Auctioneer Derek Biss, of Greenslade Taylor Hunt, who run the market, said: “Despite two large sales of autumn milk in West Wales; another 250 head in Hereford - two in Devon in the week which gave purchasers more choice the fantastic entry of first quality cattle ensured that the trade was maintained by over 50 purchasers at Sedgemoor Auction Centre.”
With a record entry of 150 freshly calved cows and heifers plus youngstock, the judging of the show at the beginning of the day was no mean task for the judges, John Yeoman and David Roles from the ‘Jayherd’. Their first prize heifer and Champion was Rickard and Webbers calved heifer ‘Starlet Explode Sheen ET’ (VG87-2yr) from 14 generations of EG or Ex dams, she sold for 2,700 guineas to the Perrins herd.
Bettiscombe heifers were once again in strong demand selling to 2,450 guineas for a Roxy and 2,300 guineas for a Miss America. Others at 2,000 guineas were from Derek and Jeremy Dennis’ Dinnaton herd.
The results of the calved cow class were the order of top prices for the first three. ‘Bettiscombe Trump Wendy 2nd GP83’ (first and Reserve Champion) a 2nd calver selling for 2,500 guineas, the second placed ‘Janke Shottle Liz 2nd‘ from Keith and Jan Hulberts continued dispersal sold for 1,900 guineas as did Rookhaye Estate’s 2nd calver ‘Time Geraldine’.
The day generated a fast trade for bulls with ‘Dorset Vision’ from Dimond Farming Limited selling for 1,750 guineas and the seven sold averaging £1,462.50.
The day included a Christmas Calf Sale for the first time which was very well received, with the June 2016 born ‘Sahara Solomon Jamaica’ selling for 2,100 guineas to Walkabout and ‘Sahara Hurricane Sky’ born September 2016 for 1,550 guineas to Sherdon. The first prize winner of the youngstock class was ‘Glebewin End Story Skybird 286th’ born March 2016 from G Smale which sold for 1,150 guineas.
The Christmas Cracker certainly finished the year’s monthly sales on a high with no less than 51 purchasers producing the following exciting averages:
Freshly Calved Cows £1500
Freshly Calved Heifers £1627
Bulls £1463
Served Heifers £775
Bulling Heifers £641
Yearling and younger Heifers £466
Heifer Calves £334
Christmas Calf Sale £1403
Show Results:
Judges Mr J Yeoman and Mr D Roles ‘Jayherd’
Champion Sponsored by ForFarmers
Starlet Explode Sheen VG87-2yr
Reserve Champion Sponsored by Sharon Lake & Co Certified Chartered Accountants
Bettiscombe Trump Wendy GP83
Cow In Milk Sponsored by NMR
1st Bettiscombe Trump Wendy GP83
2nd Janke Shottle Liz 2nd
3rd Rookhaye Time Geraldine
Heifer In Milk Sponsored by Wadland Finance
1st Starlet Explode Sheen VG87-2yr
2nd Non Ped Heifer from HR Lewis
3rd Emeraldgrove Zelgadis Iris
Youngstock Sponsored by GTH
1st Glebewin Endstory Skybird
2nd Curscombe Dreamer Joy
3rd Gest Fanella 632nd