One of the strongest trades for a decade was reported by auctioneers Halls as the highly regarded Tom Gittins Cup was fiercely contested at the 14th annual prize show and sale of store cattle at Bishops Castle Auction on Thursday, October 13.
The silverware went to Glyn Robinson of Cefndu, Cyfronydd, Welshpool, whose prizewinning bunch of eight steers also claimed the top price per kilo of 244p. The steers weighed 455 kilos and made £1,110.
The show was judged by Mr Peter Vaughan from Kingsland and the cup was presented by Halls’ director Allen Gittins, son of late Mr Tom Gittins.
Mr Robinson won the class for best bunch of eight or more steers, holding off the challenge of Messrs J. A. Wood and Sons, Kinnerton Farm, who also took first and second places in the heifers class.
Halls reported a superb entry of 550 top quality store cattle for the show and sale, which attracted buyers from all over the country. A total of 315 steers sold to an average of £990 per head and 210p per kilo and 235 heifers sold to average £851 per head and 198p per kilo.
There was a show of strength amongst the steers, which sold to a staggering top price of £1,330 per head for a top quality Charolais cross steer owned by Messrs D. A. Jones and Co, Bronhaulwen.
Heifers were also keenly sought after and sold to a top price of £1,125 per head, again from Messrs D. A. Jones and Co, who had a fantastic run of cattle. Top priced heifer per kilo was 222p per kilo owned by Messrs J. A. Wood and Sons, weighing 345 kilos and selling for £765 per head.
The most notable prices of the day were: Steers: Charolais: £1,330 for a 670 kilo steer from Messrs D. A. Jones and Co, Bronhaulwen; £1,200 for a 620 kilo steer from Mr. C. C. Swancott, Weals House. Price per kilo: 233p per kilo for five 485 kilo steers from Messrs D. A. Jones and Co; 231p per kilo for 12 440 kilo steers from Messrs R. G. and K. A. Lewis, Hockleton. Simmental: £1,160 for one 590 kilo steer from Messrs E. S. Williams and Son, Mears Barn.
Limousin: £1,190 each for one 600 kilo steer from Messrs J. M. and A. Jones, Wig and one 540 kilo steer from Messrs G. and M. and A. Jones, Cefn Dre. Price per kilo: 244p per kilo for eight 455 kilo steers from Messrs J. G. and S. E. Robinson, Cefn Du. Blonde D’Aquitaine: £1,060 for three 520 kilo steers and 217p per kilo for two 470 kilo steers from Messrs B. O. and C. E. Roberts, Forge Farm. British Blue: £1,150 for one 590 kilo steer from Messrs E. J. and A. J. Roberts, Longlands.
Heifers: Charolais: £1,125 for one 590 kilo heifer from M/s D. A. Jones & Co, Bronhaulwen. Price per kilo: 212p per kilo for a 420 kilo heifer from Mr C. P. Breese, Plasauduon. Simmental: £920 and 194p per kilo for five 475 kilo heifers from Mr. G. H. Edwards, Upper Oaks Farm. Price. Limousin: £1,020 for two 500 kilo heifers from Messrs G. and M. and A. Jones, Cefn Dre. Price per kilo: 222p per kilo for a 345 kilo heifer from Messrs J. A. Wood and Sons, Kinnerton Farm. Blonde D’Aquitaine: £1,005 for three 510 kilo heifers and 211p per kilo for one 425 kilo heifer from Messrs B. O. and C. E. Roberts, Forge Farm. British Blue: £1,000 and 217p per kilo for a 460 kilo heifer from Messrs C. J. and H. M. Evans, Lower Chatwall Farm.
Bishops Castle and District Quality Cattle Association is hold at a sale of autumn and spring born suckled calves on Thursday, October 20 at 10.30am. Halls is holding its next store cattle auction at Bishops Castle on Thursday, November 3, with entries closing on October 27.
