29,000gns AMPERTAINE ABRACADABRA SELECTED FOR MLC/SIGNET YOUNG BULL PROMOTION SCHEME 2007

Limousin bull Ampertaine Abracadabra, owned by Mr JA Ewing, Drumbretton Farms, Annan,Dumfriesand Galloway and Mr J Rafferty,27 Scaffog Avenue, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh has been selected for inclusion in the MLC / Signet sponsored Young Bull Promotion Scheme. The general aim of the scheme is to promote the use of genetically superior bulls across herds within a breed.

Ampertaine Abracadabra, bred and sold by WJ & J McKay, 88 Kilrea Road, Upperlands, Maghera, CoDerry, was purchased at Carlisle’s February Limousin Sale for a then Northern Irish record price of 29,000gns. 

A son of the noted sire Sympa he is out of the Stockdales Muscular daughter Ampertaine Penny, a bloodline that combines both muscle and milk. The full package of visual presence and performance, Abracadabra won the Junior Male Limousin Championship at the 2006 Royal Ulster Show and was part of the Champion Pairs. Later he was also judged as the Best Young Bull in the N.I. Herd Competition. At the pre-sale show in Carlilsle he won the Reserve Junior Male Championship.

Featuring tremendous performance figures, Abracadabra has a top 1% Beef Value of LM+41 and ranks in the top 1% of the breed for 200-day and 400-day growth, and in the top 10% for muscle depth and muscle score.

The YBPS sees the selection of a promising young bull to a set criteria and the distribution of at least 100 straws of semen, free of charge, to at least 20 herds.  All participating herds must be a member of the Beefbreeder service operated by Signet

The two principle aims of the scheme are; to promote rapid genetic improvement via reduced generation intervals and improved selection differentials and secondly, to improve the accuracy of EBVs by increasing the connectedness (related animals) amongst herds.To be considered for selection, bulls must ideally be in the top 1% of the breed for both Beef Value and Calving value as calculated in the BLUP evaluations at the time of selection.  Bulls must be under 30 months old on the date of submission and must have 200 and 400 day weights and scans recorded to be considered.

The Society is responsible for arranging collection and distribution of the semen.  All BLCS recording members are eligible to apply for an allocation of straws.  Thanks are extended to Mr JA Ewing and Mr J Rafferty for allowing Ampertaine Abracadabra to take part in the YBPS.

Name  – Ampertaine Abracadabra
Herd Book number- MGD05-014
Date of Birth – 12/07/2005
Owner –  Mr JA Ewing, Dumbretton Farms, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway and Mr J Rafferty, 27 Scaffog Avenue, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
Breeder –  WJ & J McKay, 88 Kilrea Road, Upperlands, Maghera, CoDerry

Grand sire – OCTOPUS   87-10-671-030

Sire – SYMPA   48-01-006-969

Grand dam – OPERETTE   48-98-133-040

Grand sire –  STOCKDALES MUSCULAR   SDC96-012

Dam – AMPERTAINE PENNY   MGD99-001

Grand dam – AMPERTAINE HANNAH   MGD92-003