A 7,500gns top price headed the British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ Sale of Females held on Friday 17th October on the evening prior to the Limousin Bull Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Overall, the sale grossed £152,460 for 75 head.

This was for a cow and calf outfit sold on behalf of Paul Brown, Loughgilly, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland who was dispersing his Rathconville prefix here. At 4,000gns was the 2005-born fifth calver, Ballinahinch Alexandria, which was bred by Mr S Cullen, Newtown, Co Wicklow, Republic of Ireland being by the Ideal 23 son, Ardnacrusha Philip, and out of Sevensprings Margo when going under the hammer to Andrew Ewing, Dumbretton Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. With proven breeding behind her, Alexandria is the dam of the 17,000gns Rathconville Eugene whose first daughter, Ronick Honey, stood Supreme Champion at the 2013 Red Ladies Derby later selling for 20,000gns. Her heifer calf, Rathconville Jugenie, made 3,500gns. Sired by Rocky, the January-born Jugenie was purchased by GJ Kent, Croft View, Withersdale Road, Mendham, Harleston, Norfolk for the Mendham herd.

Ballinahinch Alexandria
Ballinahinch Alexandria

Two other cow and calf units from Paul Brown realised combined bids of 4,300gns and 3,200gns respectively. Tithewer Barbie bred by P Cooke, Newtown Mount Kennedy, Co Wicklow made 1,700gns when knocked down to PB Fox & Son, Dunnington Grange Farm, Elvington Lane, Dunnington, York, being a 2006-born daughter of Tithewer Ute and out of the Nenuphar-sired Tithewer Valerie. She was sold back in-calf to either Hartlaw Excaliber or Guards Boomer. At 2,600gns was her January-born heifer calf Rathconville Jasmine, sired by Hartlaw Excaliber, when snapped up by RG Bartle, 2 The Cottage, Upper Dinmore, Herefordshire.

Next was Tithewer Usherette from the same home, a rising twelve-year-old cow by Ardnacrusha Philip and out of Ballybeg Patricia, who made 1,500gns to purchaser N McNally, 9 Ladysteps, Scotby, Carlisle, Cumbria, being sold AI’d to Guards Boomer. At 1,700gns          was her October 2013-born heifer calf Rathconville Indigo (by Rocky) who again heads to Andrew Ewing.

Heading the Millbrow offering on behalf of George & Pat Long, Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside was a 4,800gns mother-and-daughter pairing in the shape of Millbrow Crystal (2,500gns) and Millbrow Indira (2,300gns). I Wilson, Low Flan Farm, Ulverston, Cumbria forked out 2,500gns for Millbrow Crystal who is a 2007-born daughter of Ardnacruha Uthman and out of Millbrow Lynx. S Littlewood, Hollingreave House Farm, Raygate, Newmill, Huddersfield then paid 2,300gns for Millbrow Indira, a December 2013-born Wilodge Cerberus daughter.

T Allen & Co, Thornfield Farm, Slattocks, Middleton next paid 4,100gns for Millbrow Beth, sired by Ionesco and out of Millbrow Magic (by Ferry), who sold in-calf to Millburn Foxhall. At foot was her heifer calf, Millbrow Jan, by Wilodge Fastrac.

Two lots then made 4,000gns apiece. S Edmond, Saveock Manor, Kerley, Chancewater, Truro, Cornwall bought the thirteen-year-old cow Hazelhead Sheila, a Ferry daughter and out of Hazelhead Georgina, bred by JJ Harrison, Kirkland, Wigton, when back in-calf to Millburn Foxhall. Making up the third life was her Wilodge Fastrac-sired bull calf at foot, the December 2013-born Millbrow Iceman. Also at 4,000gns was Millbrow Abbie, by Scorboro Regius and out of Millbrow Laura, who sold in-calf to the Longs’ Millburn herd sire. Also heading to J & A Crerar, Brackley Farm, Dalmally, Argyll was her April-born bull calf Millbrow Jupiter, by the Irish-bred sire Millburn Foxhall.

Best of the Griseburn consignment for Andrew & Helen Horn, Lower Griseburn, Great Asby, Appleby was the 2,200gns  Griseburn Houri, a January 2012 served heifer by the AI sire Carmorn Copilot and out of Griseburn Tori (by Ballinloan Rascal). She was sold to R Purdham, 2 Croftfoot Cottage, Gosforth, Seascale, Cumbria having run with the homebred bull Griseburn Formidable. The same purchaser also took home Griseburn Gemstone, by Rocky and out of Griseburn Atalique for 2,000gns having run with Griseburn Hero.

The sole animal forward from the Season Herd on behalf of Messrs Seagrave & Stevenson, Checkerleazes Farm, West Auckland, Co Durham took a final bid of 2,100gns from A Ritchie, Tamara, Burnside, Whitecairns, Aberdeen. This was for the 2011-born Season Grace (Cloughhead Umpire x Ironstone Delilah) who went under the hammer having been AI’d to Plumtree Deus.

Alan Myerscough, Seaview, Pennington, Ulverston sold all three of his 2012-born served heifers at the 2,000gns mark. TM Thompson, Howick Seahouses Farm, Howick, Alnwick snapped up the first of these in the form of Tallyrock Hart, by the Nenuphar son Tallyrock Edwin, and out of Tallyrock Dawn, when PD’d in-calf to Ampertaine Escort. TH Robson & Son, Stony Flat Farm, Bishopton, Stockton-on-Tees purchased the other two females who were sold in-calf to the same stock sire, in the shape of Tallyrock Hilda (Crossdykes Bobby x Tallyrock Tammy) and Tallyrock Hester (Ampertaine Escort x Tallyrock Ace).

Averages:

Rathconville Herd

18 Cows served and/or suckling   £2,461.66

13 Heifers served or unserved      £1,655.77

1 Embryo calf                              £2625.00

Millbrow Herd

6 Cows served and/or suckling     £3,885.00

3 Maiden heifers                          £2,100.00

Griseburn Herd

 7 Served heifers                         £1,965.00

14 Maiden heifers                        £1,372.50

Tallyrock Herd

3 Served heifers                          £2,100.00

Season Herd

1 Served heifer                            £2,205.00

Hawthorne Herd

9 Cows served and/or suckling     £1,435.00

Auctioneer: H&H