A new all breeds centre record price of 10,500gns was achieved for the Limousin bull, Rahoney Obed, at the UK’s first ‘live’ sale since lockdown.

The British Limousin Cattle Society Sale staged at Ballymena Auction Mart, was the first live sale of cattle to include vendors and purchasers and was topped by a September-2018-born entry from Howard McFarland, Trillick, Co Tyrone.

Rahoney Obed, an AI son of Plumtree Fantastic, is bred from the Haltcliffe Vermount daughter, Rahoney Hazel and sold to Stuart Perkins, Somerset – purchaser of the 8000gns record priced embryo donated from Robert and Jean Graham’s Grahams herd in a fundraising campaign, in May 2018 – buying for his Hartmoor herd from Haywood, Terry Hill, Radstock, Bath.

The same home also received 3400gns for Rahoney Omega from Philip Savage, Ballywalter, Newtownards, Co Antrim. This similarly aged bull is also by Fantastic, but out of Rahoney Jem which carries Wilodge Cerberus and Homebyres Visitor breeding.

Second top price was 4500gns paid for Carnew Ordiscoll from J and J Aiken, Dromore, Co Down. Norman McBurney, Moorfields, Ballymena, was the final bidder on this December 2018-born bull by Gerrygullinane Glen, a grandson of Ronick Hawk, out of the Lynderg Hero-sired cow, Carnew Ladyjane.

Droit Orkney came next in the bidding stakes selling at 3800gns for Richard Mowbray, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. By Wilodge Cerberus, this 20-month-old is bred from the Larkhill Firmount-sired Haltcliffe Harriot and headed home with Messrs Kennedy, Mill Road, Downpatrick, Co Down.

Females sold to 2300gns twice for heifers from the McKinney Brothers’ Heathmount herd from, Maghera. First to sell at this price was Heathmount Octet, by the Broadmeadows Cannon son, Gunnerfleet Landmark, out of the Jockey-sired Heathmount Aileen. Brendan McAlister, Glenarm, Ballymena, was the last man in on this rising two-year-old.

Another by the same sire, but a year younger made the same money selling to James Alexander, Randalstown, Co Antrim. Heathmount Passionate, is out of Heathmount Jovial, an Etudiant daughter.

Mart manager, Sam McNabney, was most impressed at how well the sale had gone.

“Working with our partners, we were able to bring buyers and sellers together under strict distancing measures, and all parties were happy overall with how the sale was conducted given present circumstances,” he said.

Auctioneers: JA McClelland and Sons

averages: 16 bulls, £3281.25; 12 females, £1881.25,