MELTON MOWBRAY – SALE REPORT

Melton Mowbray Market hosted a Multibreed sale on Saturday 27^th March 2021 which saw 3 Salers bulls sell to a top price of 3666gns (male average £3453) and the female trade hit 2700gns. In total 14 Salers sold to an average of £1914 with a clearance rate of 88%. The event was held under strict COVID-19 restrictions where all attendees wore face masks and adhered to the 2m social distancing regulations. There was a parade that was judged by R McInnes earlier in the day and the sale was streamed live via Marteye where online bidding facilities were available.

Taking the Overall Championship was Angus Gowthorpe from Approach Farm with Approach Farm Oak, a February 2019 bull sired by Seawell Lithium and out of Approach Farm Kara. Approach Farm Oak sold for 3000gns to A F & R Stannage, Tilton on the Hill, Leicester to put over dairy heifers for female replacements to start a new beef enterprise. The Reserve Overall Championship was awarded to Rigel O’Toole Blk from Rigel Pedigree, a black April born bull sired by Lascaux, a grandson of Variegeois. W Bothwell purchased Rigel O’Toole Blk for 3200gns for his herd at Stretton, Rutland. Sale leader was Rigel Old Spice one of only two sons of Byron left in the Rigel herd. Old Spice sold for 3666gns to D Barton, Middle Duntisbourne, Gloucester.

Bull Class

1^st & Overall Champion – Approach Farm Oak, Angus Gowthorpe
2^nd & Reserve Overall Champion – Rigel O’Toole Blk, Rigel Pedigree
3^rd – Rigel Old Spice, Rigel Pedigree

Leading the females in the show and sale ring was Manor Lane Orchid a strong dark heifer out of a top show cow from quality breeding lines. Her sire Manor Lane Krypton was sold to Cogent, and she was available for sale PD’d in-calf to Manor Lane Napoleon who was polled and by the French bull Beguin. Manor Lane Orchid joined Brian Jones’ herd in Diss, Norfolk for 2700gns. From the same home, Manor Lane Orchid Blk, realised 1850gns and went home with S Crossland, East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire. Mr Crossland and partner Emily had followed this heifer Manor Lane Poppy Blk from birth and not content with one Poppy Emily also paid 1100gns for one of Mark Howkin’s production draft females Peggy Poppy.

Female Class

1^st – Manor Lane Orchid, Carolyn Fox
2^nd – Manor Lane Poppy Blk, Carolyn Fox
3^rd – Green’s Park Perdita, C B Farms
4^th – Green’s Park Phillipa, C B Farms

Four production females from Malcolm Light, Ashbury Salers, topped at 1500gns for Ashbury Jill 42^nd Poll, Ashbury Hosanna 35^th Polled realised 1450gns followed by Ashbury Rhoda 10^th Polled and Ashbury Emma 29^th Polled selling for 1400gns a piece. All these heifers joined Manor Lane Orchid at the home of B Jones, Diss Norfolk.

Mark Howkins had a strong pen of five production females which peaked at 1400gns for Peggy Orchid, who was purchased by pedigree breeder Mr D Nightingale, Ashover, Derbyshire. Peggy Poppy sold for 1100gns, and A J Geary of Milton Keynes purchased Peggy Polly, Peggy Pimms and Peggy Phoenix for 1000gns, 950gns and 900gns respectively.

Production Females

1^st – Pen of four production females from Malcolm Light, Ashbury Saler
2^nd – Pen of five production females from Mark Howkins, Peggy Salers