A TOP call of 4,700gns (£4,935) for an in-calf heifer from the highly regarded Ury Maid family was recorded at the second annual reduction sale of pedigree Beef Shorthorns from the Rt Hon Gerald Turton’s renowned Upsall herd near Thirsk at CCM Skipton Auction Mart on Saturday.

Ury Maid X1479 of Upsall, a March, 2020-born dark roan daughter of Grenadier of Upsall, was bred from the Dingo of Upsall-sired Ury Maid X963, a Great Yorkshire Show champion.

The granddaughter of the high performance Australian bull, Belmore Patriach, was sold in-calf to Royal Hunter of Upsall and went to Middlesborough’s Mark Day.

Next best at 4,600gns (£4,830) was an up-and-coming 17-month-old red and little white bull, Regent of Upsall, by Mandalong of Upsall, himself a son of the prolific Firefox of Upsall, out of Secret X977 of Upsall, classified Ex92 and another Dingo daughter. With breed plan figures in the top one per cent, Regent is set to rule on the east coast with new owner RG Thompson, of Whitby.

A solid offering of 24 maiden heifers peaked at 4,100gns (£4,305) for another 17-month-old roan, Tessa X1578 of Upsall, also by Mandalong, out of the Grenadier daughter, Tessa X1198 of Upsall, a half sister to Dingo, going to Calderdale with Andrew Thorner, of Barkisland.

A quartet of cows with calves at foot sold to 3,500gns (£3,675) for Victoria X1427 of Upsall, a two-year-old roan daughter of the Firefox son, King David of Upsall, who has left such a strong stamp on the herd over the past five years.

Bred out of the Democrat of Upsall-sired Victoria X1007 and sold with her February-born dark roan calf, Victoria X1651, a daughter of Napoleon of Upsall, now standing with Genus, the outfit went to Derbyshire with Ashford Hall Farm in Bakewell.

Including calves, the 47 head on offer from Britain’s oldest Beef Shorthorn herd – it was established well over a century ago and runs to four generations of the Turton family - attracted a busy ringside and saw a very good trade, with all entries naturally polled, the females coming from recognised, well-proven lines.

Five further lots made from 3,000gns upwards, including a brace at 3,200gns, both 2021-born King David daughters.

First up was the Grenadier granddaughter, Jilt X1596, followed by Ury Maid X1623, whose grand sire was Kinloch of Upsall. Respective purchasers were M Benson, of Ulverston, and Ashford Hall Farm, the day’s principal purchaser when taking home nine single cows and one cow and calf outfit.

Chief prices and averages: Cows with Calves to 3500gns (av £2598), In Calf Heifers to 4700gns (av £3045), Maiden Heifers to 4100gns (av £2401), 1 bull at 4600gns (£4830).

Held in what is the milestone bicentenary of the Beef Shorthorn breed in the UK, all Upsall herd reduction entries were paraded in the sales ring under the expert of eye long-time Scottish stockman George McCulloch, who with his wife, Maureen, continues to manage the herd so successfully.