Positive start to the New Year for British Blues

Buyers were in a positive mood, at the British Blue Cattle Society Show & Sale, on Friday 14 January 2011, at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Trade topped at 5,200gns three times, with purchasers digging deep for quality.

The pre-sale show was ably judged by long-standing supporter and current President of the Society, Ted Haste from Shebbear, North Devon. His Male & Supreme Champion was the first bull to reach 5,200gns - Bluegrass Dakota ET, from Messrs. Raine, Stanhopegate, Middleton-in-Teesdale. This powerful, mobile black & white bull, a Harley Du Chateau Lebrun son, was out of one of the Bluegrass Herd foundation cows, Ridge Dean Uptown Girl. Dakota went home with WP Hughes & Sons, Holyhead, Anglesey, to join their suckler herd, with a view to producing quality, show potential commercial winners.

Bluegrass Dakota ET

The second entry to sell for 5,200gns was a dark blue bull consigned by Yorkshire breeders J & E Coates of Settle. Greystone Escort, a 21 month old son of their herd sire, Greystone Atomic and out of the homebred, Greystone Whisp was knocked down to Messrs Mason & Gardner of Chapel le Dale, Carnforth. Messrs Coates also sold Greystone Dambuster at 4,800gns; a naturally born working bull was again sired by Greystone Atomic but this time out of Greystone Uhu. Dambuster went home to the Scottish Borders, with J Barrie from Greenlaw, Duns.

Greystone Escort

The last bull through the sale ring also sold for 5,200gns. This black and white bull stood first in his class and was exhibited by JC Walker & Son of Clitheroe. Brennand Emperor was a July 2009 born son of Empire D’ochain and was out of the great brood cow Bringlee Sandy.

Brennand Emperor ET

Earlier in the year these bloodlines had interested the Belgian AI Company, Fabroca, as they purchased his full brother; however, taking Emperor home to join the Towngate herd, was Mr. T Metcalfe, Towngate Farm, Bradford. Mr. Metcalfe also purchased the served heifer, Denby Dreamer ET from Huw Roberts, at 2,300gns. Dreamer was sired by Gitan Du P’Tit Mayeur out of the Ridge Dean Mahogany sired cow, Ridge Dean Vervet and sold, A’Id to Bringlee Blackstar.

The Reserve Male & Reserve Supreme bull came from the consignment of bulls from Danny & Jane Wyllie who sold Tamhorn Egor at 5,000gns. This mobile black & white son of the renowned Ballygrange Alex and out of Hazelwood Wanda, finds a new home with W H Dixon, Hayscastle, Haverfordwest.

Tamhorn Egar

Next in line was a dark blue bull from Sally & Neil Lloyd at 4,000gns. Black ‘n’ Blue Excalibur ET, a Label De Spy son was out of the multi prize-winning cow, Black ‘n’ Blue UK.Com. He stood second in his class and joins M Sharp, Braystones, Beckermet, Cumbria.

Also at 4,000gns was the first bull through the ring, Snowy Ridge DJ ET, from Gloria & James Annett. This well muscled, stylish bull was successfully shown throughout 2010. He was sired by the popular Springbank Blackstar and out of Ridge Dean Wondering Gem. He will join the Trencrom Herd of EA & DA Ellis, Lelant, St. Ives, who also purchased Stowbeck Carol from Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd. This Dafydd D’ Ochain daughter was out of Stowbeck Winifred and was sold, in calf to Empire D’Ochain. She was knocked down at 2,400gns.

Richard Aston of the Astrics Herd, sold his August born black & white bull calf, Astrics Flash ET for 2,700gns. This five month old youngster, again sired by Bringlee Volkawagon was out of Astrics Velvet, a Hazelwood Freshman daughter. Flash was sold with his recipient dam and travels to Shebbear, Devon with the judge, Ted Haste.

Leading the ladies, at 2,500gns was the very sweet, black & white heifer calf, Lukeroyal Fragrance ET, from Mel & Dianne Lucas. Sired by Bringlee Blackstar and out of the homebred cow, Lukeroyal Winnifred, she sold with her recipient dam to Mr. R Darlington, Beresford Dale, Buxton, Derbyshire and will join his Round Hill herd.

The Champion female came from local breeders, Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd. Stowbeck Angela, a Dafydd D’Ochain daughter, and out of Stowbeck Rosie, sold with her October born, Bringlee Volkawagon sired bull calf at foot, Stowbeck Freddy. The successful bidder, at 2,300gns was Messrs. Robson from Tow Law, Bishop Auckland.

The Reserve Female Champion came from Kevin Watret of the Solway View Herd. He exhibited Annanwater Duo, bred by Ryder Farming. This very correct and well muscled Gitan Du P’Tit Mayeur daughter was out of Annanwater Andrea but left the ring unsold.

Averages
11 bulls £4085.45
2 served heifers £2467.50
1 unserved heifer £2100
1 cow with calf £2415
2 recipients with calves £2730.00