The Border British Blue Club Annual Spring Show & Sale of Pedigree British Blue Bulls and Females Friday 16th & Saturday 17th May 2008
Report

British Blue breeders enjoyed a bumper day’s trading at the Border British Blue Club’s Eighteenth Annual Spring Show & Sale at Carlisle on Saturday 17 May 2008, when a new breed average for bulls of £5,302.50 was set, there was a lead call of 18,000gns and a further three bulls broke the five figure barrier!

There was tremendous demand for the 86 bulls offered, which saw averages jump £1,128.83 to level at £5,302.50. There were only 2 bulls that left the sale ring unsold and 5 females; and 35 lots made 5,000gns or more.

Once again there was exceptionally strong demand for the intermediate bulls, which again reflected in the average of £5,759.56, with a very strong commercial trade throughout the day, with buyers bidding freely on animals which met their criteria, with the emphasis being growth and mobility. The females were also keenly sought after, with 35 maiden heifers sold to average a very respectable £3,546.

The show and sale was kindly sponsored by BBG (Class Prize Money), British Blue Cattle Society and Border Club (Advertising). BBG also gave £100 to the Supreme Champion and £50 to the Reserve Supreme Champion.

Supreme Champion - Westside Bob

The judge, Mr Geert De Paepe, President of BBG had the difficult task of judging the day prior to the sale. He awarded the Junior Male, Overall Male and Supreme Championship to Stephen Potter, Westside, Topcliffe, Thirsk with his single entry Westside Bob, who is half brother to Westside Baxter, who was Reserve Junior Champion Carlisle May 2007. Bob, a December 2006 born son of Blak du Baty D’Eprave and out of the homebred cow Sophie, was knocked down for 6,500gns to MMD McDermott, 7 Pollerton Road Upper, Carlow, Eire.

Top bid of the day however, came for the Coates Family, Rainscar Farm, Stainforth, Settle who have been breeding Blues consistently since they started breeding Blue cattle nearly two decades ago. Graham led his 5th prize winning bull into the ring and the bidding got under way for Greystone Bonzer a July 2006 son of their stock bull Adagio Du Stordeur and out of their homebred cow Velcro by Greystone Jackpot. This naturally born blue and white bull, was finally knocked down for 18,000gns to fellow breed enthusiasts Mark and Elaine Hartley of the Pendle herd who have been looking for a new stock bull and found what they required in Bonzer. The Coates family also take home the Border Club Special Trophy for the highest priced animal from a member of the Border Club.

Making their debut to Carlisle was the Nether Hall herd of David Kelly, Nether Hall Farms Ltd, Mansergh, Kirkby Lonsdale who provided the outstanding highlight of a buoyant Sale at Carlisle. Their tremendous line-up of Bringlee Volkawagon and Dafydd bred cattle with shape, muscle and growth saw Nether Hall – their team of 2 bulls and 4 heifers averaged a magnificent £8,872.50 apiece.

Netherhall Buster ET - Reserve Supreme Champion

Second top price of the day 17,000gns and top price for Nether Hall Farms Ltd was their 22 month old bull Nether Hall Buster ET, an exceptional black bull by Bringlee Volkawagon and Kilboy Victoria flush, who was Intermediate Male, Reserve Overall Male and Reserve Supreme Champion and sold to JC Innes & Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly Aberdeen. Nether Hall Farms also sold Nether Hall Costa a January 2007 son of Bringlee Volkawagon and out of Paulern Umi for 6,500gns to Sharplaw Farms, Hownam, Kelso. Costa stood 2nd in his class. Sharplaw Farms and A & GE Redhead, Bowsden Moor Farm, Berwick Upon Tweed bought a half share in the top priced female of the day, which was also from the Nether Hall stable. Nether Hall Brandy a 20 month old heifer who stood second in her class is by Bringlee Volkawagon and out of Kilboy Victoria. Next in the female ratings on 8,500gns also from Nether Hall was another Volkawagon daughter – Nether Hall Clever Girl ET, a February 2007 daughter of the Zwierig ET VD Wildebeek flush. Clever Girl was keenly bid for but it was Pedigree breeders’ AE Neachell & Son, Shrubbery Farm, Aldridge, Walsall who take her home to join their Cromwell herd.

Netherhall Betty Boo ET - Female Champion

Nether Hall Farms paid 11,500gns for Bringlee Volkawagon the Baron - Bringlee Sandy bred bull exactly three years ago at Carlisle. There was five Volkawagon progeny in the sale on Saturday that sold to average an exceptional £10,500.

The Senior Male Champion also reached the five figure mark when sold for 14,500gns for Border Club enthusiasts Jonathon and Andrew Bellas, Croft Ends Farm, Appleby In Westmorland. Croft Ends Bruno ET is no stranger to the show ring having won Junior Male Champion, Male and Reserve Breed Champion Royal Highland Show; Junior Male Champion at the Royal Show and Junior and Reserve Overall Male at the Great Yorkshire Show 2007. Bruno a 28 month old, exceptionally well muscled and mobile, black and white bull is from the Tintin De My and Clonberton Queen flush was knocked down to JB Bowness, The Bank, Crosby Ravensworth, Penrith.

show results

view full report at:

www.britishbluecattle.org/border/sales/2008/0517.html