NI cattle out in front at Agri Expo

Cattle from NI exhibitors took the top two places at the 11th Borderway Agri Expo, held on Friday 3 November in Carlisle.

Attracting over 13,000 visitors to an event designed to showcase the best of UK livestock, the cattle champion was Bexy-Boo, a Limousin cross heifer from first-time exhibitors, Robert and Leanne Workman, from Larne.

Bexy-Bo is, a home-bred 15-month-old, sired by Wilodge Vantastic and out of the family’s show cow, Gabby.

The reserve champion was a 13-month-old Limousin cross bullock, named Jon Snow, owned by Dermot and Gareth Small, from Kilkeel, Co Down.

NFU president to stand down

The president of the National Farmers’ Union in England, Meurig Raymond, is to step down in February 2018.

His original plan was to stay in the position until 2020, but Raymond announced last week that he would not seek re-election again next February, stating that the NFU needed continuity in leadership throughout Brexit negotiations.

“It has become increasingly clear that the complex negotiations for the UK to leave the EU will go well beyond the next two years,” he said. Raymond has served two two-year terms as NFU president and has been a national officer holder for 14 years.

Current NFU deputy president Minette Batters is expected to run for the presidency in February, and if successful would become the organisation’s first female leader. Other contenders could also emerge, including NFU vice-president, Guy Smith.

Meanwhile, in NI, a change is also coming in the UFU leadership team in 2018, with current president Barclay Bell due to stand down after a two-year term.

Normal protocol is that he is replaced with the longest serving deputy president, which in this case is Markethill farmer, Ivor Ferguson.

Record for Charolais females in Tyrone

A new high in NI was achieved at the NI Charolais Club autumn sale which took place at Dungannon Mart last Friday when 8,000gns was paid for Battleford Lola, an in-calf heifer exhibited by Bartley Finnegan from Moy, Co Tyrone.

Sired by Lochend Apache, the heifer was in-calf to Blelack Immaculate, and sold to Blair Huntly from Aberdeenshire.

Also selling for 8,000gns was the May 2016-born bull, Mountjoy Morgan, exhibited by Caldwell McAskie from Mountjoy, Co Tyrone. Sired by Montgomery Ianto, and out of the homebred dam Mountjoy Ultra, he was bought by Messers McGinnity from Co Armagh.

Top prices

Other top prices included 6,000gns paid for Coolnaslee Martin, a 17-month-old bull exhibited by herd manager Stuart Wilson on behalf of Jonathan Crawford, Maghera, Co Derry.

The bull was picked out as supreme, male and senior champion by judge Robert McWilliams from Maghera.

In total, 26 bulls sold to an average of £3,428.65, and 14 heifers to an average of £2,902.50.