Maraiscote Phil attained the top price of £15,000 at the Limousin Cattle Society's timed on-line sale of bulls and females, staged through Harrison and Hetherington, for Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw.

But, by the end of the four-day on-line bidding period, just 44% of the entry had found new homes.

Despite this top bid and a further three five-figure sales, trade was nevertheless severely hampered by trading conditions in place as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. And, with a number of consignors selling their bulls privately prior to the sale, clearance rates and averages were significantly down on the year.

Topping the trade was Ian Nimmo's Maraiscote Phil, a son of the 50,000gns Bassingfield Machoman, out of Maraiscote Firtree, a daughter of the 23,000gns Goldies Comet. This February 2019 polled bull headed home to Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Clitheroe, Lancs.

The Nimmos – Ian and Moyra and son Andrew – had a particularly good day, with another by Bassingfield Machoman making £10,400 selling to commercial calf producer, William MacDonald, Dunbeath, Caithness. Maraiscote Prince, a January 2019-born bull is out of Maraiscote Essex, which also goes back to Goldies Comet.

Second top price was £13,400 paid for Craig and Matt Ridley's Haltcliffe Paul from Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Wigton, purchased by JA Wood and Sons, Ratlinghope, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. This 15-month-old bull is a son of the Ampertaine Elgin, while the dam Haltcliffe Donna, goes back to 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount.

Northern Ireland breeders, C and R Mulholland, received £10,400 for Deerpark Pluto from Aghalee, Craigavon, Co Armagh. A Plumtree Fantastic son, this 14-month-old is the first animal to be sold from the 12,500gns Ampertaine Isadora, an Ampertaine Elgin daughter. He heads home to Keith with his new owners Richard and Kathleen Davidson, Corsairtly, Banffshire.

Leading the female trade at £10,600 was Goldies Omaria from Bruce Goldie,Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries. This heifer is one of the first to be sold by Wilodge LJ, while her dam Goldies Jasmine is a maternal sister to the dam of 30,000gns Goldies Olympia and 30,000gns Goldies Owain. Omaria headed home with Messrs Jones, Llanfairr Hall, Caernarfon, Wales.

averages: 34 bulls, £5439.41 (-£910.08 for 69 less); 28 females, £3125.00

Auctioneer: Harrison and Hetherington.

See next week's paper May 16 for the full report.