There was a strong commercial demand for Limousin bulls at Melton Mowbray on Saturday 15th April, with breeders from all across England showcasing their stock. 11 bulls sold to a clearance rate of 79%, an increase of 6% from last year and averaged £4,524.55, up by a cracking £764.55 on the year.
Pre-sale show judge Gareth Lee commented on the days trade. “Limousin Breeders throughout the country dedicate their time & effort to turning out cattle of the highest standard and all the vendors at today’s sale are to be congratulated on the quality of the cattle put forward. There was a good crowd and great atmosphere around the pre-sale show ring which created a real buzz around the market leading into the sale”.
“There were bulls to suit all systems forward, this is a good start to the spring sales season and I hope it sets the trend for the forthcoming fixtures next month. It is clear from today’s sale that the demand for Limousin genetics from both pedigree and commercial buyers remains strong”.
Alice Swift, CEO of the British Limousin Society commented “I was delighted to see the spring sales off to such a positive start with a ring packed with buyers and supporters. Top prices were achieved for the quality of bulls forward and the females were sought after. It’s so important we offer a Society sale in the Midlands and the team at Melton did a fabulous job ensuring the sale was a success”.
The top selling lot of the day at 6,500gns was Coxfield Steak, who was bred and exhibited by H G Sharman and Son, Colmworth, Bedfordshire. This 24-month-old bull, who stood second in his class at the presale show, is by Gascoines Oneofakind, who was purchased by the Sharman family in 2019 and has been breeding well with 50 sons and daughters bred into the herd so far. His dam is the Northamptonshire bred Burcotewood Nightingale, who goes back to Burcotewood Jericho. A double F94L myostatin carrier, he has a beef value of LM24 and goes on to work with SJ Kent, Thorpe Satchville, Leicestershire.
The days supreme and male champion Brockhurst Shallow from WJ and M Mash, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was next in the trade stakes, being knocked down a 5,700gns to James Verdon, Kings Pyon, Herefordshire. This May 2021-born bull has a beef value of LM25 and is a double F94L myostatin carrier. He is bred out of Brockhurst Nanette, a daughter of Newroddige Jetset, he is sired by the French-bred Osiris.
Selling for 4,600gns was the yellow ticket winner and 18 month-old Stain Samson. With a beef value of LM40, placing him in the top 15% of the breed, he is sired by the prolific AI bull Mereside Lorenzo and out of the Kaprico Eravelle daughter Stain Maggie. He was offered for sale by TJ Denby and Son, Alford, Lincolnshire, and was purchased by J Witcomb, Hose, Leicestershire.
Next in the trade stakes at 4,400gns was Calverton Sportsman, who had been tapped out second in his class, to the aforementioned supreme champion. An entry from Mrs Judith Fountaine, Beachampton, Buckinghamshire, Sportsman is a June 2021-born son of the herd sire Gascoines Ozzyosbourne and the homebred Calverton Maria, who goes back to the 18,000gns Carlisle junior champion Dinmore Goldcrest. With a beef value of LM32 and a myostatin status of F94L/F94L, he caught the eye of FS Knight, Oundle, Cambridgeshire.
Celebrating a great sale were the aforementioned WJ and M Mash, who not only secured the supreme champion title but were also awarded the reserve male championship for their April-2021 born bull Brockhurst Scout. Snapped up at 4,300gns by WRB Farming, Ringstead, Northamptonshire. Scout is a double F94L myostatin carrier with a beef value of LM26, who is sired by Newroddige Jetset and bred out of Brockhurst Galaxy, a Brockhurst Columbus daughter.
Knocked down at 4,000gns to LA Ellis and PL Gottschalk, Waltham Abbey, Essex, was the final bull offered for sale from WJ and M Mash. Brockhurst Salty, one of the youngest bulls of the sale at just 16 months old. Burndale Orlando is the sire here, while is dam is the Brockhurst Layla, a daughter of the French-bred Neuf. Another double F94L bull, he has a beef value of LM31.
Cow and calves were in popular demand with all of the pairs offered for sale finding new homes and averaging £2,709. Heading up the section at 3,000gns was an outfit from Ian Brown, Fleet, Lincolnshire. The second calving and January born Lowgate Poppy was the cow, sired by the French-bred Bolide and bred out of Lowgate Marnie, who goes back to the 14,000gns Sportsmans Ferguson. She was sold with her two-month old heifer calf at foot and Meadowrig Rafael-sired Lowgae Una and the pair was purchased by J Holland, Newball, Lincolnshire.
Heifers were also in ready demand averaging £2,195.90, with 30 of the 32 on offer being sold. Topping the lots was the reserve supreme and female champion Brockhurst Riddle, another entry from WJ and M Mash, who went on to complete the championship set when another of their heifers was tapped out as the reserve female champion. Riddle was knocked down at 6,000gns and caught the eye of Mary Cormack, Leominster, Herefordshire, to join her Rougemont pedigree Limousin herd. Sired by the 7,000gns Dinmore Meatloaf, she is out of Brockhurst Halloween, a Brockhurst Ecuador daughter. The presale show judge Gareth Lee commented “I was particularly pleased to see the female champion sell for 6,000gns and to have found a good home in the recently established Rougemont Herd. She is a big powerful heifer full of character and I look forward to seeing what she produces in the future”.
Averages
11 Bulls £4,524.55
5 Cow & Calves £2,709.00
30 Heifers £2,195.90
-ends-
