32,000GNS MILLGATE BULL LEADS CARLISLE LIMOUSIN SALE

• Top price goes to commercial buyers
• Record junior average £8,205
• 50% of bulls sold between 3 – 5000gns
• Joint N Irish record set at 32,000gns
• 94 bulls average £5,929
• Sale grosses £557,340
• 13 bulls over five figures
• 71% clearance rate

The British Limousin Cattle Society’s Autumn Show & Sale of Bulls held at Carlisle on Saturday 15th October 2011 was led by the 32,000gns Millgate Fame consigned by Mr Michael Loughran, Mill Road, Dungate, Dunamore, Cookstown, Northern Ireland. This May 2010 born first prize-winning bull was purchased jointly by well-known commercial buyers and suckled calf producers A & MJ Trafford, Bassenthwaite Hall Farm,Keswick,Cumbria together with Mr A Booth, Hardwick Hall Farm, Aston,Sheffield. Thought to be a record price for a Limousin bull sold commercially, Millgate Fame will first head to Cogent for semen collection and then to Mr Booth’s herd numbering approximately 15 pedigree and 20 commercial cows and finally on to the commercial suckler herd of Messrs Trafford in the Spring. Tony Booth commented: “This bull stood out for me at the pre-sale show on the Friday. The decision to purchase jointly was made with Philip Trafford in the collecting ring prior to the sale as we both thought the bull had outstanding width and muscling.”

The 32,000gns price tag equalled the Northern Irish record for a Limousin bull sold at auction set in May at Carlisle by James McKay for Ampertaine Elgin. This continued a prolific run of bulls over the last three years from the clearly delighted Loughran team of Michael Senior, son Michael and daughter Christina who run the 45 cow Millgate prefix at Dungate, Dunamore, Co Tyrone, eclipsing their previous best of 30,000gns for Millgate Clinker set at Perth in October 2008. Other notable prices to date have been achieved at the May 2010 Carlisle sale with Millgate Derry (20,000gns) and Supreme Champion Millgate Caesar (18,000gns) at Carlisle in February 2009.

At the end of the day’s trading, 94 bulls sold in all to record a very strong average of £5,929.  Four bulls made 20,000gns or more, with 13 in total at 10,000gns and over.  The clearance rate for bulls was 71% of the 133 offered for sale and a record junior average was set at a massive £8,205 for 21 head.  Combined with the female sale on the Friday evening, the overall sale gross totalled £716,856. Commenting, Iain Kerr, BLCS Chief Executive said: “To have a 71% clearance rate with an average close on £6,000 is very good at an October sale and continues to demonstrate the commercial confidence in the Limousin breed.”

Millgate Fame is sired by the imported French bull, Condor, bred by Gaec Couzelas-Marin and represents his first offspring offered for sale, having only been used on a handful of females to date. A heifer’s calf, he is out of the Irish-bred dam, Kilcurry Cailin, who was purchased privately from Mary Healy, Kilcurry, Co Longford and features both Rocky and Mas Du Clo in the back pedigree. With a Beef Value of LM+38 and a Muscle Depth of +6.4, Millgate Fame had previously stood Reserve Junior Champion at the 2011 Balmoral Show and All-Ireland Bull Derby Champion 2011.

The Whinfellpark Herd of Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor Farm,Clifton,Penrith,Cumbria purchased the next leading price at 30,000gns in the shape of Maraiscote Floyd, brought out by the pre-sale judge Mr Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, Lanark. A much-anticipated bull, Floyd won the Overall Championship at this year’s Royal Highland Show and is a son of the 23,000gns Goldies Comet (by Wilodge Vantastic) who was purchased jointly for the Maraiscote and Calla herds for 23,000gns (Carlisle February 2009) when standing Reserve Champion. Maraiscote Floyd is out of the Tyddyn Mei-sired dam, Maraiscote Chanel, and sports a Beef Value of LM+48. Just a few lots earlier, Mr Nimmo had sold Maraiscote Fergus at the 11,000gns mark to the Clury prefix of WF Cruikshank & Sons, Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown on Spey, Morayshire. May 2010 born, Fergus is sired by Virginia Andy and out of another Tydden Mei daughter, Maraiscote Unice, when carrying a Beef Value of LM+25.

Going under the hammer for 22,000gns was Larkhill Firmount brought out by Brian McAuley, Larkhill Farm, Seven Mile Straight, Antrim when knocked down to Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket-New-Market, Wigton, Cumbria. Sired by the 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount, the March 2010 born Larkhill Firmount is a heifer’s calf out of Larkhill Countess, full sister to Carmorn Copilot, being by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Carmorn Penny. He now heads with a Beef Value of LM+30 to the noted Haltcliffe Herd.

Purchasing a half share in another bull at 22,000gns were Mr J Watson, Bowsden Moor, Bowsden, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Mr S Littlewood, Hollingreave House Farm, Ray Gate, Newmill, Huddersfield for their Tweeddale and Hollingreave Herds respectively. This was for the Junior and Overall Champion, Goldies Fandango, from Mr BT Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries. An embryo calf by the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic, Fandango is out of “our best breeding cow” Goldies Beauty, according to Bruce Goldie. Goldies Beauty is sired by Nenuphar and is a daughter of Emue, whose embryos were imported post-FMD when the Goldies were re-stocking, and who has bred 3 bulls over 16,000gns to date (Goldies Terence, Goldies Uppercrust & Goldies Tony). Coincidentally, 20 years ago at the corresponding sale, another Goldie bull (also called Fandango) sold for 7,600gns to the Lumbylaw Herd.

Commenting on his Champion, judge Ian Nimmo said: “He oozed class and style, moved very well, had length and tremendous carcase characteristics. My Champion was very much a breeder’s bull, being very modern and correct.”

Earlier in the sale the 70-cow Goldies Herd had sold the red ticket-winning Goldies Fireball for 10,000gns to the noted commercial men R & M Scott,Thirlwall Castle, Greenhead,Carlisle,Cumbria. May 2010 born, Fireball is by the 24,000gns Ampertaine Bravo (Champion Carlisle November 2007 when purchased jointly with the Marlepark prefix), and is out of the Goldies Oswald daughter, Goldies Uvette, half sister to Deerstalker & Spooks, Scottish Winter Fair and Smithfield Champion respectively. He carries a Beef Value of LM+39.

At 13,500gns was Pabo Francis from WP Hughes & Son, Fferam Uchaf, Llanddeusant, Holyhed. An AI son of the prolific Sympa, he is out of Lowbarn Benelopa and had stood second in his class in Friday’s show. He heads with a Beef Value of LM+35 to Gaich Farms, Lower Gaich Farm, Grantown on Spey, Morayshire for their Gaich prefix.

The Reserve Senior Champion, Whinfellpark Flamboyant, was next best at 12,000gns for Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor Farm,Clifton, Penrith. February 2010 born, Flamboyant is by the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Regal daughter, Whinfellpark Betty, and was sold with a Beef Value of LM+320 to Mr R Stevenson, Nunfield Farm, Cumwhitton, Carlisle, Cumbria.

Senior Champion Rathconville Flynn made the same money when heading to the pedigree and commercial herds of Mr & Mrs PA Kermode, Orrisdale Farm, Ballasalla, Isle of Man. For Paul Brown, Rathconville Road, Loughgilly, CoArmagh, this outstripped his previous best for a Guards Boomer son (the 10,000gns Rathconville Equator sold Carlisle February 2011). It has been quite a year for Mr Brown’s 60-cow pedigree herd which has included the 17,000gns Rathconville Eugene (Carlisle Feb 2011) and the 8,000gns Rathconville Esquire (Dungannon Feb 2011 and a N Irish Limousin bull record to boot). Rathconville Flynn is March 2003 born and is a heifer’s calf out of Tithewer Cadelaria bred by Pat Cooke, Co Wicklow,Southern Ireland.

Going under the hammer for 10,500gns was Anside Foreman from Mr S Irvine, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, Banffshire. A first prizewinner here, the April 2010 born Anside Foreman had stood Reserve Male Champion at this year’s Highland. Sired by Frewstown Breakdance and out of one of the “most influential breeding cows at Anside” namely Anside Stella, he carried a Beef Value of LM+40 when snapped up by Mr G Wilson, Reddings, Moffat, Dumfriesshire.

In all, three bulls reached 10,000gns. The first of these was Loosebeare Frosty, who had stood first in class three, on behalf of Messrs EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. An AI son of Dinmore Bandit, a Wilodge Tonka son, he is out of the Rainbow Simon daughter, the heifer Loosebeare Crimrose. Loosebeare Frosty had been shown this summer with some success gaining the Male Championship at Royal Cornwall, Champion at Okehampton and Junior Interbreed Champion Mid Devon Show. A Beef Value of LM+27 helped secure a final bid from T & J Leslie, Quoymorhouse, Shapinsay, Orkney.

Garnedd Fantastic from KI, E & HI Jones, Bryn Ddraenen, Padog, Betws Y Coed made 10,000gns when selling to Mr P Hunt, Ashford Hall Farm, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, Derbyshire. By the stock bull Attirant, who won Best Stock Bull in the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition, Garnedd Fantastic was one of his first sons offered for sale. He is out of the homebred dam, Garnedd Beti, a Broomfield Regentcey daughter.

The final bull at five figures was the 10,000gns Millington Ferrari when purchased for the Newhouse Herd of RM Adam & Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Forfar, Angus. An embryo calf by Objat and out of Brockhurst Option, the Ronick McAinsi daughter, he carries a Beef Value of LM+49. He was consigned by Millington Grange Estate,Millington,York.

Other leading prices:

Garnedd Frank                      9,000gns to GJ Wynne & Co, Hendre Glan Alwen, Llanfihangel, Corwen

Gritstone Firecracker           8,000gns to J Sloan & Sons, Little Creoch, Cumnock, Ayrshire

Norman Fred                         7,500gns to ES & JM Graham, Allenshields, Blanchland, Consett

Culnagechan Fivestar          7,000gns to N & L Hill, Decoy Pool Farm, Nyland, Cheddar, Somerset

Beulah Ferrari                       7,000gns to Mr J Alexander, Randalstown, Co.Antrim

                                               & Allison Bros, Seacoast Road, Limavady, Co.Londonderry (Half Share)

Homebyres Fisher                6,800gns to Firm of John Leslie, Odinstone, Shapinsay, Orkney

Pyebrook Explosive              6,500gns to E Flett Plant Hire, Hurtiso Holm, Kirkwell, Orkney

Saunders Faustino               6,500gns to T Common, Low Ardley, Hexham, Northumberland

Haltcliffe Flyer                        6,500gns to JA Wood & Sons, Kinnerton Farm, Ratlinghope,Shrewsbury

Brenmick Fantastic               6,200gns to W McGill, Carsloe, Maybole, Ayrshire

Glenrock Firefly                     6,200gns to JG & SC Jones, Heol Feinog, Pontshan, Llandysul, Dyfed

Averages:

40 Senior bulls                      £5737.31

33 Intermediate bulls            £4728.18

21 Junior bulls                       £8205.00

Overall 94 bulls                      £5929.15

To view the Video of the show and sale CLICK HERE

Auctioneers:  Harrison & Hetherington