7 Week Old British Blue Calf sells for £500

GISBURN AUCTION MARTS CHRISTMAS CALF SHOW

The 2009 Gisburn Auction Marts Christmas show of rearing calves on Thursday 26th November saw 217 calves forward, from across the counties of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire. A packed ringside of spectators and 28 English and Scottish buyers were present to watch the tremendous show of quality calves, co-judged by calf buyers-Tony Binns, Harrogate and John Robson, Barnard Castle.

Left to right: Ian Plews of Cogent Breeding Ltd, pre-sale show sponsor presenting-father and daughter partnership, Tom & Christine Holden with their award for the champion calf, which sold for £500 to K & DJ Lavin, Wigan, Lancashire.

The overall champion a seven-week-old British Blue bull sold for £500, from dairy farmer, Tom Holden, Chaigley, Clitheroe, Lancashire. The calf sired by the Alta Genetics bull - Valley Pedro, out of a fifth lactation Friesian cow, sold to bull beef finishers Keith & Jean Lavin, Garswood, Wigan, Lancashire. Who also picked up the reserve champion prize winner and second prize British Blue bull calf at £390, from renowned calf producer Colin Whitelock, Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire. Mr Whitelock was in the money again when his seven week old, second prize British Blue heifer calf sold for £328 to TD Robinson, Waitby, Cumbria. Other British Blue calves from this vendor sold for £308, £300, £280, £278 & £245.

First prize winner in the British Blue heifer class was just six weeks old from Mark Falshaw, Walmsley, Bury, Lancashire, sired by the Genus bull – Ridge Dean Vanquish and sold for £345. Simmental calves were in demand; the top price of the day was from David Shuttleworth, Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire with his eight week old, first prize bull calf which sold for £385 to John Swann, Little Ouseburn, York.

Averages: Bulls: British Blue £320; Simmental £332; Limousin £258; Aberdeen Angus £209. Heifers: Limousin £215; British Blue £307; Simmental £259; Aberdeen Angus £172; Auctioneers: Richard Turner & Son

Show & Sale Results

Judges: Tony Binns & John Robson
Champion - T Holden & Son, £500 to K & DJ Lavin
Reserve - C Whitelock, £390 to K & DJ Lavin

Class 1 Best British Blue Bull Calf
1st T Holden & Son, £500 to K & DJ Lavin
2nd C Whitelock, £390 to K & DJ Lavin
3rd GT Blezard, £375 to J A Swann

Class 2 Best British Blue Heifer Calf
1st F & G & M Falshaw, £345 to Messrs. T D Robinson
2nd C Whitelock, £328 to Messrs. T D Robinson
3rd E & M Townley & Son, £342 to Messrs. T D Robinson

Class 3 Best Other Bull Calf
1st D W Shuttleworth, £385 to J Swann
2nd J Peel, £305 to A M Binns
3rd Newsomes, £292 to F Webster

Class 4 Best Other Heifer Calf
1st G Dakin, £292 to A M Binns
2nd J Peel, £295 to Messrs. T D Robinson
3rd D W Shuttleworth, £285 to S & M Cooper