The bar was set high for quality suckler females at the South Devon Herd Book Society’s recent autumn sale, with a full clearance of cows with calves, in-calf and maiden heifers. Prices topped at 4,000 guineas three times, with strong demand from new and returning buyers which outstripped supply.
Commenting after the sale, held at Worcester Livestock Market on Tuesday, October 3, breed secretary Caroline Poultney said: “Confidence in what this high performing native beef breed can do has shone through, and the demand was certainly there for more to be sold at good prices.”
Show ring judge Nigel Bunkum, from the Tregarrick herd based in Merrymeet near Liskeard, picked his male champion - Roden Livestock’s Eyton Charlie - from a line up of quality young bulls. Bred in Shropshire by Tim Kent, this November 2021-born son of Z Brafferton Kudo 3 went on to sell for the shared top price of 4,000gns to Jane Archer for her Janeric herd in Dereham, Norfolk.
Reserve male champion was Z Waddeton Illustrious 4 from The Tully Partnership in Brixham, Devon, a March 2022-born heterozygous polled son of Z Waddeton Illistram 29. He also won the Thornton Cup for gaining most points on performance and inspection, as well as the Polled Cup. The bull sold for 4,000gns to S J & S M Ward for their Besowsa herd based in Truro.
The same buyer acquired his second bull at 3,000gns from Robert Lee’s Lumbylaw herd in Alnick, Northumberland - this being the final offering following the dispersal of the pedigree female herd 15 months previously. Lumbylaw Horizon 74 is by Lumbylaw Halcyon 8 and out of an Enterprise Condor sired dam.
Claiming the female champion and reserve titles, and best pair, were Peter and Ashley Rowe’s Trewint herd from Menheniot near Liskeard; another success which follows on from being named winners of the society’s national herd competition. These two smart October and December 2021-born heifers are both by the competition’s first placed bull, Trewint Carlos, and running with Highgate Prospect.
The champion Trewint Suffragette of 2021, their best heifer in the competition, finds her new home with Andrew and Rachel Paton’s Swansway herd in Milton Keynes, acquired for 3,000gns; and the reserve champion Trewint Crumple of 2021 heads further west into Cornwall, to Martin Clemens in St Ervan near Wadebridge, acquired for 3,400gns.
Winner of most female points combined was Mrs A Scott’s Grove Buttercup 213, from Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire; and best polled heifer was Richard Hartshorn’s Z Cilgwrrwg Gold by Z Brafferton Kudo 3.
In the sale ring females topped at 4,000gns for Market Harborough-based Malcolm & Thelma Broome, with Welland Valley Reggatta 42. A June 2020-born granddaughter of Lumbylaw Majestic 7, this cow sold with her May-born Welland Valley Comrade 6-sired heifer calf at foot. This outfit found a new home with Paul Hussell for his Ashbury herd in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
Taking the next best price at 3,600gns, from the same pen, was Welland Valley Primrose 52. A daughter of Welland Valley Herman 3, this April 2020-born cow sold along with her May-born heifer calf to The Benacre Estate in Beccles, Suffolk. Following at 3,400gns, again from the Broomes, was Welland Valley Reggatta 35 with her May-born bull calf at foot, acquired by the same buyer.
Averages: Three bulls £3,850; three haltered in-calf heifers £2,975; five haltered heifers running with bull £2,849; five cows with calves £3,486; five non-haltered heifers running with bull £2,142.
