Grahams Lilly sells for 32,000gns, a 2016 maiden heifer record
- 21 animals sell for 5,000gns and more
- 37 Red Ladies average £5364, up by £1097 with 12 more sold
- 14 weaned bull calves average £3990, up by £1139
- 45 weaned heifer calves average £2330, up by £104
- 19 More weaned calves sold on the year
- Pabo MrMuscle sets new weaned calf sale record at 10,500gns
The final Limousin sale of 2016 ended on a record breaking high in what has been another strong year of bull and female sales for the breed. Held on Friday 9th December 2016 at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Annual Red Ladies Derby & Weaned Calf Sale saw a much anticipated catalogue live up to its billing with a quality show of cattle forward. Averages were up across the board with 37 Red Ladies selling to £5365 up by £1097 on the year. The pedigree weaned calves, born in the 2016 year, saw 59 sell in all, up by 19, with the bull calves averaging £3990, up by £1139. The top price weaned calf at 10,500gns set a new record mark for the sale of calves.
Leading the way at 32,000gns was the Supreme Champion from the pre-sale show in the shape of the maiden heifer Grahams Lilly from R&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Dairy Farm, Stirling. An embryo calf born in May 2015, Lilly is a full sister to the 40,000gns Grahams Lorenzo (the top price Limousin bull in the year) and the 16,500gns Grahams Lizzie who were both sold at the 2016 Sale of Champions following the National Limousin Show. Grahams Lilly is sired by Claragh Franco and is out of Grahams Coffee, who is a Millington Vascular daughter. In the pre-sale show Grahams Lilly had been awarded the Championship by the judge Miss Harriet Wilson, Whitecross Farm, Stafford, and of the of the noted Haughton herd. This outstanding heifer, and the highest priced maiden sold in the year, was purchased by the ever growing herd of elite females bought this year by W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House, Appleby, Cumbria for the family’s burgeoning Mystyle herd.
It was a terrific day for the fifty cow Grahams herd who sold seven animals in all for a mighty £75,600. Other top prices attained included Grahams Lobelia at 10,000gns, the weaned calf Grahams Murphy at 9000gns, and Grahams Lisette at 7000gns. Commenting, a delighted Robert Graham said; “It’s been a strong sale for the herd and a good follow on with similar breeding to the sale at the National Show in July. We are very much using the top end females in the herd for an embryo programme as the standard of the Limousin breed continues to rise year on year.” Earlier in the week Robert Graham, wearing his Grahams Family Dairy hat, had picked up the individual award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Industry’ at the 2016 Scottish Family Business Awards held in Glasgow.
Taking the second top price of 12,000gns was the first prize winner Dinmore Lunar from Paul Dawes, Dinmore Manor, Herefordshire. This October 2015 born heifer is the first calf from the homebred sire Dinmore Immense who was Male Champion at the Royal Welsh Show in 2015. Her dam Dinmore Eclipse, by Haltcliffe Vermount, is a maternal sister to the well- known sire Wilodge Cerberus. Purchasing this animal was Steven Wilson, The Butcher’s Shop, Corby Hill, Carlisle.
Grahams Lobelia made 10,000gns when selling to new buyer Iain Graham, Rose Castle Farm, Dalton, Carlisle. Again sired by Claragh Franco, this May 2016 born embryo calf is out of the imported dam Cavaliere, who is sired by Rammadan. Earlier in the sale Mr Graham had also purchased Bangtidy Jadore for 6000gns from Drew Hyslop, Boquhan Home Farm, Kippen, Stirling. This two-year-old heifer, a first prize in the opening class, is by Dinmore Goldcrest and is out of the 16,500gns Emslies Guerlain the top price at the Emslies Sassy Lassies Sale held in January 2014. In the weaned calf sale Ian Graham also purchased Burnbank Maggiemay for 9000gns from Dougie and Linda Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Stirling.
Taking the Reserve Overall Championship in the pre-sale show was Beachmount Lady from K&C Knox, Whitehill North, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland who sold for 9,100gns to Aileen Ritchie, Whitecairns, Aberdeenshire for her Ritchies herd. Beachmount Lady was born in February 2015 and is sired by Lowerffrydd Empire and out of the Wilodge Vantastic sired dam Beachmount Favorite. Presently based in Co Fermanagh the Beachmount herd is imminently moving to Kelso, Roxburghshire. From there Clive Knox said that the plan was to establish a pedigree enterprise and increase the herd size from its present ten cows. Beachmount Lady, who was also the first prize winner in the second class, was brought to the sale as ‘something really good to help promote the Beachmount herd’. At last year’s Red Ladies Aileen Ritchie had purchased both the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champions for 24,000gns and 8,000gns respectively.
At 8500gns was the August 2015 born embryo calf Harestone Ladylike from Neil Barclay, South Road, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Sired by the 32,000gns Millgate Fame this heifer is out of Glenrock Impulse who is a full sister to the world record breaking 125,000gns Glenrock Illusion. Purchasing Harestone Ladylike was Paul Cairns for his Plumtree herd at Hall Farm, Tollerton, Notts.
Two animals made 7000gns. The first of these was the August 2014 born Romford Jess from the Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston, Berwickshire. An embryo calf Romford Jess is by Plumtree Fantastic and is out of the Rocky daughter Ampertaine Ecstasy which was purchased privately from James McKay as a foundation female for the herd. Purchasing this heifer was MA Harryman for his Hotshot herd at Swainsea Barn Farm, Pickering, North Yorkshire.
Also at the 7000gns mark was another from R&J Graham in the shape of Grahams Lisette. Yet again by Claragh Franco this young heifer is out of Cavaliere the herd’s top French cow and the mother of the 17,000gns Grahams Gayla. A first prize winner at the 2016 Stars of the Future the November 2015 born Grahams Lissette was purchased by RF Turner for his Bassingbourn herd at Fordham, Ely, Cambs.
The youngest animal in the Red Ladies catalogue, Lomond Lexie from Andrew Orr, Lomondmuir Farm, Kinross, made 6500gns when selling to Southern Ireland and MD Davis, Castlebrock, Co. Longford. December 2015 born Lomond Lexie is by Ampertaine Elgin and out of the Attila daughter Lodge Femme.
Averages:
37 (+12) Red Ladies £5364.93 (+ £1097)
PABO MRMUSCLE SELLS FOR A WEANED CALF SALE RECORD OF 10,500GNS
- Pabo Mrmuscle sets new weaned calf sale record at 10,500gns
- 14 weaned bull calves average £3990, up by £1139
- 45 weaned heifer calves average £2330, up by £104
- 19 More weaned calves sold on the year
Following hard on the heels of the Red Ladies Sale at Carlisle on Friday 9th December was the British Limousin Cattle Society’s sale of Weaned Calves held for animals born in the 2016 year. The strong trade in the Red Ladies continued into the calves with a record top price and averages and numbers sold well up on the 2015 year.
Setting off to a terrific start the first bull calf in the ring Pabo MrMuscle from WP Hughes & Son, Llanbabo, Rhosgoch, Anglesey made 10,500gns when selling to Gary Bell, Hass Side Farm, Lockerbie for his Haassidefarm herd. Sired by the popular AI sire Lodge Hamlet and out of the Jockey sired dam Derosa Visa, MrMuscle was judged to be Best Homebred Bull Calf born 2016 in the North West Midlands and North Wales herd competition this year. This January 2016 born calf had also recently stood on the Society’s promotional stand at the Welsh Winter Fair where he had captured much attention.
In all, 59 weaned calves both bulls and heifers sold at the sale which was nineteen more than in 2015. The bull calves averaged £3990, up by £1139 on the year, whilst the forty five heifer calves averaged £2330, up by £104.
Iain Graham, Rose Castle Farm, Dalton, Carlisle, who had purchased in the Red Ladies sale, was back in action to buy Burnbank Maggiemay from D & L Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blairdrummond, Stirling for 9,000gns. A January 2016 born heifer, Maggiemay is sired by Elite Foreverbrill and is out of the dam Burnbank Crystal, sired by Grahams Tycoon. Prolific sellers at this fixture the Burnbank herd had previously topped the Weaned Calf Sale in 2014.
Continuing his fine run from the Red Ladies Sale, R&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse Dairy Farm, Stirling made 9000gns for Grahams Murphy when selling him for 9,000gns to DA Thomson, Thropton, Morpeth, Northumberland. Another sired by the AI sire Claragh Franco, this March 2016 born bull calf is out of another imported French dam Cousine, who is sired by Toutastis. Grahams Murphy had previously been shown at the 2016 Stars of the Future Calf Show, Stirling where he gained first and Reserve Junior Champion.
Two fine young embryo heifer calves, Procters Mermaid and Procters Mayfly from Procters Farm Ltd, Slaidburn, Nr Clitheroe, Lancashire made 8500gns and 8000gns respectively. Both heifers were snapped up by Messrs DG Green & Sons for their Derriaghy pedigree herd at Lisburn, Co. Antrim. The same way bred both heifers are by Haltcliffe Gentry and out of the Objat daughter Glenrock Diamante who was purchased for 15,000gns at the 2014 Glenrock Herd Sale.
Back in the bull calves, and another prolific seller at this fixture, Willie Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhope, Co Durham made 7500gns when selling Barrons Max. This January 2016 born calf is another by Lodge Hamlet and is out of the Haltcliffe Doctor sired Barrons Icequeen. This calf, with the noted Jacot on both sides of his breeding, was purchased for his Brenig pedigree herd by Glyn Howatson, Ty Newydd, Nantglyn, Denbigh.
Averages:
14 bull calves £3990 (+ £1139)
45 heifer calves £2330 (+ £104)
To view the video from the sale, please click here
