Spring Show and Sale of Charolais Bulls & Females FRIDAY 15th MARCH 2002
Report

Bidding peaked at 5,500gns twice for Charolais bulls at the breed society’s official show and sale at Carlisle on Friday 15th March 2002, where entries met a brisk trade from breeders and commercial producers based both sides of the Border. “Bulls that were ready to work were most keenly sought after throughout the day which saw 50% more lots traded on the March 2000 breed sale staged at the centre and averages were up almost £500 a head,” commented British Charolais Cattle Society chief executive, David Benson.

“Trade was fuelled in particular by commercial producers who were seeking to restock and only too aware that Charolais will leave them fast maturing progeny that will go on to command the highest prices in both the store ring and the finishing sector. However the usual contingent of Welsh buyers were noted by the absence due to DEFRA’s continued movement restrictions and prohibition of multiple drop offs.”

Holtshead Rafferty

The first 5,500gns call came half way through the day from Robert and Kay Thompson, of Bishop Auckland for Holtstead Rafferty, a 20 month old from Freddy Andrews, of Holmfirth, Huddersfield. A Simpsons Gregg son and out of a homebred cow that goes back to Newthrums Regal, he was the first of three Charolais bulls which the brother and sister team have secured in their post FMD restocking process together with 180 suckler cows.

Aberdeenshire breeders, Neil and Graham Massie, Dinnet, Aboyne paid the second 5,500gns price tag this time for the reserve champion, Bassingbourn Ralph, an 18 month old from Mervyn and Christine Parker, Duxford, Cambridge. Ralph who was accompanied by a Beef Value within the breed’s top 1% at CH37, was by Balthayock Nougat, one of the highly successful Charolais sires selected by the breed society for the MLC’s Young Bull Promotion Scheme (YBPS).

Bassingbourne Ralph

The Parkers also sold a collection of seven cows which met a ready demand trading to a top of 2,000gns for Bassingbourn Olga to Steve and Dorothy Peile, of Wigton, who are restocking both their pedigree Charolais and dairy herds. The four year old Olga was by Maerdy Hamburg and sold with her November born heifer at foot. This calf was by Alwent Osprey, another YBPS selected Charolais bull.

Next to go at 5,000gns was Moynton Rascal, who earlier on collected the supreme championship for Peter Old, Owermoigne, Dorchester. A rising two year old, Rascal was by Oldstone Egbert, out of a homebred cow by Thrunton Ideal and within the breed’s top 10% on Beef Value at CH27. He sold to Borders producers, J Morton and Son, Melrose.

An entry from the Stockport based Boden and Davies partnership, attracted a 4,500gns bid from Lincolnshire breeder, Ralph and Alistair Needham, South Cockerington, Louth. Sportsman Ranger was a rising two year old by Ugie Legend, a 26,000gns Perth champion who has left a string of bulls selling for four and five figure prices.

Top lot from the Campbell family, of Alnwick was Thrunton Reynard who went for 4,000gns to Wigtownshire producer, AK Brooke, Newton Stewart. Reynard was by Maerdy Nero and out of a homebred cow by the noted Blelack Jaguar.

Two lots made 3,800gns apiece. First to go was Jean Atkinson’s (Thorpe Bassett, Malton) Bassett Rocket, a two year old by Barleyfields Leonard. He traveled to Ayrshire with B Craig, Rankinston. The second 3,800gns lot was Hendy Roger from JAW Rees, Llangurig, Llanidloes, a rising two year old by another YBPS selected sire, Killadeas Jack. Roger went to local buyers, WR and FD Siddle, Edenhall, Penrith who later went to 3,000gns twice; the first call was for Maerdy Remit, from Esmor Evans, Mold, a 20 month old who goes back to the £25,000 Maerdy Impeccable. Seconds later the Siddles secured Hendy Riverdance, another Killadeas Jack son and once again from JAW Rees.

The Hollidays from Westward, Wigton paid 3,500gns for the 18 month old Border Reiver, another Oldstone Egbert son this time from Vanessa Vasey, Wetheral, Carlisle. Traveling further a field was Piatroon Romulus, secured for 3,200gns by the Terry and Houghton partnership who made a 700 mile round trip to Carlisle from Gravesend, Kent. Bred by H Forster and Sons, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Romulus was a two year old by Maerdy Impeccable and out of a homebred cow who goes back to the 6,000gns Lynedraw Christine.

Two more entries sold for 3,000gns apiece. The 17 month old Dingle Rollover CH32 another Balthayock Nougat from Reg and Ian Taylor, Edenbridge, Kent was knocked down sold to the Raine family, Kirkoswald, Penrith, while Ouston Farms’ (Chester-le-Street) Renid of Ravensworth, a 16 month old by Lochnagar Imperator was secured by F and G Young, Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

Averages:
39 bulls £2,602.12 (2000: 26 bulls £2,124)
Bassingbourn: seven females £1,800
Bega: four head £945

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