News Archive

British Blue Cross Heifer takes Supreme Championship at Wigton

12th December 2016
Hopes Auction Company, Wigton held their Christmas Show & Sale of Primestock on Saturday 3rd December 2016. [more]

Successful Pedigree Calf Walk for British Blues

16th November 2016
British Blue breeders took top prizes at the recent Pedigree Calf Walk in Anglesey. [more]

Kersey herd wins Improved Herd Award for the British Blue breed

14th November 2016
The Kersey herd, owned by R Partridge and Son Ltd, has been recognised by AHDB Beef & Lamb as the Most Improved Herd of British Blue cattle in England in 2016. [more]

Over 50 British Blue Heifers average £1154.60 at Kirkby Stephen

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen mart held their annual Prize show and sale of Suckled calves, on 31st October 2016. [more]

BVD and Pedigree Suckler Herds

18th April 2016
Pedigree breeders who buy, sell or show cattle are aware of the importance of knowing their herd is free from disease and protected against potential infection. [more]

Hexham Suckled Calves

21st March 2016
Supreme Champion and top price went to a May 2015-born heifer out of a pure Limousin cow by a British Blue bull, bred and exhibited by John Smith-Jackson, Haltwhistle. It went on to sell for £3,400 to Julie Sedgewick, Aycliffe, Co Durham.

British Blue Cross Bullock wins Hexham Christmas Primestock

15th January 2016
Hexham and Northern Marts Christmas primestock show was won by a British Blue Cross bullock from Messrs Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm. The bullock weighing 559 kg sold at 370p/kilo realising £2068.30. [more]

British Blue Steer Tops Skipton Primestock Show

6th January 2016
The 2016 Prime Show season opened at Skipton Auction Mart with a high quality entry of 59 cattle on Monday 4th January and a good show of buyers. [more]

Roscrea Premier Show and Sale

24th October 2015
Sheehills Inspiration Secures Top Price of €9200. [more]

National Young Stars Impress at Royal Winter Fair

23rd November 2015
In April 2015 Steph Dick, Millie Hendy and Issy Hartley were celebrating their success at the inaugural National Young Stars competition held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, under the name of the Blue Bandit British Blue team. [more]

British Blues Dominate at Skipton

18th November 2015
British Blue Genetics dominated the Store and Suckled Calf sale at Skipton on 28th October 2015. [more]

Show of British Blue Sired Store Cattle at Clitheroe

28th September 2015
A special show of British Blue Sired store cattle was held at Clitheroe Auction Mart on Thursday 24th September, sponsored by The British Blue Cattle Society. [more]

British Blue X Heifer Tops Carlisle Breeding Sale at £8,500

2nd September 2015
On Friday 21st August 2015 Harrison & Hetherington held their sale of Beef Breeding cattle. A great show of cows and heifers with calves at foot were presented to one of the largest crowds of buyers seen in Borderway for some time, with 88 outfits selling over £2000. [more]

Fantastic Trade For 'Blue' Calves at Holsworthy

28th August 2015
British Blue bull calves sold to a top price of £470. In all, 30 British Blue calves were forward averaging £254.32. British Blue stores were also topping the trade at £1152.

£4,300 Mart Record for British Blue x Heifer at Hexham

19th August 2015
Hexham & Northern Marts celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the opening of their Tyne Green Auction Complex with a special prize show and sale of store cattle on 13th & 14th August 2015. [more]

Coldridge Herd Wins Most Improved Herd Award

21st July 2015
The Coldridge herd, owned by John Quick from Crediton in Devon, has been recognised by AHDB Beef & Lamb as the Most Improved Herd of British Blue cattle in England for 2015. [more]

Kirkby Stephen Annual Prize Show and Sale of Store Cattle

5th May 2015
Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen Mart held their annual May Day show and sale of Store cattle on Monday 4th May where a catalogued entry of 1,026 cattle were on offer. [more]

£4,200 for British Blue X at Leyburn Spring Spectacular

30th March 2015
Leyburn Marts Tenth Anniversary Spring Spectacular for Show Potential Cattle proved another success with 51 cattle entered for this dedicated show and sale day. [more]

Newark’s Super Saturday - Blue X calves top at £2,000

25th March 2015
It was quite simply a Super Saturday of livestock, in the cattle ring an outstanding show of suckled calves and store and breeding cattle met a fierce demand, at Newark. [more]

Boomer Jadore Sells in Private Deal

2nd March 2015
Boomer Birch and family of Pasturefields Livestock have announced the private sale of an August 2014-born British Blue heifer calf in a significant private deal. [more]

Blue’s Take Top Honours at Craven Champions Day

23rd February 2015
The Walker family from Brennand Farm, Dunsop Bridge, secured the Supreme Championship at the Skipton Mart, Craven Champions Day. [more]

British Blue Day at Leyburn

12th February 2015
On Friday 6th February, Leyburn Auction Mart held its British Blue Day. more]

British Blues lead the way at North West Auctions Sales

23rd January 2015
North West Auctions held its weekly sale of store and breeding stock on Thursday 8th January with prize awards kindly donated by the British Blue Cattle Society for the highest priced animal sold in each of the sales. [more]

Breeder of the Year Award 2014

22nd December 2014
The British Blue Cattle Society Breeder of the Year Award 2014, has been won by the Tanat Herd of Wyn and Diane Jones. [more]

British Blue Culls Cows In Demand at Gisburn

17th December 2014
Cull cows topped at £2265.60 for the Champion, a British Blue cow at Gisburn Auction Marts Christmas show. Exhibited by Messrs. Walker, Dunsop Bridge, the 7 ½ year old cow, weighing 960gs was knocked down to Pickstock Ashby Ltd, Telford, Shropshire.

British Blue's Dominate at Gisburn

17th December 2014
An outstanding entry of prime cattle were forward at Gisburn Auction Marts Christmas prime cattle show and sale on Thursday 4th December. [more]

British Blue x Heifer Reigns Supreme at Wigton

9th December 2014
Hopes Auction Co, Wigton held their Annual Christmas Primestock Show and Sale on Saturday 6th December 2014. [more]

Record Price for Champion British Blue Cull Cow

9th December 2014
A record price for a Barren Cow at Chelford, was achieved at their Christmas Show, when Sam Madeley of Glewstone, Ross-on-Wye, sold his British Blue cow for £2867.48! [more]

British Blue's Champion & Reserve Suckled Calves at Kirkby Stephen

5th November 2014
Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen mart held their annual Prize show and sale of Suckled calves on Monday 3rd November where a catalogued entry of 596 were on offer. [more]

British Blues top £620 at Skipton Rearing Calf Sale

27th October 2014
Skipton's autumn rearing calf show and sale on Monday 20th October, was topped at £620 for a British Blue-cross heifer, sired by Cogent’s, Auchenlay Echo, from Sutton-in-Craven farmer Richard Spence. [more]

Appointment of Company Secretary

27th October 2014
The British Blue Cattle Society is pleased to announce that Mr. Andy Ryder has been appointed as Company Secretary, following the retirement of John Fleming. [more]

British Blues Champion & Reserve at Skipton

2nd September 2014
Skipton Auction Mart held their September monthly prime show, on Monday 1st September. [more]

NewPole wins Most Improved Herd Award

1st September 2014
The NewPole herd, owned by Phil White and Jools Turner of Wellington, near Somerset, has been recognised by EBLEX as the Most Improved Herd of British Blue cattle in England for 2014. [more]

British Blue cross Champion at Borderway Primestock Show

20th August 2014
The 40th Anniversary Show and sale was held on Monday 18th August at Carlisle. The overall champion was a British Blue cross steer shown by G & JE Bell, Far Broom, Long Marton, Appleby-In-Westmorland. [more]

British Blue's Dominate Skipton Calf Show with a new Record Price of £700

19th August 2014
A mart record price of £700 was established at Skipton Auction Mart’s summer rearing calf show and sale, on 18th August 2014. [more]

Record Breaking Cull Blue Cow Tops Market

16th July 2014
Weighing a massive 1010kg and realizing £2586 at Market Drayton Livestock market on Monday 14th July 2014 was a pedigree, 8 year old, British Blue cow from Norbreck Genetics Ltd. [more]

Success Where it Matters - Again

11th July 2014
Steaks from a British Blue cross and a Limousin cross led the field in the ABP/ASDA Royal Highland Show steak competition. [more]

Continental Heifers Dominate Asda/ABP Steak Competition at Great Yorkshire Show

11th July 2014
A trio of heifers by Continental breed sires were the major prize winners in this year's Asda/ABP BeefLink steak competition staged at the Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate, on Tuesday 8th July 2014. [more]

Happy Heifer after Cow is Couples Guest of Honour

31st May 2014
Steven O'Kane from Northern Ireland and Katrina Donaldson from North Yorkshire were married in North Yorkshire on Saturday May 31st. [more

British Blue Calves to £462 at Holsworthy

30th May 2014
There was a strong trade in British Blue calves and stirks at Holsworthy on the 28th May. [more]

Strong Demand for British Blues at Holsworthy

23rd May 2014
British Blue calves topped the market at £385 for a good British Blue x bull sold by Mr G W Thorne from Umberleigh. [more]

40 Years of Feed Efficiency Data From 6000 Pedigree Blue Bulls

6th May 2014
One of the firsts for ‘Blue’ genetics is that they have been recorded for ‘Feed Efficiency’, in Belgium, for over 40 years! [more]

Records smashed at Skipton’s Spring Rearing Calf Show

6th May 2014
Top price records were smashed at Skipton Auction Mart’s Spring rearing calf show on bank holiday Monday when the champion sold for an all-time high of £690. The record-breaking price fell to the first prize British Blue-cross bull calf from Sowray brothers – Peter, Paul and Shaun – of Bowes Green Farm, Bishop Thornton. [more]

British Blue Bulls sell to 6,900gns at Skipton

6th May 2014
Skipton Auction Mart’s 2014 pedigree beef season got off to a flying start when the traditional pipeopener - ‘Blue Wednesday,’ the annual British Blue showpiece – proved a runaway success, with a top price of 6,900 guineas and 95% clearance of the increased 18-strong turnout on Wednesday 30th April. [more]

British Blue calves to £455 at Holsworthy

2nd May 2014
A massive show of calves on 30th April at Holsworthy, topped at £455 for a strong pair of British Blue x bull calves from MW & AC Vanstone, Chilsworthy. Younger, quality, British Blue x bulls selling to £405, from RW & R Risdon, North Tamerton. [more]

British Blue Calves "on Fire" at Gisburn Easter Show

30th April 2014
Gisburn Marts had 183 Calves and Stirks forward at their Easter Calf Show and Sale held on Thursday 17th April, which was kindly sponsored by Genus Breeding. [more]

Strong Demand for Quality British Blue Genetics

11th April 2014
It was very pleasing to receive the year end statistics from BCMS which showed that interest, nationally, in British Blue genetics continues to increase. There was a small but significant rise of 1%, to 11%, in the number of animals sired by a ‘Blue’ applying for passports, totalling a very respectable 187,000 animals! [more]

Blue’s Dominate Leyburn Spring Spectacular

19th March 201
A new mart record was set at Leyburn Mart Spring Spectacular on 8th March 2014, when a British Blue Cross Heifer – “She’s A Diamond” made £7,300. [more]

British Blues Dominate Skipton Champions Day

24th February 2014
Craven Champions Day, Skipton Auction Mart’s annual show and sale of commercial store cattle with future show potential, on Wednesday 19th February proved one of the best on record. [more]

Special British Blue Sale at Leyburn

12th February 2014
The British Blue Cattle Society sponsored the British Blue classes at the Show & Sale of Store Cattle at Leyburn Auction on Friday 7th February 2014. [more]

In excess of £35,000 Rised for Local Cumbrian Rural Charities

31st January 2014
On Friday 24th January at the Farmer’s Charity Auction, held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, It brought together the NFU and five Cumbrian auction marts to raise in excess of £35,000 for local rural charities. [more]

British Blue Cross Carcase takes Championship at St. Merryn Foods Christmas Shows

17th January 2014
St. Merryn Foods held their Annual Christmas Carcase Shows at Merthyr Tydfil and Bodmin. [more]

Blues continue to ‘Fly the Flag’

8th January 2014
Champion Cull Cow at Gisburn a British Blue which realised £1,708.20. [more]

More British Blue Success

16th December 2013
Newark Christmas Show Champion, a British Blue-cross heifer 684kg at 400p/kg grossing £2,736 [more]

British Blues Champion & Reserve at Wigton

12th December 2013
The Wigton Christmas Primestock Show produced a fantastic show of quality livestock, on Saturday 7th December. [report]

Recent Blue Success

11th December 2013
Leyburn Christmas Store Cattle Sale – Champion British Blue Steer from James Wilkinson & family, Leyburn sold for £2000. [view more]

British Blue’s Dominate Skipton Christmas Store Cattle

11th December 2013
British Blues dominated the prizes at Skipton Auction Mart’s second annual Christmas show and sale held on Wednesday 4th December.  [more]

British Blue Prime Cow Tops £2022.11 at Borderway

4th December 2013
At Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Monday 2nd December 2013 Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of Primestock, which included the Christmas show and sale for prime cattle, cast cows & OTM cattle, also prime bulls. [more]

British Blue-Cross Triumphs at Skipton Christmas Show & Sale

4th December 2013
Father and son Willie and Jonathan Timm, of TWH Farming, based at Olive Farm, Easingwold, had a field day in the prime cattle show classes at Skipton Auction Mart’s sixth annual Lingfield Christmas primestock show and sale on Sunday December 1st. [more]

Top Call of £398 for Smart British Blue x Calf at Holsworthy

27th November 2013
Moorview Farm Ltd, Milton Damerel, sold a British Blue x calf for the top call of £398 at Holsworthy Market on Wednesday 27th November, closely followed by a British Blue x bull calf from EJ & RK Dunn, Okehampton, selling at £385.

Record Price - £6,000 for 6 month old British Blue Heifer Calf

28th November 2013
Allams held their 90th Christmas Show and Sale of Spectacular Calves and Beef Cattle in the RUAS, Showground, Balmoral, Belfast on Tuesday 26th November 2013. [more]

Blues Dominate Skipton Christmas Rearing Calf Championship

26th November 2013
Christmas came early for the North Yorkshire Sowray brothers when they retained their festive rearing calf supreme championship at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday 25th November 2013. [more]

Leaders Discuss National Cattle Health Programme

18th November 2013
Animal academics and vets have debated the merits of an industry and government-led organisation that would seek to control endemic disease in Englands herds. [more]

Blue Takes Reserve at Kirkby Stephen

6th November 2013
Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen mart held their annual Prize show and sale of Suckled calves on Monday 4th November 2013, where a catalogued entry of 550 was on offer. [more]

British Blue Success at Skipton

28th October 2013
Suckled calves and over year store cattle with show potential at Skipton Auction Mart produced a significant improvement in trade on last year’s corresponding fixture. [more]

Silly Season on EBVs

21st October 2013
Why is it that around the start of each sales season there is an article expounding that “EBVs don’t work” with quotes from sheep and cattle breeders expressing their opinion? [more]

First British Blue Sires Qualify for Superior Carcase Sire Scheme

30th September 2013
The first British Blue Sires, to qualify for the Society’s new Superior Carcase Sire Scheme, are to be offered for sale. [more]

Natural Stockcare British Blue Herd Competition

23rd September 2013
The Northern Ireland Blue Cattle Club held their annual herd competition recently and was delighted to have Natural Stockcare Ltd as their sponsors. [report]

Aberdeen & Northern Marts - Thainstone Spectacular

4th September 2013
Senior heifer champion and British Blue Cattle Society Perpetual Trophy winner was Rory Hood, Middlehill, Glen Clova, Kirriemuir, with a homebred 15-month-old British Blue x Limousin. [more]

Caledonian Marts Premier Show & Sale of Suckled Calves

11th September 2013
The annual Caledonian Marts Premier Show & Sale of Suckled Calves was held on 6th September 2013. [more]

British Blue Superior Carcase Sire Listing Scheme

30th August 2013
Following consultation with the industry, the Society is pleased and proud to launch a ‘Superior Carcase Sire Listing Scheme’. [more]

A President Introduced to a Prince in the Principality

23rd August 2013
British Blue Judge and Society President, Gill Evans being presented to Prince William at the recent Anglesey Show. [more]

Highridge herd wins Most Improved British Blue Herd

12th August 2013
The Highridge herd, owned by Jeff and Lorraine Dunn, of South Tawton near Okehampton, has been recognised by EBLEX as the Most Improved Herd of British Blue cattle in England for 2013. [more]

Blues Ride High – Recent Successes

8th August 2013
British Blue Cattle have secured more than their fair share of successes lately. [more]

Tanat Gabrielle Claims Supreme Interbreed Championship

3rd August 2013
The British Blue Heifer, Tanat Gabrielle, from Wyn & Dianne Jones, won the Supreme Interbreed Championship at the recent Oswestry Show. [more]

Greenvale Sponsors British Blue Heifer Derby

27th July 2013
The Northern Ireland Blue Cattle Club held the final of British Blue Heifer Derby at Antrim Agricultural Show. [report]

Bank of Ireland British Blue Young Bull Championship

13th July 2013
The annual British Blue Young Bull Championship took place at Castlewellan Show. This popular competition was kindly sponsored by Bank of Ireland. [report]

Royal Welsh Asda/ABP BeefLink Steak Competition

23rd July 2013
This year's Welsh Asda/ABP BeefLink steak competition staged at this week's Royal Welsh Show, was won by a steak from a British Blue heifer bred by Powys-based Mike and Sylvia Rowlands. [more]

Elegance Completes the Hat-Trick

22nd July 2013
Solway View Elegance completed the hat-trick by taking the Royal Welsh Show Supreme Championship for her owner Kevin Watret. [more]

Bakewell Market Record Calves Sell to £561

1st July 2013
An absolutely phenomenal calf trade saw the Bakewell market record price fall not just once, but three times, with two British Blue bull calves hitting over the £500 on Monday 24th June 2013. [more]

British Blue x Calves to £565 at Holsworthy

A British Blue x Bull Calf, recorded a top price of £565 at Holsworthy Market on 12th June [more]

Gina Crowned Champion of Champions at Armagh

The pedigree British Blue heifer "Willnant Gina" was tapped out as Champion of Champions at Armagh Show. [more]

British Blue tops £490 at Gisburn

Gisburn Auction’s anniversary show and sale of rearing calves held on 23rd May, saw a top of £490 for the champion from Edward and Stuart Forshaw, Longridge. This British Blue bull calf, at just six weeks old sold to John Swan, York. [more]

UK Under Pressure from EU to Cull Badgers

The EU could reinstate a ban on British cattle exports if the country fails to carry out a badger cull, the UK’s chief veterinary officer has warned. [more]

British Blues Win Steak Competition

The first Asda/ABP BeefLink steak competition of 2013 has been won by steak from British Blue cross young bull. [more]

Keasden Champion at CCM Skipton Pedigree British Blue Showpiece

CCM Skipton’s annual pedigree beef season commenced with ‘Blue Wednesday,’ the pedigree British Blue showpiece, which was dominated by breeders from North Craven. [more]

10-year old Blue cow makes £2386 at Newark

10-year old Tamhorn Vienna sold at Newark on the 24th April. Weighing in at 925 kilos and making 258p/kilo, leaving a very healthy cheque for £2386. This is a tremendous value for an animal at the end of its life.

Cumbrian success at Skipton store cattle show

Cumbria provided the champion and a first-ever title win at CCM Skipton for Ulverston’s Fred Saunders at the annual Spring store cattle with show potential fixture at Skipton Auction Mart. [more]

Leyburn Spring Spectacular 2013

Leyburn Mart held its annual Spring Spectacular for Show Potential Cattle on Saturday 9th March. [more]

Ulster Blues - Germany Bound!

British Blue Cattle genetics from one of the top herds in Ulster are bound for Germany where farmers are combating rising production costs by using the premier terminal sire breed to boost meat yields. [more]

Carlisle Suckled Calves

A British Blue cross heifer shown by Neil Marston of Millstone Moor took the Reserve Supreme Championship. [report]

Cyclone son wins at Craven Champions Day

Clitheroe’s Ian Townson reigned supreme on Craven Champions Day, CCM Skipton’s annual show and sale of commercial store cattle with future show potential when he lifted the title with his first prize British Blue-sired bullock and male champion, an 11-month-old son of Bluegrass Cyclone. [more]

The beef that supermarkets sell must exactly match the description on the label

Confirmation from Ireland’s Food Standards Agency that a beef burger sold by a major supermarket contained 29 per cent horsemeat means that retailers and processors throughout the UK must put more effort into making sure that the products they sell exactly match everything that is written on the label. [more]

Sam, 14, is Judged Stockman of the Year

Sam Madeley is a young man on a mission, he is aiming to become a professional stockman and one of the best. [more]

Revamp of Johne’s Disease risk assessment will reward proactive farmers

Beef farmers who take sustained action to reduce the prevalence of Johne’s Disease in their herds will have their efforts recognised from 1 January 2013. [more]