The Scottish Farmer | Business/Sales

First new season lamb

Supermarket chain Asda is set to become the first major retailer to offer new season lamb this spring, stocking product on its butcher’s counters in stores across the UK from March 13, this year.

Chelford Blues sell to 7500gns

Continued demand for pedigree British Blue cattle, ensured a good, level trade for the breed’s 51st national show and sale, at Chelford.

CLB record profits

For the year to December 31, 2009, pre-tax profits were £72,318 – up from £71,683 the previous year.

Harsh winter continues

This year’s winter has been one of the longest and most severe on record and as the snow flurries and bitter cold weather continues in many areas – preventing any thaw of deep lying snow – concerns are mounting relating to future fodder supplies and this year’s lamb crop.

Blackies enjoy good year

Whitebreds top Carlisle

Whitebred Shorthorns bulls ruled supreme at a joint sale of Shorthorn and Galloway cattle at Carlisle, securing three of the top four highest prices including the two best at 2600gns and 2500gns.

Higgins family have top herd

The top Holstein herd, ranked on fat and protein production, according to NMR’s annual production report, is the Higgins family’s herd from Wilderley Hall, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Scottish herd wins genetic award

STIRLING-BASED Charolais breeder, Andrew Hornall has been recognised for his 20-cow Falleninch pedigree herd making the greatest genetic progress in Scotland during the last 12 months, with the Harman Charolais Genetic Improvement Award 2010.

Dingwall to hold special sale of Highlanders

AT THEIR rare and minority breeds sale on March 6, Dingwall and Highland Marts are holding a special sale of Highland cattle, including bulls from Kentallan Farm, Savalbeg, Tordarroch Estate and Orbost, and females from Naviedale, Caberfeidh, Balnafettach, Savalbeg (Lagg fold, Corriebheinn Farms (Dunvegan fold), Colaboll, Orbost, Highfield and Mid Torrie Farm.

Mart profits improve

The Harrison and Hetherington Group, Carlisle, (H & H) has reported record profits for the first six months of the year to the end of December 2009.

Haltcliffe’s DJ tops Limousin sale at 72,000gns

The best of the bulls met a huge demand at Harrison and Hertherington’s Limousin sale at Carlisle at the weekend, where 18 lots broke the five-figure barrier, selling to a top of 72,000gns – the second highest bull price ever achieved at a UK auction.

Express delivery as BB exported

After years importing Belgium Blue semen and cattle from their Belgian homeland, one of the UK’s leading Blue genetics companies has reversed the trend.

British Blues go live

British Blue semen can now be bought through the on-line company, Semenstore Ltd, available through its website, semenstore.co.uk

New president for NCC Society

THE MAN who established the North Country Cheviot breed in Wales has been elected president of the breed society.

Aberdeen-Angus semen set for Estonia

AN ORDER for 100 straws of Aberdeen-Angus semen for export to Estonia from a bull from the Rosemount herd has been confirmed at this week’s bull sales at Stirling.

Farmers need to be more ‘business-like’

TODAY’S FARMERS will have to become more business-like if they are to take advantage of long-term financial assistance.

Black Limousins lead prices

BLACK COATED Limousins set the trend over their red cousins, with two sharing the day’s top price of 12,000gns at the Perth Bull Sales at Stirling this week.

Record average for Beef Shorthorns

The Beef Shorthorn breed proved popular at the bull sales at Stirling this week, collecting a record average of £4560 for 39 sold.

A-A trade peaks at 28,000gns

THE ANGUS breed has enjoyed a record-breaking sale at Stirling this week, with 146 bulls selling for a best ever average of £5047 – for 17 more sold on the year.

Braveheart is best Beef Shorthorn at ‘Perth’

Winning the Beef Shorthorn championship at Stirling was Donald Biggar’s senior champion Chapelton Braveheart, a Chapelton Typhoon son out of the Winalot Big Mac daughter, Chapelton Duchess.

Blelack leads Angus section at ‘Perth’

The intermediate champion, Blelack Lord Hildalgo H972, from Neil Massie, Blelack, Dinnet, went on to win the overall title at the pre-sale show of Aberdeen-Angus cattle at Stirling, today, judged by Albert De Cogan.

Worrying fall in sheep kill

RED MEAT production during 2009 in the UK was relatively unchanged on the year at 1.9m tonnes, according to the latest Defra figures.

World record 75,000gns for Angus bull

A NEW record price has been paid for a two-year-old Scottish-bred Aberdeen-Angus bull, which has raised hopes that the once lucrative export trade with the United States could open up again.

Another first for Luing breed

The Luing breed will again be at the forefront of positive moves on cattle health for their annual sale at Wallets Mart, Castle Douglas on Friday, February 5, with all 199-head of pedigree cattle entered from 22 herds consigned by members of CHeCS accredited health schemes.

Beef semen for US

A large consignment of semen – predominantly from pedigree Limousin bulls but also including a batch of British Blue and Charolais semen – has been successfully exported to Texas, USA, for two separate customers, following orders made through the e-commerce site Semenstore.co.uk

Be aware of bull proof changes

DAIRY FARMERS should be wary of taking the facts and figures in new bull catalogues as gospel this month, as figures will be expressed on a completely different scale from those of the past five years.

Oman dominates Holstein bull proofs

This week’s Holstein bull proof run from DairyCo breeding+ may look like more of the same with a continued dominance by Oman and his sons.

Carlisle British Blue sale postponed

Due to the adverse weather conditions, the sale of British Blue cattle, due to take place at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, this Friday (January 15th), has been postponed until February 19.

UK Limousin semen in demand

LIMOUSIN SEMEN from three of the UK’s leading bulls owned by Matt and Craig Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket-new-Market, Wigton, have been exported to Germany and Denmark.

Deehaven sale cancelled

Due to the extreme weather conditions across the UK, Wright Manley and Norton and Brooksbank have announced that the young stock dispersal sale from the Deehaven herd, due to take place today at Whitehouse Farm, Puddington, Cheshire, has been postponed.

Top cows and heifers in Scotland

Top herds in Scotland – to 30/09/2009

Five years in a row for Annandale herd

THE ANNANDALE Holstein herd from Milton, at Beattock, run by Matthew and William Armour, has topped the Scottish league table for production for the fifth year in succession.

38,000gns tops Carlisle Red Ladies

THE OVERALL show champion from the Limousin Red Ladies show and sale today at Carlisle, has sold for 38,000gns.

Centre record for trio of White Wyandottes

A MART record of £300 for a pen of hens was recorded at the annual Craven ‘Feather Auctions’ Christmas show and sale of poultry and waterfowl at Skipton Auction Mart, last weekend.

€24,000 record price Irish bull

An Irish record price of €24,000 was paid for the Charolais bull, Cottage Devon, at the Irish Charolais Society Christmas Cracker show and sale in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Black Highlanders head to France

A BATCH of black Highland cattle from three Scottish folds have been sold to new French breeder Francoise Jean-Luc Le Gac, from Normande.

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