- 85 bulls average £4,385
- 10 more bulls sold on the year
- 24 bulls at 5,000gns or more
- Bull sale grosses £372,802
A solid and realistic commercial trade underpinned the British Limousin Cattle Society’s first premier collective sale of 2013 held at United Auction’s Stirling Market on Wednesday 6th February. From an increased entry, a healthy 10 more bulls sold on the year, with 85 head levelling at £4,385. Ringside comment was that it was a good show of bulls with thickness, tremendous tops, and offering plenty of choice for the commercial beef producer. 24 bulls in all made 5,000gns or more.
Leading the way was a joint top price of 8,000gns for the Reserve Junior Champion, Redpaths General, and the second prizewinning bull Ballinloan Gambler consigned by Redpath Farms, Spylaw House, Kelso and Stuart Fotheringham, Dunkeld, Perthshire respectively.
The June 2011-born Redpaths General is by the Mas Du Clo son and Irish-bred sire, Lennon Breezer, and is out of the Rocky granddaughter, Grahams Charity. With a Beef Value of LM+23, he sold to JD Lindsay, Cairnleith, By Kirriemuir, Angus.
Also at 8,000gns was Ballinloan Gambler when going under the hammer to H Sinclair & Son, Holland Farm, Finston, Orkney which was one of fourteen bulls in total heading to the Scottish islands. Gambler is by the Nenuphar-sired Nebo Dynamite and is out of the Imprudent daughter, Mereside Nymph, and was sold with a Beef Value of LM+26.
Commenting on the sale, British Limousin Cattle Society Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “Breeders had brought forward a good show of bulls from which ten more sold on the year – which is very solid. Coming off a record sales year across the UK for the breed in 2012, the fourth in a row, I think the trade here has been realistic for where the industry finds itself at present coming off the back of what was a tough, wet year.”
Three bulls in all made 7,000gns. The first of these was the Junior & Overall Champion, Newhouse Black Gladstone, from Messrs R Adam & Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Angus who sold 7 bulls in total to average £4,080. Of his Champion, Judge Willie McLaren, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir said: “This was my type of bull with tremendous style, length and overall quality. He’s very much a bull suited to either the pedigree or the commercial producer and as such I’m sure he will go on to breed first quality calves.”
This red-coated bull carrying black genetics is by the 19,000gns senior herd sire, Hudscales Bigboy, and is out of the Kype Vandamme daughter Newhouse Divine. This represented the Adams’ second Limousin championship here at Stirling from their herd of around 60 pedigree breeding females. With a Beef Value of LM+45, the purchaser was Ian Wilkinson, Baldarroch Farmhouse, Murthly, Perthshire for his 19 cow pedigree Redstroke Herd. Having seen him as a calf, Ian purchased him on a combination of visual appeal and performance figures.
Another at 7,000gns was the Intermediate & Reserve Overall Champion, Ronick Golfer consigned by local breeders W Dick & Sons, Mains of Throsk, Stirling. Sired by the 11,000gns Sarkley Cromwell, a Broadmeadows Cannon grandson, and out of the Bailea Olympia daughter, Ronick Ufonde, this May 2011-born bull sold with a Beef Value of LM+26 to J Buchan, Torrax, Lintrathen, Kirriemuir. Sarkley Cromwell has bred bulls up to 11,000gns and the dam, Ronick Ufonde, has had calves up to 7,000gns.
Having stood second in the same class, the final bull to realise 7,000gns was Westhall Goldmine from Messrs Fotheringham, Craighall Farm, Forgandenny, Perth. By the Silex-sired Stotsfold Dragon, purchased October 2009 for 7,500gns at Carlisle, and out of Westhall Pip, he now heads to J Fenton & Sons, Loanhead Farm, Guildtown, Perth. The same vendor later sold Westhall Golddust – by the same sire – for 5,200gns to A Paton & Co, Craig Farm, Straiton, Ayrshire.
Messrs J Logan, Humebyres, Kelso sold two bulls at 6,800gns and 5,500gns respectively. At 6,800gns was the red ticket-winning Homebyres George, April 2011-born, sired by Homebyres Vanhee and out of Homebyres Alice. He sold with a Beef Value of LM+29 to G Mackie, The Ross, Madderty, Crieff. The 5,500gns Reserve Senior Champion Homebyres Gatting had earlier gone under the hammer to R & L Howat, Kinnaird, Dairsie, Cupar, Fife. By the same sire, this one was out of Homebyres Alicity and bore a Beef Value of LM+28.
A good day’s trading saw D Work & Son, Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, Ellon sell their two bulls at 6,800gns and 5,300gns respectively from their 30-cow pedigree herd – both got by AI. Snapping up the 6,800gns Dumbreck Glenfiddich was the Firm of Doldy Farm, Eastmill Farm, Glenisla, Blairgowrie for this April 2011-born son of the noted Sympa, and out of Shannas Venata. Securing a final bid of 5,300gns was the Wilodge Tonka son, Dumbreck Glenesk and out of the dam, Dumbreck Brighteyes, who is full sister to Dumbreck Champion, Senior Champion at Perth in February 2009 when sold for 5,500gns.
J Burnett & Sons, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, Stirling sold two bulls at 6,500gns with others at 5000gns, 4800gns and 3250gns. Their Senior Champion, Spittalton Gavin (LM+30), sired by the homebred Wilodge Vantastic son, Spittalton Denzil, and out of Spittalton Ursula, sold to A & R Paton, Easter Greenhill, Avonbridge, Falkirk. Back in October 2012, the Spittalton Herd, which numbers 75 pedigree cows, had secured the Overall Championship at Stirling with the 11,000gns Spittalton General. Their second bull at 6,500gns was the first prize-winning Spittalton Glenample, once more by the same sire, but this time out of Spittalton Tansy, a Greensons Gigolo granddaughter. With a Beef Value of LM+32, he now heads to IG Ross, Balafark Farm, Fintry, Balfron.
Knocked down for 6,200gns and 5,200gns respectively were two bulls from J Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed. The rising twenty-one-month old Tweeddale Geraint, by Newhouse Cyclone and out of Marlepark Delilah, went under the hammer with a Beef Value of LM+46 to J Kerr, Bankhead, Aberdour, Fife. Lochty Farm Ltd, Arncroach, Anstruther then forked out 5,200gns for the similarly bred Tweeddale Gerald (Newhouse Cyclone x Marlepark Christina).
Three bulls in all realised 6,000gns apiece. Having won a red rosette in the senior section, Kype Geronimo from Mr R Cruickshank, Little Kype Farm, Strathaven sold to W McMillan, Cranslagvourity Farm, Rothesay, Isle of Bute. April 2011-born, he is by the Rocky son, Jodel Clayton, and is out of the Cloughhead Lord daughter, Kype Beauty, and sported a Beef Value of LM+29. The Kype prefix also sold bulls at 3,800gns and 3,000gns respectively.
Another at 6,000gns was Dyke Gomez from JR MacGregor (Dyke) Ltd, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow when purchased by SAC Farms, Easter Howgate. By the Haltcliffe Underwriter son, Drumduff Champ, and out of the homebred Dyke Samba, this May 2011-born bull sold with a Beef Value of LM+34. Messrs MacGregor sold others at 5,200gns and 3,000gns respectively.
The final bull at 6,000gns came in the form of the very next lot into the ring Maraiscote Gunner on behalf of Mr I Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, Lanark who sold a run of bulls at 4000gns, 3200gns (twice) and 3000gns. Purchasing this Goldies Comet son, and out of the Virginia Andy daughter, Maraiscote Debbie, were D Blair & Son, Little Inch Farm, Wormit, Fife. He went under the hammer with a Beef Value of LM+46.
Averages:
85 Bulls £4,385.91
2 Females £1,706.25
WATCH video highlights of the pre-sale Show together with the Sale Video
Auctioneer: United Auctions
