The Thirteenth Annual Belgian Blue Show & Sale attracted a tremendous crowd to the Portadown venue this week, with an overflowing sale ring greeting auctioneer Tom Clarke at starting time. The extreme muscling of this popular breed attracted both suckler and dairy farmers to the event, resulting in a swift clearance for the entire catalogue.

The sale ring leader at 4,000 guineas came from Jack & Ann Morrison’s Chatham Herd, situated at Armoy, Co Antrim. This well known enterprise has dominated the sale return at numerous events to date, a feat repeated at this show & sale, where three of the top four prices came from these willing sellers. Chatham Silas is by the stock bull Lenborough Oliver, who collected Male and Reserve Supreme Championships at Balmoral last year.

The weight recording figures were also good for this outstanding March 2000 born bull, with a Beef Value of BB19 ranking him high in the Breed’s league table. The final bidder for this all white bull was Matt Workman.

The Supreme Champion was a well-balanced black & white bull from the Lukeroyal herd of Mel & Diane Lucas, Antrim. Ministre De La Chevratte sired this great all rounder, with the dam being by Indecis Du Stordeur. There was a real tussle of bids for this Champion with the bidding finishing at 3,400 guineas, paid out by T Whiteside. Dessie Rainey congratulated Mel on his success on behalf of the Northern Bank, who kindly sponsored the judging classes, placed by Jim Sloane, Kilkeel.

Jack & Ann Morrison were back in the money at 3,300 guineas with their son of Railway View Hector, Chatham Southwind. Railway View Hector has had a profound impact on the Chatham Herd over the years, with progeny consistently selling into dairy and suckler herds at high prices. Southwind is out of a Stoneleigh Devonian Diablo daughter, and has a Beef Value of BB15. Another bull by the same sire notched up 2,800 guineas in the sale ring for the Chatham Herd. The breeding of this bull is very similar to his team-mate sold previously for 3300 guineas.

Another all white bull made headlines at 2300 guineas when Norman Hammond’s son of Savant De Pierrecome came under the hammer. Spotted by the judge earlier in the day where he was placed third in a very strong class, this bull was also picked out by a number of potential buyers keen to purchase.

It took 2,250 guineas to secure Boyhill Robert from Trevor Beacom, Maguiresbridge. This son of Gortagarron Lancelot has already proven he is a good stock-getter having fun with heifers all summer.

The Reserve Champion was an eye-catching, all white bull from Andrew Craig’s Woodview Herd, Coleraine. This class leader is sired by Navire De Septon and sold for 2,100 guineas.

There was fierce demand for the select entry of females on offer, with a terrific heifer from Desmond McAskie, Omagh, topping the charts at 2,250 guineas. This choice entry has tremendous breeding in her pedigree with both Alambic and Garanti De Maurage, featuring.Weight recording details were also well above average, with a Beef Value of BB17.

Martin Bros travelled from Newtownards with a lovely pair of heifers sired by Totem De Chocquenee. Bidding was brisk here with 2,050 and 1,800 guineas paid out accordingly.

A feature of this sale is always a good entry of commercial Belgian Blue cattle and this year’s selection was of a very high quality. The Champion came from W Rogers, Newry for a clean-eared steer, weighing in at 400 kilos and fetching £575 (147 pence per kilo).

Michael McNally, Cookstown brought out a really good heifer tipping the scales at 350 kilos and selling at £570 (163 pence per kilo).

Leading prices in Guineas – Bulls

Results from the Judging Ring

Class One: Bulls, born in 1999

Class Two: Bulls, born between 1st January and 31st July 2000

Class Three: Heifer born in 1999

Class Four: Heifer born after 1st January 2000

1st Martin Bros, Newtownards	Springhill Sasha
2nd Basil Dougherty, Newtownards	Greenfield Trudy

Supreme Champion:	Lukeroyal Snort (Mel Lucas)
Reserve Champion:	Woodview Roland ET (Andrew Craig)
Female Champion:	Springhill Sasha (Martin Bros)