A 14-month-old heifer backed by the best of breeding proved the star attraction at the Foxhillfarm Foundation Female sale of pedigree Limousins, selling for the lead price of 19,000gns.

The sale from Devon-based breeders, Mike and Melanie Alford at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, was topped by Foxhillfarm Primadonna, and sold to Scottish breeders, Anthony Renton and his mother Sandra Redden, buying for their Meadowrig herd from Allenton, Duns.

Primadonna is the result of a flush from the former Highland Show inter-breed beef champion and top show winning heifer Foxhillfarm Mammamia, which in turn was bred from the 125,000gns record priced Glenrock Illusion and sired by the 38,000gns Foxhillfarm Irishlad. Primadonna’s sire was the top breeding, Ampertaine Gigolo.

Second top price was 14,000gns paid for the seven-month-old heifer calf, Foxhillfarm Rebecca, a Haltcliffe Dancer daughter. She is out of Foxhillfarm Isla, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter bred from the herd’s foundation female and prolific breeder Bankdale Alice. Isla is also the dam of the Triple Crown winning Foxhillfarm Naomi. Rebecca sold across the water to Northern Ireland with Gareth Corrie of the Drumhilla herd, Newtownards.

The 125,000gns Glenrock Illusion which previously bred the 10,000gns Foxhillfarm Missmoneypenny, was also the dam of the 6000gns Foxhillfarm Missworld. This four 1/2-year-old, is by the Guards Boomer son, Foxhillfarm Irishlad, has been flushed twice with embryos retained and sold to Paul Cairns, buying for his Plumtree herd from Tollerton, Nottingham. Missworld sold having run with the 30,000gns Goldies Oswain.

Another Illusion daughter, Foxhillfarm Roxy, a seven-month-old heifer by the French AI sire, Objat and a full sister to the 9000gns Foxhillfarm Priceless, a weaned calf sold at the Red Ladies Sale, was knocked down at 4200gns to Michael Savage, Ballnahinch, Co Down, buying on behalf of his daughters, Chloe and Hannah, for their Boelyn herd.

The Scottish Farmer:

Foxhillfarm Looksthepart made 8500gns

Also heading across the Irish Sea, Chris Johnston, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, bought two of the top priced lots including Foxhillfarm Looksthepart at 8500gns.

A five-year-old show female that stood reserve overall to Mammamia at the Royal Highland Show, and also made up part of several award winning groups and pairs at other national events, she is by Guards Boomer and bred from the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Foxhillfarm Grace, which in turn was bred from the brood cow, Bankdale Alice. Looksthepart sold 12-weeks scanned in calf to Goldies Oswain.

Also heading on the same lorryload to Fivemiletown at 6800gns was Foxhillfarm Royalty, a seven-month-old heifer and a full sister to the 19,000gns Foxhillfarm Primadonna.

Craig Ridley and his father Matt, Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Wigton, forked out 6500gns for the 14-month-old heifer, Foxhillfarm Pearl. Buying back some of their own genetics, she is bred from the Irish import, Corranhill Krystal, a Haltcliffe Dancer daughter and sired by Foxhillfarm Lordofthering, a former male champion at the Royal Highland Show that sold for 38,000gns.

Two lots sold for 5500gns which included one of the foundation females, Bankdale Elizabeth, a 10-year-old cow that has produced 350,000gns of progeny.

Bred by Gordon Wilson, Wreay, this former show cow by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Bankdale Alice, sold served to Oswain, to Tom Hilsdon, Poole Limousins, South Molton, Devon.

Mr Wilson’s daughter, Helen, buying for the Bankdalefarm herd from Wreay, bought the second at 5500gns, Foxhillfarm Oceana, a 25-month-old daughter of Elizabeth sired by the 145,000gns Trueman Jagger. Full sister to Foxhillfarm Madonna, a former show heifer, Oceana, sold in calf to either Wilodge Cerberus or Oswain.

Also heading back to Wreay with Ms Wilson at 3000gns was Foxhillfarm Poppy, a nine-month-old heifer calf by Wilodge LJ out of Foxhillfarm Nikita, an Ampertaine Gigolo daughter that sold served to Oswain for 4000gns minutes earlier to Messrs Williamson, Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

The sole bull, Foxhillfarm Pavarotti, a 17-month-old Objat son out of Mammamia, made 4750gns. The buyers were Messrs Temple, Ulpha, Broughton in Furness.

Frozen embryos sold alongside a recipient female peaked at 3800gns for a pair of Grade A embryos from the herd’s matriarch female, Bankdale Alice and sired by Broadmeadows Cannon. These sold to Tom Bailey, Batterstown, Co Meath, Eire.

averages: Nine cows and heifers served and or suckling, £5355.00; three served and maiden heifers, £10,850.00; nine embryo calves, £4935.00; eight pairs of frozen embryos, £3132.50.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.