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The Society’s annual Young Handler Competition, sponsored by Towergate Lloyd & Whyte, was recently held at the Royal Cornwall Show. |
Eight entrants, aged between 16 and 25, spent an hour impressing judge Malcolm Broome from Leicestershire, by demonstrating their skills in show cattle presentation and judging.
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A most professional display of cattle handling was enjoyed by many visitors to the show, in the warm afternoon sunshine, before the results were announced by the judge in the Society’s marquee. |
Overall winner was Miss Emma Pascoe from near Hayle, Cornwall, who receives £400 towards a trip overseas to extend her knowledge about South Devon breeding. Runners-up were Edward Hosking from Penzance, Cornwall, and Oliver Penellum from Newquay, Cornwall. |
Prizes were awarded by Society Chairman, James Eustice. |
The Society is very grateful to its sponsor, Towergate Lloyd & Whyte, for their continuing support of this important event. |
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CONFIDENCE IN BREED SOARS AT SOUTH DEVON SALE |
The South Devon Herd Book Society’s Spring Show & Sale was a resounding success, with the previous record bull price smashed by 1500 gns to reach 7800 gns, 37 bulls sold at a record average of £3,187 (an increase of £236), and buyers a-plenty!
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T H E Laity’s polled bull, Z Polkinghorne Nimrod saw a fierce bidding contest, with a profound hush around the ring, and the hammer finally falling to W J Wright & Son, Oxey Farm, Leicestershire, for 7800 gns. Richard Wright is keen to take polling forward in the breed, and already owns a polled bull which is throwing only polled calves. Nimrod, sired by Z Countisbury Cracker 2, has fully polled bloodlines on both sides.
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The Show’s judge, Robert Shinner, owner of the Stretchford herd (dating back to the first Herd Book in 1891), picked his male champion from “an abundance of quality” in the show ring – P S Rowe’s Trewint Jaffa 10, sired by Trewint Jaffa 2. The bull made second highest price at the sale, at 5500 gns, to F H Williams from Truro, Cornwall. Jaffa 10’s half-brother, Jaffa 11, sold close behind at 5400 gns, to C Davis from Leicestershire.
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Breed Secretary, Caroline Poultney, commented, “The South Devon breed is in considerable demand now, and we have seen a lot of commercial as well as pedigree buyers here today who have carefully selected bulls for their genetics and looks. Confidence in the breed is at a record high.”
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In the female section, Rex Sadler’s Carlydnack Newham Caroline, sired by Kestle Horation 11, took champion place, and also top female price of 1300 gns. Reserve female champion, K V & M A Plain’s Foxhole Bridget 2, sired by Trevassack Trooper 12, also took second highest female price of 1200 gns. A group of 8 heifers from the judge’s Stretchford herd averaged £994.
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FIRST SOUTH DEVON EXPORT TO POLAND! |
The South Devon Herd Book Society is delighted to confirm the first bull export to Poland, following successful negotiations with AgroIrlandia in Warsaw.
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It had been hoped to have a number of British bulls, including a South Devon, at the Farma exhibtion in Poznan, Poland, in September 2007, but plans had to be shelved when Foot & Mouth, and then Bluetongue livestock movement restrictions disrupted trade.
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Brafferton Trooper 4, bred by Mr Paul Harrison from Tollerton, Yorkshire, whose Brafferton pedigree herd of South Devons is well known throughout the country, was finally shipped out in the first week of March as part of a larger consignment of British genetics, and as part of a long-term beef improvement programme, backed by the Polish Beef Association.
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The yearling bull was sired by Portman Burtley Trooper 4, and his bloodlines go back to the Trevassack, Lumbylaw, Edmeston, Trewint and Brafferton herds.
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The South Devon breed was selected by Simon Gill, managing director of AgroIrlandia, particularly for its exceptionally quiet temperament, fast growth rates, and milky qualities. Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are also an essential part of pedigree export marketing.
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Caroline Poultney, Breed Secretary, said “Opportunities for the South Devon beef breed, which is such a good converter of forage to beef, are very exciting in Poland, and other eastern European countries, but we still have a lot of work to do to raise the awareness of the emerging beef sector.” |
She went on to say, “Brafferton Trooper 4 has been chosen, we are told, for his ‘good looks, charm and personality’, and will be used for demonstration purposes to show off the attributes of the breed, as well as having his own herd of cows to look after.”
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Export arrangements for the shipment have been made by Sheila Eggleston’s specialist business, Eggsport Ltd.
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South Devon World Association Conference 7th World Congress |
Western Canada 2008 Including the Calgary Stampede |
Tour Dates - July 2 – 20, 2008; Conference Dates: July 13 – 15, 2008 |
For more information and booking form click here - pdf includes itineraries, booking information and tours.
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