By Anna Burdett Farming and rural affairs editor

Last updated at 15:58, Friday, 02 November 2012

Two Cumbrian farmers were part of a syndicate that smashed the breed record and paid 9,000gns for a belted Galloway bull.

Spontaneous applause broke out at Wallets Mart in Castle Douglas on Friday last week when Roger Robson from Ivegill, James Irving, from Uldale, Tim Oliver, from Great Whittington, Northumberland, and Robin Dant, who farms in Durham, made the winning bid for Helen Hamilton’s Lullendon bull Hector from Innerleithen in the Borders. The previous record was 7,800gns.

Hector will be rotated around the four farms serving heifers and cows throughout the year.

Mr Robson, of Castlefield, said he could never have afforded such a quality bull on his own and so the group was formed.

A retired head of English at the former St Aidan’s School in Carlisle, he said: “Robin had borrowed my bull in the past. After foot and mouth, I found another bull I really wanted which was a bit expensive and asked Robin if he wanted to come in with me.

“We paid a pro rata price depending on how many cows we had. James joined the consortium later and Tim said he was in the day before Friday’s sale.

“I set off looking for a £4,000 (4,200gns) bull but as the consortium grew, we decided to spend more money. All the buyers were very keen and enthusiastic and we had decided to bid to 8,000gns but when someone else bid 8,500gns, I looked across and the others said go on.”

Mr Robson started his herd after buying 18 acres of land with no buildings in 1971. He has since built a family farmhouse and extended the acreage to 75 where he keeps 15 breeding belted Galloway cows and 35 young stock.

The 70-year-old added: “I’m getting a bit old and I thought I was settling down to lead a quiet life.

“I felt very calm in the middle of all the bidding and I don’t think we got carried away although it might seem ridiculous for someone with a small herd to have such an expensive bull.

“Hector is very gentle mannered and we liked him because of his energy.”

The March 2012 bull is already at work on Mr Irving’s hill farm The Dash, near Bassenthwaite, where he will stay for the next few weeks to tidy up after the stock bull.

“He seems keen,” said Mr Irving. “You can never tell properly in the auctions how they are going to be but now we’ve got him, I can see he’s a big strong bull and very good-looking. I could not justify a bull like this without the syndicate.”

Mr Robson added: “I just hope he lives up to our expectations.”

ABurdett@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 15:52, Friday, 02 November 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk