- Two cows make 18,000gns
- 25 Cows average £3725
- Served Heifers average £3426
- 10 Young Bulls Average £3623
- Sale Grosses £216,929 for 62 lots
The on-farm sale from the Grange pedigree Limousin herd of Mr GE Smith, Brookfield Farm, Daventry, Northants on Saturday 10th September saw a strong trade throughout with two cows at 18,000gns apiece leading the way.
Pedigree breeders from all round the UK, both new and established, competed for the lots on offer from this noted and foremost herd which has been breeding Limousin cattle for some 35 years. With a focus on quality and improvement, the Grange herd has consistently introduced new bloodlines from France. Eighteen stock bulls in all have been selected and imported into the herd in the last nineteen years and the influence of these pedigrees, many of which have been unique to the British Limousin herdbook at the time of import, proved attractive to the large crowd in attendance. The sale was conducted jointly by auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, and Newark Livestock Market Ltd.
The first animal to make 18,000gns was the rising four year old French-bred cow Citrouille. Originally purchased at the sale held at the French National Limousin Show in 2010, Citrouille’s pedigree features the noted bulls Mic Mac and Haricot. She is sired by Texan, a Mic Mac son, and is out of Pagaie. The leading lot, who had run with the French sire Boileau, was knocked down to an undisclosed buyer. Sold as a separate lot, Citrouille’s first calf, the October 2010 born bull calf Grange Faucheux sired by Neuf, made 3,800gns when selling to KJ Jarvis & Son, Manor Farm, Fenton, Retford, Notts.
A few lots later, the November 2007 born Cassie also made 18,000gns. Again French-bred, Cassie was purchased at the 2009 Grand Cru sale held at that year’s French National Show. Described as both ‘an elegant and powerful female,’ Cassie is by Arlequin and out of Tetine. She was sold with her March 2001 born heifer calf at foot Grange Gabelle who is by Dolmen. Again, this was Cassie’s first calf. This lot, which was announced as having run with both Dolmen and Boileau, was also sold to an undisclosed buyer.
Making 6,100gns was the stock bull Boileau. Purchased in November 2007 as a new bloodline to the UK herdbook, this October 2006 born bull is by the Snoopy son Voisin, and is out of Nandy. Boileau progeny featured prominently in the catalogue having sired some of the calves at foot on offer, as well as maiden heifers and young bulls. Boileau, who has also run with a number of cows being retained in the herd, was purchased by NAS Johnson, Elms Farm, Bitteswell, Nr Lutterworth, Leics for the Bitteswell pedigree herd. Here, 20 pedigree cattle run alongside a 160-strong commercial suckler herd which, together with some cattle bought in, sees 300 head finished per year. “I was looking for a mature bull with length, shape and a proven breeder to use across the herd,” commented Nigel Johnson.
At 5200gns was the eye catching Boileau sired maiden heifer Grange Floreat. March 2010 born, Grange Floreat is out of Grange Bacinella whose pedigree features the herd’s most noted stock bull, the As De Pic son, Gabarit. The 5200gns price was paid by Mr DF Turner, and was the highest price of seventeen purchases in all made for the establishing Bassingbourn pedigree herd based at15 Isleham Road, Fordham, Ely. The Turners run a large scale enterprise of up to 2000 cattle including 350 sucklers that are mainlyLimousinbred. The purchases made on the day will add to the Bassingbourn herd of nineteen maiden heifers and fifteen in-calf heifers. Commenting after the sale, Daniel Turner said; “We have bought bulls previously from George Smith and they have done tremendously well for us all-round in the commercial herd. In establishing the Bassingbourn pedigree herd we recognise the Grange cattle as being very genuine, of high quality, and containing some top bloodlines.”
Brockhurst Amelie made 4500gns when selling back to her original breeder Messrs WJ & M Mash Ltd, Torrington Farm,Grove Lane, Chesham, Bucks. Amelie is by the bull Brockhurst Premier whose pedigree features the noted names of Ronick Lenor, Broadmeadows Cannon and Broadmeadows Didi. Out of the French bred cow Tamise, Brockhurst Amelie was sold with her fourth calf at foot (and fourth heifer calf), Grange Galerie who is a March 2011 born daughter of stock bull Perit B.
Grange Fernando, a Perit B son, made 4500gns when selling to JD Stephens, West Lodge Farm,Oxford Road, Princethorpe,Rugby, Warks. March 2010 born Grange Fernando, who weighed 860kgs in late August, is out of the Marquis daughter Grange Tarashani. A highly influential bull within the herd, Perit B’s pedigree carries noted French bloodlines including Ideal 23, Duvalier and Don Juan.
Selling at 4400gns was the served heifer Grange Empress who was another purchase of Mr DF Turner. April 2009 born, Grange Empress is by the stock bull Abba and is out of the Perit B daughter Grange Anchusa. Abba, one of the first sons of Neuf to be imported to the UK, was later sold for 3800gns up to Scotland and Mr J Orr & Co Ltd, Randerston, Kingsbarns,St. Andrews,Fife.
Continuing the strong trade for young bulls, Grange Fusilier made 4200gns when also selling to Mr DF Turner. Weighing 940kgs on 20th August, this March 2010 born bull is by Perit B and is another out of a Marquis daughter, this time Grange Fanshaw.
The five-year-old Grange Baltique made 4000gns when sold with her Chabal sired heifer calf at foot, the March born Grange Grevillea. Another sired by Perit B, this cow is out of the Gabarit daughter Grange Passerelle. Heading toWales, Grange Baltique was purchased for the Cwmfelin pedigree herd of D Evans, Ty Isaf, Cwmfelin Mynach, Carmarthenshire.
The final lot to make 4000gns was the very next lot Grange Babiole. Featuring similar breeding, Babiole is another daughter of Perit B and is also out of a Gabarit sired female, Grange Seraphina. Grange Babiole was sold with her third calf at foot, the Chabal sired March born bull calf Grange Gavroche. Purchasing this lot was RE Greaves & Son who run the Rectory pedigree herd at Castle Hill Farm, Wheatley, Nr Oxford.
In all, 62 lots were sold on the day to gross £216,928.72 with ten animals making 4000gns or more.
More photographs can be found via Limousin Gallery
AVERAGES:
25 Cows with calves £3,725.40
8 Served Heifers £3,425.60
16 Maiden Heifers £2,861.12
2 Stock Bulls £5,197.50
10 Young Bulls £3,622.60
1 Calf £3,990.00
AUCTIONEERS:
Harrison & Hetherington Ltd jointly with Newark Livestock Market Ltd
