Longtown Beef Shorthorns Sell to 8,000 Gns

There was a packed ringside at Longtown mart to see the dispersal of Paul Braithwaite's Albion Herd of Beef Shorthorns as part of the annual pedigree Beef Shorthorn female sale at this venue on Monday 27th August 2018.

This old established North Yorkshire based herd is renowned for its successes on the show circuit and offered buyers an excellent selection of high-health cows and heifers. Their dispersal averaged £3,465. Overall, a catalogued entry of 84 cows and heifers with 40 calves at foot averaged £2,143 per head.

The first animal in the ring set the tone at 7,200gns. An in-calf heifer, Albion Tanzy Carrisa, by Democrat of Upsall, a prize-winner at this year's Great Yorkshire Show, she sold to A & C Farms of Oakham, Rutland. These buyers also took another in-calf heifer, Albion Rosebud Kuljeet, again by Democrat, at the same 7,200gns price and, another, Albion Rosebud Kasarna at 6,800gns.

Top price was 8,000gns paid, after spirited competition, by Lady Nairn, Balnabroich, Blairgowrie for Albion Rosebud Jihan by Democrat of Upsall. A roan heifer with a heifer calf at foot, she was breed champion at a number of Northern shows and is in calf to Glenbrae Grant. Balnabroich took four other cows and heifers to 4,800gns for Albion Jilt Jadazia, a Democrat of Upsall daughter and first prizewinner at this year's great Yorkshire, and 4,200gns for each of two; the heifer with calf, Albion Maryann Jacinta and a cow with calf, Albion Maryann Freya. The former by Democrat, the latter by Tarrant Arnie.

The dearest cow with calf was Albion Jilt Amelia which went at 5,200gns to S.G. Mair & Sons, Kinnermit, Turriff and other Albion prices included 3,500gns to Balnabroich; 3,400gns to Mr Watson, Ballyfirth, Granton on Spey; 3,400gns to Messrs Marshall, Eastlands, Crocketford & 3,000gns each to Tim Riley, Stoneyroyd, Hebden Bridge & Messrs Hunter, Woodlands Hall, Consett. Many others from Albion exceeded 2,000gns.

Top price from the collective sale was 2,300gns for Pikelowe Gold Girl, a cow with calf at foot, from Andrew Thompson, Chorley, purchased by Mr Clayton, Accrington. Other cows and calves made to 1,900gns Messrs Tailford, Lipwood Herd and 1,800gns to D.J. Biggar, Chapelton and Diane Oliver from her Pennymuir herd reduction. Two in-calf heifers from Coxhill realised 1,800gns and maiden heifers looked good value, making to a top of 1,700gns each from Messrs Ivinson, Sandwick and Messrs Johnson, Gilven.

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Lot 12 sold for 8,000 gns
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Lot 12 sold for 8,000 gns
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Lot 6 sold for 7,200 gns
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Lot 1 sold for 7,200 gns
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Lot 4 sold for 6,800 gns
Auctioneer John Thomson
Auctioneer John Thomson
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Albion Herd Foreword

Established in 2002 and grazed on upland pastures above the valley of the Tees, the traditional home of the Beef Shorthorn breed, the Albion herd has won many show and sale prizes and championships which has amply justified the policy of breeding cow families of good type and conformation; deep, long bodied animals with good spring of rib. Locomotion and good udders have always been a priority together with strong maternal ability.

Some of the oldest cow families in the breed are represented, Jilt and Augusta from Upsall, Beauty and Rosebud from the nearby historic Gainford herd and Tanzy from Otterington, together with Waterloo and Sapphire and the North American Maryann from Alta Cedar.

Paul has always sought to use some of the best available genetics without being too extreme and without losing sight of the need to maintain and improve the best traits and characteristics of the Shorthorn breed.

Sires used over the years include Tarrant Arnie, Democrat of Upsall, Knowehead Hercules by Glenisla Dr Who, LS Driscoll, Glenbrae Grant and the Belmore Patriarch sired Grenadier of Upsall. The in-calf cows and heifers have all been running with Glenbrae Grant, a poll son of Chapelton Liberty with an EBV +54 for 600 day weight. Health status is TB4, Johnes R1 and BVD and IBR accredited.

This Albion sale is quite simply a great opportunity to acquire some good Shorthorn cattle, many with impressive calves at foot. There are no elder cows offered as these have been moved on. The oldest cow in the dispersal is 2010 born. Four of the animals being offered are first being exhibited at this year's Great Yorkshire Show.

Albion Rosebud Jihan and Juaul Rosebud Maharani