Wales Farmer APRIL 2014 MARKETS 25


Unions air livestock concerns


DOUBLE HONOURS: Supreme champion at the new Brecon spring show was Ashledge Highlander, which sold for the day’s top price of 4,000gns.


On a high with double success at new event


British Limousin Cattle Society show and sale, Brecon, February 22nd


A DOZEN bulls averaged £3,294 at a newLimousin sale in Brecon. The first official British Limou-


sin Cattle Society spring showand sale at Brecon Market on Febru- ary 22nd saw Ashledge High- lander from A. G. Kirton&Sons, Severn Lodge Farm, Kinlet, Bewdley take the overall champi- onship and lead the trade, selling for 4,000guineas to D. N. Eynon, Gwerngenny, Wormbridge, Here- ford.


Also selling at 4,000gns was


Sherry Horace from T. and S. Jones, of Bowley, Clehonger, Herefordshire, to J. and H. Phillips, for their Gronw herd at Esgerddeugoed,


Cwmfelin


Mynach,Whitland. Loosebeare Houdini and


Loosebeare Hunt from E. W. Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Crediton, Devon both sold for 3,600gns to J. Price,


MARKET pricing, con- sumer confidence and animal health issues in the livestock sector were key topics up for discus- sion when members of UK and Irish farming


unions met. Representatives from NFU


Cymru, NFU, Ulster Farmers Union, Irish Farmers Associa- tion and NFU Scotland visited the world famous bull sales at United Auctions in Stirling and toured the research facilities at Moredun Institute, just outside Edinburgh. The group discussed the beef


and sheep market in Britain and Ireland, with widespread con- cerns voiced over beef price diffi-


culties. Representatives called on the meat trade to recognise how current negative short termprice signals could impact on longer termproducer confidence. Speaking after the meeting,


NFU Cymru livestock board chairman Lyndon Edwards said, “We had a great couple of days with some really helpful discus- sions. Clearly dialogue between our organisations and our live- stock sectors is vital as we look for solutions to shared challenges – whether that be in the market place or in animal health issues. “The recent weakening in the


beef price and the level of deduc- tions now faced at the abattoir is a major concern for all of our farmers and we will continue to work with the trade to highlight


the damage this could do long term.” The challenges ofCAPreform


were also on the agenda, with the entire group agreeing that CAP support must underpin produc- tive agriculture and there was a free and frank exchange of ideas on rural development support arrangements and how these could assist both lowland and upland livestock farming. A feature of the group’s visit


to the Moredun Institute was a presentation and discussion on Johne’s disease, a devastating condition affecting cattle and sheep. The group supported fur- ther research into the problem and was keen to ensure resources were shared to tackle disease problems more effectively.


Hotly-contested bull is heading for Wales


SPRING WINNER: Dinmore Hocco was reserve champion at the spring show and sold for 3,500gns.


Tycook Farm, Pontypool and C. J. and J. C. Durston, Knoll View Farm, Highbridge respectively. Taking the reserve overall championship was Dinmore Hocco from P. Dawes, Kipper- knowle Farm, Hereford, before selling for 3,500gns to J. J. and B. D.Comer,NewMoonleaze Farm, Swindon. Other leading bull prices included 3,100gns for Calogale Hero to A. Davies, Glanbrydan, Manordeilo, 3,000gns


for


Llandeilo; and Ashledge


Handyandy to M. J. Davies, Choulton Farm, Lydbury; and Redland Hayden to J. Creed, Ubley Hill Farm, Bristol. A small show of females saw a


top price of 2,300gns for maiden heifer Mynach Heybaby from E. D. Griffiths and Co, Cilgryman Fawr, Cwmfelin Mynach, Whit- land. Averages: Bulls (12) average


£3,294 Maiden heifers (7) average


1,710. Auctioneers: McCartneys


Price drop hitting beef sector


DECLINING prices are threat- ening the long-termsustainability of the Welsh beef sector, produc- ers are warning. Despite encouraging long-term


signals for the future, there are concerns that current beef price difficulties could have an impact on long-term producer confi- dence. Clwyd NFU Cymru county


chairman, Ivor Beech said: “The decline could not have come at a worse time with production costs continuing to escalate on the back of increased feed and bedding


costs of farms as a result of this winter’s atrocious weather. “I believe Welsh beefis second


to none in terms of quality, its provenance and food safety. We hear the right signals from the supply chain about the need to secure supply on a long-term basis, but the current short-term approach to pricing has resulted in beef producers starting to seri- ously question their future in the industry.” Mr Beech called on the indus-


try to develop sustainable pricing models to restore farmers’ confi-


dence. “This is the only way to give


producers the confidence to go forward, go to the expense of fin- ishing cattle and deliver what the market demands,” he added. “The concerns that beef farm-


ers are now raising should be a wake-up call to the supply chain - producers must get a fair and sus- tainable price if they are to remain in production. The recent weak- ening in the beef price and the level of deductions now faced at the abattoir is a major concern for our farmers.”


A WELSH breeder fought off stiffcompetition to take home the top-priced bull at the nation- al show and sale of British Blue Cattle at Chelford, Cheshire. Trade


was exceptional


throughout for strong, well- grown and fit bulls ready to work and was led by the reserve male champion, the February 2012 born Drift Hero. He had been shown very successfully in 2013 and attracted considerable pre- sale interest. This translated to lively bidding before the winning bid of 7,000gns was placed by Huw Evans, for his Hendre- seifion herd, Machynlleth. Hero boasts 200-day growth figures in the top 10% of the breed and car- cass profitability index figures in the top 25%. Prior to the sale, a bull bred in


south Wales took the supreme championship in the show. The accolade went to Rhymil Hugo Boss, a May 2012 born son of Boothlow Batman, out of the homebred cow Rhymil Beauty,


British Blue Cattle Society show and sale, Chelford, March 8th


from Rhys Millichap, of Tonyre- fail. Having been shown success- fully last year and with calving ease figures in the very top of the breed, Hugo Boss attracted much attention before heading to South Molton, Devon with Geoffrey Brown for 5,900gns. Also, Dylan Rees from Pem-


brokeshire brought forward Blue Stone Howard, by one ofhis own bulls, Blue Stone Edward, and out of the Three Ways Superstar sired Blue Stone Awena, to sell for 4,500 gns to R. A. Jones, Llanfechell, Anglesey. Pedigree females were in short


supply, but quality breeding stock with potential was clearly sought after. Graham Morgan, from Herefordshire, saw his smart June 2012 born heifer Almeley Happy Girl, by Colos Van Daisel and out of the home-


bred Dolly make 3,500 gns to Patrick Russell,


brokeshire. Following on from a solid


trade in the pedigree ring, the crossbred entry received sturdy interest from commercial feeders and breeders alike. Top priced and champion


steer was bred and exhibited by regular supporter Brian Grif- fiths, of Penygelly, Newtown. Born last May, the steer showed exceptional growth and style and was knocked down to Norwich based show team, Graham and Heather Blythe at £1500. Other leading prices included


a very smart bulling heifer from Carmarthenshire


breeders


Davies Brothers, making £1620 to H. Williams Llangadog. Auctioneers: Frank Marshall


LLP Chelford. New DNA test for Welsh Blacks


THe Welsh Black Cattle Society has developed aDNAtest to dis- tinguish between pure and impure polled animals. Developed in conjunction


with Weatherbys DNA Labora- tory, the important break- through replaces the current sys- tem which requires an animal to


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


breed and its progeny examined to establish its polled status. A Welsh Black bull, once con-


firmed as pure (homozygous) polled with the test, which costs £18, can be confidently used on any breed of horned cattle in the knowledge that all progeny are guaranteed naturally polled.


Apart from welfare, another


advantage is the avoidance of dehorning. For further particulars on


DNAtesting contact secretary of the polled section Hywel Davies on 07908562817 or the Welsh Black Cattle Society at the Builth Wells office on 01982551111.


of Pem-


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