South Devon Society’s Autumn Show & Sale at Bristol

BOOST IN PRICES FOR SOUTH DEVONS AT BRISTOL!

The South Devon Herd Book Society’s Autumn Show & Sale saw another boost in prices, particularly for bulling and in-calf heifers. The ever-increasing popularity of this native beef breed saw plentiful new buyers from as far afield as Suffolk, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Wales, and the south-west of England.

With a top price of 5300 guineas for Welland Valley Crusader 4 from M E & T E Broome, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, the bulls saw a steady trade, reaching their highest average of £3150 at Bristol since the Society held its first Autumn sale there in 2002.

Welland Valley Crusader 4 is a half-brother to the top placed bull in the National Herd Competition, and a son of Welland Valley Adora 2, top placed cow, and was sold to Portman Burtley Estate Co in Beaconsfield, Bucks. The same buyer acquired a scurred bull, X Colcharton Demetrius 17 from R J & C J Edwards for 3300 guineas.

A record trade for heifers saw a new top price of 3600 guineas achieved twice, for R R B Harvey and The Tully Partnership from Devon. Sexton Alice 45, the female champion, sold to R Jenkins from Holsworthy, Devon, and polled heifer Z Waddeton Suffragette 89 sold to Mr & Mrs Holt-Martyn from Tavistock.

The average price for halter-broken heifers reached £1995, an increase of £270 compared to 2008.

In the show ring judge Roger Rundle from the Kestle herd, Kestle Mill, Newquay, in Cornwall, selected his male champion as Mr J P Harrison’s Brafferton Starbuster Wright, who had travelled down from Yorkshire, later selling to D & L Farr from Leicestershire for 3000 guineas. Reserve male champion went to R R B & S J Harvey’s Sexton Cavalier 10, who sold to P S Rowe from Cornwall for 3100 guineas. The bull gaining most points on performance and inspection was Mr W H D Scott’s Grove Brutus 109, with a Beef Index in the top 5% of the breed, selling to Hill & Johnstone from Somerset for 2700 guineas.

M R & R J Rowe’s Tregondale Crumple 49 was reserve female champion, and was rewarded in the sale ring with a price of 2600 guineas, selling to Mr A Davies from North Wales. The judge’s own heifer, Kestle Buttermaid 81 achieved 2900 guineas in the sale ring, to Mr P Bowditch from Axminster, Devon.

An even bunch of cows with calves from Mrs Meyrick’s Yarcombe herd attracted an enthusiastic trade, as did strong bunches of heifers from Mr P Coaker’s Bittleford herd from Dartmoor, and Mr D H Hartnell & Sons’ Cornworthy Court herd.

Averages: 12 bulls, averaging £3150. 23 halter-broken heifers, averaging £1995. 8 non halter-broken cows, averaging £1614. 35 non halter-broken pedigree heifers, averaging £1612.

Auctioneers: Messrs Kivells, Hallworthy, Cornwall

Photos available from Eric Beard, Leominster, 01568 612329, info@ericbeardphotography.com