ILC 2004 Elite Sale

16th International Limousin Congress 2004

Pedigree Sale held at Carlisle
Friday 6th August 2004

A top price of 35,000 gns and seven five figure prices, including a sale to a French-based semen company, were achieved at a post-dinner Elite sale of pedigree Limousin cattle at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on the evening of Friday, 6th August 2004.

The sale was staged as part of the International Limousin Congress, hosted by the British Limousin Cattle Society (August 1st – 13th).

The cattle offered had all fulfilled high performance and health criteria and were physically appraised by an experienced British Limousin Cattle Society panel.

Hundreds of International Limousin Cattle Congress delegates and U.K. enthusiasts filled the sale marquee which had been especially erected for the sale. It was festooned with the flags of the many nations represented

The cattle were presented to the diners in a sale ring within the marquee.

Grahams Unbeatable – 35,000gns

The three top priced bulls came from Robert and Jean Graham’s “Graham’s” herd at Bridge of Allan, Stirling. The sale topper was Graham’s Unbeatable, sired by Graham’s Poncho, a maternal half brother to the world record priced bull – Graham’s Samson. The dam is Habitude, one of the top cows in the Graham’s herd.

Unbeatable was bought for 35,000 gns by David and Anne Wheeler of the 15 cow Rosecroft herd at Kentisbeare, Cullompton, Devon. The Wheelers plan to put Unbeatable into the Cogent Semen Collection Centre for collection for the overseas market. As soon as the hammer fell the Wheelers were approached by Australian and South African breeders hoping to buy semen.

Grahams Ultra – 22,000gns.

The second highest price of 22,000 gns was Graham’s Ultra, another son of Graham’s Poncho. Ultra had won the Reserve Junior Bull Championship at this year’s Royal Highland Show.

The buyers were Messrs Allison and Sons of the Scordale herd at Skirling, Biggar, Lanarkshire.

Grahams Poncho – 20,000gns.

The sire of the two top priced bulls – Graham’s Poncho, was the first animal into the sale ring. He sold the for the night’s third top price of 20,000 gns. This bull headed for England’s south west peninsula – to the Nealford herd of Jack Neale and Son of Boyton, Launceston, Cornwall.

Wilodge Topgun – 17,000gns.

Wilodge Topgun from Christine Williams of Shifnal, Shropshire clocked up the evening’s fourth top price of 17,000 gns. This son of Malibu and out of Wilodge Ramona was bought by Allan Jenkinson of the Whinfellpark herd at Penrith, Cumbria.

Rahoney Uz – 14,000gns

Hopes of an international transaction were fulfilled when Jean-Luc Kress of the French based semen company, KBS Genetics joined forces with the owner of one of the biggest pedigree Limousin herds in Southern Ireland – Dan Tynan of the Ardlea herd. This partnership paid 14,000 gns for Rahoney Uz from Ulster-based H & D McFarland, Trillick, Co. Down.

A son of Limo Pedro out of Rahoney Linda. Uz has a Beef Value of 32, putting him in the top one per cent of the breed. It is hoped that regulations will soon allow this bull to be exported across the Irish Border into Eire.

Cockleshell Tiffany – 13,000gns.

The top female price of 13,000 gns was achieved by Cockleshell Tiffany, a 20 month old heifer from Peter Pitcher, Friskney, Boston, Lincolnshire. Mr. Pitcher, the immediate past Limousin Society breed President, had been an initial importer when the Limousin breed first arrived in Britain in December 1970, making his “Cockleshell” herd one of the oldest in the British Herd Book.

Tiffany, sired by Greensons Gigolo and out of Cockleshell Pippa, has two Royal Show Female Champions in her dam line. The buyer was Mrs. P.M. Varley of the Queenshead herd at Queensbury, Bradford, Yorkshire, who is re-building her herd after Foot and Mouth.

Wilodge Navette – 11,500gns.

The seven year old cow – Wilodge Navette from Christine Williams of Shifnal, Shropshire topped the cow trade at 11,500 gns. Sired by Broadmeadows Cannon and out of Uplands Bobette, Navette is in calf to the 30,000 gns Wilodge Tonka. She was bought by Andrew Ewing of the Fairywater herd at Annan, Dumfries.

An additional five figure transaction saw a unique silver plated Border Fine Arts Limousin Family Group limited edition figurine, donated by Border fine Arts, sell for 13,000 gns. It was bought by Keith Sherrell of Portbury, Bristol.

The sale was watched live by cattlemen throughout the world via the Internet. This facility was provided by NewlineASP of Devon.

Leading Prices:

Border Fine Art Model
13,000gns K Sherrell, Oakham Farm, Portbury Lane, Portbury, Bristol.

Averages
2 cows – £7,875.00
2 open flush cows – £3,675.00
2 served heifers – £8,662.50
5 maiden heifers – £6,762.00
1 proven bull – £21,000.00
8 young bulls – £14,700.00

Auctioneers:- Harrison & Hetherington Limited.

9000gns for Rahoney Starlight, from H & D McFarland, Rahoney, Trillick, Co. Tyrone.

Carmorn Uanita from C McAuley, Co. Antrim, made 6000gns.