WITH a heatwave on the way to hopefully spur on some grass growth and bring an end to a long winter, breeders will now be looking ahead to the next round of pedigree bull sales and it all kicks during the month of May at Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway centre, Carlisle. 

Scottish breeders will be to the fore as six of the eight breed judges hail from north of the Border as Stewart Stronach, of the Islavale herd, Keith, judged the Simmental offering last week while Dougie McBeath, of the Springsett herd, near Stirling, will place the Limousins this Friday. 
In charge of the Charolais judging will be Allen Drysdale, of the Glenericht herd, Blairgowrie, and Kirriemuir-based Willie McLaren will judge the British Blue entry. Jonadab Ward, of the Whitstonehill herd, Lockerbie, will judge the Belted Galloways and, a week later, John Gilmour, of the Belhaven herd, East Lothian, will judge the Aberdeen-Angus classes. 

Other judges include Paul Thomas, Samoht herd, Wokingham, who will place the British Blondes while judging the Beef Shorthorns will be Simon Farmer, of the Longfield herd, Stanford in the Vale. 

Timetable

Limousin – Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5
317 head, comprising 227 bulls and 90 females, also embryos
Judging – Friday, May 4, at 9am
Sale – Females on Friday, May 4, at 5pm, and bulls on Saturday, May 5, at 10.30am
Judge – Dougie McBeath, Springsett herd, Bannockburn, Stirling

Dispersal – Friday, May 4
Dispersal of Mel and Diane Lucas’ Lukeroyal herd from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, 52 lots, plus embryos and semen

Charolais – Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12
135 head, comprising110 bulls and 25 females
Judging – Friday, May 11, at 1pm.
Sale – Saturday, May 12, at 10.30am
Judge – Allen Drysdale, Glenericht herd, Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire

British Blonde – Saturday, May 12
19 head, comprising 11 bulls and eight females
Judging – 10am
Sale – 12noon
Judge – Paul Thomas, Samoht herd, Wokingham, Berkshire

British Blue – Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19
100 head, comprising 68 bulls and 26 females, also six recipients and semen
Judging of all classes – Friday, May 18, at 1pm
Sale – Saturday, May 19, at 10.30am
Judge – Willie McLaren, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir

Belted Galloway – Saturday, May 19
30 head, comprising eight bulls and 22 females, also commercials
Judging – 10.30am
Sale – 12.30pm
Judge – Jonadab Ward, Whitstonehill herd, Lockerbie

Aberdeen-Angus – Friday, May 25
120 head, comprising 100 bulls and 20 females
Judging – 8.30am. 
Sale – 11.30am
Judge – John Gilmour, Belhaven herd, MacMerry, East Lothain

Beef Shorthorn – Friday, May 25
60 head, comprising 20 bulls and 40 females
Judging – 11.00am 
Sale – 12noon
Judge – Simon Farmer, Longfield herd, Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire

  • Also selling on Friday, May 25, will be pedgree Hereford, Salers and South Devon cattle alongside a catalogue entry of 1000 beef breeding cattle