Charolais met an explosive trade in Perth on Wednesday 18 February, where bidding peaked at an equal centre record of 55,000gns and a new all Continental beef breeds average of £6,062 was established for 195 lots traded, a figure representing a 93% clearance
The event marked a fitting end to the major pedigree beef fixtures at the centre where Charolais has reigned supreme with the highest number of all breeds of bulls sold and with the accompanying top average.
A total of 7,691 Charolais bull have come under the hammer selling for the highest average of £3,883 during the Perth Huntingtower centre’s 19 year span at the breed society’s official fixtures within the multi-beef breed weeks staged in February and October. In addition, Charolais holds the centre breed record of 55,000gns on two occasions.
"The event attracted what amounted to be the hottest trade ever at a UK centre and confirmed yet again Charolais’ leading role in the beef sector," commented the British Charolais Cattle Society chairman, Iain Millar. "Breeders offered bulls to suit all pockets to buyers at the crammed ringside who travelled from as far a field as Orkney to Cornwall to take home a slice of the action which reflected the true demand for Charolais cross cattle in the commercial marketplace. Charolais crosses are not only continuing to demonstrate that unbeatable weight for age and superb rearing efficiency, but they are also enabling finishers to exploit their true genetic potential by taking them to heavier carcase weights in the unrestricted market. Consequently, Charolais is leaving enviable rewards for both suckler producer and finishers."
UA auctioneer, David Leggat added: "We’re thrilled, absolutely delighted. This was one of the best entries of quality cattle forward which attracted leading commercial beef producers prepared to pay 5,000gns, 10,000gns or more for a bull, a trend that reflects today’s finished and cull cow marketplace. To attract another 55,000gns call was the icing on the cake."
The day’s top 55,000gns call was made for Sportsman Columbo TI +29, SRI +38, a 19 month old first prize winner from the Cheshire based Boden and Davies partnership, Mellor, Stockport. The hotly tipped Columbo comprised a superb blend of genetics; he the first son in ring by the match priced 55,000gns Thrunton Voldemort, and he was out of a homebred cow by the 26,000gns Perth champion, Ugie Legend, while her great granddam was the 28,000gns female record holder, DeCrespigny Debutante. Tipping the scales at 1,095kg, Columbo had a 400 day weight within the breed’s top 1%.
"Fantastic, we’re thrilled to bits," commented Charlie Boden. "We knew Columbo was very special from day one because of the strength of his combined genetics; he goes back to DeCrespigny lines which have consistently bred cattle with scale, scope and style, and are bedrock of our 70 cow herd." Columbo is scheduled to work across two herds with a total of 110 pedigree cows after being secured in a two way bid between Gilbert Crawford, of Maghera, Derry and breed newcomer, Joe Wilson, Newry, County Down. "This bull has got to be the best I’ve seen in the 50 years I’ve been travelling to Perth," said Mr Crawford. "He’s got something about him; muscle and power combined with style and class. The fact he’s by Voldemort made him that little bit more appealing."
The event witnessed the much awaited arrival of the first sons by Thrunton Voldemort who was purchased by Mr Boden and Flintshire vet, Esmor Evans, Mold, in a two way split for a new 55,000gns centre breed record back in February 2006. Mr Boden’s other two Voldemort sons sold to average 6,500gns, while Mr Evans’ three entries levelled at 6,000gns.
Esmor Evans’ much admired Maerdy Championlad TI +32, SRI +36 attracted the event’s second highest call of 28,000gns from Columbo’s under bidders, Swalesmoor Charolais, Eaglesfield, Dumfries. This 18 month old first class prize winner with a TI and SRI within the breed’s top 10%, was by Vald’or-ra and out of a homebred dam by the noted cow Maerdy Grimaldi. "Championlad is just very correct throughout; power, tremendous quality, great legs, a lovely character and with good figures to match," summed up herd manager, Iain Campbell. In fact, Swalesmoor invested virtually all their day’s takings in the one entry to join their 40 cow herd. Their topper at 8,000gns to Major David Walter, Balthayock, Perth was Swalesmoor Cracker TI +63, SRI +72, the highest Breedplan recorded entry in the catalogue. He was a September 2007 born son by the 34,000gns Perth champion, Goldies Uppermost and out of Blelack Viola, a son of the 25,000gns Perth champion, Thrunton Socrates.
The Campbell family, Ian and John and their father, Colin, Thrunton, Alnwick continued their winning success by lifting the overall supreme championship for the sixth time in 15 years, on this occasion with the aptly named Thrunton Crownprince TI +31, SRI +40. This 19 month old who was initially awarded the intermediate championship before going all the way, caught judge, John Campbell’s eye shortly after he came into the ring. "I found two tremendous bulls in the one class, however it was Crownprince who stood out in the first turn around; he demonstrated the real qualities of a Charolais bull – he had power, strength and volume; he really filled the eye." Crownprince was also among the Campbells champion group of three.
For the Campbells, the fixture marked yet another memorable occasion which witnessed them selling their entire string of 15 entries forward to average close on 7,000gns. "We’re really delighted as a family to be taking the silverware back home to Northumberland," commented Ian, "We’re also pleased to see Thrunton’s genetics continuing to perform well for other Charolais breeders."
Crownprince is by Burradon Talisman and a paternal brother to Thrunton Voldemort, while he is the first bull calf out of a homebred dam going back to the 25,000gns Perth supremo, Mowbraypark Orlando who has bred three out of the Campbell’s supreme champions. Crownprince who was within the breed’s top 1% on 400 day weight and SRI at +46, and top 10% TI at +31, was secured for 20,000gns, the day’s third highest call, by John Wilson and Sons who run the 60 pedigree cow Kinclune herd at Glenkindie, Alford.
The Campbells went on to offer their next best at 12,000gns twice. First to go was Thrunton Condor TI +20, SRI +25, a Solwayfirth Union son and out of a homebred dam by Maerdy Location. He went to run with Jim Warnock’s suckler herd based at Broughton, Biggar.
The Campbells second 12,000gns bid went to Thrunton Classic TI +22, SRI +30 an 18 month old first prize winner by Talisman and out of a homebred cow by Mortimers Politican. He sold to Peter Howells, Llanwenog, Llanybydder to join the Pedr and Gwenog herds amounting to 45 cows and which he manages with his father, John.
Earlier on in the day, Peter Howells went along way to recouping his spend when he sold the 20 month old Gwenog Captain TI +25, SRI +33, for 10,000gns to James Forbes and his sons, Hamish and Euan, to run with their 30 cow pedigree herd and 400 sucklers based at Nairn. It was Captain who 24 hours earlier had been cited by judge, John Campbell as the second ’tremendous’ bull in the showring and he followed Thrunton Crownprince all the way through the lines to stand in reserve intermediate position and finally take the overall reserve supreme championship. "I was chuffed to bits, if not just a little surprised," said Peter who in the last six years has made several successful 900 mile round trips from Ceredigion to Perth including with Pedr Thumper, who was the same way bred as Captain, he stood in exactly the same overall reserve championship slot and made 31,
