The sun made a much-awaited return on Saturday, April 13th, following a prolonged period of rain – just in time for the Spring Show and Sale of Pedigree Hereford Cattle at Shrewsbury Livestock Market.
Leading the trade was Rempstone 1 Woody S658, fetching an impressive 8,000gns. Bred by M. Ludgate of Thame, Oxford, the top priced bull caught the eye of judge Sally Mitchell, Lanscombe Herefords within the society show. Leading Woody not only to secure first place in his class but moving forward to claim the title of Senior Bull Champion and Grand Male Champion.
Born from Fisher 1 Cherry N431 and sired by Fisher 1 Socrates S509, Woody boasts impressive calving figures, placing him in the top 10% of his category. He was eagerly sought out by new breeder Andrew Thomas, Ffynnon Luan Farm, Maes Y Bont, Llanelli, who is in the initial stages of establishing his own pedigree Hereford herd.
Rempstone 1 Woody S658 from M Ludgate
Another success within the Rempstone collection saw offering Rempstone 1 Alcatraz N685 stand as Reserve Junior Male Champion and finish the day selling for 3,900gns. S & E Walker will be taking him home to Preston, Lancashire to join their herd, Hoghton View Herefords.
Rempstone 1 Alcatraz N685 from M LudgateThe Rempstone herd has demonstrated a notable trend, securing the male championship cup, as it returns for the third consecutive occasion.
All animals brought forward from the Rempstone stable garnered rosettes within the ring and achieved an average of 4,900gns.
Across the board, 44 bulls averaged £3,612.00, having cleared at 68 per cent.
Blazing the trail in the female trade, following behind Rempstone 1 Woody S658, Harveybros 1 Crocus Aurora from Father-Daughter team, George, and Sophie Harvey, Balfron, Glasgow who saw the heights of 6,400gns securing the purchase for Vaughan Farms Ltd, Hereford.
February-born, the heifer has been racking up the ribbons throughout last year, notably Junior Female Champion at Agri Expo as well as Overall Junior Champion and Reserve Native Interbreed Champion Stars of the Future.
Her winning streak did not stop at the pre-Christmas shows. Shortly after she claimed the top spot within her class, she strode into poll position as Grand Female Champion.
From the Crocus line, out of Harveybros 1 Crocus Tiara and sired by Sky High 1 Take-a-Chance, the time spent on the show circuit paid the breeders dividends as admired from afar, she has found a new home in Leominster, Herefordshire.
Harveybros 1 Crocus Aurora from G & S Harvey
Following through the ranks, securing second place within the same class, and joining Aurora on the podium within the Female Championship as reserve was Harveybros 1 Crocus Ariel.
With a flurry of excitement, the auction ended with a resounding bid of 5,300gns. The lucky vendors to secure the final bid was Bethan Hutchinson, Billingham, Cleveland.
The last of the offerings from George and Sophie Harvey, Harveybros 1 Crocus WooWoo was tapped out in first place by Mrs Mitchell. Later the gavel dropped on 3,500gns. Leaving the average for the three heifers at 5,066gns.
Continuing to fly the flag for Scotland, breeder Robert Wilson, supported by daughter Lottie and son Henry, saw the hammer fall on 6,300gns for their bull, Romany 1 Avatar FR A22, purchased by Highridge Farm Partners, Oxted, Surrey.
From their Ishbel line, out of Romany 1 Ishbel H12 M33 who’s sire Romany 1 Heavyduty A84 previously stood as Champion at the Royal Highland Show, proving that the winning touch runs within the family as Avatar claimed second within his class on sale day.
From the same home, commanding strong money was Romany 1 Ali-Price FR A41, earning the breeders from Kelso 4,600gns. Romany 1 Ali-Price FR A41 was purchased by HA Colburn & Son from Crickley Barrow near Cheltenham. Both bulls are sired by Fabb 1 Rocco.
Romany 1 Avatar FR A22 from R Wilson
Joining the society in 2021, Will Medforth, Llanrug, Gwynedd, attended previous sales sitting amongst the buyers. It was his establishing year that he attended the Sky-High reduction sale, hosted at the Society sale purchasing Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire for the top call of 7,000gns from breeder Boomer Birch and Graham Brindley, Weston Staffordshire.
No stranger to pedigree breeding with rare breed horses and Suffolk sheep at home, Mr. Medforth made his way back to the market hall. This time taking on the role of a seller at his inaugural sale. Sky High 1 Miss Staffordshire, his earlier acquisition, proved her worth by yielding Penryhyn 1 Watchman, Medforths first sale who fetched 5,000gns before he exited the sales ring. He’ll be travelling the short distance from the mart to Craven Arms under the ownership of JH Morris & Son.
Penryhyn 1 Watchman from W Medforth
JM Cant and Partners presented a formidable entry from the Panmure herd, showcasing exceptional quality that justified the price. Leading the trade for the breeders was Panmure 1 Plum W9, a daughter of the esteemed Panmure 1 Plum L7. Plum L7 had previously secured Female Champion and Reserve Overall Champion titles at the Royal Highland in 2016. After claiming second place in her class, Plum W9 was sold for 5,800gns to Devonshire based breeder, Gerald Wood of FJ Wood & Sons.
Panmure 1 Plum W9 from JM Cant & Partners
In the male portion, Panmure 1 Apollo lead his class. Previously shown at Agri Expo at the back of 2023 with success, he shares blood with heifer Panmure 1 Plum W9 through grand dam Panmure 1 Plum L7 and is the paternal sister to the heifer. He sold to Mrs R Williamson, Nantwich, Cheshire for 4,900gns.
Panmure 1 Apollo from JM Cant & Partners
Next in the money was Studdolph 1 Angela 871. Out of homebred, Studdolph 1 Angela 623 and sired by Vexour 1 Palmer, the October born heifer earned breeder Non Thorne 4,000gns and a second place ribbon within her class.
She has found a home with R Hamilton & I Lammie, Cumnock, East Ayrshire as a foundation female for their newly established Hereford herd.
Also from the Thorne family, Glenvale 1 Hoskins Sotutu came out on top within the Junior Male Championship after winning his class.
Glenvale 1 Hoskins Sotutu from TG, EI & EN Thorne
Out of Havenfield 1 Lady Lynda, sired by Solpoll 1 Lawman, EL Lewis & Son presented Havenfield 1 Archer through the showring. Tapped out in the red within his class and Reserve in the Senior Male Championship, the Herefordshire bred bull went forward and sealed the deal for 4100gns, selling to H Jackson, Goscombe Farm, Gundleton.
Havenfield 1 Archer, from EL Lewis & Son
Normanton Herefords from TD & WT Livesey, brought forward a sizeable entry, accumulating to seven bulls, all with great consistency and quality throughout.
Notably class winner, Normanton 1 Availabull A686 inspired spirited bidding concluding at 4,000gns. As a heifer calf, his dam was shown locally with great success as is one of the top performing cows within the herd. Normanton 1 Availabull A686 headed home with purchaser, JE Jones & Son from Montgomery, Powys.
Within the same class, standing third, was Normanton 1 Amorous A693. Paternal brother to Normanton 1 Availabull A686 out of homebred Normanton 1 Jews Ear 33rd, Amorous A693 sold to the Coombs Brothers for 3,600gns.
The Normanton entries averaged 3,187gns.
Normanton 1 Availabull A686 from TD & WT Livesey
Breeder, Carolyn Fletcher, Barwise Herefords, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria’s consignment averaged 3,700gns with lots heading to Stratfield Saye Farms, Reading, Berkshire and Weybrook Farm, Basingstoke, Hampshire.
We would like to thank our judge Sally Mitchell from Lanscombe Herefords, as well as the stewards for all giving up your time to ensure the show runs smoothly.
A big thank you to our sponsors for their continued support.
Brown & Co, Caisley Tags, Dunbia, Farmers Guardian and Herdwatch
Heifers – Clearance 67% with an average sale price £3,533.25
Bulls – Clearance 68% with an average sale price £3,612.00
Overall average – £3,592.31