One of the dearest trades to date for breeding cattle was witnessed at Harrison and Hetherington’s Carlisle-based auction mart, when a pedigree Limousin cow and her heifer calf, sold for £8000.

Sale leader was Neil and Stuart Barclay’s Harestone June, a six-year-old daughter of Wilodge Vantastic from South Farm, Insch, Aberdeenshire. She sold with heifer calf at foot by Swarland Likelylad, to A and K Rhind and Son, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, Inverness.

Other Limousin cows with calves at foot from the Harestone herd realised £4200 to Lee Hopwood, Slack Farm, Littleborogh, Rochdale, and £3500 to J and S Ward, Stone Ash Farmhouse, Mells, Frome, Somerset.

Two Limousin cross heifers with calves at foot sold at £3300 to include an entry from Messrs Livingston, Kirtlevale and another from Messrs McAlister, West Thomaston, Bonnybridge.

LEADING prices

Heifers with calves – Lim – £3300, £2900 West Thomaston; £3300, £2800, £2750, £2700, £2550, £2400, £2300 (x2) Kirtlevale; £2950, £2900, £2600, £2550 (x2), £2500 (x3), £2400 (x2), £2300 (x4) Aldermanseat; £2700, £2650, £2600 Inland Pasture; £2600(x2), £2500 Lower Langshaw; £2500, £2450, £2350, £2250 Bridge Farm; £2250 Paradise. BB – £2800 West Thomaston; £2750, £2400 Inland Pasture; £2300, £2200, £1650, £1600 Mirkbooths; £2050(x2), £1400 Kirtlevale; £1900 Common Carr; £1600 Flatt; £1500 Blackwell; £1450 Manor House; £1220 Skirwith Hall; £1200(x2) Hillend. BS – £2550, £2500 Aldermanseat. Char – £1700 Aldermanseat. Sim – £1650, £1650, £1600, £1500, £1400, £1300 (x2), £1150 Garris Lodge.

Cows with calves – Lim – £8000, £4200, £3500, £3000, £2700, £2500, £2400 (x2) South Farm; £1950 Lower Langshaw; £1580, £1500 Sewell Common; £1500 Orton Hall; £1450 Glebelands. BB – £1800 Lower Langshaw; £1650 Low Farm; £1650 Holme; £1500 Mirkbooths.

Cows in calf – Lim – £1750 Fitz Farm. Heifer in calf – Lim – £2050, £1800 Fitz Farm; £1250(x2) Wanton Walls. BB – £1950 Fitz Farm.