11 breeds go under the hammer

Well, the month of May is fast approaching as Borderway Beef Month, featuring no les than 11 beef breeds - Simmental, Charolais, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Belgian Blue, Limousin, Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn, South Devon, Hereford, Parthenais and Bazadaise, writes pedigree auctioneer David Dickinson.

Last year saw a new breed record for Belgian Blues while other breeds set record averages.

What will this May bring?
Who knows, but one thing is certain, the quality on offer will suit both pedigree breeders and the all-important commercial stockmen.

In recent weeks we witnessed the Limousin breed setting a new record of 100,000gns, beating the previous UK record of 60,000gns for an Aberdeen Angus back in 1963. Big prices make big headlines and good reading by it is the commercial aspect of any breed which is the bread and butter trade.

The commercial stockman will not be palmed off with second quality, and, increasingly, he is taking of performance figures along with the stamp of the bull on offer and is willing to pay a premium for the sire that meets his demands.

So, yes, we are looking forward to the May sales with great anticipation, meeting old friends, seeing good stock and, hopefully, good, strong trades throughout the sales.

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