Scottish breeder and society president, Archie MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, came home in style from the Charolais cattle breed's official autumn show and sale at Welshpool, having bought the top priced bull at 7000gns.
The sale, which saw strong commercial interest in the breed with females peaking at 4400gns top bid, saw Mr MacGregor fork out the lead bid for the 14-month-old Maerdy Norseman, from Flintshire vet, Esmor Evans. A red ticket holder at the pre-sale show, Norseman is by Blelack Fabulous, a former reserve senior male champion at Stirling, purchased for 10,000gns, while his dam Maerdy Jinny is a daughter of the easy-calving sire, Blelack Digger.
The supreme champion, Dooley Nemo, sold next at 6500gns for David Thornley, Swadlincote. Male and junior male champion at this year’s National breed show in July, this May 2017-born bull is the result of the in-calf female purchase Guthrie Iona, a Balmyle Eclipse-sired cow, bought at Dave Murray's Guthrie herd dispersal. A son of Falleninch Hamzorah, Nemo was purchased by SO Jones, Corwen, Clwyd, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
The similarly aged bull, Trefaldwyn Nebo, from Arwel Owen, Foel, Powys, made 6200gns selling to MPB Ashton and Sons, for their Welshpool-based suckler unit. For their money they get a Goldies Eddy son bred from the Blelack Digger-sired Trefaldwyn Harmony.
Judge Emma Andrews, Holmfirth, Yorkshire, found her reserve champion in Caylers Nixon, from the Barker family's Calyers herd from Hertfordshire. This 18-month-old is by the Irish-born Rosana Jupiter and bred from the Thrunton Dominator-sired Caylers Graceful. He headed home with TN Lightfoot, Callington, Cornwall at 5000gns.
A strong entry of females saw prices peak at 4400gns for a class winning entry from Ann Orr-Ewing, Purton, Wiltshire. Foxacre Marcina, a July 2016-born daughter of Wesley Forceful, bred from the Moreton show reserve female champion, Foxacre Flavia, was bought by Tomos Rich, Cilcain, Flintshire, who went on to purchase Griff Morris’ two cow and calf outfits from the Cargriff herd from Llanwern, Powys.
The first of those secured a 4000gns bid. This was paid for the 2012-born cow Cargriff Harmony and her seven-month-old heifer, Carrgriff Octave. Harmony is by the Irish-born Goldstar Echo and sold served to Thrunton Larry – the same sire as Octave.
Aberdeenshire breeder, Neil Barclay, Harestone, Insch, also forked out the cash, going to 3000gns for the top priced outfit from the dispersal of Rodney and Jake Gregory’s Chasewater-based Kerling herd from Cornwall. The cow Wesley Fettle, an eight-year-old daughter of the 10,000gns Balmyle Dingle, sold with her six-month-old heifer calf and served to the 9000gns Sportsmans Neptune.
The production sale of heifers from Arwel Owen’s Trefaldwyn herd also bolstered the female trade when his March 2017-born heifer, Trefaldwyn Nova, by Blelack Digger, made 2200gns selling to Talsarnau, Gwynedd, with her new owner GW Williams.
Averages: 27 bulls: £3,771; eight heifers: £2,848; Trefaldwyn Production – three heifers: £2,170; Cargriff Reduction – two cow and calves: £3,570; Kerling Dispersal – one cow: £1,365; four cow and calves: £2,402; two heifers: £1,522.50
Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales
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