It was a poignant day for all concerned at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, last weekend, when John Logan and son also John, dispersed their well-known Homebyres Limousin herd, where no fewer than 32 lots sold at or above the 5000gns mark and to a combined top of 26,000gns.

Commemorating the sale of 35 dedicated years of pedigree cattle breeding, this event boasted some of the best bloodlines in the business, with more than half of the herd descending from the seven-week-old purchase Broadmeadows Dainsi (Cannon's full sister) in her two daughters, Udainsi and Bainsi and grand-daughter Dollie. Many were by home-bred sires too.

Notably, it was a great grand-daughter of Broadmeadows Dainsi, Homebyres Lovely that topped the sale at 17,000gns, while her Fieldson Alfy-sired bull calf, Homebyres Prodigy, made 9000gns to give a combined top of 26,000gns.

Homebyres Lovely, a four-year-old polled ET, is bred from a flush from Homebyres Beauty, a Homebyres Visitor-sired cow that goes back to Balnacraig Supreme, and whose first calf, Homebyres Ericson, made 17,000gns. A daughter of Ampertaine Foreman, Lovely sold served to Goldies Nelson, to David McKerrow and sons David and James, buying a foundation female for their new Nochnary herd, to be based on a farm in the Scottish Borders.

Her April 2019-born bull calf, Homebyres Prodigy, made 9000gns selling to WE Ralph, Wester New Forres Farm, Forres, Inverness.

Second top price was 14,000gns paid for the two-year-old maiden heifer, Homebyres Nicity, a polled daughter of Larkhill Julius, out of the Homebyres Vanhee daughter, Homebyres Duplicity, a cow that has bred several high priced bulls to a top of 13,000gns for Felboy.

Two maiden heifers made 10,000gns to include Homebyres Oddyssey, an April 2018-born polled heifer and member of the herd's show team. Reserve junior female champion at the Scottish Grand Prix at Kelso in July, she is by Lowerffrydd Empire and bred from the top priced female – Homebyres Lovely. The buyers were Messrs Tomlinson of Leverton Farms, Retford, Notts.

Lanarkshire breeder, Allan Campbell, Strawfrank, Carstairs Junction, bought the second in the July 2018-born polled heifer Homebyres Olive – a full sister to the 10,000gns Homebyres Newman. Another by Larkhill Julius, she is out of the Homebyres Arnott daughter, Homebyres Echinacea.

Also heading home on the same lorry load to Strawfrank at 7000gns was Homebyres Meedie, four-year-old polled daughter of Wilodge Cerberus, out of the Homebyres Arnott-sired Homebyres Greedie. Included in this transaction was her May-born Ampertaine Elgin-sired heifer calf, Homebyres Peedie, while Meedie sold serve to Lowerffrydd Empire.

Kincardineshire breeder, Gordon Walker, Easterside, Dunnottar, Stonehaven, also made his mark, going to 8800gns for Homebyres Hillie, a seven-year-old polled cow by Lowerffrydd Empire, bred from Homebyres Frillie, by the Sympa son, Homebyres Arnott. She sold served to the French sire, Fenomen and with April-born bull calf, Homebyres Pace at foot, by Ampertaine Magnum.

Minutes later, East Yorkshire breeders, PR Walker and Son, Manor House Farm, Lund, went to 8500gns for a similarly aged cow and calf outfit. Homebyres Honesty, also by Empire, is a grand-daughter of Broadmeadows Dainsi, being out of the Haltcliffe Nijinsky-sired Homebyres Udainsi, and sold with Homebyres Paxton, a six-month-old bull calf by Ampertaine Elgin at foot. Honesty also sold served to Nelson.

The Walkers also gave 7000gns for Homebyres Mirtel, a four-year-old Ampertaine Foreman-sired cow which again goes back to Homebyres Uainsi, being out of the Homebyres Vanhee daughter, Homebyres Damsel. A half sister to 5500gns and 4000gns bulls, she changed hands served to Ampertaine Elgin and with May-born bull calf Homebyres Preston at foot, by the same sire.

Selling up to Fife, Matt Jack, Carriston, Glenrothes, forked out 8500gns for Homebyres Lady, for his Kingdom herd. There are some different genetics behind this polled four-year-old, with the sire being Cloughhead Umpire onto the Homebyres Arnott daughter, Homebyres Firstlady. Bred from the Flower family, Lady sold with her April-born bull calf, Homebyres Poldark at foot and served to Kype Orkney.

Heading in the opposite direction, Calogale Beef Semen Sales, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, bought the five-year-old polled cow, Homebyres Jelossie, a Haltcliffe Eubank-sired entry out of Homebyres Flossie, for 7800gns. She changed hands with Ampertaine Magnum-sired April-born heifer calf and served to Goldies Nelson.

Another two lots sold for 7000gns. First was the rising 10-year-old, Homebyres Floricity, by the Balnacraig Supreme son, Homebyres Vanhee, out of the Sympa-sired Homebyres Bodicity which goes back to the foundation female, Partridge Felicity. She sold served to Foxhillfarm Jasper and with April-born heifer calf, Homebyres Poricity at foot by Fairywater Haig, which makes her a full sister to the 10,000gns Nistleroy. The buyer was SE Field, Cornfield Farm, Burnley, Lancs.

Yorkshire breeders, R Holroyd and Sons, Shawcroft, Wadsworth, Halifax, also went to 7000gns for Homebyres Gigi, an eight-year-old by Homebyres Vanhee, out of Homebyres Didi which is a daughter of Homebyres Arnott. Gigi changed hands with two-month-old Empire-sired heifer calf, Homebyres Pigi at foot.

Aberdeenshire-based Beltex breeder, Alan Miller, Miller Farms, Midmar, Inverurie, also got in on the act, giving 6200gns for Homebyres Hobbie, a seven-year-old direct daughter of Homebyres Arnott out of the Ronick Hawk-sired Homebyres Bessie. Hobbie sold served to Loosebeare Fantastic and with April-born bull calf, Homebyres Park, by Ampertaine Elgin.

Leading the bull trade at 8000gns was the seven-year-old Westpit Highlander, bred by the Gammies from Laurencekirk. The sire of sons to 8200gns and 7000gns, he is by Netehrhall Doubleoseven, and was knocked down to Iain Graham, Rose Castle Farm, Dalston, Carlisle.

Young bulls peaked at 7500gns when J Gilchrist, West Meikle, Pinkerton, Dunbar, bought Homebyres Othello, a September 2018-born son of Lodge Hamlet, bred from Homebyres Lucy, a Haltcliffe Underwriter-sired cow.

OTHERLEADING prices

Served cows with calves – 6000gns – Homebyres Heidi, by Homebyres Vanhee, with heifer calf, to Messrs Comer, New Moon Leaze, Braydon, Swindon; Homebyres Indi, by Haltcliffe Eubank and with heifer calf, to Messrs Jackson, Goscombe, Gundleton, Hampshire; Homebyres Jilley, by Haltcliffe Eubank and with heifer calf, to J Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty, Fife; Homebyres Lassie, by Westpit Highlander and with heifer calf, to H MacKay, Wester Tomloan, Cawdor, Nairn.

5800gns – Homebyres Implicity, by Homebyres Gregory and with heifer calf, to Messrs Field, Cornfield Grove, Burnley; Homebyres Linty, by Claragh Franco and with heifer calf, to Messrs Gilleard, Thorne, Doncaster, S.Yorkshire. 5500gns – Homebyres Echinacea, by Homebyres Arnott, with bull calf to A Campbell, Strawfrank. 5200gns – Homebyres Maisie, by Cloughhead Umpire and with bull calf to Messrs Phillips, Springholm, Castle Douglas.

5000gns – Homebyres Dawn, by Homebyres Vanhee, and with bull calf to Miller Farms, Midmar; Homebyres Lollie, by Homebyres Vanhee and with bull calf to A MacGregor and Son, Allanfauld, Kilsyth; Homebyres Jess, by Haltcliffe Eubank, with unregistered heifer calf to A MacGregor and Son.

Served heifers – 5100gns – Homebyres Natalie, by Larkhill Julus and due to Homebyres Mallory, to Messrs Perkins, Terry Hill, Radstock, Avon. 5000gns – Homebyres Nessa, by Larkhill Julius and due to Lowerffrydd Empire, to Messrs Fawcett, Harbottle, Rothbury.

Maiden heifers – 5800gns – Homebyres Orlie, by Westpit Highlanders, to Messrs Gilleard, Thorne.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.