Glyn & Nia Vaughan’s Dolcorsllwyn Fabio sets new Limousin World Record
Limousin trade on fire and smashes UK all-breeds record sale average with 131 bulls selling to average £8,243
- UK & European record £126,000 for a bovine animal
- UK all-breeds and centre record average of £8,243 (up by over £2,000)
- Sale average up on the year by £3,214 (+ 62%) for 18 more bulls sold
- Northern Irish record for a Limousin bull of £39,900
- UK all-breeds record average of £10,084 for Junior Section Bulls
- 25 bulls make 10,000gns or more
- UK & European record of £31,500 for a Black Limousin bull
- 92% clearance rate of bulls
- Sale grosses over £1 Million
- International sales to USA & Holland
In a sensational day’s trading, the Limousin bull, Dolcorsllwyn Fabio, bred by Machynlleth, Powys-based Glyn & Nia Vaughan, smashed the breed world record price for a Limousin bull, and also the UK & European bovine record, when selling for 120,000gns (£126,000) at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s February Bull Sale held at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart on Saturday 18th February.
The world record price rounded off the best pedigree sale ever held in the United Kingdom which saw 131 bulls sell to an average of £8242.67, itself a UK all-breeds record average, and up by over a remarkable £2,000 on the previous figure. Twenty-five bulls in all sold at 10,000gns or more, mainly to commercial purchasers, and in front of one of the largest crowds seen at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart.
The UK & European bovine record, and world Limousin record, had previously been the 100,000gns (£105,000) paid for another Limousin bull, Haltcliffe Vermount, in February 2006.
The new record holder Dolcorsllwyn Fabio is a son of the noted UK Limousin sire Fieldson Alfy, himself a 37,000gns bull, and is out of homebred dam Dolcorsllwyn Awen, a daughter of the French sire Mas Du Clo. On the Friday, the September 2010 born Dolcorsllwyn Fabio had stood as both Junior and Overall Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show, the herd’s first Supreme Championship, judged by Gary Swindlehurst, Farm Manager of the noted Procters Farms, Slaidburn, Lancashire.
The three days of inspections, pre-sale showing, and the sale day morning itself, had seen tremendous crowds attend – heightening the sense that something special was about to unfold when the sale bell finally rang at 10am. Right from the off the tone was set with the third bull in the ring, Plumtree Farley, making 13,000gns and high prices being attained with regularity thereafter. By the time the Champion arrived to be sold, an incredible atmosphere had been generated by the momentum of the sale. Racing through the gears with H&H auctioneer James Little to the new world record mark, Dolcorsllwyn Fabio was finally knocked down for 120,000gns to the Whinfellpark pedigree herd of Allan Jenkinson, Clifton Moor Farm, Penrith. Commenting on their record purchase Nick Scholefield, the Estate Manager at Whinfellpark said: “We saw this bull for the first time over the course of the show and sale. He is a bull with tremendous width, shape and conformation with excellent breeding behind him that is unrelated to the present herd. It’s a big price to pay but it is an investment in the future of Whinfellpark Limousins. The herd is run as a business and we are willing to spend the money for the right cattle to take the herd to the next level. For us, Fabio is another ‘marquee’ bull of the breed and similar in that respect to Wilodge Cerberus.” No stranger to the big prices, Mr Jenkinson’s previous top purchase is the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus. From their 150 calving female herd, established in 2002, Whinfellpark have sold females to 14,000gns and bulls to 12,000gns to date.
The immediate plans for Dolcorsllwyn Fabio are that he will go straight into isolation and thereafter, pending all his tests, semen will be collected for world-wide use.
It was a memorable and emotional day for Glyn Vaughan and his wife Nia with Glyn claiming that the whole day and achievement had yet to truly sink in. Speaking at the end of the sale, he said: “It has been an unbelievable day and one that will live long in the memory. There’s always been something a bit special about Fabio. As a calf he had great shape and width and he has just continued to go on. He’s very docile and has been great to work with. I’m sorry to see him go really but obviously delighted he has made such a price. Considering that it only took 3 minutes from when he arrived in the ring to being knocked down I didn’t have much time to think about it initially and it still hasn’t really sunk in,” he said. Arriving at Carlisle with a little bit of a track record, Dolcorsllwyn Fabio had won the 2011 Overall Best Homebred Bull Award in the North West Midlands & North Wales Limousin Herd Competition.
Almost four years ago to the day, Glyn set the Welsh Limousin record when selling Dolcorsllwyn Brynmor for 32,000gns, and this was another record now consigned to the history books. On both occasions Glyn was accompanied by his wife Nia and he light-heartedly added, “’Nia was also with me four years ago when I broke the Welsh record, so I may take her to more sales. One or two other cattle breeders have asked if they can hire her for a day! You have no real expectation of such a sale price when you are in the position of being Champion at Carlisle. I am very proud to have achieved this UK, European & Welsh record mark in what is such a great breed of cattle, with an already distinguished history, and that continues to go from strength to strength,” he said. The Dolcorsllwyn herd comprises of 60 breeding females and was established 20 years ago.
The judge Gary Swindlehurst commented on Fabio immediately after giving him the Championship and said: “This bull is so well-balanced, has a great top and tremendous width. He is very square and has natural muscling carried right down his leg. He has a sweet, small head, is balanced through the middle and is a very naturally-fleshed bull. Again, he’s a very good example of a modern Limousin bull and a worthy Champion here.”
As well as the world record price, the trade throughout the sale ensured that there were records broken across the board and this depth was picked up by British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) Chief Executive Iain Kerr who said: “This has been the best pedigree sale ever seen in the United Kingdom. The world record price is a fantastic achievement and the heartiest congratulations are due to the Vaughans from all at the BLCS. Sitting right alongside that is I think 131 bulls selling to average an incredible £8240, up by over £2000 on the previous UK all-breeds record. These Limousin sales are coming through from the commercial trade for Limousin-bred cattle and producers are willing to pay the money to secure the bulls of their choice. Limousin is all about profitability with a capital P,” he said. “They are calving right, doing right, and the shape is right. They are fitting the market for the producers, butchers, processors and retailers and it is profit that drives the ongoing demand. The breeders must take massive credit for the sustained sales of both pedigree Limousin bulls and females.”
Going under the hammer for 38,000gns was Ampertaine Foreman, the Reserve Junior & Reserve Overall Champion consigned by the prolific 120-strong breeding female herd of James McKay, Kilrea Road, Upperlands, Maghera, Co Derry, N Ireland. This was a new Northern Ireland (all-breeds) record eclipsing the 32,000gns paid for another bull bred by Mr McKay, Ampertaine Elgin in May 2011 and equalled by Millgate Fame in October 2011. Sired by the aforementioned Wilodge Cerberus, the August 2008 born Foreman is out of the Sympa-sired Ampertaine Bathsheba – a full sister to the dam of Ampertaine Commander (Supreme Champion at Carlisle May 2009, 20,000gns). Purchaser was Mr J Rafferty for his Raffertys Herd at Scaffog Avenue, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh who runs 40 pedigree cows having established his herd in 2004. Commenting, Joe Rafferty said: “I saw the bull as a calf on farm and as well as being out of one of the best female families, he has figures to match (LM+40)and won Best Young Bull in the 2011 Northern Ireland Herd Competition.”
Second in his class to the Overall Champion was the September 2010 born Ampertaine Fieldmarshall also from James McKay. This junior bull sold for 14,000gns to GT & S Coghill, Muce Farm, Birsay, Orkney who run the Hekra pedigree herd. This bull is by the 29,000gns Ampertaine Abracadabra and is out of the Cloughhead Lord daughter Kype Tiffany. An earlier Ampertaine bull also by Abracadabra sold for 5,500gns rounding off a good day for the herd.
In recent weeks both a Limousin bull and Limousin semen have been sold back to France, and on the Friday evening at Carlisle seven females were sold to breeders from Holland in attendance. This export theme was continued when the May 2010 born Emslies Frenchman, from Harry Emslie, Emslies Livestock, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aberdeen sold for 37,000gns by a telephone bid to John Downs and Jerry Turner of the Southern Cattle Company, Florida, USA.
Frenchman, a bull with size, shape and power is a son of the 42,000gns bull Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the noted French cow Ubonie, bred in the Camus-Huberson herd. Emslies Frenchman will now return to his home in Aberdeenshire before heading to a UK bull stud to have semen collected. Under current USA animal health laws the bull cannot be exported to the States, but if the situation changes he may head there at a later date. In November 2011 Jerry Turner purchased semen from five UK Limousin bulls through the e-commerce Semenstore.co.uk. This connection has seen him continually monitor the British Limousin Herdbook and websites as he looks to introduce some of the UK’s top Limousin genetics into the United States.
Two bulls, both Scottish bred, then traded at 30,000gns. The first to make this money was the best priced black Limousin bull of the day, and a new UK & European record mark for a Black Limousin, Goldies Black Forever from Dumfriesshire breeder Bruce Goldie. May 2010 born, Goldies Black Forever was purchased jointly between John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso and Robert Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, Stirling for the Roxburgh and Grahams prefixes respectively. Destined initially for semen collection, this homozygous polled and homozygous black bull combines excellent figures (Beef Value LM+43) together with “length, power, great hindquarters and very good locomotion,” according to Robert Graham. This red-ticket-winning bull is an AI son of the US-bred Edwards Sirloin and is out of Goldies Bimbo whose breeding combines Slvl Beef on the sire side with the noted Slvl Dutchess Olivia on the dam line. The 30,000gns price is the highest Limousin price at auction achieved so far by the Goldies herd.
The Goldies herd was back in the money when Goldies First sold for 15,000gns to the Pinkerton herd of Mr J.T Gilchrist, West Meikle, Pinkerton, Dunbar. Goldies First is by the prolific 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the Sarkley Ragtime-sired Goldies Vitality. June 2010 born, Goldies First is a full brother to the 23,000gns Goldies Comet. He was sold with a Beef Value of LM+43.
The other bull to make the 30,000gns price was the much admired Anside Flint from Aberdeenshire breeder Stephen Irvine and Family, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, By Keith, Banffs. Sired by the 11,000gns Frewstown Breakdance, he is out of Anside Veronica, a Fleethill Talisman son and was snapped up by David & Maggie Kelly for their noted Netherhall Herd at Nether Hall, Mansergh, Cumbria. Anside Flint was shown throughout 2011 winning prizes at the Royal Highland, Royal Welsh and Limousin National Shows respectively. His full brother Anside Elias sold for 11,000gns at Carlisle in February 2011. The 30,000gns top price eclipsed the herd’s previous high of 16,000gns paid for Anside Diageo (another Breakdance son).
John Oakes, Stone Trough Farm, Holly Lane, Harriseahead, Stoke on Trent, made a herd high 16,000gns when selling Millstone Festin to the Fleethill Herd of MJ Gray & Son, Fleethill, Great Cellws, Crossgate, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Second in his class, this June 2010 born bull is another son of Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the Neuf-sired Millstone Brittany. With strong figures, Millstone Festin sold with a Beef Value of LM+39.
Again out of the strong Junior section, A & J Gammie, Drumforber, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire made 15,500gns of their August born calf Westpit Fendt. This bull is by the French sire Vagabond, whose progeny have previously sold up to 27,000gns, and is out of the Tanin-sired Greenwell Delight. Sporting a Beef Value of LM+45, Westpit Fendt was purchased by RA Patterson & Son, Whitehouse, Capheaton, Newcastle on Tyne.
The first prize winner in class 5 was Rachels Ferrari who went on to sell for 15,000gns for vendor D & MLP Woolhouse. April 2010 born, Ferrari is by the AI sire Mas Du Clo and is out of Rachels Tulip who is also the dam of their homebred herd sire, Rachels Dynamite. The Rachels Herd was established in 1977 and currently numbers 40 pedigree cows. Purchasers were Messrs Heald & Co, Home Farm, Retford, Notts who bought him on the basis of his breeding combined with his excellent hindquarters. The Healds run 130 pedigree cows having established their Coachhouse prefix in 1998 and plan to use their new bull from April-May. A few lots later, Messrs Heald sold Coachhouse Frontline, who had stood second in his class behind the Reserve Intermediate Champion, for 12,000gns to GH Walton & Sons, Greyside Farm, Fourstones, Hexham. Frontline is the first son offered for sale by Overthwaite Crackerjack, purchased jointly with the Bailea Herd at Carlisle in February 2009 for 16,000gns, and is out of Coachhouse Tinsel who bred their herd sire Coachhouse Amos as well as Coachhouse Delectable, sold to the Haltcliffe Herd for 6,500gns at Carlisle in October 2009.
Early in the sale at 14,000gns was Plumtree Filbert from Paul Cairns, Hall Farm, Tollerton, Notts. March 2010 born, Filbert is by the 42,000gns Cloughhead Umpire and is out of the noted Bankdale Amber who has previously been the dam of Plumtree bulls sold for £40,000 (privately) and 35,000gns (Plumtree Deus, a full brother) respectively. The purchaser of Plumtree Filbert was J Hunter & Sons, The Steel Farm, Bellingham, Hexham, Northumberland. Getting the sale off to a flying start, the third bull in the ring, the January 2010 born Plumtree Farley, also from Paul Cairns, made 13,000gns when selling locally to W & R Lawson, Stubbsgill Farm, Distington, Workington, Cumbria. Sired by Wilodge Vantastic, Farley is also out of Bankdale Amber and is the full brother to the £40,000 Plumtree Fantastic.
The senior bulls sold strongly throughout and the show’s Reserve Senior Champion, Wilodge Firefly, made 14,000gns for breeders Miss C Williams T/A DA Williams, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shrops. An April 2010 bull, Firefly is an embryo calf by Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Marron-sired Quaish Sunny. Wilodge Firefly is a full brother to Wilodge Funky who, in 2011, was Reserve Overall Junior Heifer Champion at both the Royal Welsh Show and the National Limousin Show. Purchasing the Reserve Senior was JJ Kingan, Laneside Farm, Troqueer, Dumfries who runs the Laneside pedigree herd.
Other Leading Prices:
Lot 104 Plumtree Farley 13,000gns P Cairns to W&R Lawson
Lot 165 Culnagechan Fantastic Intermediate Reserve Champion 13,000gns D Hume to DR & RL Burns
Lot 227 Homebyres Felboy 13,000gns Messrs J Logan to James Tennant Ltd
Lot 242 Hightown Fernando 12,500gns JW Smith Jackson to Messrs Allison & Sons
Lot 301 Carmorn Firstclass 12,000gns F McAuley to D Roberts
Lot 164 Coachhouse Frontline 12,000gns Messrs Heald & Co to GH Walton & Sons
Lot 249 Gunnerfleet Felix 11,500gns J&I Handley to GH Walton & Sons
Lot 229 Frewstown Forbootylicious 11,500gns D Frew to KD & DE Millar & Ptnrs
Lot 117 Culnagechan Fieldmarshallmontgomery Senior Champion 11,000gns D Hume to James Lewis
Lot 270 Loosebeare Filip 11,000gns EW Quick to Firm of J Shennan & Sons
Lot 154 Bailea Flint Intermediate Champion 10,000gns MT Jones to Messrs Fleming
Lot 155 Norman Fungus 10,000gns ES & E Norman to AS & LD Adam
Lot 276 Beulah Fivestar 10,000gns MJ & JM Price to WM Reed & Sons
Averages:
29 Senior Bulls £ 6,615.00 (plus £2,352.34)
54 Intermediate Bulls £ 7,543.88 (plus £2,398.88)
48 Junior Bulls £10,084.38 (plus £4,637.50)
131 Bulls £ 8,242.67 (plus £3,215.87)
Auctioneers: (Harrison and Hetherington).
Galleries :
Please click on the following to view additional photographs
- Formal posed shots of top priced animals
- Informal shots from the Sale Ring
- Informal shots from the Pre-Sale Show held on Friday 17th February
Video footage : a selection of short video clips are now available:-
