Limousin bull Garyvaughan Ginola has been sold for £32,000 by breeders CV & EM Lewis, Garth Vaughan, Cyfronydd, Welshpool, Powys to the newly-established farming partnership of Nick Layton, Park Gate Farm, Lyonshall, Hereford together with Dai Walters, The Hollies, Rudry Road, Lisvane, Cardiff.
Garyvaughan Ginola is the first son to be sold by the Lewis’ stock bull, Plumtree Deus, who was purchased at Carlisle in February 2010 for 35,000gns when standing Reserve Senior Champion. Bred by Paul Cairns, Hall Farm, Tollerton, Notts, Plumtree Deus is by the prolific Cloughhead Umpire and is out of the Sympa daughter, Bankdale Amber. He has proven to be very easy calving with his excellent temperament, locomotion and conformation passed down to his progeny. His semen has been extensively marketed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland through the online website semenstore.co.uk.
The April 2011-born Limousin bull Garyvaughan Ginola is out of the Rocky daughter, Sarkley Dominica, and was initially spotted by Mr Layton at this year’s Royal Welsh Show where he stood third in a very strong young bull class behind his stable mate and first prize-winner Garyvaughan Gordon – also by Plumtree Deus. His performance figures combine growth and ease of calving with a Beef Value of LM+24 and a Calving Value of CV+1.
This bull joins a number of high-profile females purchased by Messrs Layton & Walters at the recent Miscombe, Dinmore, Goldies & Wilodge Limousin Breeders’ Sales respectively with the stated aim of building up a 100-head pedigree Limousin herd based at Usk in Monmouthshire. Commenting, Nick Layton said: “When I saw Ginola at the Welsh, I was really struck by his extreme muscling, particularly in his hindquarters, great width and tremendous top. He is very well-balanced and the way Plumtree Deus has consistently stamped his mark on all his progeny is really impressive.”
It is anticipated that Garyvaughan Ginola will first go to an AI centre for semen collection before going out with cows later in the year.
Colin & Elaine Lewis, together with sons Graham and Terry, established the Garyvaughan Herd in 2001 which currently numbers approximately 140 breeding females. They won the Extra Large Herd award in the 2011 NW Midlands & N Wales Limousin Club Herd Competition having been placed Reserve Overall the previous year, and have won the Best Youngstock category in both of the last two years. In September, the family will be taking on an additional farm tenancy of 382 acres nine miles away at Buttington New Hall, which will increase the acreage farmed to 705.
The £32,000 price tag eclipses the Lewis’ previous highest sale price to date of 7,500gns for Garyvaughan Ernie who sold to commercial producer James Alexander, Randalstown, N Ireland at Carlisle in October 2010 when standing Reserve Senior Champion. Says Colin: “As breeders, we are delighted that Ginola is joining such a progressive new venture in the role of herd sire. That his semen is to be available in due course in the UK and potentially abroad, is also great news for the profile of the Garyvaughan Herd.”
