ARDGOWAN AYRSHIRES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 60, 30 July 1947, Page 7

ARDGOWAN AYRSHIRES

PRICES AT ANNUAL SALE RECORD FOR DOMINION Over four thousand pounds was paid for 41 head of young Ayrshire cattle at the Seventh Annual Sale of Ardgowan tested Ayrshires held on the Ardgowan Stud Farm, Featherston, on account of the vendor, Mr Jas. G. Donald, by Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. There was a record attendance and very spirited bidding, the whole offering making the record average of 93-2/3rds guineas. A year ago a record price of 750 guineas was paid by a Victorian breeder for Ardgowan Airborne. There was no similar sensational price this year,' but the sale was marked by very keen bidding right throughout. The cattle were in splendid order, the bulls in particular being exceptionally well grown. The 20 of the latter rising yearlings, averaging under 10 months old, made the splendid average of 121-1- guineas. Top prices were paid for the first sons of the latest

imjorted sire, Netherton Typhoon, who was bred in one of the leading herds in Scotland. Although the five bulls by him which made the great average of 200 guineas were the youngest in *the catalogue, averaging less than nine months old, they were splendidly developed and all were outstanding individuals. Lot 3, Ardgowan Benedictine, was purchased at 220 guineas by Wright, Stephenson and Co. Ltd., on behalf of the leading Tasmanian breeder, Mr G. H. Napier, whose Olivedale herd had previously imported the great champion show bull and breeder, Ardgowan Highcaste, a son of Netherton Typhoon. Benedictine is a great show type with outstanding quality. All of his dams for generations have, been top producers. Mr Marshall Moffat, Foxton, paid 240 guineas for Ardgowan Art

Union, whose dam, Ardgowan Twin Star, was one of the top producers in the stud with a Lifetime Certificate of 35001bs of fat. This bull is a half-brother to Mr Moffat’s North Island Champion bull in the current season, Ardgowan Feisal. The top price, 320 guineas of the sale was paid for Ardgowan Buchan by Mr A. Henwood of • Hunterville. This bull was out of the Show heifer, Ardgowan Gaiety Girl 11., which was champion dairy heifer over all

breeds at the 1945 Wairarapa Show. The Canterbury breeder, Mr J. Legg of Leeston, secured Ardgowan Royal Raider at 160 guineas and Mr Q.

Donald of Martinborough, Ardgowan Fairhaven at 170 guineas. These were all sons of Netherton Typhoon. Wright, Stephenson and Co. Ltd.,

Dunedin, paid 150 guineas for Ardgowan Supreme Command and Mr R. C. Hill, Taikorea, 135 guineas for Ardgowan Aristocrat. These were two outstanding bulls and both were sired by Lessnessock Twinkle. Miss N. Beverley of Matamata paid 130 guineas for Ardgowan Battle Lord and Mr Roy Danold of Featherston 100 guineas for Ardgowan Trucul-

ent, both being also top class sons of Lessnessock Twinkle. There were several three-figure prices paid for females, the top price of 110 guineas being paid by Mr A. C. Birch of Marton for Ard-

gowan Bronya. Mr M. F. Butcher of Springston, Canterbury, paid 105 guineas for Ardgowan Chorus Girl. These were in-calf heifers. The sustained competition for the rising yearling heifers was remarkable and local breeders were very keen com-

petitors, Mr J. B. Moore, Masterton, paying the top price of 105 guineas for Ardgowan Lovers’ Lane 111., daughter of Lessnessock Twinkle. Another daughter of the same sire in Ardgowan Brightest was bought by Mr Marshall Moffat at 95 guineas, while daughters of Harleyholm Topsman sold to Mr A. Melville, Outram, at 60 guineas, to Mr A. F. Playle, Carterton, at 85 guineas to Mr J. Morton, Seaward Downs, Southland, at 72-J guineas, indicating that the stock were distributed to every, part of the Dominion.