Cattle from Matt and Craig Ridley’s Haltcliffe herd, which is based at Hesket-new-Market, dominated most of the proceedings at a joint pedigree sale of Limousin cattle from the Lodge, Ronick, Haltcliffe and Goldies herds at Carlisle, last week, securing the majority of top prices, including the two best at 28,000gns and 21,000gns.

The father and son team topped the trade with Haltcliffe Dynasty, a 16-month-old heifer from the well known Renoncule family which has produced five sons averaging a massive £39,060. She is by the 42,000gns Cloughhead Umpire out of the Penyrheol Sam daughter, Halfcliffe Volumptuous, and is a full sister to Haltcliffe Braveheart, sold in May, 2008, for 25,000gns for a half-share and a half sister to Haltcliffe Conquer, which made 7000gns at the same sale. Dynasty heads south to Kirkby Lonsdale, Carnforth, purchased by Nether Hall Farm.

The same buyer also went to 21,000gns for Haltcliffe Dainsi, a similarly aged heifer with three of the best cows in the Limousin breed – Lavande, Giroflee and Ravenelle – behind her pedigree. Her sire is the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic, while the dam, Haltcliffe Ainsi, is the result of an embryo imported from France from Sympa’s dam, Lavande and by Nenuphar.

Two Haltcliffe lots then made 6500gns, with the first, Haltcliffe Dulcie, selling to an undisclosed buyer. A direct daughter of Sympa, which has bred numerous five-figure priced bulls for the herd and to a top of 43,000gns, Dulcie is out of Haltcliffe Venice, which is a full sister to the 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount.

Matching the 6500gns price tag was the Ridley’s sole male entry, Haltcliffe Dollar, another by Cloughhead Umpire this time out of the Sympa daughter, Haltcliffe Bess. He heads across the water to Eire, purchased by P Crow, Lisenagh, Carrigan, Co Cavan.

JL Crofts, Holme Farm, Bassingfield, Gamston, bought the third top priced lot at 13,000gns from Bruce Goldie’s Goldies herd from Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries.

This was Goldies Donna, a two-year-old heifer by the 18,000gns joint purchase Normande Arapaho, out of the Goldies Tony-sired cow, Goldies Victoria. She sold in calf to Ampertaine Bravo, a triple male champion at the Royal Ulster, All Ireland Derby and at Carlisle, in 2007 where he was purchased jointly for 24,000gns.

The top price lot from Ian and Wendy Callion’s Lodge herd from Bolfornought, Stirling, also heads to Fife, having been bought by MW Jack, Carriston, Star, Glenrothes.

Kicking off the sale to a good start at 7100gns was lot number four in the catalogue, Lodge Affinity, a rising five-year-old cow by Ronick Urinocco out of the Ronick Luke daughter Lodge Tiffany. She sold with twin-born heifer calves at foot by Attila and served back to the same bull.

Averages: Lodge herd – Eight cows served and or suckling, £3419.06; two maiden heifers, £1260. Ronick – Five cows served and or suckling, £3528; nine served heifers, £2234.17; seven maiden heifers, £1740. Haltcliffe – 15 served and maiden heifers £6839. Goldies – 7 served heifers, £4680; 15 maiden heifers, £2817.50.

See full report and pictures in this week’s issue, out June 5.