There was a strong commercial and pedigree demand in Charolais bulls at Welshpool on Saturday, April 27, at the breed’s official spring sale. Bidding peaked at 7,000gns, 14 lots traded at 5,000gns and above and 45 lots sold to an average of £4,004, an increase on last year of £8 with 13 more sold.

The sale topper at 7,000gns came from local breeder Arwel Owen, Welshpool. Trefaldwyn Ore, a March 2018-born Blelack Digger son out of Trefaldwyn Daffodil, who goes back to Doonally New and had been awarded a red ticket at the pre-sale show in the morning, was purchased by Ian Bell, Brampton, Cumbria.

Two of the top lots were bred and consigned by the Barker family of Caylers Charolais, Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire, and were sold only minutes apart. The top priced was purchased by Messrs Clayton, Newtown, for 6,200gns and topped his class earlier in the day. Caylers Nissan a 17-month-old, the first son sold by the French born First is out of Caylers Lara, a 10,000gns Thrunton Goldeneye daughter. Their second Caylers Nero, which sold just moments later for 5,800gns to R G Lewis, Caernarfon, was also sired by First but this time out of Caylers Lily, another Goldeneye daughter.

Just behind at 6,100gns was the February 2018-born Esgob Osian, offered for sale by Gareth Jones, Cwmtirmynach, Gwynedd. Osian who was tapped out second in class at the pre-sale show, caught the eye of D Jones who takes him home to work in Ceredigion. He is the first son to be sold by the 12,000gns Caylers Hustler from his 45 progeny born since joining the Esgob herd in October 2016, when he was purchased from The Blelack herd dispersal sale and his Dam Esgob Helen is a daughter of the 26,000gns Carlisle junior champion Anside Excalibur.

Purchased at 6,000gns by J A V Mills and Sons, Builth Wells, was the 18-month-old Dooley Norris. Sired by National show supreme champion Davally Igolo and out of the 15,000gns Goldies Dynamite-sired Dooley Leya. He was the only double Q bull in the sale and was bred and exhibited by David Thornley, Hartshorne, Derbyshire.

Class winner Montgomery Nevile was next in the trade stakes at 5,800gns. Messrs Roberts and Jones, Welshpool, are the breeders of this August 2017-born bull, who was purchased by Messrs Stephens, Neath. The 9,000gns Balmyle Harlequin is the sire here, while his dam is Montgomery Eiddwen, a daughter of the French born Suzeringie.

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A trio of bulls sold for the next highest price of 5,500gns beginning with Montgomery Napoli, the days supreme champion, who was also offered for sale by the Roberts and Jones partnership. The 18-month-old Napoli is sired by the 8,000gns Carlisle supreme champion Gretnahouse Jugular, who has bred over 80 progeny into the herd since his purchase in 2016, while his Dam Montgomery Lupin goes back to Balmyle Harlequin. He was purchased by Messrs Claridge, Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire.

Matching the 5,500gns price tag was Maerdy Northernboy, an entry from Flintshire vet Esmor Evans of Mold. Another top priced bull awarded a red ticket by show judge Matthew Milne he caught the eye of Jenny and John Rix, Nayland, Colchester. The 19-month-old Northernboy is out of Maerdy Gorgeousgirl who goes back to Veilleur and sired by Maerdy Figaro-w.

Also knocked down at 5,500gns and this time selling to J T Abberley, Buith Wells, was Trefaldwyn Oxo. Sired by the 28,000gns Perth supreme champion Brampton Nacodar and out of Trefaldwyn Heidi who goes back to Blelack Digger, the aforementioned Arwel Owen was the breeder and exhibitor of the February 2018-born Oxo who placed third in his class.

Next to purchase was J R Jones, Caernarvon, and another of the above-mentioned Roberts & Jones’ entries was the one to take his fancy. The yellow ticket winning and 16-month-old Montgomery November, sired by Blelack Digger and out of Montgomery Ladysday, a Balmyle Harlequin daughter was knocked down for 5,300gns.

Making 5,200gns was Bob Roberts’ September 2017-born Brynffanigl Nero, from Ucha, Clwyd. The breeding here includes dam Brynffanigl Empress who goes back to the 17,000gns Alsnow Almighty and sire the 12,000gns Wesley Equinox. He goes on to work in Llanddeusant, Anglesey, for Mr T Williams.

Next in the trade stakes at 5,100gns when he was purchased by J Roberts, Crucorney, Abergavenny, was the 17-month-old heifer’s calf Beanhill Nitro who had been placed second in his class in the pre-sale show. James and Belinda Kimber, Christian Malford, Wiltshire, are the breeders here, his sire is Wesley Equinox while his dam is Beanhill Lucy, a Blelack Digger daughter.

Two bulls sold for a ticket price of 5,000gns, the first was presented by the aforementioned Gareth Jones. The blue ticket winner and 19-month-old Esgob Navigator, who stayed local when snapped up by Messrs Davies who also hales from Cwmtirmynach. Navigator is another by Caylers Hustler and his dam is the Anside Excalibur-sired Esgob Hyderus.

The other 5,000gns lot was the reserve champion Maerdy Northwestwind from Esmor Evans. A bull with French lineage his sire is Julienas and his dam is the T-Unisson-sired Maerdy Fission, the December 2017-born Northwestwind was purchased by Brian Nancekivell, Oakhampton, Devon.

Averages: 45 bulls: £4,003.65; two heifers: £1,233.75; one cow and calf: £1,260.00.

Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales.

Show Judge: Matthew Milne, Elgin, Morayshire.

Sponsor: KLF Insurance Brokers.