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8200gns a record for a Simmental bull sold at auction in Wales
Top price Cow & Calf as a unit 7300gns
104 lots grosses £336,163
29 Cows & Calves as units average £6,161
12 Cows & calves as units make 6000gns or more
85 lots sold into Wales
Two stock bulls gross 14,400gns
Buyers from across Wales and England ensured a terrific trade at the complete Dispersal Sale of the noted Lambclose Simmental herd, Greasley Estate, Nottinghamshire, held at Welshpool Livestock Market on Thursday 20th November.
In all 85 out of the 104 cattle sold found new homes in Wales, and with other lots heading as far north as Cumbria. Speaking at the sale Welshpool auctioneer Glandon Lewis, who sold on the day, said: “This is a herd which has had a deep-rooted breeding philosophy, built on over three decades of steady, structured selection by Lady Barber and her team. The focus has always been on fertility, structure, temperament, and light-coloured, modern Simmental types. These are real no nonsense, proven cattle and you can see the quality of them here today.”
The lots on offer were sold to a number of new breeders, along with established breeders, and commercial producers. Cows and calves were sold separately but pairing them as units, the top price was 7300gns, with twelve units making 6000gns and more, and the twenty nine units in all averaging a terrific £6,161.
8200gns Popes Laertes
However, with the progeny there for all to see, and with many of the females back in calf to him, it was the stock bull Popes Laertes 20 who made the day’s top price of 8200gns, and setting a new record mark for a Simmental bull sold at auction in Wales. This five year old bull, bred by the Wood Family, Preston, Lancashire, is by Camus Harold 16, and is out of the Banwy Wonderboy daughter, Popes Nellys Dazzler EX 9. In the breed’s top 1% for Maternal (Milk), and with very good calving ease figures, this bull was originally purchased by Lambclose for 9000gns at Stirling in October 2021. Buying on the day was D Edwards, Gors Fawr, Aberystwyth, who presently runs a suckler herd of approximately forty Simm, and Simm X cows, and who is looking to establish a pedigree herd. Other purchases on the day saw Mr Edwards purchase the four-year-old Lambclose Madam Etta, PD’d in calf to Popes Laertes, along with her heifer calf at foot Lambclose Sandy, by Denizes Mombassa for a combined 6600gns (4100gns and 2500gns). Late in the sale Lambclose Nirvana, a three year old Corskie Inlaw 17 daughter, Pd’d in calf to Popes Laertes, was purchased for 4000gns.
Selling at 7300gns was Lambclose Lacey at 4400gns, and with her heifer calf Lambclose Sasha at 2900gns. This five year old cow, by Chestermann Irfon 17, back in calf to Denizes Mombassa, was bought by Hill Farm, Spalding, Lincolnshire. Her January 2025 calf at foot, sired by the top priced Popes Laertes, was one of a number of purchases by AJ Clifton, Heathcote Farm, Market Drayton who run a 60 cow commercial herd featuring Simmental, Limousin, and Shorthorn genetics. On the day the Cliftons, again looking to establish a pedigree herd, purchased a cow and calf unit, three further cows, and three heifer calves.
7300gns Lambclose Lacey (4400gns), with Lambclose Sasha (2900gns)
At a combined 7100gns was the six year old Lambclose Kara at 4100gns, with her heifer calf Lambclose St Kara’s valentine at 3000gns. Sired by Heathbrow Discovery, a bull used in the herd to enhance growth and frame, Kara is out of Lambclose Dizzy. Purchasing this fourth calver, PD’d in calf to Popes Laertes, was EH&EW Anwyl, Rhosgoch, Llanbrynmair, Powys. Her February 2025 born heifer calf at foot, sired by Denizes Mombassa, went north to Penrith, Cumbria and the Church Farm pedigree herd of George Morton, Gamblesby.
The three year old Lambclose Nisha sold for a combined 6800gns with her heifer calf at foot Lambclose Sisha. By Corskie Inlaw 17, this first calver back in calf to Popes Laertes, made 4500gns when selling to A Bennett, Bronafon, New Mills, Newtown, Powys. Her February 2025 born calf Lambclose Sisha by Denizes Mombassa sold for 2300gns to IG Evans, New House, Garthmyl, Montgomery, Powys.
Selling at 6700gns as a unit, and another to A Bennett, Bronafon, was Lambclose Jan who made 3900gns, and with her heifer calf Lambclose Steph at 2800gns. A sixth calver, the 2018 born Lambclose Jan is another by Heathbrow Discovery and was sold in calf to Popes Laertes. Her heifer calf at foot, the January 2025 born Lambclose Steph was also by Popes Laertes. As well as the 6700gns price, Mr Bennet went on to purchase further cow & calf units at 6500gns, 6100gns, and 5800gns; cows at 4500gns, and 4200gns, and a stock bull at 6200gns. At the 6500gns mark was one of the younger cows in the catalogue, the January 2022 born first calver Lambclose Naomi’s Noleen at 4200gns (back in calf to Popes Laertes), and sold with her heifer calf at foot, the 2300gns Lambclose Soleen. Naomi’s Noleen is by Corskie Inlaw 17, with Lambclose Soleen being by Denizes Mombassa.
Lambclose cows & calves just before the sale
Also at the 6700gns mark was Lambclose Millie at 4200gns and with her heifer calf Lambclose Snow at 2500gns. One of the lots purchased by A Bennett, Bronafon, this second calver in calf to Popes Laertes, is by Corskie Inlaw and out of Lambclose Hattie, a Heathbrow Discovery daughter. Her calf at foot, the January 2025 born Lambclose Snow by Popes Laertes 20, sold to TL Harris, Hendre Farm, Felindre, Knighton, Powys.
Mr Bennett was also the purchaser of the aforementioned Denizes Mombassa at 6200gns. Bred by MA Barlow & Sons, Nr Leyland, Lancashire this son of the noted Denizes Hamish is in the breed’s top 5% for Calving Ease Direct, one of the traits he was purchased for to maintain in the herd, and is out of Denizes Hannadante 12.
6200gns Denizes Mombassa
Twelve in calf heifers averaged £4173.75 and to a top price of 4600gns paid for the January 2023 born Lambclose Petal. Sired by the day’s top price Popes Laertes, and in calf to Denizes Mombassa, this heifer out of the Dirnanean Telstar daughter Lambclose Catherine was another purchased by George Morton, Gamblesby, Penrith Cumbria for his Church Farm herd. Later in the day Mr Morton also purchased the weaned heifer calf Lambclose Stella Etta for 2600gns.
In the young heifers, twenty two maidens sold to average a very healthy £3288.40. Leading the way in this section was the 4000gns paid for the January 2024 born Lambclose Rani. Again sired by Popes Laertes, and out of Lambclose Jan, a Heathbrow Discovery daughter, Lambclose Rani was one of a mighty twelve maiden heifers bought by AT Ruell, Tregriggan, Dolau, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Ten weanling calves averaged £1994.47 and sold to 2800gns for Lambclose Sienna, a Popes Laertes daughter. This calf, out of Lambclose Hiesta (P), was purchased by Mr P Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dimore Manor, Hereford.
AVERAGES:
29 Cows & calves, as units £6160.96
12 In-calf heifers £4173.75
22 Maiden heifers £3288.40
10 Weanling calves £19994.47
2 Stock bulls £7560
104 Head grossed: £336,163.
