Herefords rocket at Shrewsbury

ON its inauguration at its new Shrewsbury venue, the Hereford Cattle Society’s spring parade and sale saw trade rocket, setting a new society female record average at £3,934 which cleared at 93 per cent, with an overall sale clearance of 95 per cent.

There was also a strong bull trade. Travelling across from Co Down, John and William McMordie’s Solpoll 1 Trooper heads to Gloucestershire with HA Colburn following a call of 6,200gns to join the Crickley herd.

It is a grandsire of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry and a Solpoll 1 Perfection son which was top price at the 2019 spring sale at 8,000gns. At 18 months old, it lies in the top 1 per cent for 200, 400 and 600 day weights, scrotal size and terminal sire and self-replacing indexes.

Topping the lively heifer trade conducted by Halls’ Jonny Dymond, was Glenvale 1 Polly 721 from TG, EI and EN Thorne, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire at 5,200gns, after 40 years of private-only female sales for the breeders. April 2019-born, this Netherhall 1 OZ Daffy M024 daughter was sold served to Vexour 1 Palmer. It was purchased by HS and I Griffiths and partners, St Davids and returns to Pembrokeshire as the purchasers re-enter the breed.

Another heifer from the same home was Glenvale 1 Polly 712, selling at 4,600gns. From the same female line which performs so well for the breeders, and paternal sister to the top price, it was served in January to Fisher 1 Rancher R483 and was also purchased by HS and I Griffiths and partners.

Also realising 4,600gns was Dendor 1 Keepsake 22nd from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys. March 2019-born, it is a daughter of Bakgard 1 Keno 1178 which stood Royal Welsh supreme champion in 2017. The heifer sold in-calf to Dendor 1 Moonshine which was the 2018 Royal Welsh and Royal Three Counties’ supreme champion. It went home with J Porter of Whites Herefords, Bridgewater, Somerset.

Amongst the top prices was Riverdean 1 Diane from B Birch and G Brindley and NJ Griffiths, Weston, Staffordshire selling at 3,800gns to P Murdock, Kilmore, Co Armagh.

A sound average and clearance of 91 per cent continued into the bulls with a top call of 7,200gns made by Martin Jenkins for 24 month old Barwise 1 Samson MO 0835 from Carolyn Fletcher, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria and will join the Gloucestershire-based Appleridge herd. Qualifying as a superior carcase sire, this Moeskaer Online 1444 son has a terminal sire and self-replacing indexes in the top 1 per cent, and lies in the top 5 per cent for growth, eye muscle and retail beef yield. It is out of Barwise 1 Grace K2, and is the female line responsible for producing the 2018 UK Hereford sire of the year Barwise 1 Lancer.

Haven Tarzan from EL Lewis and son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire saw the hammer fall at 6,800gns to Francis Elmore of Essmore Herefords, Co Louth, Ireland. October 2019-born, it is the first son to be offered by the 2018 National Show champion Mara President and is out of Haven Louisa 65th, one of the strongest cows for the Lewis family who celebrate 200 years of breeding in 2022.

In the for sale only female section, every animal sold. The top price was gained by 13 month old Black Hall 3 Joy from Jenny Pudge, Kings Pyon, Herefordshire which is a British Polled Hereford and was purchased at 2,350gns by MA Quiney and SM Spears, Moretonhampstead, Devon.

Averages: 14 show heifers, £3,934; 31 bulls, £4,027; 7 for sale only females, £1,493