The best of the bulls met a huge demand at Harrison and Hertherington’s Limousin sale at Carlisle at the weekend, where 18 lots broke the five-figure barrier, selling to a top of 72,000gns – the second highest bull price ever achieved at a UK auction.

Hitting the top spot was Matt and Craig Ridley’s pre-sale champion Haltcliffe DJ, a May, 2008-born bull by Cloughhead Umpire – a bull bought for 42,000gns in 2005. On the dam’s side, DJ comes directly from a French line, he is out of Radio, a Nenuphar daughter bought in France as a calf. Sporting an EBV of LM+33, he was knocked down jointly to Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Lancashire, and David Kelly, of the Netherhall herd at Mansergh, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Sire of the sale topper, Cloughhead Umpire, further proved his breeding ability by producing an AI son, Plumtree Deus, which collected the reserve senior title and went on to make the day’s second top price of 35,000gns, for first time seller, Paul Cairns, of Hall Farm, Tollerton, Nottingham. The dam of this 21-month-old shapely bull, Bankdale Amber, is a Sympa daughter that was bought for 7000gns at the Carlisle Red Ladies sale. The combination of Umpire and Sympa breeding was a major incentive for the final bidders, Colin Lewis and sons, Graham and Terry, who run the Gary Vaughan herd at Welshpool.

Averages: 175 bulls, £6045.00 (+£357.00 for 44 more sold).