N Gilmartin

In the crossbred section Simmental x Highland bulling heifers sold to £920 from North Balloch, Shorthorn x Highland bulling heifers sold to £800 from Burnhead and Shorthorn x Highland yearling heifers sold to £600 from Symington Mains.

by Jonathan Long

Leading the way in this morning’s Highland judging at Chelford was the female champion, January 2011-born black heifer Jess Dubh 1st of West Edmondsley from the Baines family. She is by Domhmull of Sheardrum and is out of Malda Dubh 5th of Sands.

Taking the reserve overall and male championship honours under judge Stuart McKay, Stirling, was the February 2008-born senior red bull, Camdan 1st of Culfoich from Edward Halford. Bred by J and M McConachie and Son, this one is a son of Donnachadh Ruadh 1st of West Merkland and is out of Noreen of Culfoich and was a previous male champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.

The reserve female honours went to J2 Farming with the February 2009-born white female Fiona Geal 1st of Cim, a daughter of Lord Andershaw of old Greenlaw out of Fiona 4th of Cim.

Standing reserve in the males was Simon Haley’s February 2011-born red bull, Loachan Radir of Seam. By Aonghas of Dams, he is out of Lizzie 2nd of Knockendon.

by Jonathan Long

For a snapshot of today’s events from the Highland show and sale at Oban take a look at our gallery by following this link.

Here’s a few sneak previews of the gallery to tempt you!

Pictures by MacGregor Photography.

by Chrissie Long

Following a strong bull trade the Highland females are proving in demand too at Oban today, with a 4000gns the lead call so far.

Best of the trade was for Joanne of Bien Esk from Patricia Smith and Paul Burns. This May 2008-born heifer is by Thorn of Bien Esk and out of Beiridh 6 of Hoejgaard, a Ringean Ruadh of Torloisk daughter. She sold in-calf to Conan of Corriemuckloch.

Joanne of Bien Esk

Then making 3600gns was Proiseag Odhar 6 of Achnacloich from J Y Nelson. An April 2009-born heifer she is by Creagh Dhubh of Labhdal and out of Proiseag Odhar 5 of Achnacloich, a Ruairidh Ruadh of Inversnaid daughter.

And at 3400gns was the female champion senior heifer Dosan Bheag 32 of Inver from Sir William Lithgow. This Oskar of Hyndford daughter is out of Dosan Bheag 18 of Inver, a Jock 2 of Ousdale daughter and sold in-calf to Callam 2 of Goldenberry.

Next wita price of 2500gns was Kirsty Morag of Ubhaidh, a daughter of Torquil 1st of Wesdt Merkland and forward from Roy Tylden-Wright. This one is out of the Seumas Buidhe of Cladich daughter Kirsty of Cladich.

Following that was a call of 1400gns which secured Nancy 5th of Benmeanach from Mrs A Taylor. This January 2011-born heifer is by Torquil Dealbach of Ubhaidh and is out of the Lord Glespin of Old Greenlaw daughter Nancy of Benmeanach.

by Jonathan Long