The British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) Breeders’ Sale held at Carlisle on Friday 18th May 2012 saw a top price of 6,800gns for the black Limousin heifer Knock Black Farmgirl. This Production sale from the Knock Herd on behalf of Mr AG Howie, West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire and the Turville Herd on behalf of Messrs HB & LJ Lear, Creslow Manor, Whitchurch, Aylesbury, Bucks respectively, represented the first sale comprising solely of Limousin cattle carrying black genetics. 12 Heifers overall from the Knock Herd, comprising of served and maidens, averaged £4,116 with 17 maiden heifers carrying the Turville prefix averaging £2,029 per head.
Knock Black Farmgirl, the 6,800gns top price, is a Newhouse Billy daughter and out of Knock April, a Sympa daughter. Newhouse Billy is a homozygous black Limousin bull by the noted Greenhaugh Utwo and was purchased from RM Adam & Son at Perth in February 2007 for 12,600gns. Purchaser of Knock Black Farmgirl was Mr N Barclay, South Road, Insch, Aberdeenshire who runs the Harestone Herd of pedigree Limousins.
The next two leading prices of 6,500gns and 5,500gns respectively were purchased by DE Evans, Monfa, Gwernaffield Road, Mold, Flintshire, North Wales. The first at 6,500gns came in the shape of Knock Black Firstlady, by Newhouse Billy, but this time out of Shannas Uriel, a daughter of Ronick Jalopy. This rising two-year-old heifer was sold in-calf to Goldies Florida as was the 5,500gns Knock Black Fanfare, by the same sire, and out of Knock Blossom, a Middledale Slogger daughter. The same buyer then bought Knock Black Fairlie at the 4,000gns mark. Once more by Billy, and in-calf to Goldies Florida, this July 2010 born heifer is out of the Willowcrest Calibre daughter, Redpaths Onair.
At 4,500gns was Knock Black Friesia when going under the hammer to JS & LD Adam & Son, Garraron Farm, Ardfern, Lochgilphead, Scotland for their Garraron prefix. Once again sold in-calf to the Edwards Sirloin son, Goldies Florida, this April 2010 born heifer is by Newhouse Billy and out of Knock Anna, by Middledale Slogger.
Going under the hammer to R & J Graham, Airthrey Kerse Farm, Bridge of Allan, Stirling for their Grahams Herd was the next best at 4,200gns for the nineteen month-old Knock Black Fivestar, by Billy and out of Knock Constance.
Heading the Turville offering were a trio of 2,800gns calls – all snapped up by Mr AJ Ewing, Dumbretton Farms, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Turville Black Gabby, a January 2011-born daughter of the homozygous black and polled Thornham Vulcan (by Planet Hollywood) and out of Turville Dundee was sold with a Beef Value of LM+32. At the same money was the similarly-aged Turville Black Gantry, a Tamarvalley Bojewyan daughter, and out of Turville Caroline, by Hafodlas Vino who went under the hammer with a Beef Value of LM+30. The final one at 2,800gns was the fourteen-month-old Turville Black Goddess, another by Vulcan out of Turville Davina – again by Hafodlas Vino – who was sold with a Beef Value of LM+34.
Messrs S & GA Potter, Westside, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire bought the 2,500gns Turville Black Geraldine for their Westside herd. February 2011 born, she is by Thornham Vulcan and out of Turville Dewdrop, and by the homebred bull, Turville Vesuvius. She went with a Beef Value of LM+32. The next two lots at 2,400gns and 2,200gns respectively, head over the water to MJ Lucas, Sevenmile Straight, Antrim, Co Antrim, N Ireland. At 2,400gns was the homozygous black and polled Turville Black Gabor, by Mandayen Vision, a son of White Lakes Vision, and out of Turville Doodle. A 2,200gns bid then secured the January 2011 born Turville Black Galliano, by the same sire, but this time out of Turville Dulie. This heifer was again double black and double polled.
Knock Herd
6 served heifers £4637.50
6 maiden heifers £4007.50
12 heifers (overall) £4322.50
Turville Herd
17 maiden heifers £2130.88
Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington
