The third annual Hereford designer gene sale, which took place in Shrewsbury over the weekend, proved to be a record-breaking affair.

In addition to the sale reaching a record average, the top-priced lot also went on to become the highest-priced poll Hereford bull to sell at auction in the UK.

Leading the way was the UK bull of the year and Hereford champion of Europe Coley 1 Pilot, which sold for 13,000gns.

This 23-month-old bull from Miss H Whittaker, Halifax, has been a multi-award winner all summer. Sired by Coley 1 Maverick, the high-indexed bull is out of Romany 1 Ishbel.

Not stopping there, the Coley outfit sold a 50% interest in 14-month-old Coley 1 Clara 418. Sired by Solpoll 1 Kentucky Kid, 418 is a daughter of the renowned Clara 286. Securing the half share at 7,500gns was Rebecca Robinson of Whittle Herefords, in what is believed to be a Hereford female half-share record for the UK.

The 8,000gns Pulham Lady Dowager.

\ MacGregor Photography

Leading the way

A total of three heifers led the female section at a call of 8,000gns, helping to see female average settle at just shy of £5,900.

First up was the pick of two show heifers from the Moralee herd of T & D Harrison. Kylie KS R1 and Kimberly KS R7 have remained unbeaten in the pairs all year, including the National Hereford Calf Show. Securing their pick of Kylie KS R1 at a bid of 8,000gns was Bowendu Herefords.

The only horned heifer in the catalogue, Pulham Dowager 4th, matched that price. The well-known Pulham herd is no stranger to success and this 15-month-old daughter of Haven Hotspur only added to that. Dowager sold to the Norman Farming Partnership to join their Hickling herd.

Continuing their success from the 2017 sale where they secured the two top prices, Mr Birch and Mr Brindley were the last of the outfits to hit the female top price of 8,000gns.

The 8,000gns Sky High Luscious Lucy. \ MacGregor Photography

Their young heifer Sky High 1 Luscious Lucy was the heifer to do it and needs no introduction, having been crowned Agri Expo supreme champion last month.

Sired by Kingsize, she is a maternal sister to last year’s record breaker Lancome Lucy. This one was knocked down to Nick Griffiths of Grifford Herefords.

The second entry from the same herd was Sky High 1 Gabriella Chanel, which secured a price of 2,000gns. This is the first daughter of JC Fast Time to sell at auction in Europe and was secured by L & L Powell.

Pick of the calves

The Northern Ireland-based Solpoll herd put forward the chance to take the pick of their heifer calves from September 2017 and August 2018. The pick sold for 6,000gns to L & L Bowen, Mid-Glamorgan.

The Auckvale herd offered 11-month-old Auckvale 1 Curly 1725R at the sale. Curly 1725R was the first polled female and first daughter of Dendor 1 Mutley to sell and proved a crowd favourite, selling for 7,300gns.

The 8,000gns Moralee 1 Kylie. \ MacGregor Photography

Irish embryos lead the way

For the first time, the sale also hosted a ‘Goes Global’ section, offering select lots of embryos and semen. This again proved highly successful, with both the embryo and semen trade achieving European record highs.

Leading the way in the embryo section and selling a package of three embryos was well-known Kerry-based breeder Matthew Goulding of the Gouldingpoll herd.

These embryos were the cross of Remitall Super Duty and Dorepoll 1 R51 Duchess, which has already produced an all-Ireland champion for the Goulding herd.

Securing the embryos at £2,000 each was fellow Irishman Willie Ryan. In total, 44 embryos sold to average £570.45.

On the semen front, trade was led by Hereford champion of the world Moeskaer Compass 1487, which was consigned by Moeskaer Herefords.

A total of 20 straws sold for £460 each to Monte Lowderman of Lowderman Cattle Company, USA.

Comment

Overall, the sale continues to gain traction, breaking records year on year and is a testament to what can be achieved when only the best of the best is put forward.