John D M Thomson
Newlands, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
DG11 3AA
01461 500769 (home)
01228 528939 (office)
info@shawhillshorthorns.co.uk
Matthew Thomson
07900 181 635
John Dick
j.dick01@btinternet.com
NOVEMBER 2013 – 2
We took our two calves, Shawhill Florence Gertrude and Shawhill Gerald
to the “Stars of the Future” Show at Stirling. They each took 2nd prize
in their respective classes.
NOVEMBER 2013 – 1
We took two cattle to the Beef Shorthorn Calf Show at the Carlisle
Agri-Expo. Shawhill Florence Gertrude took first prize in the junior
heifer class. She is the Dunsyre Duke sired calf of Fieldhouse Florence
Anita who won the Shorthorn Championship for us at the Westmorland
Show this year. Our bull calf, Shawhill Gerald by Vortrekker of Upsall
out of a Glenariff cow, stood third in the junior bull class. Both
calves were born April, 2013.
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| Shawhill Florence Gertrude (H) – 1st prize, Carlisle Agri-Expo |
OCTOBER 2103 – 2
Beef Shorthorns experienced a good trade at the Stirling Sales. Our
five maiden heifers averaged £2,600 with a top of 3,800gns. for our
1st prizewinner Shawhill Dewdrop Fairlady which was bought by Messrs
Currie, Beautry House, Rathmell, Settle. Messrs Currie had been impressed
with her sister, Shawhill Dewdrop Futurama, when they saw her at the
Westmorland Show.
At 3,000gns, we sold Shawhill Fancy to Smallburn Farms of Mayne, Elgin and Shawhill Festive went at 2,600gns. to Mr E. Belcher of Cloncaird. Our thanks to these buyers and to Highland Wagyu who purchased our other two heifers.
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| Shawhill Dewdrop Fairlady 593802063 – 3,800gns |
OCTOBER 2013 – 1
Shawhill Shorthorns have these five maiden heifers for the Stirling
Beef Shorthorn Sale on Monday 21st October. Several of them have been
out at the Summer shows and lot 206 offers a rare opportunity to obtain
some excellent Canadian genetics.
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| Lot 167, Shawhill Nonpareil Faith (P) 593800346 |
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| Lot 191, Shawhill Princess Felicity (P) 593801150 |
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| Lot 202, Shawhill Fancy (P) 593801152 |
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| Lot 203, Shawhill Festive (H) 593801152 |
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| Lot 206, Shawhill Dewdrop Fairlady (P) 593802063 |
SEPTEMBER 2013 – 2
We attended a very successful Westmorland County Show which has re-introduced
beef Shorthorn classes after a lapse of many years.
We took three 1sts - with our stock bull, Burnside Elite; our cow, Fieldhouse Florence Anita with calf at foot and our maiden heifer Shawhill Dewdrop Futurama. Our other heifers, Shawhill Fancy by Alvie Blue Eyedboy and Shawhill Festive by Vortrekker of Upsall took a 3rd and a 4th. These two are entered for the Stirling sales.
The cow, Fieldhouse Florence Anita was awarded the Beef Shorthorn championship.
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| Burnside Elite 583801620 |
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| Fieldhouse Florence Anita 543800857 |
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| Shawhill Dewdrop Futurama 593802064 |
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| Shawhill Fancy & Shawhill Festive |
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| The championship sash |
SEPTEMBER 2013 – 1
The Northern England Beef Shorthorn Breeders Club visit to the south
was most enjoyable and well organised. As one would expect, the cattle
at both Pode Hole and Grafton were most impressive and certainly reflected
the work and enthusiasm of their owners. The hospitality was equally
impressive and a good time seemed to be had by all.
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| Pode Hole, amongst the herd |
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| Heads! |
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| Tails! |
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| Grafton, a busy day with the Shorthorns! |
AUGUST 2013 – 2
On Saturday 31st, Matthew took two maiden heifers to Moffat Show in
North Dumfriesshire. In a mixed beef class, he took a second and a
third (to a Charolais!) with Shawhill Festive 593801152 by Vortrekker
of Upsall and Shawhill Dewdrop Fairlady 593802063, an embryo bred heifer
by K-Kim Freedom. Both these heifers are entered for the up-coming
Stirling Beef Shorthorn sale.
AUGUST 2013 – 1
Dumfries Show and a pleasant dry day. A good, if rather smaller, entry of Beef Shorthorns. Our maiden heifers got a 1st, 2nd and 3rd with the 1st going to Shawhill Dewdrop Futurama (593802064) who had stood 3rd in her class at the Royal Highland. She was selected as reserve champion to the champion, an excellent in-calf heifer from Messrs Landers. Our 2nd prize heifer was Shawhill Fancy (593801151).
Our cow Fieldhouse
Florence Anita (543800857), a fourth calver with her heifer calf, Shawhill
Florence Gertrude (603800564) also earned a 1st prize ticket. She had
not been haltered before this year so we are not only pleased with
the result but pleased with her behaviour.
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| Fieldhouse Florence Anita 543800857 with her calf by Dunsyre Duke |
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| Shawhill Dewdrop Futurama 593802064 |
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| Our 1st prize team |
JUNE 2013 - 1
Our first entries for the Royal Highland Show and a good time was had by all! There was an exceptional show of Beef Shorthorns, the strongest of any breed, and John Scott made a thorough job of a difficult judging task.
We were pleased with the performance of our three cattle and were very happy with 3rd and 6th tickets in the long class of young maiden heifers. Hopefully we will be back next year.
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| Royal Highland Show Stalls |
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| Shawhill Dewdrop Futurama 593802064 3rd in class |
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| Shawhill Fancy 593801151, 6th in class |
MAY 2013 - 2
We took a couple of heifers to the Fife Show on Saturday 18th. Fortunately it was dry in the morning for the judging but the torrential rain in the afternoon marred the day and resulted in the cancellation of the parade. It is an excellent show and everyone was very friendly on this our first visit.
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| Shawhill Fancy 593801151 |
Our Shawhill Fancy 593801151, thirteen months old to the day, was awarded first prize in a quality class of eight heifers. She is a full sister to the bull Shawhill Evaristus which we sold at Stirling in February of this year.
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| Shawhill Fancy 593801151 |
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| Fife Show, line-up for the female championship |
MAY 2013 – 1
The first weekend in May and we have got the cows and calves turned
out. There is not much in the way of grass but hopefully that will
change over the next few weeks. Calving has gone without too much incident
and the calves are looking well. Our seeds fields which should have
been sown to grass in the autumn are now in - but only just!
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| Shawhill Shorthorn & Shorthorn cross calves, April & May born, by Vortrekker of Upsall & Alvie Blue Eyedboy |
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| Shawhill Shorthorn & Shorthorn cross calves, April & May born, by Vortrekker of Upsall & Alvie Blue Eyedboy |
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| Shawhill Shorthorns March & April born calves by Dunsyre Duke |
APRIL 2013 - 1
Lambing is well through and calving is progressing. Both are going reasonably well at present. We have fortunately missed most of the snow but the total absence of grass to turn out on is a serious issue.
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| Shawhill Lady Gaga, a one day old white poll calf for Fieldhouse Chantelle (563801118) |
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| Our Mule ewes with twin lambs, near to the Solway shore |
At Newlands, we hope to sow a couple of ploughed fields to grass over the next week or so but these should have been in last autumn. We must hope for warmer weather.
FEBRUARY 2013 - 1
At the Stirling February Bull Sales there was
strong demand for heifers and a most encouraging number of bidders
for bulls, particularly the more mature animals, albeit not at last
years high rates.
We successfully sold all our entries to a top of 4,000gns. for the
bull Shawhill Evaristus 583801072 by Alvie Blue Eyedboy. He was purchased
by Aucheneck Estates, Killearn.
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| Burnside Elite 583801620 |
We purchased the 1st prize Northern Irish poll bull, Burnside Elite 583801620 from William and Jill McAllister for 8,500gns. This light roan son of Creaga Dice (by Buffalo Lake Blockbuster) is out of a Glenisla Zin Zan cow which goes back to Fearn Wyvis and Belmore Fuel Injected. He turned out to be the top priced Beef Shorthorn of the sales and is now with us at Newlands.
Stirling Beef Shorthorn bulls peak at 8,500gns
JANUARY 2013 - 2
We have two Shorthorn bulls for the Stirling Bull sales on 4th and 5th February.
Lots 342, Shawhill Evaristus,
and lot 397, Shawhill Einstein.
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| Shawhill Evaristus 583801072, lot 342 Stirling Bull sales |
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| Shawhill Einstein 583801074, lot 397 Stirling Bull Sales |
We also have three heifers entered, lots 62, 67
and 74. Lots 67 and 74 are by Albion L`Anniversaire, a Dunsyre North
Star son.
JANUARY 2013 - 1
We wish all our friends the compliments of the season and trust that
you have a healthy and successful new year. Less rain in 2013 would
also be a blessing. Our thanks to those who have bought cattle from
us in 2012 and we hope that they will do well.
We have five Beef Shorthorns
entered for the Stirling Sales on 4th and 5th February. There are two
bulls, Shawhill Evaristus (583801072) and Shawhill Einstein (583801074),
and three heifers, each served at AI by the Canadian bull Winalot Rodney.