Shorthorn and British Blues lead beef sale in Skipton

The sale was topped at 6500gns by the youngest entry, a 14-month-old maiden heifer from Millie Birch's Highsky herd from Weston, Staffordshire.

Her HighSky Erin’s Elizabeth was the first home-bred heifer to be sold from the small West Midlands-based herd established just three years ago. Champion at the pre-sale show, judged by James Rea – stockman at Chapelton Beef Shorthorns, Castle Douglas – she is a full sister to the 2022 Royal Welsh Show champion and inter-breed reserve, Erin's Enchantment. This makes Erin's Elizabeth, an AI daughter of Carrarock Chalkie bred from the foundation cow, Caramba's Erin's Kiss, acquired from Southern Ireland’s Tommy Staunton.

READ MORE | Dalesbred sheep: 100% clearance, 600gns top price at Skipton

While Mrs Birch was unable to celebrate in person as she was judging a calf show down south, she was represented by her husband Boomer, and father-in-law Roger. The title winner sold to Mary Cormack, of Rougemont Pedigree Livestock, Stoke Prior, Hereford.

The second top price was 6000gns paid for a cow and calf outfit from Chris Bellerby, Dale herd, Weeton, Harrogate. Dale Petula, a first calved March, 2020-born red heifer is by Derwentwood Jagger and out of the Hallsford Spartan Warrior-sired Dale Rhona. Petula sold with her Given Panther-sired March-born red calf and back in calf to the same sire to A and C Farms, Langham, Rutland.

Sale leader at 6500gns from Millie Birch

First time consignor, Mr. Bellerby also sold two other cow and calf outfits at 2800gns and 2500gns.

Dumfriesshire-based breeders, Tom and David Bradley Farmer of the Meonside herd, Parkgate, were again among the lead prices, with a top of 4600gns paid for the third prize April 2022-born heifer, Meonside Catriona Rosebud Sky. She is one of the first AI daughters of Crooked Post Tobias and bred from the Canadian import, Coldrichie Catriona who was responsible for the junior female champion at the 2022 Great Yorkshire Show. This dark roan heifer also headed home with Mary Cormack.

Meonside was back in the money, when their reserve female, Meonside Desiree Shuri, a similarly aged light roan heifer made 3700gns. She is one of the first to be sold by Podehole Piper, a £10,000 private purchase two years ago from Charles and Sally Horrell, and out of Coldrochie Desiree, a former champion winner here. Shuri joins the Holgate family, Rathmell. Meonside sold other maiden heifers at 2800gns and 2500gns.

Draft heifers from the Thompson family partnership’s Grinkle herd, Sneaton, Whitby, reached 3400gns for Grinkle SA Clipper. The April 2021-born roan daughter of Grinkle Secret Agent, out of the Gilven Gregor-sired Endeavour Libby, sold four months in calf to Restoration of Upsall, to DR and RL Bowen, Narbeth, Pembrokeshire.

Grinkle Rebel Kyla, by the home-bred Glenisla Zetor son, Grinkle Rebel, out of the Castlemount Ross daughter, Grinkle Ross Kyla, then made 3150gns selling to the Holgates. She sold due to Glenisla Excalibur. Other Grinkle in-calf heifers made 2800gns and 2750gns.

Another in-calf heifer, Pikelowe Gold Queen S253 made 3100gns for Andrew Thompson, Higher Wheelton, Chorley. His April, 2022-born daughter of the home-bred Broughton Park Thunder son, Pikelowe Masterplan, out of another Gold Queen dam by Westmoor Gospel, sold 12 weeks in calf to Mayfield Rendezvous, again to the Holgates.

Heifers from Gerald Turton's Upsall herd from Thirsk peaked at 3600gns for the yearling heifer, Secret Maid X1698 Of Upsall, a daughter of Nelson Of Upsall, out of a Firefox Of Upsall daughter. She was another purchased by A and C Farms.

Allan Jackson Partnership's Headlind herd, Kirkfieldbank, Lanarkshire, reached 2100gns for Headlind Flossy Sassy, a Burnside Elite daughter, purchased by R and S Green, Melrose.

The entry of 20 Aberdeen-Angus females saw a mixed trade with the two show animals securing the highest prices at 3300gns and 2200gns for breed debutants, Robert Mawer and partner Emma Benge’s Embrooke herd from Horsington, Lincolnshire.

Their two entries were both AI daughters of Rawburn Jumbo Eric, with the sale leader being the April, 2022-born maiden heifer, Embrooke Eyrie Y133 – the fifth calf of Weeton Eyrie S495, acquired at a dispersal sale and still in use. Following up on their multiple Beef Shorthorn buys, she sold to the Holgate family, Rathmell, who also went to 2200gns for the champion, the January, 2021-born Embrooke Electra X105, out of Sudbrooke Eliza.

The sale of 12 pedigree British Blues, which included a production sale from Alan and Graham Coates' Greystone herd from Rainscar Farm, Stainforth, met a 100% clearance. It was topped at 5600gns by Greystone Speedy, a naturally-born 18-month-old maiden heifer by Baigneur De Tohogne, out of the Ecclatant-bred Greystone Happy. She was snapped up by F and MP Allinson, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle.

Greystone Rita, an April 2021-born entry by the same sire, out of Greystone Korky then made 5000gns selling to Tim and Lisa Metcalfe, Clayton, Bradford. She sold served to the 15,000gns Auchenlay Ranger.

Just behind, on 4900gns, Greystone Roxy, a rising two-year-old daughter of Goodhills Emperor was knocked down to J Cardwell, Doncaster.

The 19-month-old Greystone Sofia, the last daughter of the late, Almeley Ginola, also caught the eye at 4000gns selling to Henley Livestock, Bolton Percy, Tadcaster.

A guest consignment from Mark and Elaine Hartley’s Pendle herd, Toughlee, sold to 3800gns for Pendle Star, a February 2022-born son of Greystone Noveltee, out of Pendle Northern Star. He also sold to Mr Cardwell, Doncaster.

The Hartleys also presented the top priced bull at 4200gns. Pendle Rascal, an April 2021-born entry also by Noveltee, found a new home with FW Robinson and Son, Woodhall Spa.

Auctioneers: CCM

Averages: Beef Shorthorns – Maiden heifers, £2647; in-calf heifers, £2420; cow and calves £3955. British Blues – Heifers, £3861; bulls £3832.