- Burnbank leads Heifer Calves at 5,200gns
- 54 Calves gross £121,595
- 88% Clearance Rate
- 9 Calves at 3,000gns or more
Following on from the Red Ladies Derby Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday 13th December, was the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Show and Sale of Weaned Calves.
The pre-sale show, judged by the Red Ladies judge Mark Phillips, Mains of Minnydow, Springholm, Castle Douglas, saw one class judged for the bull calves and heifer calves respectively. The winner of the Bull Calf class was Foxhillfarm Impressive from Mr & Mrs M Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon. An embryo calf, Foxhillfarm Impressive is by Hartlaw Excaliber, the Male Champion at the 2011 National Limousin Show. January 2013-born, he is out of Bankdale Chanel – a maternal sister to the multi-title-winning Foxhillfarm Gracie. Commenting, Mark Phillips said: “This is a big, powerful bull calf with excellent muscling and very good on his legs.”
Foxhillfarm Impressive backed up his first prize when going on to take the top price of 7,000gns in the Weaned Calf Sale when being snapped up by ES & E Norman, Little Orton Farm, Carlisle for their Norman pedigree herd which numbers approximately 120 breeding females. He was bought on account of his shape, mobility and breeding as a future junior stock bull to go onto the herd’s Claragh Franco daughters.
The identically-bred Foxhillfarm Impulsive secured a final bid of 2,900gns for the same vendors when going under the hammer to GW Dent, The Bungalow, Gordon House Farm, Cockfield, Bishop Auckland for their Mayfellden Herd. The third bull from Mr & Mrs Alford, Foxhillfarm Ipad, by Ionesco and out of the 35,000gns Bankdale Elizabeth, sold to R & MG Elliott, Hallburn Croft, Longtown, Carlisle for 3,200gns.
The second top price in the bull calves was the 5,200gns paid for the April-born Barrons Indiana from Mr W Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhope, Co. Durham. This calf is by the herd’s prolific stock sire the 20,000gns Ampertaine Commander and is out of the Sarkley Volvo daughter Barrons Classy. Barrons Indiana was bought by L Guy & Son, Home Farm, Gilmonby, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. In 2012, another Ampertaine Commander son, Barrons Harness, won the Bull Calf class for Mr Barron at the corresponding sale and made 6,000gns. Mr Barron’s earlier lot, Barrons Ironman, another by Ampertaine Commander and out of the Sarkley Volvo-sired Barrons Cbabe made 3,000gns to H Thompson & Sons, High Corn Park, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle.
Selling at 4,800gns was the third prized bull calf, Dylans Irnbru, from GJ Morris, Mwche Farm, Lanstephan, Carmarthen. Another calf to feature breeding and performance, Dylan’s Ironbark is by Simper and out of the WI lodge Fantastic daughter Dylans Fanta and carries a Beef Value of LM+40. This calf heads to the Kinniside Herd of G & AE Marrs, Cathow Farm, Kinniside, Cleator, Cumbria.
Staying with the bulls, the next lot into the ring, Wilodge Inchbyinch, bred by Miss C Williams, Lodge Hill Farm, Shifnal, Shrops and brought forward by J & E Pattinson, Lough Head, Blackford, Carlisle realised 3,400gns. Sired by the Rainbow Simon son, Loosebeare Diego, and out of the French dam Vanille, this January 2013-born calf now heads to TW Hutchinson, Bail Hill, Forest-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle.
Winning the Heifer Calf class were D&L Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling with Burnbank Isabella. Entirely homebred, this April 2013-born calf is by the Lino-sired Burnbank Frank and is out of Burnbank Eclipse, an Ionesco daughter. Commenting on his heifer winner, Mark Phillips said: “Although just a youngster, this is a super little heifer, very stylish and well balanced.” Backing up the judge’s placement, Burnbank Isabella made the top price in the heifer section, and second top overall in the calves, when selling for 5,200gns to HC & LA MacGillivray, Home Farm, Barcaldine, Oban, Argyll. The previous lot Burnbank Ida, also from the Grahams, sold for 3,100gns having stood second in the class. February-born this heifer is also by Burnbank Frank and is out of the Redstone United-sired Burnbank Britney. New owner is Mr L Wilson who runs the Wilson Herd at Oak Tree Farm, Main Road, Westwood, Nottingham.
Sold as a half share to Northern Ireland was the 4,500gns Ronick Ivory from Mr R Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling. Sired by the stock bull, Rathconville Eugene, a Rocky son, and out of the Grahams Bonzo-sired Ronick Evoire this January-born heifer calf went under the hammer with a strong Beef Value of LM+42 to joint purchasers Mr D Small, Irvington Close, Kilkeel, Co Down and Mr J Alexander, Gloverstown Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim.
Averages:
20 Weaned Bull Calves £2,622.38
34 Weaned Heifer Calves £1,974.93
