Devon cattle average up £880 on year at spring sale
Averages were up £880 on the year at the Devon Cattle Breeders’ Society spring show and sale at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Bridgwater, last week (23 March).
The day saw brisk trade for 2015-born bulls, with 13 averaging £3,281 and selling to a clearance rate of 92%.
The highest price of the day of 4,400gns was achieved by established Devon breeders Messrs G Dart and Son from Great Champson, Molland, Devon, which saw Champson Diamond 2nd, who sold to the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy herd in Dorset. Sired by Knowstone Fitzroy 4th, he is out of a home-bred dam by Primore Thorold 1st.
See also: Taking Stock: Charolais bull trade peaks at 25,000gns
© Eric Beard Photography
Trade was brisk from start to finish. The first bull in, the pre-sale show champion Eastyard Fitzroy 2nd, bred by M and D Cowell, Ashreigney, Devon, sold for 3,500gns to Henry Rawson’s Larkbarrow herd from the Wellshead Estate on Exmoor. This Thorndale Assirati son is bred from the DCBS two times female of the year and picked up DCBS junior bull of the year in 2016.
© Eric Beard Photography
At the same money was Challenge Rex from John Gilson of Wilpit Farm, Wellington, Somerset. Sired by Clannaborough Astranought, he is out of the Bywood Buttons 4th daughter Challenge Ribecca 201th (stat). He was bought by Swell Wold Farm, Gloucestershire, who also took home Colesden Samson from D and S Tutt, Roxton, Bedfordshire, at 3,100gns.
Just shy of the former bull and selling for 3,400gns was the reserve champion, two-year-old Colleton Rasputin, bred by S and G Phillips, Chulmleigh, Devon. He joined Mike William’s Werrington herd from Launceston, Cornwall.
Then selling for 3,000gns was Tilbrook Hawk from GM Hunter, Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire. He sold to Helen Allan, Hilperton, Wiltshire. Sired by the Australian bull Bongalabi Atlas, he is out of the Champson Admiral daughter Tilbrook Elegant 3rd.
Females
Prices for females peaked at 2,000gns for the reserve champion Bollowal Clara 29th from Jeff Thomas, Penzance, Cornwall. This maiden heifer is sired by Stonegrove Jack-The-Lad. The hammer fell to local buyer Tony Richards, Helston.
Her stablemate, the female champion Bollowal Queenie 34th, was the pick of new breeder R Maxwell, Chelwood, Bristol, at 1,700gns.
© Eric Beard Photography
Altogether 54 maiden heifers sold to a clearance rate of 100% and averaged £872.