A HEIFER with a proven show record led the way at the Hereford Cattle Society’s autumn show and sale at Hereford when Shraden 1 Alice P809 set a new centre record of 7500gns.

That being said, the female average for both shown and unshown heifers dropped on the year while bulls mirrored recent trends and met a difficult trade as only 57% of the entry changed hands.

Consigned by MJ and HM Timmis, Moor Farm, Baschurch, Shrewsbury, the Dendor 1 Knuckleduster-sired Alice landed the female championship at the pre-sale show to add to the same title claimed at the Royal Welsh Show earlier this year.

Born in March, 2017, out of Shraden 1 Alice C198, by Free Town Supreme, she sits in the top 5% of the breed for retail beef yield as well as the top 10% for milk. Alice heads to a new home near Berwick-upon-Tweed with JD Hodge.

It was the junior male champion, Vexour 1 Phantom from Jan Boomars, Heathdown, Woldingham, Surray, that topped the bull entry when sold to RA Mitchell, Dorchester, for 5000gns. The pedigree of this 19-month-old features Solpoll 1 Landmark on to the Baybridge 1 Atlas-sired Romany 1 Mink A84 J22.

Selling for 4300gns to Hawkins Farming, Bosbury, was Mrs Caroline Fletcher’s Barwise 1 Nabucco from Barwise Hall, Appleby in Westmorland, Cumbria. Showcasing figures in the top 1% for retail beef yield and fertility, with growth figures in the top 5%, this 29-month-old son of Moeskaer Online was used at home during the summer. His mother is Barwise 1 China Rose, by Barwise 1 Wellington.

The reserve champion from the Royal Welsh Show, Rempstone 1 Eric V463 from M Ludgate, Scotsgrove Farm, Thame, followed on at 4000gns. Born in February, 2017, out of the Mara Archer-bred Rempstone Model, this Hawkesbury 1 Vespa son sold to Michael Clark for his Lowesmoor herd near Tetbury.

Matching that 4000gns bid was Panmure 1 Pudding from JM Cant and Partners, Easter Knox, Arbirlot, Arbroath, which sold to Tim and William Livesey for their Normanton herd. This 19-month-old son of Dendor 1 Leota is out of Panmure 1 Plum F15, a Solpoll 1 Brigadier daughter.

The oldest bull in the catalogue, Cleland 1 Nelson, a March, 2016-born bull from AE Nesbitt Farms, North Standen, Hungerford, Berkshire, sold to P Cobley, Stoney Stanton, for 3100gns. Out of a home-bred Cleland 1 Galahad daughter, he is by Moeskaer Keno.

With show heifers meeting an 89% clearance, Spartan 1 Amy from SC Hartwright, Woodlands, Milton Hill, Abingdon, attracted a 3100gns bid from Uel Shaw, Dungannon, Northern Ireland. This show heifer, which was born in April, 2016, out of the Dendor 1 Tia Tia-sired Eldersfield 1 Amy K916, is by Bosa 1 Hereward.

Not far behind at 3000gns was Romany 1 Lucy K956 R16 from the Hereford Cattle Society’s Herd of the Year – Ron and Robert Wilsons’ Kelso-based Romany herd. By the reserve senior champion at last year’s Highland, Fardre 1 Hi Hidalgo, she is out of a Romany 1 Frisky daughter from the herd’s noted Lucy family. Forking out the cash was Bowen Contracting, Treharris.

Females not entered in the pre-sale show also met strong demand to top at 1800gns for a six-year-old from G and MC Shepherd, Moorside House, Woodplumpton, Preston. Moorside 1 Jacky 2, a Yalgoo Boulder daughter which changed hands scanned in calf, sold to W Milner, Much Wenlock.

Averages: Eight show heifers, £3425.63 (-£236.87 for two fewer); 16 bulls, £2933.44 (+£98.44 for seven fewer); 13 unshown females, £1324.62 (-£718.46 for one more).