DEMAND for females at the Hereford Auttumn Show and Sale outstripped supply with Hereford Cattle selling to a top price of 5,400gns. All females on offer at the Hereford Cattle Society Sale on Saturday found a home.

Breed secretary David Prothero, while being apprehensive before the sale with the largest number of females on offer for some years, was delighted with the total clearance of all those on offer.

He said: "It was extremely pleasing to see that among the 69 purchasers at the sale, there were many newcomers to the breed." Auctioneers were Brightwells of Leominster.

The sale at Hereford Cattle Market commenced with the show heifers and saw all 25 selling to an average of £1,430. The Champion heifer, 25-month-old Romany 1 Dawn B1' (Sire - Crickley 1 Figurehead) bred and exhibited by JRB Wilson and Sons of Kelso, Scotland, topped this section at 3,300 gns, selling to P and AM Riley, of Blakesley Herefords, Towcester, Northants.

Reserve Championship went to another 18-month-old heifer - Llancillo Hall Hazel 18th by the 2006 Sire of the Year, Border General V85' bred and exhibited by R Bailey, Llancillo, and sold for 2,900 gns to newcomer to the breed, Mr R Ball, Le Contom Herefords, Winkhill, Staffordshire.

Other leading prices included 25-month-old Clipston Blossom F3' bred and exhibited by RG Westaway and Son of Clipston, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, selling for 1,800 gns to D and J Coulson, of Ancholme Herefords, Middle Rasen, Lincolnshire.

The Show Bulls on offer saw the 18- month-old Greenyards 1 Baron from Phil and Alison Allman of Dunblane, Scotland top this section at 2,900 gns. Baron, by the 2006 Hereford Bull of the Year, Greenyards 1 Archie, was purchased by AJ Thomas, of Premier Herefords, Tufton, Pembrokeshire.

Messrs EL Lewis and Son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire, saw their 17-month-old Haven Blenheim by Haven Wizard sell for 2,600 gns to Robert Eld and C McCreath, Seighford & Longridge Herefords, Seighford, Staffs.

The Grand Male Champion, 18-month-old Sarabande Cassidy, bred and exhibited by Mrs Pam Noel, of Reading, Berkshire, sold for 1,600 gns to PT English, Churchlands Estate Herefords, Banbury.

The 22 Bulls sold to average £1,560.

Following on from the Show and Sale came the Female Sale Only section commencing with the dispersal of the Cheerbrook Herd for W and M Shufflebotham, Nantwich, Cheshire.

This offering peaking at 5,400 gns paid for the 3-year-old cow Cheerbrook 1 Fantasia 2nd and her 5-month-old heifer calf Cheerbrook 1 Fantasia 4th purchased by newcomer to the breed, HP Whittaker, Spurstow Herefords, Tarporley, Cheshire.

The 10 Cows and Calves on offer sold to average £2,115.75; 1 Incalf Heifer sold for £1,680 and 4 Maiden Heifers sold to average £1,811. The remaining Sale Only females saw 26 Cows and Calves selling to average £1,075.50; 24 Incalf Heifers selling to average £1,075 and 17 Maiden Heifers selling to average £742.50.

Incalf Heifers: The 2-year-old Lowerhope 1 Orange 172 from WSC Richards, Ullingswick, Hereford, sold for 1,400 gns to newcomer SW Clarke, Dunstall Herefords, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs.

Maiden Heifers: Messrs WSC Richards, Ullingswick, Hereford, sold two 18-month-old heifers, Lowerhope 1 Curly 187 for 1,300 gns to AT Roberts, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire and Lowerhope 1 Katie 196 for 1,000 gns to W Watkins and Sons, Leintwardine, Shropshire.

Overall 129 Sale Lots grossed £166,450.