HEREFORD Cattle Society’s autumn show and sale packed the sale ring at Hereford Livestock Market.

A big draw was the major reduction sale of the prizewinning Mara Herd for Bob and Margaret Borwick, which saw a total clearance of the females on offer.

Auctioneers on the day were Brightwells of Leominster.

The first females through the ring were the small offering of Show Heifers and the top price of 3,600 guineas. That was paid for the two-year-old in-calf heifer Romany 1 Dawn A84 H38 bred by J R B. Wilson and Sons, Kelso.

Having trekked all the way down from Scotland she was to return north having been purchased by W. and P Eccles, Rockness Herefords, of Tranent, East Lothian.

Messrs Wilson also took the female championship with a 12-month-old heifer, Romany 1 Julia D1 J42 who sold for 2,600gns to P and E Williams, Alderoak Herefords, Montford Bridge, Shropshire.

Further two-year-old Romany heifers Romany 1 Julia D345 H17, sold for 2,500gns. to G D and M R Watkins, Hollybush Herefords, Ocle Pychard, Hereford; Romany 1 Lucy D345 H31 also 2,500gns to join the top prize heifer purchased by W and P Eccles and Romany 1 Julia E23 H53 selling for 2,300gns to newcomers to the Breed, R C Gledhill and L W Davies, Carmarthen.

Other leading prices for females included 18-monthold Dendor 1 Anna Mary 14th, bred by D E, E D and A L Jones, Caersws, Powys, selling for 2,900gns. to M Ludgate, Rempstone Herefords, Thame, Oxfordshire, who also purchased the reserve champion, the 18-month-old in-calf heifer Bosa 1 Elke 808 for 2,300gns, bred and exhibited by G Blandford and Son, Bosbury, Herefordshire.

Another heifer from Messrs Blandford, 2½-yearold Bosa 1 Rosea 724, sold for 2,600gns to P T English, Churchlands Estate Herefords, Banbury.

H A Hatt from Basingstoke, Hampshire, sold the 18-month-old Weybrook 1 Mink 9th for 2,200gns to P Rampley, Milldown Herefords, Fordham, Cambridgeshire.

The 2½-year-old in-calf heifer Danleebar 1 Careful 4th, bred by B Bovingdon, Windsor, Berkshire, sold for 2,600gns to another newcomer Acton Supplies, Risley, Derbyshire.

A 2½-year-old heifer, along with her first calf, bred by T D J Roderick, Gower, South Wales, sold for 2,500gns to S White, Atherstone, Warwickshire.

They also purchased a 3½- year-old in-calf cow, Mara Bonny 27th, for 2,000gns.

The 16 females sold for £37,485 to average £2,343 and the Mara Herd saw its 18 lots offered sell for a total of £36,492.75 to average £2,027.

A top price of 3,300gns was paid for the 2½-year-old incalf heifer, Mara Dowager 19th, purchased by J H Evans and Sons, Bwlchllyn Herefords, Caersws, Powys.

A young 3½-year-old incalf cow, Mara Bonny 28th, sold for 3,000gns to James and Hazel Morrison, Castle Park Herfords, Helmsley, Yorkshire who also purchased the three-year-old in-calf cow, Mara Bonny 25th, for 1,905gns.

Brewster Farms, Penkridge, Staffordshire, purchased the 2½-year-old in-calf Mara Bonny 32nd for 2,400gns, along with two further lots, the six-yearold Mara Diadem 21st, along with her bull calf, for 1,900gns and the 4½-yearold in-calf cow, Mara Blossom 32nd, also for 1,900gns.