The pandemic affected most things in 2020 and the annual Designer Genes sale was no different. Moving totally online, the fifth annual sale still managed to break a number of records. The sale topped at a price of 10,000gns and the female average settled at £6,214, a new UK and European breed record.
The high-selling horned heifer was Auckvale Curly 1831S from the Kemp family. Sired by the hombred Auckvale King Maker and sold in calf to Ervie Classic, she was the pick of Tom and Di Harrison.
Securing the title of top-priced polled female at the sale was Moorside 1 Jane 16th. Bred by G and MC Shepherd, this 15-month-old heifer was the choice of Linda Mooney at 8,000gns. Jane is the first daughter of the 13,000gns Coley 1 Pilot to sell at auction.
Coley Herefords offered a pick of the herd, which secured a bid of 8,000gns. The successful purchaser was offered the chance to pick any animal solely owned by Coley Herefords, including donor cows, herd bulls, embryo calves and embryo pregnancies. Coley Herefords also secured a bid of 6,000gns for the 16-month-old heifer Coley 1 Hasimara.
The second-highest price for a Polled Hereford female went to Moralee 1 Kylie KS S10. This March 2019-born heifer is a daughter of current sire of the Year SMH Kingsize 87K and was knocked down at 6,600gns.
Irish Hereford breeders Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald of the Grianan herd in Westmeath were in buying form, splashing out 5,600gns on Dendor 1 Greta 31st. This daughter of former Welsh show champion Bakgard Keno is from the famous Greta line and sold in calf to Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine.