100% CLEARANCE AS BALLYMENA LIMOUSINS
REACH 5,000GNS FOR BALLYROBIN BULL
- 43 Bulls average £3,196
- Averages up £327
- Clearance Rate 100%
- 19 Heifers average £1873
- Sale grosses £182,458
Miss J Gilliland, Ballyrobin Road, Antrim secured the top price of 5,000gns with her July 2010 born bull Ballyrobin Flinstone at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Show & Sale held on Monday 7th May 2012 at Ballymena Livestock Mart.
The well-attended sale met a ready demand resulting in a 100% clearance of bulls with 14 more sold on the year – all heading to local farms. 19 of the 20 heifers forward also found homes representing a 95% clearance rate with the majority going to local breeders but with the exception of two heading to England. Bull averages were up £327 on the previous year and the sale grossed a very healthy £182,000.
Judge Mr Andrew Ewing, Dumbretton Farm, Annan, Dumfries had earlier placed Ballyrobin Flinstone as Reserve Male Champion at the pre-sale show. An impressive bull with great presence, he is an AI son of Rocky and is out of the homebred dam, Ballyrobin Rachel, a Broadmeadows Cannon daughter. Purchased by Mr AT Clyde, Niblock Road, Antrim for his pedigree Clydesdale Herd, the buyer was particularly impressed by the style and growth of the bull.
The second leading price of the day at 4,900gns went to Junior Champion Eniver Grant, a January 2011 bull bred by Mr M McKeefry, Garvagh. Eniver Grant is an AI son of Ampertaine Brigadeer, a Sympa son, and is out of the homebred dam Eniver Betty, a Ronick Hawk daughter. This bull holds a Beef Value of LM+37 and was purchased by P J McVeigh, Dungiven.
The third leading price of 4,700gns went to the Overall Male Champion & Senior Champion Ballynahone Flashman, consigned by Mr R Henderson, Tobermore. This November 2010 born bull was got by AI from the prolific 42,000gns bull Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the homebred dam Ballynahone Vain, a Cloughhead Lord daughter with Marquis bloodlines. He now heads to purchaser Mr E McCloskey, Kilrea. The same vendor also achieved 4,200gns for another Wilodge Vantastic son, Ballynahone Figaro.
Following on was the Intermediate class winner Bernish Filbert, bred by Mr K McCrory, Six Mile Cross who fetched 4,400gns when snapped up by TA Rodgers, Broughshane, Ballymena with two further bulls hitting the 4,200gns mark: Senior Reserve Champion Aghadolgan Fieldmarshall bred by Mr RAG Savage, Castlerock to Mr L Wilson, Doagh, Ballyclare; and Knockstacken Golddust bred by Mr T Wray, Carnlough when knocked down to Hannah Healey, Belfast.
The Female trade was also stronger than last year with the top price of 3,200gns achieved by the Female Champion & Overall Reserve Champion Erne Feistabelle. This November 2010 born heifer, bred by Mr R Crawford, Maguiresbridge, holds a Beef Value of LM+21 and was got by AI to the sire Columbjohn Drake and bred from the dam Curraghree Cristabelle, a Samy daughter. This strong and stylish heifer now heads to Mr A & Mrs V Armstrong, Straid, Ballyclare for their Seskingrove Herd. Pedigree breeders C& N White, Moreton-In-Marsh, Gloucestershire bought Erne Febe from the same vendor at the third joint top female price of the day at 2,900gns. Erne Febe, a class winner born May 2010, is a Sauvignon daughter and bred out of Cookstown C1602 with Mas Du Clo bloodlines. Also heading to the same home in England was another heifer consigned by Mr Crawford in the shape of Erne Eileen for 2,800gns.
Second top female price at 3,000gns went to Rahoney Floral bred by Messrs H & D McFarland, Trillick. Rahoney Floral is by the herd’s stockbull, Drummin Beau, and is out of the homebred dam Rahoney Coral, a Ronick Hawk daughter. She sold to Mr B Mullan, Garvagh. Another heifer, Lenagh Goldengirl, fetched 2,900gns when brought out by Mr M Stewart, Antrim. This May 2011 born heifer is by the AI sire Volcan and is out of Lenagh Babe, a Glenrock Spartacus daughter with Pelletstown Ken bloodlines. New owner is R Thompson, Altnaveigh.
There was also a good trade for embryo recipient heifers with embryo calves at foot from Mr J Ferguson, Comber fetching 3,300gns for Oldehouse Giggles and 2,800gns for Oldehouse Ginger – both Procters Cavalier daughters.
Averages:
43 Bulls £3196.40 (+£327)
19 Heifers £1873.42 (+£32)
Auctioneer: JA McLelland
