93% clearance rate
Top price 15,000gns
52 bulls averaged £6,689 (+£940 on 2022)
On the 6th February 2023 the first British Limousin Cattle Society sale of the year took place at United Auctions, Stirling, smashing the previous year’s records with 52 bulls achieving an average of £6,689 (+£940 on 2022). A 93% clearance rate demonstrates a strong demand for Limousin from both Pedigree and Commercial buyers.
Alice Swift, British Limousin CEO commented “There was a super atmosphere at the sale, and it was great to see the market packed with breeders and buyers. The result was a strong trade which is extremely encouraging and fills me with a sense of optimism for the future. The wonderful thing about Limousin, is the cattle speak for themselves, and the sale result was testament to that”.
Overall Male Champion and Senior Male Champion for the day was Lot 342 Elrick Shogun who sold for 15,000gns, presented by Mr M J Massie, Mains of Elrick, Ellon. Born April 2021, at 21 months Shogun has a Beef Value of LM50 which is in the top 10% of the breed. He is sired by the herds stock bull Whinfellpark Nobu, who was purchased in Carlisle February 2019 sale for 7,000gns. Shogun is out of the homebred cow Elrick Olga. Shogun went home with A C Fotheringham, Ballinloan, Perthshire. Mr M J Massie went on to sell a further two bulls achieving an average of £10,850 for the day.
Judge for the day was Llyr Hughes of the Pabo Pedigree Limousin herd who commented “The outstanding quality of stock presented made the task of judging a wonderful challenge. All bulls were turned out to a very high standard with great style, shape, and presence. Overall Male Champion for the day was extremely square and correct with a great topline. The Junior Male Champion will be one to watch for the future.”
Reserve Intermediate Champion was Lot 350 Anside Samson who sold for 14,000gns, brought forward by Mr and Mrs S Irvine, Braehead Farm, Keith. Samson who was born April 2021 has a Beef Value of LM33. He is sired by the homebred bull Anside Oden and out of the homebred cow Anside Odelia, who goes back to Goldies Fortress. At 21 months old Samson heads North to reside with M Meldrum, Shenval, Banffshire.
At 22 months of age Lot 329 Dyke Saltire sold for 12,500gns to A and R Paton, Easter Greenhill, Falkirk. Saltire who was presented for sale by Messrs J R MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Glasgow has double F94L myostatin and an impressive Beef Value of LM53, which is in the top 1% of the breed. Born March 2021, he is sired by the herds stock bull Goldies Lordoftherings, which the herd purchased in Stirling February 2017 for 12,000gns and out of the homebred cow Dyke Jolly. Messrs J R MacGregor sold a further five bulls achieving an average of £7,315 on the day.
Junior Male Champion and selling for 12,000gns was Lot 393 Spittalton Scapa from Mr J Burnett, Upper Spittalton Farm, Stirling. Mr J Burnett sold a further three bulls achieving an average of £7,455 for the day. Scapa at 18months old, born July 2021, has a Beef Value of LM36. He is sired by the herds stock bull Barrons Oj, which the herd bought in Carlisle May 2019 for 9,000gns. Scapa is out of the homebred cow Spittalton Nurse, who goes back to Burnbank Judge. He has a short journey home with William Thomson and Son, Hilton of Beath, Fife.
Lot 371 Westhall Superman flew out of the ring on a final bid of 10,000gns from purchasers D Baillie of the Calla Pedigree herd, Calla Farm, Lanark. Born May 2021, at 20 months old Superman displays double F94L myostatin and a Beef Value of LM39, which is in the top 25% of the breed. He is sired by Newhouse Overfinlarg and out of the homebred cow Westhall Lecca. He was the first of two bulls presented for sale by M Fotheringham and H McNee, Over Finlarg Farm, Dundee who achieved an average of £9,975 for the day.
Next up from M Fotheringham and H McNee was Lot 372 Westhall Superstar, who sold for 9,000gns. Born May 2021, this 20-month-old bull boasts double F94L myostatin and a Beef Value of LM46, which places him in the top 10% of the breed. He is sired by Newhouse Overfinlarg and out of the homebred cow Westhall Lorna. Superstar dazzled Huntlyhill Farms who took him home to Huntlyhill Mains, Lanark.
Following closely on was Lot 379 Dyke Skywalker presented for sale by Messrs J R MacGregor of the Dyke herd. After a lightsaber battle the final bid landed on 8,500gns from R and M Struthers of the Collielaw herd, Collielaw Farm, Lanarkshire. Born June 2021, at 19 months of age Skywalker has double F94L myostatin and a Beef Value of LM44, which is in the top 10% of the breed. He is sired by Goldies Lordoftherings and out of the homebred cow Dyke Damsel.
Second into the ring for Mr M J Massie of the Elrick herd was Lot 336 Elrick Samson, who was the first of four bulls to sell for 8,000gns that day. He is sired by 30,000gns Goldies Olympia and out of the homebred cow Elrick Nepal. Samson has a Beef Value of LM43, which places him in the top 10% of the breed. Born April 2021, at 22months of age he goes home to M J Agnew, Little Airies, Stranraer.
Also selling for 8,000gns was Lot 337 Elrick Saxon from Mr M J Massie of the Elrick herd. Born April 2021, at 22 months old Saxon has a Beef Value of LM29. He is sired by Mereside Lorenzo and out of the homebred cow Elrick Isla, who goes back to Wilodge Fastrac. Placing second in class two, he was snapped up by Firm of Peter Alexander of the Glenericht herd, Mains of Mause, Perthshire.
Placing first in class three was Lot 352 Ronick Sirlancelot from Mr R Dick, Mains of Throsk Farm, Stirling. In a quest to find Sirlancelot a new home, the final bid landed on 8,000gns from Firm of Doldy Farm, Eastmill Farm, Perthsire. Born April 2021, at 21months of age Sirlancelot has a Beef Value of LM41, which is in the top 10% of the breed. He is sired by the herds stock bull Wilodge Granville, which the herd purchased in Carlisle October 2012 for 7,000gns. He is out of the homebred cow Ronick Jadore who goes back to Ronick Fantastic. Mr R Dick sold a further three bulls on the day achieving an average of £6,825.
Lot 373 Corsairtly Supra from Mr R and K Davidson, Corsairtly Farm, Keith, sold for 8,000gns. Placing first in class five, he is sired by the herds stock bull Deerpark Pluto, which they bought in Carlisle May 2020 for 10,400gns and out of the homebred cow Corsairtly Porscha, who goes back to Ronick Inspector. Born May 2021, at 20months of age Supra has double F94L myostatin and a Beef Value of LM32. Supra who was also Reserve Champion at Nairn Show 2022 was driven home by J Kerr, Bankhead, Fife.
Further top prices were as follows:
Lot 334 Lodge Slalom sold for 7,500gns presented by W and A Callion, Bolfornought Farm, Stirling, and purchased by A & M Robertson, Ballycurrie Farm, Isle of Bute.
Lot 374 Corsairtly Sam sold for 7,200gns presented by R and K Davidson, Corsairtly Farm, Keith, and purchased by the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Inverness.
Lot 322 Burnbank Sydney sold for 7,000gns presented by Messrs D and L Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Stirling, and purchased by D S Star and Sons, South Ballo, Perthshire.
Lot 354 Maraiscote Suburu sold for 7,000gns presented by Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, and purchased by Hartside Farms, Hartside, Lanarkshire.
Lot 355 Maraiscote Samson sold for 7,000gns presented by Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, and purchased by the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Inverness.
Lot 363 Maraiscote Shaan sold for 7,000gns presented by Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, and purchased by J M Fraser, Easter Clune of Lethen, Nairn.
Written by Jen Tyson
Issued by The British Limousin Cattle Society Ltd
Auctioneers – United Auctions, Stirling
