• Top Price 52,000gns
• Sale Average £9,178
• 22 bulls sell over 10,000gns
• Clearance 71%
The demand for Limousin cattle continued its march at the breed annual Carlisle sale on Friday 5th May. Responding to strong trade for the breed in commercial rings up and down the country, the day saw a top of 52,000gns with an all-sale average of an incredible £9178. 22 bulls sold to pedigree and commercial homes at prices over 10,000gns, and clearance for 80 bulls sold was 71%.
Commenting on the sale, Alice Swift, the British Limousin Society CEO said “There was an upbeat atmosphere at Carlisle amongst breeders and buyers that translated into a flying trade for bulls ready to work. It’s reassuring to see confidence return to the beef industry and I firmly believe Limousin is commercially the most viable breed in Britain today. Nearly a third of bulls sold make five figures, confirming a demand for genetics that deliver growth and efficiency”.
It was Northern Ireland’s day with the Intermediate and Overall Champion in the pre-sale show Lot 174 Craigatoke Seanog coming from Mr MJ Conway, Co Tyrone, taking the sale’s top price at 52,000gns. An October 21-born calf with Myostatin F94L/NT821, Seanog is by Foxhillfarm Ourbest out of cow Craigatoke Nicola, a daughter of homebred Craigatoke Johnny. He is the exciting new stock bull for Messrs H Wood of the Deerhouse herd, Dutton, Preston.
No stranger to many, judge at the pre-sale show on the previous day was Arwel Owen, Foel, Welshpool. Of his Champion, Mr Owen said “The Champion was an animal which I really fell in love with, with great conformation and length. With two good bulls in the same class placing so close together it was a difficult choice, but he just had that little something extra.
Arwel continued “I would like to thank the Society for inviting me to judge the show, I was very impressed with the overall standard of bulls which were presented amazing well, especially the intermediates and juniors”.
From Northern Ireland, we went to Wales for the second top price of the day. This was the work of Dylan and Elen Davies with their Lot 208 Blaencwm Sam, who was tapped down at 32,000gns to Garrowby Farms, Bugthorpe, York. A December 21-born calf out of Pabo Nickiminaj and by Derrygullinanane Kingbull, he has Myostatin of NT821/NT821 and Growth traits in the Top 10% of the breed.
No lucky charms were needed for the Senior Champion Lot 144 Ampertaine Superstition from WJ and J McKay, Maghera, Northern Ireland, who sold for 27,000gns. He is by own-bred Ampertaine Opportunity out of a Plumtree Fantastic-bred daughter – a dam line that has produced to 16,000gns previously – with Myostatin F94L/Q204X and a Beef Value in the Top 10% of the breed. His new home is with Messrs Neale of the Nealford herd, Launceston, Cornwall.
In a great day’s trading for Garrowby Farms, Bugthorpe, York, Lot 202 Garrowby Shipley sold for 22,000gns to Messrs TW Bell and Son of the Wanthwaite herd near Keswick. Shipley is by the well-known Derrgullinane Kingbull and bred out of the herd’s Gunnerfleet Peloche, a Foxhillfarm Manhattan daughter. He has Myostatin F94L/NT821 and Carcase Weight in the Top 1% of the breed.
Next through the ring was Lot 121 Maraiscote Sooty, from J Nimmo, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. August 21-born with Myostatin F94L/Q204X, he is bred by Irish bull Ernevalley Nigel out of a cow bred by the herd’s well-known Virginia Andy. Sooty was swept up by Messrs Lewis of the Einon herd, Llanbydder for 18,000gns.
At 15,000gns was Lot 198 Goldies Salvador from Mr BT Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries, purchased by Mr JA Ewing, Fairywater herd, Annan, Dumfries. With Gestation Length, Carcase Weight and maternal fertility traits in the Top 10% and Myostatin of F94L/Q204X, this is a November 21-born calf by Ampertaine Opportunity and out of Goldies Joyeuse, an Ampertaine Foreman daughter.
Also at 15,000gns was the day’s Junior Champion Lot 231 Thorninghurst Truegent from Mr S Gilleard, Thorne, Doncaster. A January 22-born bull, Truegent has Myostatin F94L/NT821 and Muscle Depth in the Top 10% of the breed. He is by Glenrock Nemo, an Ampertaine Gigolo/Glenrock Spangle son out of a Homebyres Moricity, a Westpit Highlander daughter and headed north to Mr A Kennedy, Seggarsdean, Haddington.
Lot 128 Elderberry Shakespeare from Messrs E Blenkhorn and Son, Goole, East Yorkshire, brought a wealth of French breeding to the sale. By the herd’s imported stock sire Jac out of a home-bred cow going back to French lines on both sides, Shakespeare has Myostatin F94L/F94L. He sold for 14,000gns and headed to the home of Messrs C and K Malone, Cardenden, Fife.
Also at 14,000gns was Lot 193 Tomschoice Samba, from Messrs JM & SP Cooper, Dacre, North Yorkshire. With Myostatin F94L/F94L and Beef Value and Gestation Length in the Top 10% he is by the herd’s stock bull Goldies Nicholas out of Mereside Leo-bred Tomschoice Polka. He sold to the Malthouse herd of Mr DWL Roberts, Lisvane, Cardiff.
In a run of animals at 14,000, next came Lot 216 Goldies Santa from the aforementioned Mr BT Goldies, Mouswald, Dumfries; a first prize bull who headed home to Lockerbie with Messrs Ewart and Son, Dalton. Santa is by home bred bull Goldies Positive and is out of Wilodge LJ daughter, Goldies Olive, who has previously sold a daughter to 11,000gns. He has Myostatin F94L/F94L and a Beef Value in the Top 1% of the breed.
The final lot at 14,000gns was the first prize bull, Lot 225 Haltcliffe Topgun from Mr C Ridley, Wigton, Cumbria. By the herd’s stock sire Westpit Omaha out of Haltcliffe Orchid, an Ampertaine Foreman daughter, Topgun has Myostatin F94L/NT821 and a Beef Value in the Top 1% of the breed. He jetted off to the Redesdale herd of Mr JE Carruthers, Rochester, Newcastle upon Tyne.
From Messrs Jenkinson, Whinfellpark, Penrith, came Lot 130 Whinfellpark Sebastien. A September 21-born calf by the noted sire Foxhillfarm Jasper out of a Whinfellpark Lomu-bred daughter, Sebastien has a Beef Value in the Top 10% of the breed, Myostatin F94L/F94L and was placed first in his class at the pre-sale show. He was bought for 13,000gns and headed to the Lethendry herd of Mr J McConachie & Son, Grantown on Spey, Moray.
Lot 168 Glenrock Scorpionking from Messrs S and T Illingworth was next to sell, at 12,000gns this time. Out of Goldies Oxo, a full brother to the 30,000gns bulls Goldies Olympia and Owain, and a Rathconville Eugene cow Glenrock Jacaranda, this October 21-born bull sold to Mr JC Johnson of the Almande herd, Trimdon Station, Co Durham. He has Myostatin F94L/Q204X and Beef Value and Growth traits in the Top 1% of the breed.
To follow up his herd mate sold earlier was Lot 226 Maraiscote Tiktok from J Nimmo, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. By the successful herd sire Bassingfield Machoman and out of a Goldies Comet daughter, Maraiscote Hazel, this January 22-born bull has Myostatin of F94L/Q204X and Growth traits and a Beef Value in the Top 1% of the breed. He was sold for 12,000gns to the Duncrahill herd of Messrs Cadzow & Co Ltd, Tranent, East Lothian.
The third bull under the hammer at 12,000gns was Lot 245 Glenrock Tigerroll. Placed first in his class in the pre-sale show, the breeding this time was sire Glenrock Humdinger, a Sympa/Glenrock Spangle son out of Irish cow Hurricane Kayla. He has Myostatin F94L/NT821 and a Beef Value and Growth traits in the Top 1% of the breed. He headed home to the Lamplugh herd of Messrs D and MA Wilson, Workington, Cumbria.
Selling for Mr J Watson, Bowsden, Berwick upon Tweed, was Lot 157 Tweeddale Starburst. An October 21-born bull, he is by the herd’s Irish sire Gallaway Kemp out of a home-bred Goldies Fandango daughter. With Myostatin F94L/Q204X, Beef Value and Carcase Weight in the Top 10% and Age to Slaughter in the Top 1%, he was purchased by Messrs Sawyer & Son, Goodmanham, York for 11,500gns.
Lot 181 Glenrock Slimshady rounded off a successful day for Messrs S and T Illingworth selling at 11,000gns. A further Goldies Oxo son, out of Glenrock Nostalgic, a Lodge Hamlet daughter, Slimshady has Myostatin F94L/F94L and Beef Value in the Top 1%. He sold to the Twemlows herd of Messrs WL and JA Forrester, Whitchurch, Shropshire.
The first prize Lot 257 Haltcliffe Tequila from Mr C Ridley, Wigton, was next to hit the headlines selling at 10,500gns. Staying local he sold to Messrs Batty Ltd, Maryport, Cumbria. By Ironstone Brandy and out of the 39,000gns Grahams Natalie, a Claragh Franco/Grahams Coffee daughter, this February 22-born bull has Myostatin F94L/Q204X and Beef Value and Growth traits in the Top 1% of the breed.
The Reserve Senior Champion from the pre-sale show came in the form of Lot 138 Garrowby Solomon from Garrowby Farms, Bugthorpe, York. He sold for 10,000gns and heads home to the Burnbank herd of Messrs D and L Graham, Blairdrummond, Stirling. By Ampertaine Foreman and out of Gunnerfleet Locks, a full sister to Gunnerfleet Lion, he was a further Top 10% Beef Value bull with Myostatin NT821/Q204X.
In a run of bulls at 10,000gns Lot 119 Brenmick Supreme from Mr RM Jones, Conway sold to the Coxfield herd of Messrs HG Sharman & Son. Placed first in his class at the pre-sale show, Supreme is by Loosebeare Fantastic out of the renowned cow Brenmick Anna. He has Myostatin of F94L/NT821 and a range of calving EBVs in the Top 25% of the breed.
He was immediately followed by Lot 120 Loosebeare Saka, from EW Quick and Sons, Devon, also selling for 10,000gns. An August 21-born bull by the herd’s stock bull Ampertaine Jeronimo and out of an Aghadolgan Emperor-bred cow, he was a further animal with Calving traits in the Top 25% of the breed and Myostatin F94L/Q204X. Saka headed to a new home in County Durham with Messrs Simpson & Sons, Quebec.
To complete the run at 10,000gns was Lot 163 Lomond Sergio from Mr A Orr, Kinross. This October 21-born bull is by Ampertaine Magnum out of Lomondside Lush, an Ampertaine Elgin daughter who has sold sons to 15,000gns. He has Myostatin F94L/Q204X and Gestation Length in the Top 1% of the breed and headed to the home of Messrs Johnson, Shap, Penrith.
Other leading prices:
Lot 123: Loosebeare Surrey – 9,500gns
Lot 145: Haltcliffe Stefan – 9,000gns
Lot 155: Haltcliffe Stone – 9,000gns
Lot 244: Glenrock Tigerking – 9,000gns
Lot 260: Tomlinson Topspice – 9,000gns
Lot 111: Norman Spanish – 8,500gns
Lot 142: Rossellie Sofar – 8,500gns
Lot 112: Brontemoor Smithie – 8,000gns
Lot 151: Garrowby Soulja – 8,000gns
Lot 178: Spittalton Sherlock – 8,000gns
Lot 214: Newhouse Silver – 8,000gns
Sale Averages:
38 Senior Bulls £8,274.27
26 Intermediate Bulls £11,069.42
16 Junior Bulls £8,255.62
80 Bulls Overall £9,178.97
