GOS Top BPA Show & Sale

It was the GOS this year that made all the headlines at the BPA Show & Sale at Ross-on-Wye on 10th October.

Firstly, judge Christine Vaughan, awarded the Supreme Championship for the best pig in the show to Stephen Booth's Chapel Patrick 11, a January boar.

The sale began at 11.00 with a strong demand for gilts of most breeds forward. With a tremendous year for the breed when most stock had sold straight off the farm, there were no in-pig GOS gilts entered and only five maidens all of which sold extremely well, ranging from 320 to 400gns, averaging 376gns. Good news for vendors, Peggy Darvill and Malcolm Hicks. Of all the other breeds, only the Saddleback Breed Champion matched the GOS top price for the category and none had an average anywhere near ours.

Again, there were no senior boars. Boar prices generally were disappointing with too many available among most breeds and the two GOS Junior Boars were among the last dozen lots to be sold. First up was the Supreme Champion from Cheshire which quickly sold for the top price of the day, 580gns, to local Club member and renowned cheese maker, Charles Martell from Gloucestershire. Peggy Darvill's April-born Toller Gerald 640 also attracted a lot of interest selling for 300gns.

All in all, a very successful event where the GOS demonstrated that there is still a huge demand for quality stock.

End of Article

Richard Lutwyche
11th October 2009