The eighth Annual Limousin Day held at Newark Market, Notts on Saturday 14th April 2012, kindly judged by Mr Frank Buckley, Co Cork, S Ireland, realised a strong trade for all classes of pedigree stock and set new centre record prices for both bulls and females. Thanks go to all the Club members for supporting this event, and especially to Paul Gentry, the team at the market and David Burns for all their help with the show and sale.

Some highlights from the sale were as follows:

  • Brockhurst Exmoor new Female Centre Record at 8,500gns
  • 8,000gns Centre Record for Limousin Bulls 
  • 35 Bulls average £4,606 
  • Bull averages up £1,393 on year 
Brockhurst Exmoor
Brockhurst Exmoor

Leading the trade at 8,500gns was the August 2009-born in-calf heifer, Brockhurst Exmoor, an embryo by Grahams Samson, and out of the French dam, Reseda, by Malibu, she was sold pd’d in calf to Brockhurst Ecuador. Purchaser was WD Wight, Scotland for his Monkeypuzzle Herd.

Another from Messrs Mash took the day’s joint headline bull price at 8,000gns. This was for the May 2010 born Brockhurst Festival, sired by Brockhurst Columbus and out of the 2008 Royal Highland Show Champion, Brockhurst Batik. Securing this animal were Messrs RF Turner & Son, Bassingbourn Farm, Fordham, Ely, Cambs for their Bassingbourn prefix. Achieving a 7,000gns price tag was the second prize-winning bull, Coachhouse Forrester, consigned by Messrs Heald & Co, Home Farm, Grove, Retford.

Averages:

35 Bulls                     £4,606.71

49 Cows                    £2,874.21

23 Cows & Calves   £3,615.65

65 Heifers                  £2,126.75

6   Calves                  £927.50

Mereside Grant
Mereside Grant

In May, the sale of Mereside Grant back to France was a great achievement for not only the Hazard Family but for UK genetics, being only the second bull ever to be exported back to the homeland of the Limousin breed.

Hafodlas Domino
Hafodlas Domino

Yet another fantastic year in the show ring for many of the breeders within the region and many thanks must go to them for supporting all the local shows and keeping them up-and-running. Leading the way throughout the summer was Hafodlas Domino, from owner Doug Mash of the Brockhurst Herd. Sired by the 22,500gns Bailea Spunkie, the Champion bull is out of Hafodlas Shona, a Hafodlas Llion daughter. Winning not only numerous prizes at shows within the region, he won the Overall Championship at the Royal Highland Show.

The autumn also saw success for breeders Guy & John Green of the Greensons Herd together with Brian & Linda Lear of the Turville Herd, in what is believed to be the first export of Black Limousin embryos. 44 grade “A” embryos were exported to New Zealand to start a new herd of Black Limousins.

This year’s Club trip was to the Hazards’ Mereside Herd where a number of breeders from the region attended, and were taken around the herd in tractors and trailers. It was a great day to meet, discuss and welcome new members and the day finished with a hog roast. Many thanks to all those who helped out during the day.

We were pleased to welcome BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr to one of our meetings during the year, where he answered questions from the floor on different subjects within the breed.

I would finally like to thank Mr Brian Jones of the Bailea Herd for giving up his time to judge our herd competition this year and returning to present the prizes at the presentation evening.