- 114 bulls average £6290, up by £397
- 14 more bulls sold on the year
- Clearance rate of 74%
- 17 bulls make 10,000gns and more
- Aultside Hulk sells for the joint top Scottish Limousin record price
- 55,000gns sets a record price for a British Limousin export
- Bull sale grosses £717,101
- Junior bulls average £7422
Gary Patterson from Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith had a day to remember when selling his December 2012 born bull, Aultside Hulk, for 55,000gns and leading the trade at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s 2014 May Sale held on Saturday 3rd May at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Making it all the more special, this was Gary’s first time with a Limousin bull entered at Carlisle and only the second Limousin bull he has ever offered at a Society sale. Setting a few records along the way, Aultside Hulk sold to the Republic of Ireland and becomes the highest priced British Limousin bull to have been exported from the United Kingdom. The 55,000gns price also equals the record, set by Grahams Samson back in 2003, for a Scottish Limousin bred bull sold at auction.
In the pre-sale show held on the Friday, Aultside Hulk had won the Intermediate Championship before going on to be placed as Reserve Overall Supreme Champion by the judge Martin Irvine of the noted Anside herd, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, Banffshire.
Come sale time Aultside Hulk quickly went up through the bidding gears to reach 55,000gns before being knocked down to the Ardlea herd of Dan Tynan, Beechhill Farm, Doon, Mountraith, Co Laois, Eire. The Ardlea herd is the largest pedigree Limousin herd in Eire comprising of some 110 cows with the farm also having 50 recipients and 100 commercial cows. Doing the bidding was farm manager Kevin Bohan who is also the current President of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society. Commenting on his purchase Mr Bohan said: “The bull is really classy, he’s got style, length, width, four good legs and walked very well. We liked his pedigree, with some new bloodlines for the herd, and were looking for a bull that would be easy calving and easy fleshing.” Upon arriving in Eire the bull will be put to cows but the plan is also to have semen collected from him.
Aultside Hulk, an embryo calf, is by the 50,000gns sire Wilodge Cerberus and is out of Spittalton Flush a champion Limousin female purchased at a BLCS sale at Stirling for 2000gns. He was shown at the Stars of the Future Show also held at Stirling in 2013 where he placed Reserve Overall Senior Champion.
Remarkably the Aultside herd only presently comprises of three pedigree cows which are farmed, with Gary’s father, along with 180 commercial cows. The herd’s first bull at sale made 7000gns at Stirling in February this year. Speaking after the sale Gary Patterson said: “The 55,000gns price is way beyond my wildest expectation in coming to Carlisle. It’s unbelievable really and especially to do so with the high standard of bulls put forward by the breeders at the sale.”
With beef producers continuing to work within a challenging industry the increased number of bulls sold on the year and the increased averages were points quickly picked up the BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr who said: “Beef farmers are looking for added value, market relevant cattle that are efficient in costs of production and above all leave profit. The double-barrelled Limousin breed is a top terminal sire producing first quality calves and high quality breeding female replacements. The breed is scoring heavily in producing cattle with the carcases, conformation, and weights required by the market place, but with less costs in terms of inputs. Putting less in and getting more out is profit for farmers.”
The sale saw 114 bulls sell in all, up by 14% on the previous year. Averages were also up by £397 to £6290 for the bulls sold. Three bulls made over 25,000gns with seventeen in all selling at five figures and over. After a cautious start to the sale, the Intermediate and Junior sections sold tremendously well with 34 junior bulls averaging £7422. The sale had a very healthy gross of £717,101.
Another remarkable bull sale debut at Carlisle saw a team of four bulls, all embryo calves, from the Foxhillfarm herd of Michael & Melanie Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon, make a gross of 75,500gns with prices of 38,000gns, 14,000, 12, 500gns and 11,000gns respectively, and the Overall Supreme Championship for good measure. Leading the way from this mightily impressive team was the day’s second top price of 38,000gns paid for the Reserve Junior Male Champion, Foxhillfarm Irishlad. By the 22,000gns Guards Boomer, a Rocky son, Irishlad is out of the 35,000gns Bankdale Elizabeth which was purchased by the Alfords in July 2011 at the Bankdale Dispersal Sale of Gordon Wilson. January 2013 born and with excellent performance figures, Foxhillfarm Irishlad was purchased jointly by the Goldies herd of BT Goldie, Townfoot Farm, Mouswald, Dumfries, along with the Tweeddale herd of Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Bowsden, Berwick upon Tweed.
The Junior Male Champion and Overall Supreme Champion from the Alfords was Foxhillfarm Impecabull who made 14,000gns when selling, again jointly, to the Elrick herd of Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, along with the Clury herd of Walter Cruikshank, Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey. Impecabull is a son of the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the 15,000gns Bankdale Alice. He is a full brother to the 38,000gns Bankdale Exfactor and the 35,000gns Bankdale Elizabeth. Again January 2013 born Foxhillfarm Impecabull arrived at Carlisle with a host of show titles behind him from events in the South West of England all the way up to Stirling’s Stars of the Future. Commenting, the judge Martin Irvine said: “The Champion bull had power and scale. He was so correct, had good feet and legs and was such a good mover. He’s full of breed character and was a very worthy Champion.” The purchasers, Michael Massie and Walter Cruikshank said that they bought the Champion bull, for their respective forty cow herds, due to his ‘power and style’.
The full brother to Foxhillfarm Impecabull was Foxhillfarm Inthegold who himself made 12,500gns. January 8th 2013 born this bull again combined the combination of pedigree and performance figures being sold with excellent figures for 200 & 400 day growth along with a Beef Value of LM+42. Purchasing the bull was ML Wilson, Balluskie Farm, Kildonan, Barrhill, Girvan, Ayrshire. Completing the quartet, and again with the combination of bloodlines through the sale team, was the January 2013 born Foxhillfarm Incredibull. The same way bred as the second top price, Incredibull is another embryo calf by Guards Boomer and out of Bankdale Elizabeth. Purchaser of this bull was the Breconside pedigree herd based at Breconside Farm, Moffat, Dumfriesshire.
It has been an amazing couple of years for the Alford family since establishing the Foxhillfarm herd in 2011 with purchases at the Bankdale Dispersal Sale. The sale at Carlisle follows hard on the heels of 2013 which saw the herd’s heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie win a multitude of show and interbreed titles at the summer ‘major’ shows. Presently based in Devon the Alfords have recently purchased a property in Carrutherstown, Scotland where they are looking to base their Limousin enterprise.
Achieving another top price and a Championship rosette at Carlisle was James McKay, Maghera, Co Derry who made 28,000gns when selling his much admired Reserve Intermediate Champion Ampertaine Hotshot. A first prize winner in the Intermediate section, this September 2012 born calf is one of the first bulls sold sired by the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin and is the first Elgin son sold by the herd out of a Sympa sired cow, Ampertaine Angelina. Purchasing the bull was Procters Farm, Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Nr Clitheroe for the Procters herd which comprises of 70 cows along with 30 recipients. Commenting, farm manager Gary Swindlehurst said: “this brings new bloodlines to the herd. The bull is out of a good, herd, a strong cow family and he has great width, a tremendous line, and had good calving figures.” The Ampertaine herd grossed 46,200gns for four bulls sold by three different sires. As well as the 28,000gns the herd achieved prices of 7500gns, 6500gns, and 4,200gns.
John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso made 18,000gns when selling his second prize winner Roxburgh Hoodoo. Full of breeding, this December 2012 born calf is another by the prolific Wilodge Vantastic and is the first bull sold bred from the 30,000gns Haltcliffe Emerald purchased as a pick of the heifer crop from Haltcliffe herd during the sale held at the 2011 National Open Day. Purchasing this bull was Peter Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie, Perth for his commercial enterprise of some 1,000 Limousin cross cows. Mr Alexander also purchased Ampertaine Hornby for 6500gns.
Ronald & David Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling sold their young February 2013 born bull, Ronick Inspire, for 13,500gns. Ronick Inspire is by the herd’s stock bull the 17,000gns Rathconville Eugene, a Rocky son, and is out of the Ronick Luke sired Ronick Ucinda. Rathconville Eugene is also the sire of Ronick Honey who the Dicks sold for 20,000gns at Red Ladies in 2013, the highest priced Limousin female sold in the year. Purchasing Ronick Inspire was the pedigree Coachhouse herd of Messrs Heald & Co, Home Farm, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
A bull with tremendous width and shape was Haltcliffe Hitec which made 13,000gns when selling for Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Cumbria. Haltcliffe Hitec is one of few calves in the BLCS herdbook sired by Volcano the noted show calf producer from Richardsons of Ghyll House. December 2012 born, this first prize bull is out of the Haltcliffe Vermount sired Haltcliffe Elle. Buying this bull was L&E Fowlie, Guise, Alford, Aberdeenshire. On the day the Haltcliffe herd sold five bulls to gross 38,200gns with further bulls selling for 10,000gns, 6000gns, 5200gns, and 4000gns respectively.
Selling at 10,000gns was Haltcliffe Ivan who was purchased for the Emslies herd by Harry Emslie, Kinockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Got by Ai, Haltcliffe Ivan is by the herd’s noted Sympa and is out of the French foundation female Romance which was described as ‘one of the best cows I’ve seen’ by Harry Emslie. Haltcliffe I van had stood as a third prize winner to the Overall Champion.
Christine Williams, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire made 12,000gns when selling the stylish first prize winner Wilodge HRH to Cornwall and the Trefrawl pedigree herd of PR&MA Hooper, Trefrawl Farm, Lanreath, Looe, Cornwall. November 2012 born and a first prize winner from class nine, Wilodge HRH is a three quarter brother to the prolific Wilodge Vantastic. He is sired by Hartlaw Excaliber, the 2011 National Show Male Champion, and is out of the herd’s note cow Ravanelle. Wilodge HRH was sold with a Beef Value of LM+41.
Also at the 12,000gns mark was Stephen Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie with Glenrock Ideal. Another first prize winner, from class fourteen, Glenrock Icon was sired by the 23,000gns Goldies Comet and is another son out of the herd’s prolific Glenrock Spangle. A full brother to Glenrock Illusion who won the Junior Championship at the 2013 Stars of the Future Show, Glenrock Ideal was purchased by commercial producers GH Walton & Sons, Greyside Farm, Newbrough, Hexham.
Garyvaughan Hidget, bred and sold by CV & EM Lewis & Sons, Buttington, Welshpool, Powys made 11,000gns when being purchased by Wm Reed & Sons, West Biggins Farm, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. November 2012 born Hidget is by the herd’s 35,000gns stock bull Plumtree Deus and is out of the Haltcliffe Bruce sired Garyvaughan Fidget. Also at 11,000gns was Fieldson Isaac from Michael Fieldson, Poplar Farm, Corringham, Lincolnshire. A bull with a big beef value of LM+51, this January 2013 calf is by Wilodge Tonka and is out of Fieldson Cinderella, a Goldies Uppercrust daughter. Another five figure bull to go commercially, Fieldson Isaac a second prize bull, was purchased by J&W Wilson, Kirkmabreck Farm, Creetown, Newton Stewart. Another Plumtree Deus son to hit the money was Paramor Icebreaker from G&E Conway, Omagh, Co, Tyrone who also made 11,000gns. A second prize bull in the junior section, Icebreaker was got by AI and is out of the Haltcliffe Underwriter daughter Craigatoke Adele. This bull was purchased by JW Dent & Sons who run the Naby herd at Naby View Farm, Lartington, Barnard Castle, County Durham.
From the second class of the day in the senior section the first prize winner Loosebeare Handsome from EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon made 10,000gns. July 2012 born, Handsome is by the Sympa son Aghadolgan Emperor and is out of the homebred Loosebeare Blossom. This bull, who won the best calf award in the South West region’s herd competition, was purchased for the 100 cow Brontemoor pedigree herd of JM&SM Priestley, Cracrop Farm, Brampton, Cumbria. Bought for his sheer power and correctness, the bull’s sire, Aghadolgan Emperor is out of the Brontemoor herds own breeding in the shape of Brontemoor Bobbydazzler. The Quicks later sold another Aghadolgan Emperor son, Loosebeare Handle for 6500gns to RW&K Telford, West Hot Bank, Hexham, Northumberland.
Late in the catalogue and the seventeenth bull to make five figures, A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow made 10,000gns when selling Allanfauld Invincible to WF&H Logan, Maxwelston Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire. This very correct young bull, January 2013 born, is an AI calf by Wilodge Fastrac and is out of Allanfauld Elizabeth, one of the herd’s top cows. Invincible is from the same family as Allanfauld Romeo who sold for 15,000gns.
For a video of the top five prices please see here
Other Leading Prices
- Lot 159 – Goldies Highlander, 9000gns to MA and JM Youdan, Poplar House, Barnby Dun, Doncaster
- Lot 198 – Tweeddale Hansel, 9000gns to P Cooper and Son, Govals, Kincaldrum, Forfar
- Lot 114 – Norman Harvest, 8500gns to WP Hughes and Sons, Fferam Uchaf, Llanddeusant, Holyhead
- Lot 180 – Gunnerfleet Harold, 8000gns to RR Hughes, Fron Isaf, Gaerwen
- Lot 163 – Ampertaine Hydro, 7500gns to F and MP Allinson and Son, West Briscoe, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle
- Lot 309 – Gunnerfleet Informer, 7500gns to RW and K Telford, Branton East Side, Powburn, Alnwick
- Lot 161 – Goldies Highlight, 7000gns to DA Laing, Honeyburn, Hawick
- Lot 144 – Loosebeare Handle, 6500gns to RW and K Telford, Branton East Side, Powburn, Alnwick
- Lot 184 – Longhirst Hero, FI and ME Little, Helm Croft, Barrows Green, Kendal
- Lot 186 – Ampertaine Hornby, 6500gns to P Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie
- Lot 102 – Newtown Freeman, 6000gns to TP Atkinson, Meadowview, Newland, Ulverston
- Lot 111 (Senior Champion) – Culnagechan Handsome, 6000gns to EJ MacArthur, Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn
- Lot 297 – Haltcliffe Israel, 6000gns to WE and EC Horn, Limetree Grove, Sebergham, Carlisle
Averages:
- 40 Senior Bulls £4526.80
- 40 Intermediate Bulls £7091.60
- 34 Junior Bulls £7422.50
- 114 Bulls £6290.36
Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington
