ON Saturday, May 8, a crowd of pedigree and commercial breeders made their way to Borderway Mart, Carlisle, to the May spring sale, where 118 bulls went under the hammer with an exceptional trade.
Spirits were high to be back in Borderway with a near familiar bull sale experience, being able to get back into the show ring whilst still meeting Covid-19 restrictions.
Across the board, bulls averaged £8,302.78, an increase of over £1,950 on 2019, with a clearance rate of 84 per cent. Nineteen of the top-class bulls on offer make five figures, five of these exceeding 20,000gns.
Topping the trade at 50,000gns was Everpark Partylight from first-time vendors J & T Waring from Everingham, York. After being placed first in his class by judge Archie Macgregor of the Allanfauld herd and then crowned Intermediate Champion, Partylight shone brightly for many spectators around the ring.
This September-2019 born em-bryo calf is a son of 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman and the greatly admired Millington Highlight, which
was purchased by the herd at the Millington dispersal sale for 50,000gns with a calf at foot. Partylight displays myostatin of F94L and Q204X and a Beef Value in the top one per cent of the breed, LM55.
This was the first bull to be put under the hammer from the Everpark herd after it was established six years ago. Breeder Tom Waring was over the moon with the trade and commented: “We wanted our first bull that we offered for sale to be a good one, so have waited until Partylight.”
The Everpark herd is made up of 15 pedigree cows and runs alongside an arable and broiler chicken farm enterprise. Partylight caught the eye of two breeders, DE Evans, Mold, Clwyd, of the Esmors herd, and FC Tomlinson, Retford, Nottingham, who
have purchased the bull in jointly.
Hunting down a price of 40,000gns was Tillside Predator from another first time vendor, DJ Summers, who travelled up to the sale from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. This December-2019 born Mereside Go-dolphin son displays two sets of the F94L ‘profit’ gene and is out of Homebyres Nigella, who was purchased at the Red Ladies Derby in 2018.
Breeder Tom Summers was very pleased with his first trip to Borderway, after only previously selling stock off farm. Tom commented: “Predator has been a favourite since a calf with a very docile temperament. Coming to the sale we had high hopes, but this trade has greatly exceeded them!”
After a keen bidding frenzy, the bull was purchased by the Wilodge herd, who had a production sale in Carlisle just a few months back, and he now calls Shropshire home with Christine Williams.
Millgate Rob was brought forward from M Loughran, Cookstown, County Tyrone. Selling for a very respectable 30,000gns, this January-2020 born calf is the first son of Millim Neve and is sired by Norman Ely, who was purchased by the Millgate herd from the Red Ladies Sale in 2010. He displays myostatin of NT821 and Q204X.
Finding his new home over the border into Wales, he goes home to show calf producers PJ & TA Jones & Sons, near Builth Wells, Powys.
Archie Macgregor, the judge for this weekend, gave the titles of Junior and Overall Champion to Grahams Rooney, which was next in the stakes at 28,000gns brought forward R & J Graham, Bridge of Allan, Stirling. Son of Ampertaine Foreman, and out of Grahams Melody, who has an array of silverware behind her name, being Reserve Interbreed and Overall Limousin Champion at the Royal Yorkshire and Royal Welsh Shows in 2018. February-2020 born Rooney displays a Beef Value of 53, which lines in the top one per cent of the breed and myostatin of F94L and Q204X. Rooney scored favourite for Garrowby Farms, Bugthorpe, York, home of the Garrowby prefix.
Reserve Junior and Reserve Overall Champion, Whinfellpark President, brought forward to the sale by Messrs Jenkinson, Penrith, was not far behind, selling for 24,000gns. The December-2019 born embryo calf, sired by Gunnerfleet Lion, was a favourite for many after catching their eye after a successful time in the show ring Friday morning.
Out of 17,000gns Ironstone Laven-der, a Bailea Umelia daughter, which was purchased by Messrs Jenkinson in 2017 at the Ironstone dispersal sale. President has an impressive Beef Value within the top 10 per cent of the breed, LM40 and myostatin of NT821 and Q204X. He finds his new home with G L Hutton, Keswick, Cumbria, at the Cloughhead herd.
WJ & J McKay, from County Derry, received 10,000gns for Ampertaine Parisian.
This Wilodge LJ son was a red rosette winner in his class and is out of the homebred cow Ampertaine Goldie, who is from the same line as 40,000gns Ampertaine Opportunity. Parisian carries myostatin of F94L and NT821 as well as a Beef Value of LM40 in the top 10 per cent of the breed. Sold to commercial buyer C Jones, Llanarth, Ceredigion.
The second bull from W J & J McKay was Ampertaine Phantom, selling for 9,500gns to P Cooper & Son, Forfar, Angus, to the Govals herd. December-2019 born embryo calf Phantom carries myostatin of F94L and Q204X and a Beef Value within the top one per cent of the breed of 55. Sired by Ampertaine Foreman, he is out of homebred cow Joy, a daughter of Goldies Fantastic.
Auctioneers – Harrison & Hether-ington.
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