averages: 46 bulls, £3,394; 22 show females, £3,021; 24 for sale only females, £1,330

Solpoll 1 Perfection from J and W McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down, was the pick of the bidders and the judge at the Hereford spring show and sale at Hereford market. Having stood grand male champion in the pre-sale show, this Panmure 1 Henry son was knocked down at 8000gns, and taken home by pedigree breeders SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire with plans to show it through the summer.

David Deakin, breed secretary, commented: “It was pleasing to see that the interest in the breed shows no signs of slowing down with standing room only around the show and sale rings, mirroring the continued increase in the Society’s membership. It was also encouraging to see almost half the cattle finding homes outside of the breed, another sign that the Hereford’s popularity in the commercial market is continuing to grow.”

Havenfield 1 Rufus, an October 2017-born bull from EL Lewis and son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire was next in the money at 6400gns, passing hands to JR Williams, George Nympton, Devon. By Solpoll 1 Lawman, the supreme champion at Tullamore Show in both 2016 and 2017, Rufus’ grandsire is also Panmure 1 Henry.

Another McMordie bred bull, Solpoll 1 Rawhide, realised 6000gns and received a red prize card in the pre-sale show. Selling to Mr and Mrs MGS Gibson, Stitchcombe, Wiltshire, it is another Panmure 1 Henry son. Born in September 2017, it is out of the home-bred Solpoll 1 Dainty F16.

Having travelled south from Kelso, Romany 1 Roxburgh BL R34 from Ronald Wilson and Sons sold to pedigree breeders N and G Robinson, Bury, Lancashire for 5200gns. This bull is by the Hereford Cattle Society’s 2018 sire of the year Barwise 1 Lancer and out of Romany 1 Ishbel RE L48.

Bosa 1 Norfolk from Gerald Blandford’s herd at Bosbury, Herefordshire realised 3400gns selling to M Ludgate, Scotsgrove, Oxfordshire. Born in June 2017, this well-framed bull stood reserve senior male in the pre-sale show.

Dendor 1 Myrtle 13th from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys led the heifer trade at 5500gns, selling to Rachel Aidley, Elworth, Cheshire. It is by Canadian-bred Harvie Java 52J, which itself carries Dendor blood and has been twice named Danish national Hereford male champion. It sold in-calf to Dendor 1 Nairobi which was supreme champion at the Hereford Cattle Society’s National Poll Show in 2018.

Not far behind was Shraden 1 Alice R834 from MJ and HM Timmis which saw bids reach 5000gns and will travel across the water with Uel Shaw, Dungannon. By Dendor 1 Knuckleduster, it is another from the herd’s Alice family and paternal sister to the Timmis’ Hereford market record priced female made in autumn 2018.

Fisher 1 Eva R480 from WJ Hutchings and sons, South Mundham, West Sussex hit 3,700gns, selling to J Twose, Login, Carmarthenshire. One of the best females ever offered by Mr Hutchings at Hereford, it is out of Fisher 1 Eva G303, one of the top cows in the Fisher herd.

Auctioneers: Brightwells