Staged on-farm at The Haven, Dilwyn, Herefordshire, the Lewis Family Bicentenary Sale saw a number of breed records smashed by the Haven and Havenfield herds of EL Lewis and son and JW Lewis’ Boycefield herd, on celebrating 200 years of the Lewis family continuously breeding pedigree Hereford cattle.
Haven Thrush 74th sold for 20,000gns
The sale saw a new female and poll female record set by EL Lewis and son, who still also holds the breed’s male price record set in 1980. A new official sale record average was set and across the offerings from the two breeders, the sale broke the European female record sale average at £6,252, with the Boycefield females averaging £5,394 while Haven and Havenfield heifers averaged £6,592.
With the society’s official auctioneer Jonny Dymond in the rostrum, a fast-paced exchange around the ring saw bids fly to 20,000gns for Haven Thrush 74th, a September 2020-born heifer. Paying the money was New House Herefords, Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire and in doing so a new female price record was set at public auction. This powerful and correct female can be traced back 22 generations to one of the foundation cows purchased in 1850 under the Lewis ownership.
By Irish-bred sire Shiloh-Farm Elite, it is a maternal brother to Haven Kermit which won the 2014 National Hereford Show as well as a maternal grandson of Haven Wizard, the horned Hereford bull of the year 2005.Haven Thrush 74th was sold in-calf to Mawarra Influential Q162 which EL Lewis and son purchased shares in at Australia’s National Hereford Show and Sale for AUS$42,000 in 2021.
Boycefield Acorn 45th sold for 14,000gns
Also beating the previous female record although later on in the sale was Boycefield Acorn 45th sold to a top call of 14,000gns to A Whitfield, Derrington, Staffordshire. The Lewis’ Acorn line descends from the famous LL Moore’s Brampton herd and is a full sister to Boycefield Stormzy which stood reserve champion at the 2019 Kington Show. This September 2020-born heifer was sold in-calf to Boycefield Congo, reserve male champion at the 2007 Royal Show.
Havenfield 1 Lady Lynda 3rd sold for 12,000gns
Generating another piece of history on the day was Havenfield 1 Lady Lynda 3rd, which after selling to A Whitfield for 12,000gns, now stands as the breed’s new poll female record price made at public auction. In 2021, this October 2020-born heifer was judged best heifer calf in the West Midlands by Dinmore Limousins’ Richard Bartle. Sired by stock bull Solpoll 1 Lawman which stood supreme champion at Tullamore Show in both 2016 and 2017, its dam is by Haven Lamborghini, the 2019 National Hereford Show senior male champion. Another from the run of in-calf heifers, it sold in-calf to Dendor 1 Kohinoor.
Haven Curly 144th sold for 10,500gns
Next in the money was Haven Curly 144th which sold to FC Jones and co, Kington, Herefordshire where it will join Upper House Herefords having realised 10,500gns. September 2020-born, it was another in-calf to Australian bull Mawarra Influential.
Havenfield 1 Ruby 4th sold for 7,800gns
At 7,800gns was Havenfield 1 Ruby 4th, a March 2021-born heifer, selling to H Davies, Amlwch, Anglesey to join the Llynon herd. Another from EL Lewis’ poll herd, it is out Dendor 1 Ruby 20th which was Kington Show champion in 2015 and also produced Havenfield 1 Robinhood, the 2018 National Calf Show male champion.
Havenfield 1 Mary Irene sold for 7,200gns
Another poll animal, this time Havenfield 1 Mary Irene sold to a call of 7,200gns, at just 13 months of age, it added to A Whitfield’s purchases of the day, and will join his Butterbank herd. This young maiden was a heifer’s first calf and is out of Greenyards 1 Mary-Irene S485 which was purchased from the Allmans’ dispersal sale in 2020 and goes back to Dendor breeding.
Havenfield 1 Lucy 8th sold for 7,000gns
Not far behind at 7,000gns was Havenfield 1 Lucy 8th, a December 2020-born heifer carrying a Dendor 1 Kohinoor calf which sold to Newport Farms, Almeley, Herefordshire. By Solpoll 1 Lawman it is out of Romany 1 Lucy D1 M16 which was purchased privately from Robert Wilson’s herd in the Scottish Borders.
Haven Queen 2nd sold for 6,500gns
In-calf heifer Haven Queen 2nd saw bids climb to 6,500gns, and was another bought by Newport Farms. By Shiloh-Farm Elite, it is out of Dovemount Gipsy L5, bred by Thorley Bros.
Haven Lady Lynda 60th sold for 6,200gns
At 6,200gns was Haven Lady Lynda 60th which sold jointly to Bob Borwick, Northampton and Buckinghamshire-based Paul Snell, with half of the sale price to be donated to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in memory of Leslie Lewis, Edward and James’ father who was responsible for putting both the Lewis’ cattle and the wider breed in the spotlight in the 1950s and 60s.
Havenfield 1 Lady Lynda 4th sold for 6,200gns
The gavel went down at the same money for Havenfield 1 Lady Lynda 4th going to I Hurley, Claines, Worcestershire. By the AUS$95,000 Minlacowie Jubilant J123, it was sold as in-calf to Dendor 1 Kohinoor.
Haven Curly 145th sold for 6,200gns
Also selling at 6,200gns was Haven Curly 145th, going to Anthony Spooner, Staffordshire. Sired by Haven Snowdon, its dam Haven Curly 109th also produced Haven Nugget, the 2017 horned Hereford bull of the year.
Boycefield Pinky 33rd sold for 5,500gns
Other sale highlights for JW Lewis’ Boycefield herd included Boycefield Pinky 33rd which changed hands at 5,500gns to JR Whitlow, Abbots Morton, Herefordshire and joins the HighHouse herd. By stock bull Lisrace Lumberjack 18th bred by Northern Ireland’s David Wilson, it is from a long line of Haven Pinky females.
Boycefield Lady Lynda 26th sold for 5,200gns
Boycefield Lady Lynda 26th also travels to HighHouse Herefords who had come back for more after previously buying a full sister. It is again by Lisrace Lumberjack 18th and was the only Lady Lynda on offer from the Boycefield herd, selling for 5,200gns.
Havenfield 1 Tyson sold for 8,500gns
Just one bull went through the ring at this special sale and came in the form of Havenfield 1 Tyson which went on to sell at 8,500gns to Nigel Hooper, Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire. Not far off three year old and sitting in the top 1 per cent of the breed for terminal and self-replacing indices, it is another from the famed Lady Lynda family.
Auctioneers: Halls
Averages: 36 total head, £6,326; 14 Haven and Havenfield in-calf heifers, £7,387.50; 3 Boycefield in-calf heifers, £7,945; 13 Haven and Havenfield maiden heifers, £6,243.46; 5 Boycefield maiden heifers, £3,864; 1 bull, £8,500