Over 250 registered purchasers flocked into Chelford Agricultural Centre last Saturday for the first sale of British Belgian Blue cattle after the re-opening of markets.

As well as a number of Dairy producers urgently seeking to produce quality calves for the crossbred beef market, Suckler producers from all over the U.K. flooded in to provide strong competition for all well-muscled bulls, leading to a top price of 4200gns for Norstaff Rambo, a November 1999 born son of Odilio VD Boshoek, sold by his breeder, Mick Heath from nearby Rushton Spencer, Leek. He went to Steve Smith of Castle Caereinion, Powys, better known at Chelford for his Texel flock, but now establishing a top-quality suckler herd following his FMD cull.

Doug Hazel from Luton, Bedfordshire produced a cracking son of Hazelwood Jake, Hazelwood Sylvester, which sold for 4000 gns to Messrs Cowperthwaite of Settle, North Yorkshire, whilst Michelle Wilde’s award-winning Ridge Dean Herd sold Ridge Dean Scot, a son of Mahogany, who made 3900gns to Messrs J & JJ Bowman of Dalston, Carlisle.

Show judge, Graham Brindley, of the Bringlee Herd, chose Keith and Janet Belfield’s Boothlow Sam as his Champion, the second successive show at Chelford that this keen young couple of Blue breeders had won the Supreme award. He made 3300gns to J Hall of Bakewell, Derbyshire.

The Female Champion came from Jane and Danny Wyllie’s Tamhorn herd, Staffordshire. Tamhorn Shona was a very attractive blue-and-white heifer and caught the eye of M G Morgan, who paid 2500gns to take her home to Leominster, Herefordshire. Ted and Christine Haste of Shebbear, Devon, also re-stocking after being culled out, paid 2000gns for the smart black-and-white Chancellors Sooty from Messrs Walwin, Shepton Mallet.

Trade was really dominated, however, by demand for Commercial Belgian Blue Crossbred cattle, this sale having established a huge reputation for producing winners at major national and regional Primetstock Shows.

CROSSBRED CATTLE REPORT

An overwhelming response from showmen, commercial feeders, and breeders from all over the U.K. all anxious to put 2001 behind them, culminated in a flying trade for the 105 strong entry.

Without the show on the Friday evening it was up to the purchasers to show their preferences and show us they did!

The first lot in the ring had attracted a great deal of interest pre-sale, a proper Blue x Limousin heifer from Steve Jones, Idridgehay, Derbyshire which set the tone for the day selling for £1,950 to Joe Hutchinson esq., of Thurston, Derbyshire.

However, once again it was the Welsh contingent which stole the show and taking the top 4 prices in the steer category and in doing so set a new commercial record for a Society Sale at a whopping £4,120.

Exhibited by Andrew Davies of Pantmeinog this superb black steer, born October 2001, creating frenetic activity around the sale ring and eventually sold to Messrs Staple Grove Livestock of Taunton, Somerset.

No less than 10 cattle topped the magical £1,000 barrier, steers from Andrew and Gareth Davies, along with heifers from Pete Bodily and W McMiken.

Auctioneers Gwyn Williams and Jonathan Farrall professed themselves absolutely delighted with the attendance and trade, clearly illustrating Chelford as the leading centre for both Pedigree and Commercial Belgian Blues.

Averages:-

	£
35 Pedigree Bulls	2676.30
12 Pedigree Females	1,465.00
56 Crossbred Steers	804.38
49 Crossbred Heifers	623.60