- 103 Bulls average £6,416
- Average up by £1,085 on the year
- 3 bulls at 20,000gns and over; 40 at 5,000gns and over in all
- Junior bulls average £7,689 – up by £2,400
- Bull sale grosses £660,951
R&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, Stirling secured the top price of the day when they sold their young bull, Graham Humphrey, for a mighty 37,000gns at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s February Sale held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Saturday 15th February 2014.
Bringing something new to the bloodlines on offer at the sale, the October 2012-born Humphrey is by the Irish-bred sire, Baileys Elderado, a bull purchased by Robert Graham at a Roscrea Sale in Ireland for 17,000 Euros. Elderado is by Queenshead Altea who was originally bought for 52,000gns by the Baileys herd at Carlisle and who features the noted Greensons Gigolo in his breeding. In 2013, the top-priced Limousin female in the year was Grahams Gayla at 17,000gns who is also by Baileys Elderado.
Grahams Humphrey is out of Grahams Coffee, a Millington Vascular daughter, who is described as ‘one of the best cows in the Grahams herd.’ Purchasing the top price was Charlie Boden, Boden & Davies Ltd for his 30-cow Sportsmans pedigree herd at Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire. In the pre-sale show, Grahams Humphrey had secured the red ticket in the second last class of the day from the judge Jonathan Watson of the Tweeddale herd based at Berwick Upon Tweed.
An electric trade for junior bulls saw the sale close with 103 bulls sold in all to average £6,417. The thirty-three junior bulls averaged a fantastic £7689, up by over £2,400 on the year, whilst the sale average overall was up by £1,085 on the corresponding 2013 fixture with a clearance rate of 69%. The bull sale grossed £660,951, and with 59 females sold on the previous evening the two sales combined saw a total sale gross of £770,204.
In all, forty bulls made 5,000gns or over, including three at 20,000gns and above, with nine at 10,000gns or more.
Commenting on the sale, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “The recently-published BCMS figures for 2013 again show the dominant position of the breed in the UK with a market share of 30%. It has maintained that position by its ability to produce calves time and again that hit the carcase spec demanded by the industry, and through its maternal abilities of easy calving and all-round efficiency. Bulls here at the sale with shape, length, and width in the tops were readily sold. In just over two weeks at the Stirling and Carlisle sales, 173 bulls have grossed over £1 Million to average just under £6,000 as pedigree and commercial producers have competed strongly for the quality bulls of their choice.”
Taking the second top price at 23,000gns was another junior, Fairywater Haig, from JA Ewing, Dumbretton Farms, Annan, Dumfries. This September 2012-born bull took the first prize before moving on to secure the Reserve Junior Championship. Fairywater Haig is by the herd’s stock sire, Ironstone Diego, a bull purchased at Carlisle for 18,000gns. A Wilodge Vantastic son, Ironstone Diego was also the sire of Fairywater Gabriella, a full sister to Fairywater Haig, and who took Reserve Championship at the 2013 Red Ladies Derby before selling for 15,000gns. Fairywater Haig is out of the Mas Du Clo daughter Pelletstown Catherine.
Purchasing the stylish and correct Fairywater Haig was A & D Proctor for their Swarland pedigree herd at Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth, Northumberland which comprises of 30 breeding females run alongside 100 commercial cows. Andrew Proctor said, “This bull has great class, is a lovely walker and has a tremendous back-end. He is ideally suited for breeding show calves and will be also used in the first instance on Swarland Dapper daughters in the pedigree herd.” For the Fairywater herd, which itself runs 70 pedigrees alongside around 100 commercials, this was the first Diego bull calves forward at a Society sale and the 23,000gns represented a top sale price to date. Later in the sale Fairywater Hadley, also by Ironstone Diego, sold for 6,500gns.
Continuing the strong run of juniors was Lowerffrydd Husainbolt from JG & JA Evans, Lower Ffrydd, Caersws, Powys who sold for 20,000gns to the Honeymoor pedigree herd of RS Harker & Son, Grayrigg Hall, Grayrigg, Kendal, Cumbria. A second prize September 2012 bull, Husainbolt is an AI calf by the 28,000gns Procters Cavalier and is out of Corridan Fizz. Another bull with a tremendous top and width, this calf first came to public prominence when being on the Limousin Society’s promotional stand at the 2013 Welsh Winter Fair.
The Overall Supreme Champion and Intermediate Champion was Mereside Hallmark from RM Hazard & Sons, Saltby Heath Farm, Skillington, Grantham, Lincolnshire. In May 2013, the herd returned to sales at Carlisle after some nine years and duly sold Mereside Godolphin to the year’s top Limousin price of 40,000gns. In a ‘dream follow-up sale’ they secured the February 2014 Supreme Championship, a herd first, before selling Mereside Hallmark for 18,000gns. The June 2012 Hallmark, a heifer’s calf, is by the French-bred sire Dormeur who himself was bought as a calf and used in the Mereside herd for some three years before being sold to Chatsworth Estates. The Hazards noted that Dormeur had clicked extremely well with Vagabond daughters in the herd and Hallmark himself bore that out being out of the Vagabond-sired Mereside Enabel. With an emphasis placed on quality females and proven bloodlines, Hallmark’s pedigree goes back to one of the herd’s foundation females in the shape of Lumbylaw Upside.
Commenting on his Champion, the judge Jonathan Watson said: “This bull had an immediate presence and just stood out for me when he first entered the ring. He’s a big bull, has very impressive width and carries a natural power. He is correct on his legs, has bags of style, and moves very well. He’s a class act and a true breeder’s bull.”
Mereside Hallmark, who was also judged as the best young bull in the 2013 East Midlands Limousin herd competition, was purchased by the Gascoines Group Ltd, for the Gascoines pedigree herd at Southwell, Notts.
The Hazards enjoyed an excellent sale day with their second bull Mereside Hannibal making 13,000gns when selling to the Cockleshell herd of Mr I Pitcher, Ivy House Farm, Friskney, Boston, Lincolnshire. A first prizewinner from Class 10, Mereside Hannibal is an embryo calf sired by the noted Ampertaine Commander. With a continuity in breeding of the two bulls sold, Hannibal is out of Mereside Primrose who again goes back to the Lumbylaw Upside bloodline.
Back in the junior bulls, and Sandhills Herbie made 17,000gns when selling for J & HD Langcake, Sandhills Farm, Bassenthwaite, Keswick. An embryo calf, this September 2012 bull combined both muscle and breeding being by the noted sire Rossignol and out of the Ronick Hawk-sired Siddall Awny. A top sale price for the Sandhills herd, Sandhills Herbie was purchased by GW Lee & Sons, Stockley Burn Farm, Frosterley, Co Durham.
Local breeders ES & E Norman brought a fine line-up of bulls with shape and muscle that saw them sell eight in all to average a tremendous £7,250. Featuring strongly in their pen were the first six sons offered at sale from the herd’s stock bull Claragh Franco who was purchased at Carlisle in May 2011 for 24,000gns. Leading the way for the Normans was the June 2012-born Norman Hawk who had stood second in his class to the day’s Overall Supreme Champion. By Claragh Franco and out of Norman Clover, Norman Hawk carried a Beef Value of LM+43 and was snapped up by Millington Limousins for the Millington pedigree herd at The Grange, Millington, York.
Other Claragh Franco sons sold for the Normans on the day to 7800gns, 7200gns and 7000gns, whilst a Drummin Eagle-sired son also made 7000gns.
Another fine pen of bulls was once again brought forward by the Homebyres herd of Messrs J Logan, Humebyres, Kelso. Full of power, shape and width, four bulls from the herd grossed £36,855 to average £9,214. The top price from the pen was the 15,000gns paid for the Reserve Senior Champion Homebyres Hawick by JE Carruthers, Silloans, Rochester, Newcastle upon Tyne and his Redesdale pedigree herd. The first prize winner from the third class of the day, Homebyres Hawick is by Kaprico Davelle, a bull purchased by the Logans for 18,000gns at Carlisle in October 2009, and is out of the Haltcliffe Nijinsky daughter Homebyres Suncity. Hawick was sold with a Beef Value of LM+38. From the same pen, Homebyres Houston made 9,500gns when selling to Messrs Hutchinson, White House Farm, Eastgate, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. April 2012-born and another Kaprico Davelle son, Homebyres Houston is out of Homebyres Cinique and carried another strong Beef Value of LM+39. Homebyres Hawick at 15,000gns is the top price son to date by Kaprico Davelle.
Winning one of the strongest pre-sale show classes (Class 5) was Iveagh Harry from Stephen Magill, Poyntzpass, Newry. Bred for shape, this May 2012-born calf is by the AI sire Sympa and is out of the Rocky daughter Carhill Davina. This was Carhill Davina’s second calf with her first calf being Iveagh Gilkes who sold for 20,000gns at Carlisle in October 2012. Another bull with good figures (Beef Value LM+39), Iveagh Harry was bought by the Turville pedigree herd of HB & LJ Lear, The Manor, Creslow, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Another Sympa son to feature strongly in the sale was the Reserve Supreme Overall and Junior Champion, Goldies Hurricane from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries who made 13,000gns. Goldies breeding has continued to feature strongly at Carlisle sales and particularly in the junior section with the herd having bred at least one parent of six of the last eight pre-sale show junior champions. August 2012-born, Goldies Hurricane is out of the French-bred cow Rosabelle who was originally purchased when the herd was restructured in 2001 following FMD. Still going strong at 15 years old, Rosabelle has previously bred a Perth Sale Champion for the herd. Purchasing Goldies Hurricane were CR & MM Gollop & Sons for their Sloughpool pedigree herd at Slough Farm, Halberton Road, Willand, Cullompton, Devon. Purchaser Michael Gollop, who runs the 60-strong pedigree Limousin herd as well as a dairy enterprise, commented that the bull had “shape and style in abundance.”
The opening lot of the sale had seen the Goldies sell their five-year-old stock bull Hartlaw Excaliber, a Wilodge Tonka son and past 2011 National Limousin Show Male Champion, for 9,000gns to an undisclosed buyer. Later in the day, a Hartlaw Excaliber son, Goldies Hotspur, sold for 8,000gns to Craig Cameron, Greenferns Farm, Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
Anside Hulk, a second prize winner from the strong class five made 12,500gns when selling for Mr & Mrs Stephen Irvine, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, By Keith, Banffs, Moray. A heifer’s calf, the May 2012 born Hulk is by the herd’s 22,000gns sire Derriaghy Enfield and is out of the Fleethill Talisman daughter Anside Evita. In 2013, this young bull won the Junior Championship and Reserve Overall at Keith Show and the Reserve Overall Championship at Turriff Show. Purchasing Anside Hulk was Innes Farms, Millbrae, Findhorn, Forres, Morayshire.
Late in the catalogue, Roxburgh Homeland made 12,000gns for John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. A second prize winner in the last class of the day, Roxburgh Homeland had enjoyed an unbeaten show record in 2013 when winning the Senior Limousin Championship at the Stars of the Future Show and also the Limousin Championship at the Scottish Winter Fair pedigree show. An embryo calf, and November 2012-born, Homeland is by the £40,000 Plumtree Fantastic and is out of the Jersey-sired French cow Nova. Snapping up this bull was GH Walton & Sons, Greyside Farm, Newbrough, Hexham, Northumberland.
Having purchased the top price of the day, Boden & Davies Ltd, Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire, were also in action as vendors and sold their third prize winner Sportsmans Hagrid for 9,500gns. Got by AI, Sportsmans Hagrid is by the 30,000gns Lowerffrydd Empire and is out of the Mas Du Clo daughter Glenrock Éclair. July 2012-born, and with a Beef Value of LM+39, this bull also went to a pedigree herd when selling to McKinney Bros and their Heathmount pedigree herd at Craigadick Road, Maghera, Co. Londonderry, N Ireland.
A second Rossignol-sired calf to make his mark on the day was the April 2012-born Lodge Henri from S & GA Potter & Son, Westside, Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Originally bred by Mr & Mrs W&A Callion, Bolfornought Farm, Stirling, this bull is out of French-bred Anisette who was imported from the noted Champeval herd. Purchasing Lodge Henri for 9,000gns were Messrs Carroll, Edenadiack, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
The strong junior trade continued when Cloughhead Hesta also made 9,000gns when selling for GL Hutton, Setmabanning, Threlkeld, Keswick, Cumbria. Entirely French-bred, this October 2012 bull is by Ugues and is out of the Breton-sired Fanie. Heading to Wales, Cloughhead Hesta was purchased by DB Davies & Son, who run the Eisteddfa pedigree herd at Eisteddfa Fawr, Brynberian, Crymych, Pembrokeshire.
Click here for highlights of the show
Click here for highlights of the sale
Other leading prices and purchasers:
Lot
128 8,500gns Reddings Hero to W & T Nelson, High Kilphin Farm, Ballantrae, Girvan, Ayrshire (1st in class 4)
224 8,500gns Ampertaine Hollywood to South Eastern Cattle Breeders, Dovea, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, Eire (2nd in class 11)
257 8,000gns Goldies Hotspur to C Cameron, Greenferns Farm, Bucksburn, Aberdeen (3rd in class 14).
278 8,000gns Saunders Handyandy to GP Taylor & Sons, Swathburn, Great Asby, Appleby in Westmorland, Cumbria (5th in class 16)
279 8,000gns Gritstone Humdinger to J Thompson, Townfoot, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria (4th in class 16)
160 7,800gns Norman Hardy to DR McIntyre, Glenmoy Farm, Glenmoy, Kirriemuir, Angus (1st in class 6).
188 7,200gns Norman Hex to W Lockhart & Son, Lagganpark, Moniaive, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire (3rd in class 9)
141 7,000gns Norman Harry to AJ Forsyth & Co, Mid Bishopton Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire (3rd in class 5)
187 7,000gns Norman Harley to RA Wilson & Son, Northfield Farm, Little Carlton, Louth, Lincs.
215 7,000gns Emslies Holeymoley to JF Teague, Temple House, Buteland Farm, Balerno, Lothian (1st in class 11 and Reserve Intermediate Champion)
282 7,000gns Dolcorsllwyn Hamish to D Baillie, Calla, Carnwath, Lanark
(1st in class 16)
198 6,500gns Fairywater Hadley to RG & LA Grieve, Whiteside Farm, Birtley, Hexham, Northumberland.
194 6,000gns Killydun Harry to J Sloan & Sons, Little Creoch Farm, New Cumnock, Cumnock, Ayrshire (1st in class 9).
222 6,000gns Togherdoo Hawk to JR Anderson, Lynmore, Glencarvie, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire (4th in class 11).
238 6,000gns Haltcliffe Hilton to R Thornton & Son, Cornhills, Kirkwhelpington, Newcastle upon Tyne ( 2nd in class 13).
Averages
16 Senior Bulls £6,181.88
54 Intermediate Bulls £5,708.89
33 Junior Bulls £7,689.08
Overall 103 Bulls £6,416.80
