Male Champion, Langham’s Apollo, a February 2011 born bull with a long list of show successes in 2012, sold for 5,000 gns.
SOUTH DEVONS HIT A NEW HIGH OF 13,000 GNS AT EXETER
The South Devon Herd Book Society’s Spring Show & Sale at Exeter saw a flying trade, setting a new record for bulls which exceeded the previous record by 2,500 gns! The average also rose by £250 to £4,276, with 33 bulls sold to buyers from across the country.
Breed Secretary Caroline Poultney said, “We have seen a good number of new buyers consolidating their foundation herds, in response to increasing demand for the South Devon breed which offers high performance, low cost returns, docility and excellent native beef breed characteristics.”
High health continues to be a focus for the Society’s premium sales, and the veterinary inspections are of a high standard.
It was an undisclosed buyer who bought the powerful Reserve Male Champion from P S & A P Rowe’s Trewint herd, Menheniot, Liskeard, Cornwall for 13,000 gns. Trewint Magnetto 10 was bred by Trewint genetics going back to Edmeston bloodlines, and by one of Trewint’s prize-winning dams Jill 451, herself by Wenfork Trusty 3.
Judge Mr David Thomas from Treguddick, Launceston, Cornwall selected his Male Champion from A & C Farms, Langham, Rutland County – Langham’s Apollo, a February 2011 born bull with a long list of show successes in 2012, by Ewefields Jeffrey and out of Ewefields Lady 34 who was sired by Welland Valley Hanbury 4. This bull was knocked down to Mr T Earl from Lerryn, Cornwall for 5,000 gns.
Second highest priced bull was Mr W H D Scott’s Grove Claudius 100, a January 2011 born bull with very high performance figures in the top 1% of the breed. His pedigree breeding goes back to Woodbastwick and Trevowah bloodlines, and his dam is by the acclaimed proven sire AI Grove Bellerophon 3. He sold to Mr E R Hemmings, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire for 10,000 gns.
Other top prices included Mr R K Rundle’s Kestle Leo 15 from the Kestle herd, Newquay, Cornwall who sold to James Eustice Farms, Wadebridge, Cornwall for 6,800 gns; and R C Burrough & Son’s Godworthy herd, Axminster, Devon – Godworthy Starbuster 7, by Brafferton Starbuster 17, selling to Mr D J Camp, Harberton, Devon for 6,200 gns.
A second bull from the Trewint herd – Trewint Cavalier 2, by Sexton Cavalier 10, sold to C E Caunter & Sons from Ipplepen, Devon for 6,300 gns.
In the female section, the stylish Champion Grove Willowherb 73 from Mr W H D Scott’s Grove herd, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire with pedigree lines going back to Highgate and Cilgwrrwg breeding, sold to Mr I Kendle from Fakenham, Norfolk, for 2,100 gns.
The highest price female was again from P S & A P Rowe’s Trewint herd – Trewint Buttercup 248 by Sexton Cavalier 248, selling to Mr & Mrs N Lee, Crediton, Devon for 2,350 gns.
A consignment of heifers from D & J Hedgeman Farming, Wareham, Dorset found homes in Mid Glamorgan, Norfolk, and Devon.
33 bulls, average £4,276. 5 halter-broken 2 year old heifers, average £2,069
Auctioneers: Messrs Kivells