Limousin females met just as good a trade as their male counterparts at the society's sale the evening prior to the bull sale at Carlisle, with heifers peaking at 14,000gns and 13,000gns.

Leading the way at 14,000gns was Goldies Norma from Dumfriesshire breeder, Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald. His two-year-old entry by Goldies Fortress, a bull that has bred sons to 20,000gns, is out of the Wilodge Cerberus-sired Goldies Freestyle, which is a half sister to the 16,000gns Goldies Novelty, sold in February. Norma changed hands AI'd to Carrickmore Maximus, a €38,000 purchase shared with the Tweeddale and Harestone herds, to Graham Morrison, who runs the Deveronvale herd at Inchbruich, Cornhill, Banff.

Mr Goldie also received 8000gns from Joe and David Lewis of the Cattlearch herd near Moston, Sandbank, for Goldies Orange. ET-bred, Orange is a maternal sister to Goldies Ohboy, the bull sold the following day for 16,000gns, being out of Millington Gorgeous, while her sire is Fairywater Haig.

Second top price was 13,000gns paid to Northern Ireland breeder, James McKay, for Ampertaine Odell. This 15-month-old also boasts home-bred genetics on both sides being a daughter of Ampertaine Elgin, out of the Plumtree Fantastic-sired Ampertaine June, a family that has bred bulls up to 8500gns for Ampertaine Dictator. Odell was knocked down to Andrew Ewing, buying on behalf of the Martin and Gerard Davis, Ballinalee, Co Longford, Ireland.

Mr McKay, who sold 12 heifers to average £3700, also took 5000gns for Ampertaine Nariana, an October 2017-born heifer by Ampertaine Gigolo, out of the Salomon daughter, Ampertaine Gabriana. The buyer was JWT Knaggs, East Newbiggin, Sadberge, Darlington.

Stirling-based breeders, Robert and Jean Graham, Airthrey Kerse, were also in the money, selling Grahams Overlynice for 8000gns to Nugent Estates, Portaferry, Newtownards, Co Down. This January 2018-born ET is backed by show-winning genetics as her dam, the Vantastic-sired Milbrook Gingerspice, is a triple winner of Balmoral Show while her full sister, Grahams Melody, was breed champion and reserve inter-breed at both the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh shows in 2018. Another sired by Ampertaine Elgin, she is also a full sister to the 25,000gns Grahams Malibu and 20,000gns Grahams Michael.

Averages: Eight cows and heifers served and or suckling, £2145.94; eight served heifers, £3963.75; 86 maiden heifers, £2481.54.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington