The Autumn sale of pedigree and commercial Salers took place at Welshpool on Saturday 9th October 2021. There was a 100% clearance in the pedigree section, however prices were slightly back on the year, with three Salers bulls which sold to a top price of 3600gns and an average of £3360 (-£840 for 1 bull sold in 2020), and two pedigree heifers sold to a top price of 1800gns with an average of £1890 (-£57.23 for 11 females sold in 2020). In the commercial section however, averages were up slightly with 10 females selling to an average of £1460, +£275.62 for 16 sold in 2020.
Angus and Kerry Gowthorpe of Approach Farm, Escrick, York had a tremendous weekend with Approach Farm Pierre, a February 2020 born Beguin sired bull out of Approach Farm Lillybet going back to Mock Delia winning the Male and Overall Championship. He was bought by the judge, Mr David Hughes for 3000gns for his Bodran herd of Salers based at Abergele, Conwy. The Gowthorpe family also won the Champion Pen of Commercial Salers with two 19-month-old heifers that were in-calf to French AI bull Beguin and due to calve in February 2022, these sold for £1850 and £1750 respectively. Simultaneously back in Yorkshire the Gowthorpe’s were also being awarded Farm of the Year in the Yorkshire Post Rural Awards, sponsored by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
Also in the Championship line-up were Terence and Jane Pye of Rigel Pedigree, Yarm, Yorkshire who won the Female Championship and Reserve Overall Champion title with Rigel Verity, a stylish heifer with strong conformation and deep red colour from imported sire Lascaux. Her dam Violet was 15 years old with her 13th calf at foot and sons included Rigel Vasco, a previous champion at Welshpool, Rigel Verdun Poll, a bull breeding well in the Rigel herd and Rigel Magellan Poll who was exported to France. Standing reserve to Verity was another Rigel March 2020 born heifer, Rigel Margarita sired by Lascaux and out of Rigel Malibu. Rigel Pedigree also topped the trade at Welshpool with their 3rd prize bull Rigel Pendragon Poll who sold for 3600gns to D T Edwards & Co, Trecastle, Brecon. Pendragon Poll was a moderate framed fleshy young bull from a milky cow family.
Bertie Facon took the Reserve Male Champion spot with Gentons Prada an April 2020 born bull out of Cleuchhead Hope 1257 who was purchased privately from R & K Livesey for her fantastic width and size. His sire Noble who originates from Gaec Fourtet David and goes back to Beguin and Variegeois
Reserve Champion Pen of Commercial Salers was awarded to Mrs Austin of the Morwenstow herd of Salers from Bude, Cornwall for lots 5 and 6, two 18–19-month heifers in-calf to Preenbank Nando and purchased by P & M Davies for £1420 and £1550 respectively.
It was a very emotional day for Arfon and Siân Hughes of Garndolbenmaen, Gwynedd who sadly after 30 years of breeding Salers, had made the difficult decision to disperse their Cae Rhos herd of pedigree Salers which was the first pedigree herd of Salers in North Wales. Their introduction to Salers was first made by their friend Donald Gilder, Woodvine Salers in 1989 and in November 1990 they purchased their first two heifers, Woodvine Duchess and Woodvine Princess at the Castle Douglas sale. The whole family from three different generations were present at the sale to lend their support and many of the cattle found new homes in pedigree herds such as Ithan owned by E J W Griffiths and Grove Farm herd of Salers owned by Society Vice- Chair Andrew Powell. Trade for the Hughes family peaked at £1911 for Lot 32 Cae Rhos Mari a Cae Rhos Cymro 2nd Poll sired 2017 born cow out of Wicklow Janet who went home with J E Davies, Brynhoffnant, Llandysul.
Show
Female Class
1st & Female Champion – Rigel Verity
2nd & Reserve Female Champion – Rigel Margarita
Male Class
1st & Male Champion – Approach Farm Pierre
2nd & Reserve Male Champion – Gentons Prada
3rd – Rigel Pendragon Poll
Overall Champion
Approach Farm Pierre from A & K Gowthorpe
Reserve Overall Champion
Rigel Verity from Rigel Pedigree
Champion Pen of Commercial Salers
A & K Gowthorpe
Reserve Champion Pen of Commercial Salers
A M Austin
Pedigree Sale Section
Lot 16 – Rigel Verity, 1800gns, R Evans & Son, Ebnal Lodge, Oswestry
Lot 18 – Rigel Margarita, 1800gns R Evans & Son, Ebnal Lodge, Oswestry
Lot 19 – Approach Farm Pierre, 3000gns, D W Hughes, Bryn Kenrick, Abergele
Lot 20 – Rigel Pendragon Poll, 3600gns, D T Edwards & Sons, Llandrindod Wells, Powys
Lot 21 – Gentons Prada, 3000gns, A J Abberley, Llandrindod Well, Powys
Commercial Sale Section
Lot 1 from A & K Gowthorpe – £1850, P Featherstone
Lot 2 from A & K Gowthorpe – £1750, R Evans & Son
Lot 3 from A M Austin – £1380, D K Price & Son
Lot 4 from A M Austin – £1350, D K Price & Son
Lot 5 from A M Austin – £1420, P & M Davies
Lot 6 from A M Austin – £1550, P & M Davies
Lot 7 from A M Austin – £1580, D A Williams
Lot 8 from A M Austin – £1600, D K Price & Sons
Lot 12 from A M Austin – £1000, I M Jones
Lot 13 from A M Austin – £1120, I M Jones
