Longtown Beef Shorthorns to 4,000gns

The Summer Sale at Longtown Mart for the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society attracted a crowded ringside allied to considerable internet interest with cattle selling as far afield as Northern Ireland and Caithness.

Cows with calves at foot were a particular feature with 4,000gns, the top bid of the day, being paid by Dr R. J. Steen for his Hazelbank herd; his purchase being Runleymill Duchess Nancy, a 2019 born roan Chapelton Dauphin daughter from Mr J. H. Wilson and Ms J. Dunning, Runley Mill, Settle and sold with her white registered heifer calf, by Runleymill Rahul, at foot. Messrs Wilson and Dunning also sold the 1st prize cow, Runleymill Miss Ramsden with her third calf, a bull, at foot, at 2,500gns to Messrs Capstick, High Lane, Newbiggin on Lune.

An impressive reduction draft of ten cows with calves at foot from the Grinkle herd of R.G. & H.E. Thompson, Bennison House, Sneaton, Whitby sold to 2,700gns for Glenarrif Newella Ruby, a 2019 cow with heifer calf which was purchased by J. & H. Gibson, Appleton Mill Farm, Appleton le Moors, North Yorkshire. Grinkle Ross Daisy by Castlemount Ross and with heifer calf at foot realised 2,400gns from Messrs Dobson, Westend, Allonby. Messrs Dobson also took Grinkle Secret Bluebell with heifer calf at 2,300gns and Messrs Capstick bought Grinkle Barolo Bluebell, again with a heifer calf, for 2,300gns; with others from Grinkle to 2,250gns.

In the show, the judge, Mr Dan Bull, selected the heifer Shawhill Foxglove Ruby as champion. A Shawhill Maestro daughter from John and Matthew Thomson, she sold, in-calf to Shawhill Roman, at 2,700gns to Mr G. W. Dent, Kaberfold, Kirkby Stephen. The reserve champion, an unserved heifer from J.W. Biggar, Chapelton, Castle Douglas, Chapelton Sister 7403 by Chapelton Picasso went at 2,000gns to Will Benson, Levens, Kendal.

In-calf heifers from the Meonside herd of D. & T. Bradley Farmer, Parkgate, Dumfries sold at 2,100gns and 2,000gns with heifers from H. & N. Sloan, Burnfoot and from Shawhill at 1,900gns and from Chapelton and Messrs Swinbank, Limelane at 1,800gns. The single bull in the sale made 2,800gns to J. Anderson & Partners, Rowanburnfoot.

With 95% of the cattle sold, 12 cows and heifers with calves averaged £2,467 (2022 - £1,902), 10 senior heifers averaged £1,803 (2022 - £1,612) and 14 junior heifers £1,607 (2022 - £938).

Pre-sale Show Champion Shawhill Foxglove Ruby