John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, took the top price of 10,800gns at the Hereford Cattle Society spring sale held at Hereford Livestock Market recently. Their 22-month-old bull, Solpoll 1 KitKat, is deemed a superior carcase sire, with an EBV for eye muscle and retail beef yield in the top 1% of the breed. He was bought by AE Nesbitt Farms Ltd, Cleland Herefords, Hungerford, Berkshire, for the top price of 10,800gns.

Not stopping there, the McMordie family also took 10,500gns for their 23-month-old bull Solpoll 1 Karate Kid, bought by Oyston Estates Ltd, Lytham, Lancashire.

To add to these, the reserve male champion, the 19-month-old Solpoll 1 Landmark, sold for 8,200gns to Jan Boomaars, Vexour Herefords, Woldingham, Surrey.

All three bulls were sired by the McMordie stock bull, Panmure 1 Henry. Incidentally, Progessive Genetics, Enfield, bought a son of Henry last year, Solpoll 1 Kentucky Kid.

One of the youngest bulls in the sale, 13-month-old Solpoll 1 Lamborghini, by RLOA R271 Dynasty 37U, sold for 4,800gns to L Parry-Jones, Tymawr Herefords, Llangwyllog, Anglesey. Lamborghini is a full brother to the popular Genus bull, Solpoll 1 Ferrari, and a maternal brother to Handsome, a successful AI sire for Progressive Genetics. Overall, 23 bulls averaged £4,286.

Females

In the show female section it was again the McMordie family who led the way – this time Andrew McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down, selling his 17-month-old heifer Solitude 1 Helen L485, by Panmure 1 Henry, for 5,200gns to W & P Eccles, Rockness Herefords, Tranent, East Lothian.

Following on from their success in the bull section, the father and son partnership of John and William McMordie saw their reserve female champion, 25-month-old in-calf heifer Solpoll 1 Stardust K20, by Panmure 1 Henry, sell for 4,200gns to newcomers to the breed, Murton Grange, based near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, who also purchased the 25-month-old in-calf heifer Solpoll 1 Starlet K23, by Fisher 1 Charlie, for 3,900gns and 17-month-old maiden heifer Solpoll 1 Amber L8, by the Danish bull Moeskaer Keno 1222, for 3,800gns. Overall, 17 show heifers sold to average £3,199.