COMMERCIAL buyers were to the fore at the summer sale of Limousin bulls and females where six bulls sold for 5000gns or above as the sale met a clearance of 86%. 

The sale leaders came from the second half of the catalogue with a top of 5800gns paid for Haltcliffe Norse from Messrs Ridley, of Hesket New Market, Wigton, brought out by stockman Kevin Bates. This January, 2017-born entry is backed by home breeding being by the 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount-sired Haltcliffe Gentry, which sold for 15,000gns in 2013, while his dam is Haltcliffe Dasher, a Cloughhead Umpire daughter. Forking out the cash were Wigton-based Messrs Pearson. 

The very next lot, Haltliffe Nijinsky, then sold to Messrs Wearmouth, Kirkby Stephen, for 5200gns. He offers different some genetics to his byre mate, being by Ampertaine Elgin and out of the Vermount-sired Haltcliffe Jezebelle. 

The Scottish Farmer:

      Goldies Nintendo, 5600gns

Messrs Thwaite and Son paid 5600gns to take Bruce Goldie's Goldies Nintendo from Mouswald, Dumfries, home to work near Barnard Castle. This similarly-aged ET is out of the Wilodge Vantasatic-sired Goldies Favourite, which is a full sister to the 23,000gns Goldies Fandango and Goldies Fortress, while his sire is Cloughhead Umpire. 

The Scottish Farmer:

      Arradfoot Newyork, 5500gns

Mid-way through the sale, Thor Atkinson received 5500gns from Messrs Hodgson, Shap, for Arradfoot Newyork, another January, 2017-born ET. His sire is the Vantastic-bred Goldies Comet that is doing well in the Maraiscote herd, and is dam is the Bial daughter, Wilodge Iona. 

Also in the money for Mr Atkinson, of Meadow View, Newland, near Ulverston, was Arradfoot Newark, another ET but this time born in April, 2017. His breeding includes the Requin son, Netherhall Jackpot, on to Foxhillfarm Infinity, herself by Hartlaw Excaliber. 

Two bulls sold for 5000gns apiece with the first of these being Procters Nielsen from Procters Farm, Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn. Another embryo, this time born in February, 2017, he is by Ronick Hawk while his dam is the Vantastic daughter, Goldies Gracious. He caught the eye of Messrs Johnson and heads to Shap. 

Matching that when knocked down to Messrs Allison and Sons, Biggar, was Longhirst National, a March, 2017-born son of the Mas du Clo-sired Rachels Ferrari from David Jordan, The Brocks, Old Moor Longhirst, Morpeth. His mother is backed by home breeding as Longhirst Happydays is by Longhirst Eiger. 

The third bull to sell, RS Clyde's Clydevalley Majestic, from Kilmakee Road, Templepatrick, County Antrim, sold to Valmar Investments, Dundee, for 4500gns. This nearly two-year-old is by Limo Esso, a Vantastic son, and out of Clydevalley Felena, a Ronick Sphere daughter and full sister to the 24,000gns Clydevalley Arty. 

Leading the female trade were two entries from Jim and Elaine Pattison, Bonshawhide, Kirtlebridge, Lockerbie, with both selling to TS French, Biggar. Dearest at 2600gns was the five-year-old Epatant daughter, Goldies Illusion, whose dam is by Wilodge Vantastic. She sold with her Loughhead Lincoln-sired bull calf at foot. 

At 2500gns was Haltcliffe Isabell, a Haltcliffe Gains-sired five-year-old with her Comte-sired heifer calf. She changed hands having been AI'd to Lodge Hamlet. 

A 16-month-old Huntershall Jeronimo-sired heifer from Andrew Burnett, based near Blair Drummond, Stirling, matched that 2500gns to top the young heifer entry. Spittalton Neve is out of a Hargill Blaze daughter and sold to TP Wigham, of the Haltwhistle-based Hargill herd. 

Averages: 24 bulls, £4073.13 (+£413.53 for three fewer); nine served/maiden heifers, £1995.00 (four females averaged £1260 in 2017).

  • Of the three Charolais bulls on offer the same day, which averaged £2733.33 (+£388.33 for the same number sold), a top of 3600gns was paid by Messrs McClanachan and Sons, Dumfries, for the Campbell family's Thrunton Mercedes from near Alnwick. This rising two-year-old is by Blelack Impreialist and out of the Blelack Digger-bred Thrunton Heartbreaker.