SOUTH DEVONS TOP 6800 GNS AT CIRENCESTER IN THEIR 125^TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

The South Devon Herd Book’s Autumn Show & Sale was held for the second time at Cirencester, bringing in vendors and purchasers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to this easily accessible venue.  The Sale followed the Society’s celebrations of its 125^th Anniversary at a Dinner the previous evening which welcomed over 100 members and guests.

The Sale was conducted by auctioneers Kivells, with thanks conveyed to Voyce Pullin, resident auctioneers who established the Cirencester Livestock Market in 2005.

Judge of the pedigree show was Mr Mervyn Rowe whose Tregondale herd is based at Menheniot, Liskeard, Cornwall.  His male champion from a spread of bulls in four classes came from Mr A R Lee’s  Alnwick, Northumberland herd – Lumbylaw Horizon 15, an April 2014 born bull by Lumbylaw Halcyon 8, and out of Lumbylaw Snowdrop 125.  Reserve male champion was North View Bond from Mr O Brewin’s Thorpe Langton, Leicestershire herd – a May 2014 born bull by Stretchford Hercules 2 and out of a home bred cow.  The Stretchford herd appears in the first South Devon Herd Book, published in 1891.

Best bull judged on performance and inspection was from Mr W H D Scott, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire – Grove Wellington 93 - by another Lumbylaw bull, Magnus 25, and out of second calver Grove Willowherb 81 – and in the top 1% of the breed for Breedplan Quality Beef Index.  Best pair of bulls were from Mr Brewin; and best polled bull was Z Grove Brutus 149 from Mr Scott.

In the female section of the Show, the champion and reserve females, and also best pair, were from The Tully Partnership, Brixham, Devon – Z Waddeton Ann 157, a polled March 2014 born in-calf heifer by Z Eyton SAS Illya 1, and out of Waddeton Ann 69; and Waddeton Norman Countess 143, a June 2014 born in-calf heifer and a grand-daughter of Z SAS Illya 1, and with Holcombe polled genetics on the dam’s side.

The Ciba-Geigy Trophy was awarded to Mr R K Rundle whose Kestle herd won most combined points from the Society’s Spring and Autumn Sales.

In the Sale ring, the judge’s first choice in bulls – Lumbylaw Horizon 15 – was also the highest priced, selling to Mrs J Archer, North Tudenham, Norfolk for 6,800 gns.  Next highest was for R R B & S J Harvey’s Z Sexton Senator 6, from Ermington, Devon which sold to A Watkins, Kentchurch, Herefordshire for 3,600 gns.  Enterprise Avanti from Mr D L Irving, Thornhill, Dumfries, sold to R J & C J Edwards, Tavistock, Devon for 3,000 gns.

Highest priced shown heifer was the female champion Z Waddeton Ann 157, which sold to Mr T Earl, Lerryn, Cornwall for 2,400 gns.  The same buyer also bought heifers from the Welland Valley  and Kestle herds.  Next highest price was 2,300 gns for the reserve female champion Waddeton Norman Countess 143, which sold to Mr R Linnell, Daventry, Northants.  The same buyer also acquired Knowlhill Melise 57 from A E J & F J Claridge, Buckinghamshire for 1,900 gns.

There followed the Reduction Sale of the Lumbylaw herd on behalf of Mr A R Lee, Alnwick, Northumberland comprising 32 cows with calves at foot, 5 cows without calves, and 6 in-calf heifers.  The herd has recently been judged second out of 20 in the Society’s National Herd Competition, and the quality of these cattle was a reflection of this high performing herd which has used stock bulls from the Welland Valley, Sexton, Edmeston, Trewint, Waddeton and Enterprise herds during the past 25 years.  This was an opportunity for pedigree breeders to acquire some well selected additions to their bloodlines; and for others to build numbers into new and existing herds.

Top prices were for Lumbylaw Kay 63, a 2010-born cow by Welland Valley Hanbury 10, with bull calf, selling to Mr A McCammond, Templepatrick, Northern Ireland for 3,400 gns.  Next highest was 3,150 gns for Lumbylaw Belle 25, a 2012-born cow with pedigree heifer calf, selling to R J & C J Edwards, Tavistock, Devon.  Consignments topping at 3,100 gns were acquired by Mr T Earl, Lerryn, Cornwall; at 2,700 gns by Mr T W C Trudgeon, Helston, Cornwall; and at 2,450 gns by Jackamax Ltd, Truro, Cornwall.

Commenting on the sale, auctioneer Mark Bromell from Kivells said that it had been “A selective bull trade, but with strong demand for the best; and a fantastic trade for the reduction sale.”

Averages: 12 bulls £3,001; 6 haltered in-calf heifers £2,012; 3 haltered yearling heifers £1,785.  Reduction sale: 32 cows & calves £2,153; 5 cows £1,638; 6 in-calf heifers £1,820.