Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders’ Association

Midlands and East Anglia active again

Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders’ Association held an inperson AGM and its herd competition in 2021.

Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders Association (MEAHBA) saw reduced activity in 2021, but were lucky to hold a live AGM and enjoy two summer shows.

The stock judging competition and farm visit were unable to be held as a live event, however for the second year, a successful virtual competition took place. Helen Parr of Fabb Herefords, provided a series of photographs to view online.

This year the association invited UK Hereford Youth to join the competition and 15 members took part, joined by 21 MEAHBA members. Glasgowbased George and Sophie Harvey of Harveybros Herefords acted as master judges, with the overall winner being Mike Shaw, followed by Steve Edwards in second place and Peter Cobley and Kate Dicken in equal third. As the association was unable to hold its normal young handler of the year competition, the Highhedges Trophy was L-R Mike Church, Lucy and Nick Holdsworth and Peter Moyes

awarded to the highest placed MEAHBA young member, Finlay Soutter. It is hoped 2022 will see the return to the association’s evening event in May, which Pete Cobley has kindly offered to host.

The association was pleased to hold its herd competition again this year and saw 19 members enter the three classes, which were ably judged by Richard McInnes. Richard is a very experienced stockman, having latterly worked with the continental breeds, before opting for a less physical life as a mineral salesman. As a young man, he worked with Billy McIndoe’s Herefords in Scotland and later moved south to the poll herd of Julius Meinl. Speaking at the AGM, Richard reminded members the Hereford cow’s prime purpose is to rear a calf, and breeders must make sure to retain her ability to produce ample milk to do this.

The overall winners were again the Pulham herd of Philip and Laura Vincent, after being placed first in the medium herd section. Pepperstock Herefords from Speirs Farms repeated their previous success, winning the large herd section. Karen Froud’s Oldwest Herefords led the small section.

Herd competition results

Best herd, Philip and Laura Vincent Small herd, 1st Karen Froud, Oldwest; 2nd Nick and Lucy Holdsworth, Pebworth; 3rd, Rob and Casey Norman, Hickling Medium herd, 1st Philip and Laura Vincent, Pulham; 2nd, Pete Cobley, Kinglee; 3rd, Mike and James Ludgate, Rempstone

Large herd, Gary and Jim Speirs, Pepperstock; 2nd, David Deaville, Alderville. 3rd Tim and Will Livesey, Normanton

Best heifer under one year old, Philip and Laura Vincent, Pulham Diadem 6th

Best heifer under two years old, Mike and James Ludgate, Rempstone Bonny Lass

Best cow suckling a calf, Pete Cobley, Kinglee 1 Polly 554 Best bull calf under one year old, Philip and Laura Vincent, Pulham Vulcan

Best bull under 30 months, Philip and Laura Vincent, Solpoll 1 Sympa Best stock bull, Pete Cobley, Cleland 1 Nelson

Congratulations to all prize winners and thank you to all members entering their herds.

The association looks forward to 2022, as Shorthorn breeder Simon Farmer has accepted the invitation to judge and would encourage all our members to enter to showcase the quality of Herefords within the MEAHBA area.

The association would like to congratulate Philip and Laura Vincent, Pulham Herefords for representing the MEAHBA area and being placed second overall which is a great result in this prestigious competition, against seven other area winners.

Only Ashbourne and Henley shows took place within the area. Henley had an improved entry from previous years, where association secretary Peter Moyes judged. Congratulations to the champions, Spartan Herefords and Clive and Paula Bidmead at Henley, and Radbrook Herefords at Ashbourne.

We were able to hold a live meeting at Pebworth by kind invitation of Nick and Lucy Holdsworth in October. The meeting unanimously supported the election of Alan and Joy Pittam as joint presidents for 2022, for the contribution they had both made over many years to the success of the association. Alan and Joy had earlier in the year been presented with a painting by Paula Bidmead, and a cheque from members. Michael Church, Ryan Coates and Peter Moyes were elected as chairman, vicechairman and secretary. The committee remains the same except for Les Vesty standing down and Sarah Cowle joining. The association was pleased Paul Sneyd, Mark Roberts and Phil Allman travelled from Hereford to join the day. Paul introduced himself and gave his thoughts on the future of the Hereford Cattle Society. A very useful discussion followed on many topics, which gave members the opportunity to ask many varied questions. Following a tasty lunch, members were able to visit the Pebworth Herd despite the rain, and very much enjoyed seeing how Nick and Lucy had built this herd in a relatively short time. Our thanks to them, and the delicious cakes to finish the day. One of the low points in the association’s year was losing a longstanding member in Andrew Sebire, Lower Hurst Herefords.

The association was very disappointed to receive Tim Livesey’s resignation from the society council in March, to be followed by Philip Vincent’s in June. The association would like to thank them both for the amount of time they spent representing the area and their contribution to the Hereford Cattle Society. Members welcomed Sarah Cowle and more recently Mike Shaw on their election to the society council. We look forward to them continuing to represent the areas members of the Hereford Cattle Society and the MEAHBA as council members have in the past. It was great to see so many Midlands and East Anglia breeders attend the HCBA Christmas Calf Show with some great successes at with some great successes. Spartan Herefords took the supreme and female champion title and the reserve supreme and reserve female champion spot being won by Normanton Herefords. Meanwhile Pulham Herefords took the male championship and Rempstone Herefords won the reserve male title. Maxstoke Herefords and Pepperstock Herefords also won red rosettes and Beth Vincent was champion young handler. As the Covid restrictions hopefully continue to be lifted and a more normal way of living begins to return, members look forward to a less restricted 2022 and a return to summer shows and events and meeting up with friends old and new.

Vincent victorious again in Midlands and East Anglia

Having now taken three successive herd competition wins in the Midlands and East Anglia region, Philip and Laura Vincent’s Pulham herd of poll and dehorned animals had another successful year in 2022. The Pulham herd, owned and run by Philip and Laura Vincent, Pulham Market, Norfolk has won the Midlands and East Anglia herd competition for the third successive time before being announced as runner-up in the national competition. Having only qualified for the bi-annual national competition once before, Philip and Laura were extremely proud to be awarded this accolade by judge Pat Stanley. The Vincents run both de-horned and poll females, keeping the breeding separate where possible. Their senior poll stock bull Appel 1 Kaboom, a Solpoll 1 Lawman son, has L-R Philip Vincent, judge Pat Stanley and Laura Vincent

been producing some fantastic cattle with great shape for them. Notable progeny include two daughters exported to Denmark, two daughters and two sons exported to France and most recently Pulham 1 Vigilant which sold to Lower Hurst Herefords, Derbyshire. The Vincents have no plans to move Kaboom on, instead they purchased Solpoll 1 Sympa during lockdown to use on daughters. Sympa was judged best junior bull in the Midlands and East Anglia herd competition and was a firm favourite with judge Richard McInnes.

Richard McInnes was also a fan of the Pulham calves, awarding the best bull calf to Pulham Vulcan, a Shiloh-Farm Elite son and best heifer calf to Pulham Diadem 6th. Pulham Diadem 6th was the Vincent’s entry into the 2021 Designer Genes Sale, which went on to set a new female price record at 13,000gns. This heifer was sired by Pulham Ranger, a bull exported to JJ Farrell, Trillick Herefords and Padraig and Catherine McGrath, Kye Herefords, Ireland. A first prize winner at the National Hereford Calf Show in Shrewsbury 2018, Philip and Laura believe Ranger to be one of the best bulls they have bred to date. They were delighted when the renowned Irish breeders wanted to take him across the

water, but couldn’t let him go without taking semen for their own use first. Diadem and full brother Pulham Va Va Voom, sold to pedigree breeders James and Ellen Lake, proving this was a wise move.

Philip, Laura and family, along with stockwoman Hannah, have missed the live show ring, but have had considerable success in the National Hereford Club virtual shows. They were awarded female and reserve female champion in the 2020 competition with two home bred cows, Pulham Pansy 15th and Pulham Dowager 2nd, in addition their stock bull Shiloh-Farm Elite won its class and was awarded reserve male champion.

They won the female championship again in 2021, this time with Clipston Pansy B3 bred by Rodney and Rose Westaway. Pulham’s Pansy, Diadem and Tiara families originated from Clipston females and Philip and Laura were delighted to win with the recently purchased Clipston heifer. Rod and Rose were among the first Hereford breeders Philip and Laura met when starting the Pulham herd in 2007 and their bloodlines have had a profound effect on the Pulham herd.

Clipston Pansy B3, female champion, National Hereford virtual show 2021

Philip and Laura are excited to be using semen from Mawarra Influential on the majority of their autumn calving horned females. Philip and Laura teamed up with Edward and Ben Lewis, Haven Herefords to purchase Influential, along with Australia’s Graham Genetics, for AUS$42,000 at the National Hereford Show and Sale, Wodonga, Victoria where Influential was a class winner.

Thornby 1 Rosealind

sired by Moeskaer Keno 1452

and her heifer calf

sired by Thornby 1 Sebastian DOB 02/12/2020

Claxton dispersal tops at 3,300gns

The Claxton dispersal sale held in May 2021, saw a top call of 3,300gns by a homebred cow and calf outfit

Trade topped at 3,300gns at the dispersal of the Claxton herd of pedigree Herefords on behalf of Mr and Mrs J Heathcote at Shrewsbury Auction Centre.

Comprising of 149 head, the sale was led by Claxton 1 Countess, a 2014-born Coston 1 Mike daughter with its Bittern 1 Dambuster sired steer calf at-foot, selling at 3,300gns to RD Livestock, Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

There was a small number of cows with heifer calves and 2017-born cow Claxton 1 Harebell, realised 3,000gns and sold with Bittern 1 Fabulous sired twin heifer calves to S and S Murray, Pattingham, Staffordshire.

This was followed by a trio of cows with heifer calves at-foot selling at 2,500gns. Firstly 2012-born Claxton Ruby C, again secured by S and S Murray followed by two 2014-born cows Claxton 1 Sabrina and Claxton 1 Mirriam which both sold to G Quant and son of Newton Abbot, Devon. Pedigree cows with steer calves Claxton 1 Countess led the trade at 3,300gns

at-foot sold readily between 1,600gns and 1,900gns. The in-calf cows were an impressive show and topped at 2,600gns for Claxton 1 Anna , another 2014-born daughter of Coston 1 Mike, due in July to Fabb 1 Pure Force which sold to the Spartan herd with GC and SL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. At 1,900gns was cow Claxton 1 Anne Boleyn, due in June to Bittern 1 Fabulous. This Reydon 1 Jack Pot daughter travels to North Wales to Vaynol Estates, Bangor. The same buyer secured Claxton 1 Foxglove, due in July to Fabb 1 Pure Force for 1,800gns. Maiden heifers met a buoyant trade, as per the current market trend within the breed. A top call in the section of 2,550gns was made for a wonderful heifer, Claxton 1 Esme. Sired by Dambuster, this dark stylish heifer was secured by RD Livestock. At 2,200gns was Claxton 1 Blondy by online purchaser Mark Voss, Somerset. Not far behind at 2,100gns was Claxton 1 Kirsty, a Reydon 1 Leo Daughter, which sold to A Wright, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. Auctioneers: Halls

Averages: 32 cows and calves, £1,883.44; 21 in-calf cows, £1,635; 6 in-calf heifers, £1,645; 21 bulling heifers, £1,615; 35 yearling heifers, £724.80.