WITH an increased average on the year backed up by nearly half of the 113 bulls sold making 5000gns or more, Limousin bulls were in demand from both pedigree and commercial buyers at Carlisle on Saturday, where a top price of 70,000gns was achieved.

In all, the 113 bulls cashed in to average £7018.27, a rise of £914 on the year for 20 more sold, and there was plenty interest from new buyers from the south of England as well as a Spanish buyer securing a total of five bulls to take to the continent in what is thought to be a first at the October sale.

With the ticket winners achieving the majority of the big prices, it was the reserve intermediate champion that went on to attract the top bid of 70,000gns when the first through from William and James McKay, Ampertaine Magnum, sold for that price to Ian Handley for his Gunnerfleet herd near Chapel le Dale, Carnforth. Brought out by stockman Barney O'Kane, he is an AI son of Loosebeare Fantastic, which has bred well when used in the Northern Irish herd of 120 females at Kilrea Road, Upperlands, Maghera, and is a heifer's calf out of the Ampertaine Abracadabra-sired Ampertaine Fancypants. 

With a further 13 bulls hitting the five-figure mark, the second top price of 28,000gns was paid for the intermediate champion that went on to stand reserve supreme, Sarkley Moray from the Pennie boys – brothers Chris and Nige together with father, Glyn – from Gwern Yr Ychain, Llandyssil, Montgomery, Powys. Moray is among the first sons offered by the 13,000gns Ampertaine Interest bought back in 2014, while the dam is the Carmorn Copilot-sired Sarkley Hosanna, and sold in a two-way split to Gareth Lee, Calogale herd, Gerycoed, Kidwelly, Dyfed, and Tony Booth, Sevengun herd, Hardwick Hall, Aston. Sheffield. 

A few lots later, another by Ampertaine Interest sold to Gary Bell, Haas Side, Lockerbie, for 15,000gns. That was Sarkley Mercury, which is out of the Hartlaw Excaliber daughter, Sarkley Halexine. 

Three bulls shared a 20,000gns price tag with the first of these being Gorrycam Major from Stephen Reel, St Patricks Park, Cullyhanna, Newry. With a full sister retained in the herd, Major is an embryo calf by Ampertaine Elgin while the dam is the Sympa-sired Gorrycam Dolly. This red ricket holder from the pre-sale show caught the eye of local breeder Jimmy Mulholland, Liscon herd, Great Orton, Carlisle. 

The second to sell for 20,000gns was Ballinloan Mountain from Stuart and Gillian Fotheringham's Dunkeld-based Ballinloan herd. Another red ticket holder, Mountain is by the privately purchased Ampertaine Foreman and out of a Nebo Dynamite daughter in the shape of Ballinloan Gaga. He sold to Albert and George Howie, Knock herd, Stuartfield, Peterhead, with a half share later bought back by the Fotheringhams.

Also selling for 20,000gns was the reserve junior champion from Robert and Jean Graham, Airthey Kerse, Stirling, with their Grahams Michael brought out by the top team of Drew Hyslop, Jennifer Hyslop, Ruth Hamill and Stan Black. This ET-bred bull is sired by Ampertaine Elgin and out of the three times Balmoral inter-breed champion, the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Milbrook Gingerspice. Michael sold two ways to the Quick family, Loosebeare herd, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, and Craig Ridley, Haltcliffe herd, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton.

Having paid for a share of the 20,000gns Grahams bull, Craig Ridley welcomed sales of 16,000gns and 15,000gns for his top two bulls brought out by stockman Kevin Bates. Dearest and selling to RS Harker and Son, Grayrigg Hall, Kendal, was Haltcliffe Matthew, a son of the French-bred Ducasse while the mother is Haltcliffe Hello, by Haltcliffe Vermount. 

Some different genetices were behind the 15,000gns Haltcliffe bull, when JA Wood and Sons, Kinnerton Hall, Ratlinghope, Shrewsbury, paid that for Haltcliffe Mike. He is an AI son of the Ghyll House stock bull, Volcano, and out of the Bial-sired Haltcliffe Igls. 

The supreme champion from the pre-sale show, Trueman Mozart from the Savage family – Henry and sons Henry junior, Phelim, Dermot and Benny – matched that 15,000gns bid when knocked down to Anita Padfield, Brambles herd, Green Lane, Great Yarmouth. By the record-holding Trueman Jagger, he landed the junior inter-breed title at Balmoral Show back in May and is the first flush from the Vantastic-sired Trueman Honey.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer for the full report and pictures from the sale.