CHAROLAIS bulls met a brisk trade from a packed ringside of commercial beef producers at the breed society's inaugural sale at Ross-on-Wye on Thursday last.

Bidding peaked at 3,000 guineas and 20 lots were knocked down to average more than £2,000.

The top-priced lot was Foxacre Orcadian, a 22-month-old Balmyle Gregory son out of a home-bred cow from pure French lines. Bred by Anne Orr-Ewing of Swindon, he went to G L W Williams of Talybont-on-Usk.

Sharing the day's second highest price of 2,800 guineas was Barrington Robinson junior's Shamleys Prince. The Tenbury Wells animal was sold to an Orkney livestock agent, who made the 2000 mile round trip to the sale on behalf of a commercial producer.

The day's champion, Farleycopse Poseidon CH23, commanded the next highest price tag of 2,750 guineas from Chris Turney of Gloucester.

He was one of two 15-month-old animals from Grif Morris of Llanstephan, and bred in West Sussex.

The auctioneers were Williams and Watkins and Dai Lewis.

Mr Lewis said that the sale was conveniently located and achieved virtually total clearance. Buyers, some of whom had travelled long distances, went home disappointed .