No fewer than 30 bulls sold at five-figure prices at the British Limousin Cattle Society sale at Carlisle, which coupled with a 35,000gns top resulted in a record average.
Overall averages rose a phenomenal £1360.02 on the year to level at a colossal £9590.40 for 86, and, notably with a 93% clearance.
Commenting on the sale, British Limousin Cattle Society’s chief executive, Alice Swift said: “Our breeders put forward a seriously strong show of bulls with a range to suit all buyers.
“The atmosphere was electric from start to finish and it was extremely encouraging to see the competitive demand for the breed return, delivering one of the breed’s strongest clearances at Carlisle.
“An efficient beef industry begins with easy-calved, fast-growing genetics and it was evident buyers were seeking out these favourable traits to take forward to their suckler herds,” she added.
Topping the sale at 35,000gns was the pre-sale champion, Loosebeare Tommy, from the Quick family’s 150-cow herd from Loosebeare Manor, Devon, which was surpassing their previous best of 27,000gns.
Judge, Paul Rainer, Kilrea, Co Derry, said: “He’s an outstanding animal in my eyes, with plenty of power and quality throughout. Naturally muscled, he is very correct on his feet and legs and a very worthy champion from a strong lineup of bulls,” said Mr Rainer.
This July 2022-born bull is sired by the 17,000gns Ampertaine Jeronimo, which has bred bulls to 17,000gns twice. Loosebeare Nancy, the dam, last calf sold for 9000gns here in 2023. Carrying a single copy of the F94L easy-calving myostatin gene, he sold in a two-way split to Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie, and Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth.
The reserve senior, Gorrycam Turbo achieved 32,000gns for Stephen Reel, Cullyhanna, Newry, Co Down. The first crop of sons from Gorrycam Phantom, which has since been sold for 24,000gns to the Garyvaughan herd, he is out of Gorrycam Pink, a Ronick Hawk daughter. This April 2022-born bull carrying one copy of the F94L gene sold commercially to Gordon Cameron, Acharacle, Fort William.
Andrew Gammie, of the Westpit herd from Laurencekirk, went to 28,000gns for the junior champion and reserve overall, Foxhillfarm Terminator from Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill, Devon. This 19-month-old is sired by Ampertaine Elgin and is out of Foxhillfarm Natasha, which was a junior champion at the Great Yorkshire Show. Reserve senior champion at Stars of the Future, on his sole previous outing, Terminator carries one copy of the F94L gene.
The next best at 23,000gns was Pabo Tommy from Peradur and Llyr Hughes, Pabo, Fferam Gyd, Anglesey. This third prize August 2022-born bull is by Whitehall Larry, which was bought privately in Ireland and is bred from the Netherhall Jackpot daughter, Pabo Nigella. Carrying one copy of F94L gene, he goes to work in Wales with Messrs Howatson and Son, Denbigh, Clwyd.
Another by the same sire, Pabo Tiktok, a red ticket holder made 16,000gns. His dam is Pabo Onelopa which goes back to Derrygullinane Kingbull. Tiktok, a similarly aged bull, carries the F94L gene and is sold down to Devon with Patrick Greed of the Killerton herd, Rewe, Exeter.
Dyfan and Carol James, Blaencowin, Carmarthenshire, who run an 80-cow herd sold their Cowin Talisman, for 18,000gns. June 2022-born, he is by Ampertaine Elgin and out of the heifer, Cowin Prulove, a daughter of the junior inter-breed bull champion at the Royal Welsh Show in 2017, Cowin Meister. This red ticket holder also sold with one copy of the F94L gene to Messrs Morris Brothers, Shropshire.
The same home sold the reserve intermediate champion, Cowin Toronto for 16,000gns to Messrs Henderson, Insch, Aberdeenshire. This similarly aged bull again carrying a single copy of the F94L gene, is a son of Gunnerfleet Lion, and bred from Cowin Jeromina, which has produced bulls to £26,000.
The reserve junior champion, Whinfellpark Top Notch from Messrs Jenkinson, Whinfellpark, Penrith, attracted an 18,000gns bid from Danny Sawrij, Kedzlie Farms, Halifax. Brought out by stockman, Craig Douglas, this 15-month-old who stood senior champion at Stars of the Future in 2023, is a son of Whinfellpark President, which made 24,000gns here in 2021. The dam, Wilodge Poshspice was purchased for a record breaking 250,000gns alongside the Sportsmans herd, with progeny having sold up to £38,000.
Another from the same home, Whinfellpark Thriller, a first prize winner, made 16,000gns when selling to Messrs Anderson, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. September 2022-born and carrying a single copy of the F94L gene, he is sired by the 30,000gns Goldies Olympia, and bred from Whinfellpark Oura, a Whinfellpark Lomu daughter.
Woodmarsh Tornado kicked up a storm for Mick and Jean Gould, son Mick and wife Katherine, Grange Farm, Shrewsbury, when selling for 16,000gns. A son of Ampertaine Foreman, this third prize June 2022-born bull carrying the F94L myostatin gene is bred from the 50,000gns cow, Millington Highlight that has bred sons to the same money. Tornado was purchased by Banffshire breeders, Richard and Kathleen Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith.
The Ridley family, Matt and his wife Margaret, son Craig and his wife Sheila, of the Haltcliffe herd from Wigton, Cumbria had a field day selling sons of Westpit Omaha – bought privately from Andrew Gammie at the Royal Highland Show – for 16,000gns and 13,000gns.
Dearest was the second prize June 2022-born entry, Haltcliffe Trident, purchased by Messrs Dowson and Sartin, Barnard Castle, Co Durham. Trident is a heifer’s calf out of Haltcliffe Peach, and a grandson of Haltcliffe Bianca that has bred 19,000gns and 17,000gns bulls. He sold carrying one copy of the F94L gene.
The latter, Haltcliffe Troy, is a ¾ brother being bred from Haltcliffe Onassis, another Bianca daughter. He was knocked down by David and William Moir, Moir Livestock, Fraserburgh.
Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries, sold his second prize bull, Goldies Talbot for 16,000gns to Messrs Pritchard, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. This 19-month-old boosts a double copy of the F94L myostatin gene, being a son of Ampertaine Opportunity, out of Goldies Joyeuse, which has bred progeny to 18,000gns.
Lanarkshire breeders, Ian and Moyra Nimmo and son, Andrew, Bogside, Wishaw, sold their third prize winner, Maraiscote Tequila for 15,000gns. This April 2022-born entry carries a single copy of the F94L gene being sired by Bassingfield Machoman, while the dam, Maraiscote Martini, is a daughter of Goldies Comet. Messrs Joseph and Co, Brecon, Powys, forked out the money.
The first bull in the ring, Seisiog Rio from Welsh breeder, Tecwyn Jones, Caer Gwrli, Holyhead, Anglesey, got the sale off to a flying start with a 14,000gns bid from David and William Moir, Moir Livestock, Fraserburgh. This 18-month-old stood first in his class at the Royal Highland Show and male champion at the Royal Welsh Show in 2023. A single F94L gene carrier, he is the result of a mating between the sire, Elite Forever Brill, and dam, Brenmick Anna.
Financing some of his earlier purchases, Andrew Gammie, Laurencekirk, sold Westpit Troy for 14,000gns. This second prize 23-month-old carrying one copy of the F94L myostatin gene is the first son sold at auction by Johnstown Premier – sire of the reserve commercial champion at the Royal Highland Show and steer champion at LiveScot last year. Out of the heifer, Westpit Peppa, which goes back to Dinmore Immense, Troy headed home with Aberdeenshire breeder, Ian Miller, Miller Farms, Inverurie.
Alan and Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie, received 14,000gns for their June 2022-born, Crossdykes Tomahawk. Messrs Field, Burnley, Lancashire, got for their money a son of the privately purchased, Goldies Porsche, bred from Goldies Primrose, which was bought in May as a maiden heifer for 8000gns. A blue ticket holder he also carries a single copy of the F94L gene.
Another on the same price tag, Cloughhead Trevor, from Tom and Phil Hutton, Setmabanning, Keswick, sold to Messrs Forster and Son, Hexham, Northumberland. This 19-month-old is by the 20,000gns Twemlows Morpeth and out of the Gultime daughter, Cloughhead Miranda.
Five bulls made 12,000gns each, including the second bull in the ring, Calogale Shotgun from Gareth and Catrin Lloyd, Calogale, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. This December 2021-born bull is by the 22,000gns Bernish Memphis, and out of Calogale Icemaiden. Carrying a single copy of the F94L gene he sold to Messrs Watson, Brampton.
Howhall Tom made the same money for Neil Hardisty, How Hall, Ennerdale, Cumbria, who runs just 12 pedigree cows. This May 2022-born bull stood first in his class and is by Uptonley Livingthedream, and out of Cloughhead Princess is a heifer by Cloughhead Loxley. Karl Suddes, Bishop Auckland, forked out the cash for this bull carrying a single F94L gene.
Frances and Catrin McAuley and sons, Frank and Stephen, Toomebridge, Co Antrim, took the same money from Messrs Clayton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, for Carmorn Tigerroll. This 19-month-old second prize bull carries a single F94L myostatin gene, being sired by Westpit Omaha out of Carmorn Mammamia.
The second prize Brontemoor Travis from Steven and Richard Priestley, Cracrop, Brampton, Carlisle, also made 12,000gns. Boasting a double F94L myostatin gene this May 2022-born bull is from the first crop of sons by the privately purchased, Everpark Razorlight, and out of Brontemoor Navette. Travis sold to Messrs Jones and Son, Montgomery, Powys.
Also selling to Wales at 12,000gns, was Craigatoke Tan from Martin Conway, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, when purchased by Messrs Gibbons and Son, Anglesey. This third prize bull features one copy of the F94L myostatin, and is sired by Foxhillfarm Ourbest and bred from the Ampertaine Elgin daughter, Craigatoke Jackie.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
Averages: 28 senior bulls, £8332.50 (+£1888.13 for four more sold); 33 intermediate bulls, £9749.09 (+£1585.34 for one more); 25 junior bulls, £10,789.80 (+£514.12 for three more); 86 bulls overall, £9590.40 (+£1360.02 for eight more)
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