Old Stackyard Blues Raise £81,000 for Charities

An amazing day for the Blue Breed and for Shrewsbury Auction on Saturday 4th March 2023 as vendors from all over the country were greeted by buyers from the tip of Cornwall all the way east to Ipswich, Norfolk and North to Aberdeenshire in Scotland for the Annual Blue Genes Sale which included The Dispersal of Old Stackyard Blues as well as British Blondes, British Charolais and British Limousins.

Overall trade was very firm throughout the sale without exception 5 figure prices and overall resulted in a 91% clearance of stock.

Blue bulls started the sale with 3 selling for the day’s top price of 4000gns, Firstly was DEWLANDS RAZORLIGHT, a fabulous black and white bull sired by Gitan du pt’t Mayeur who was the pick of the Trevedra Farm partnership from Penzance. Secondly was a tremendously powerful bull from Jess Maynard SAPPHIRE BLUES RASCAL, by Empire D’ochain he sold to R J Gooding. Lastly at this level was the champion bull on the day DINMORE RASCAL presented by PR Dawes, this jet black Ballygrange Alex son sold to A G Driver & Son. Bull prices started from 2900gns with 3 unsold.

Blue heifers on the day were a superb trade with many female buyers undoubtedly attracted by the dispersal which followed topping at 4250gn was TRENCROM ROYAL T an outstanding dark blue roan heifer with length and shape by Coolbanger Ivor who sold to returning buyers Messrs Sharpley from Cheshire. The days pre-sale champion was ALMELEY ROSIE from Messrs GL Morgan of Hereford with an outstanding shoulder and rear end she went on to sell for 4200gns to Redbull farming in Ipswich.

The Highlight of this year’s sale was undoubtedly the Dispersal on behalf of Emyr Wigley’s much loved charity herd Old Stackyard Blues. Emyr has now, through sales of his cattle and books, plus open gardens and other events, raised more than £200,000 for RABI and Ovarian Cancer Action. We all collectively applaud this man for his dedication to the memory of his dearly loved wife, Evelyn.

There was a great buzz in the ring from the off with prices peaking at 5400gns for PENDLE KO KO this powerful 2015 cow sold with her January-born heifer calf at foot Tilly spirited bids came from all around the ringside until eventually she was won by C Bartlett. Selling for 5000gns was another 2015 born cow this time STONEBYRES KYLIE, safely in calf for July to Old Stackyard Blues Ruben she was the pick of WP & JM Pritchard. She was followed into the ring by her heifer calf SKYE sired by Almeley Wellington sold to AM & E Hartley. Overall on the day these in calf cows in their working clothes having only had 6 weeks’ notice of the sale sold for an average of £3911.25

Heifers peaked at 3200gns for OLD STACKYARD BLUES STELLA a beautiful black June 22 heifer full of shape and promise she was sired by Alemely Wellington out of Emrys “miracle cow” Stonebyres Kendra who had 3 daughters in the sale, this impressive calf goes on to MT Sweetmore. Heifer Calf prices ranged from 2000gns to 3200gns. A single bull calf OLD STACKYARD BLUES SAMSON by New Close Colonel out of Stonebyres Lizzie born in June sold for 1500gns, to Craigie Bank Farms.

Averages: 12 Pedigree Bulls £3451.88, 12 Pedigree In Calf Cows ave £3911, 6 Pedigree Calves ave £2520, 1 In Calf Heifer £2835, 12 Pedigree Heifer £2883.13

Leading Prices:

Collective Sale
Lot 15 4250gns
Lot 18 4200gns
Lot 6, 8, 10 4000gns

Wigley Dispersal
Lot 32 5400gns
Lot 30, 43 5000gns
Lot 36 4200gns

 

Auctioneers:  Halls Livestock  
Photos:  Wayne Hutchinson, Farm Images