The BWCS Spring Sale held at Melton Mowbray Market on Saturday 22nd April attracted a keen crowd of buyers at the ringside, with strong trade driving a 92% clearance of cattle forward on the day.
Topping the British White heifer section at 2800gns was Alcroft Poppy, one of a run of four maidens forward from F W Cook & Son, Cambridgeshire, all sired by the prolific stock bull De Beauvoir Mazerati (bred by Mrs A Dunn) and sold to the Emily Estate, Somerset. The three heifers selling from the same pen were Alcroft Gwyneth at 2700gns, Albany Phoebe at 2500gns, and Albany Treasure also at 2500gns.
Local breeders K & RP Harding, Leicestershire, presented a smart pair of yearlings – Templar Marlin 215 and Templar Mandarin 211 – which made 2700gns and 2500gns respectively. Both sired by Castleton Jupiter (EX93), these two promising young heifers also make the journey to join the Emily Estate in Somerset.
The Bulby herd of Dr S & Mr J Bevan, Lincolnshire, brought forward a selection of six homebred heifers which reached a top of 2000gns for in-calf heifer Bulby Hartsease and 1700gns for maiden Bulby Primsose, both sold to the Emily Estate. From the same offering were Bulby Spearmint at 1200gns and Bulby Saponaria at 1100gns, both knocked down to Mr M Prince, Chesterfield, followed by Bulby Symphotriticum at 1200gns and Bulby Hebe Dazzler at 1000gns to Broad Oak Farm, Suffolk.
Also joining the Broad Oak herd at 1850gns was Tollesbury Illustrious from Dr V St Joseph, Essex. The youngest heifer in the pedigree section and a very smart prospect, this heifer is sired by Tollesbury Pirate (VG88), Breed Champion of the BWCS Virtual Show in 2020.
Leading the bull trade at 2700gns was four-year-old Woodbastwick Dalrymple (EX91), jointly exhibited by Miss C Liddle (Allasson herd) and Mr A Fisher (Nidderdale herd), North Yorkshire. Purchased as a yearling from Rotac Farms and since siring daughters retained by both herds, this bull now moves on to pastures new at the Emily Estate, Somerset. To the same buyer went the 2022 BWCS Bull of the Year, Alcroft Gunslinger from F W Cook & Son, Cambridgeshire, knocked down at 2200gns.
A group of eight registered heifers entered under the commercial section (exhibited by a non-member) also generated good interest. The top price in this section was 2600gns paid for two-year-old Viking Oinone, which sold alongside stablemates Viking Oizys (1900gns), Viking Oenone (1700gns) and Viking Nesoi (1500gns) to Mr J Osborne to join the Woodfield herd, near Stourbridge. Viking Ops was picked up at 1800gns by the Emily Estate, followed by Viking Ourania (1500gns), Viking Oreads (1500gns) and Viking Oceanid (1300gns) all sold to Broad Oak Farm, Suffolk.
2 in-calf heifers averaged 1,550gns (£1,627.50)
11 maiden heifers averaged 2,059gns (£2,161.95)
2 bulls averaged 2,450gns (£2,572.50)
8 commercial heifers averaged 1,725gns (£1,811.25)
