- Bull calves average £2870
- Heifer calves average £2423
- 4 calves make 5000gns or over
- 89% Clearance
James & Alison Callion, Shaneragh, Dromore, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland led the way at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Sale of Weaned Calves that followed on from the Red Ladies Derby at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 14th December 2012. In what was quite a day, James had earlier judged the Red Ladies Derby, before judging the two classes of weaned calves. Come the Weaned Calf Sale itself, he then made 9,000gns for his January 2012-born bull calf Melbreak Hero (which was, of course, not shown).
Melbreak Hero is an embryo calf by the 13,000gns French-bred sire Rossignol and is out of Sarkley Tarriane, who has previously bred heifers to 6,400gns, and is maternal sister to the 28,000gns Sarkley Arriana. Full of shape and muscle, this calf was purchased by W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House, Dufton, Appleby who themselves own Rossignol and are noted suckled calf producers.
From a fine run of calves, D&L Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling sold the January 2012-born heifer calf Burnbank Honey for 7,000gns. Burnbank Honey is by Carmorn Dauphin (Dauphin x Carmorn Penny) and is out of the Rocky daughter Burnbank Damson. This heifer calf sold to the Dutch livestock and genetics company, Cowporation, Alblasserdam, Ridderkerk, Holland who also purchased the previous lot Burnbank Harriot at 2,100gns. Burnbank Harriot is by the same sire and out of Burnbank Desire. These heifers were sold with a Beef Value of LM+31 and LM+33 respectively.
The Champion Weaned Bull Calf was Barrons Harness consigned by Mr W Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhope, Co Durham. On the previous evening this calf had also picked up the Young Handlers’ Calf Show Championship. Come sale time he went on to sell for 6,000gns to JS Adam’s Garraron Herd at Garraron Farm, Ardfern, By Lochgilphead, Argyll. By the herd’s 20,000gns stock bull, Ampertaine Commander, and out of the Sarkley Volvo-sired Barrons Barroness, the rising eleven-month-old calf was sold with a Beef Value of LM+29. This was the second Weaned Bull Calf Championship for Willie Barron who saw Barrons Fantastic – the first Commander son sold at the time – make 7,800gns back in 2010. The Barrons Herd numbers 27 breeding females and Harness was described by the judge as “a very well-muscled, growthy calf which will go on to breed quality stock.”
The Champion Heifer Calf, Kaprico Helen, was next best at 5,000gns. Commenting, the judge said she was “very well-grown for her age, square over the plates and a real eye-catcher in her class.” Consigned by AK & C Stafford, Sancroft Drive, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne & Wear, Kaprico Helen is by the 50,000gns sire Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the noted show cow, Kaprico Athena. With a Beef Value of LM+39, new owners are John Galbraith & Son, Upper Kinneil, Linlithgow, West Lothian.
J Lee & Sons, Agars Hill, Whitfield, Hexham, Northumberland then paid 3,800gns for Hafodlas Holly consigned by AH & GW Roberts, Hafod Las, Ysbyty Ifan, Betws-Y-Coed. Sired by the Bailea Spunkie son and Highland Show Champion, Hafodlas Domino, the February 2012-born heifer calf is out of the Saphir daughter, Hafodlas Volly.
Averages:
12 Bull Calves £2,870.00
20 Heifer Calves £2,422.88
