MORE than 25 dedicated years of pedigree British Blue breeding came to an end at Carlisle, when Mel and Diane Lucas dispersed their Lukeroyal herd from Antrim, Northern Ireland, which saw prices peak at 5500gns and 5200gns.

The sale of 52 head was led by the 26-month-old black and white heifer, Lukeroyal Lydia, a Droit Ebenezer daughter bred from the Bringlee Carlos-sired Lukeroyal Finesse ET. She sold served to the 12,000gns Ballygrange Dudley, a Twyning Ash Vaughan son, to SG Perkins, Haywood Farm, Radstock, Avon.

The black bull, Lukeroyal Murdock, a 13-month-old son of Greystone Carbon bred from Lukeroyal Florence, a Barbon Du Bois Bauloye-sired cow, sold next at 5200gns to JW and M Buckle, Bleathgill, Barras, Kirkby Stephen.

Heading north to Glasgow, Thomas Gray, Balquharrage, Lennoxtown, went to 4200gns for the similarly aged black bull, Lukeroyal Magnet. The breeding behind this youngster includes the Gitan son, Droit Ebenezer, onto the Drybarrows Cawdale daughter, Lukeroyal Jessica.

Leading the cow trade at 3900gns was the rising six-year-old, Lukeroyal Hotpants, a black and white daughter of Adajio De Bray out of Lukeroyal Doris ET. She sold due in July to Twyning Ash Vaughan, to West Yorkshire breeder, J Crowther, Making Place, Soyland.

Her June 2017-born bull calf, Lukeroyal Mid-Night, by Twyning Ash Vaughan, made 3500gns to Ben Windle, Benroyd, Holywell Green, Halifax

Two sold for 3800gns to include the 13-month-old black heifer, Lukeroyal Millie. Another bred from Lukeroyal Finesse ET, but sired by Tweeddale Hebony, Millie was knocked down to MA Warren, Church Farm, Gomersal, Bradford, who also went to 3500gns for Lukeroyal Leah, a rising two-year-old black heifer by Drybarrows Cawdale, again bred from Finesse.

Later, D Broadbent, Green House Farm, Luddendenfoot, Halifax, bought the second 3800gns lot and another bred from Finesse. This was Lukeroyal Logan, an October 2016-born black and white bull by Gitan.

Averages: Nine cows and heifers served and or suckling, £3091.67; nine recipients carrying embryos, £1925.00; 11 maiden heifers, £2386.36; nine young bulls, £2928.33; four senior bulls, £3412.50; seven recipients suckling embryo calves, £2145.00.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.