British Pig Association Sale

Last weekend John and I went off to Ross On Wye to the BPA sale. Most modern and traditional breeds of pig were available to buy with around a 100 lots forward. I wasn’t looking to buy but it is a good opportunity to catch up with people. John managed to fill his trailer with six nice British Saddleback gilts and an Oxford Sandy and Black boar.

There were some quality pigs forward and they fetched good money, there were some bargains and some poor quality pigs too. Champion Pig on the day was a Saddleback gilt from Debbie Beeby, Brydges Babble 20A (EarNo BEP/20A Sire: Magherabeg Rajah 4(14-9) Dam Brydges Babble 170 (13-13). This nice gilt sold for £800 guineas, the top price of the day (A record price for a Saddleback gilt). Bought by Spencer Fielding she will join his growing herd of British Saddleback pigs, which have lovely woodland to roam around in on the south coast.

A round of applause followed the hammer going down on a Tamworth Gilt from Bill Howes. Two bidders slowly took this gilt to £435 guineas helped by Bill’s luck money placed on the auctioneer’s table at times of hesitation and gentle coaxing from the auctioneer! The losing bidder secured the next Tamworth gilt at half the price so was still happy on the day.

Going back to “luck money” here in the North we expect to get some luck and to give it. John was very disappointed that the vendors he bought from did not participate in this tradition. Quite the contrast to my friend who at a sale this week went out of her way to find the buyers of her sheep to give them a bit of luck!

Weekends in October are proving very busy. This weekend I have a family christening, next weekend we have our October pig keeping course and later in the month John and family are hosting the Saddleback AGM in Lowick.

Information on booking a pig keeping course can be found on this site. Whilst information on the Saddleback AGM can be found on www.saddlebackpigs.co.uk

Carole

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