Breed records and indeed world records were well and truly blown out of the window at the Limousin Society sale at Carlisle, when a bull sold for a phenomenal 180,000gns – 40,000gns higher than the previous high.
The bull, Graiggoch Rambo, from well-known Welsh stockman, Gerwyn Jones, of Graig Goch, Nebo, was the first Limousin bull the former freelance stockman had sold, and is the result of a frozen embryo boasting the best of genetics.
Superseding the previous best of 140,000gns paid for Trueman Jagger in 2015, Rambo is a November 2020-born son of Ampertaine Elgin – an AI sire that has bred numerous five-figure priced bulls and the record priced Wilodge Poshspice heifer, which made 250,000gns last year.
The dam, Sarkley Glorianne, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter, goes back to Broadmeadows Cannon on the female side.
More impressive is the fact that Gerwyn was given the choice mating of any cow in the Pennie's Sarkley herd to any AI sire, after doing a bit of work for the family.
"I chose Glorianne as she is the pick of the Sarkley cows in my eyes and Elgin always adds the style and correctness," said Gerwyn, who having worked for several of the UK's leading beef and sheep farmers, now works at home alongside his father Emyr, where they already run Welsh Blacks and a select number of Charolais.
Gerwyn also plans to build up his Graiggoch Limousin herd which at present comprises a full ET sister to Rambo, by flushing select females, and setting up pedigree sheep flocks.
Pre-sale judge, Pat Greaney of the Whiskey herd, Wales, was most impressed by the top end of bulls and described Rambo, which he placed intermediate champion and supreme overall as the best bull he had ever seen.
Graiggoch Rambo was knocked down in a two-way split to Charlie Boden, buying for the Sportsmans herd from Mellor, Stockport, and Allan Jenkinson of the Whinfellpark herd, Penrith. The underbidder on this polled bull which is a double Q204X gene carrier, was Craig Ridley, Haltcliffe.
Outwith the 180,000gns record breaker, a flying trade from start to finish saw a further 19 bulls sell at or above the 10,000gns mark with 84 of the 93 bulls forward selling to new homes, representing a 90% clearance. Overall averages were also well up on the year. Even without the 180,000gns new world high, the bulls averaged just shy of £8100.
Following the champion in the price ratings at 30,000gns, was the senior champion and reserve overall, from Dumfriesshire breeder, Bruce Goldie, Townfoot. His Goldies Relish, a 20-month-old is by another Ampertaine sire in the shape of Ampertaine Opportunity – a 40,000gns purchase in 2019 which has already bred heifers to 14,000gns for Andrew Burnett and bulls to 15,000gns for his breeder, James McKay. Doug Mash, buying for his Brockhurst herd from Chesham, wrote the cheque for this F94L/Q204X bull bred from the Hartlaw Excaliber daughter, Goldies Harmony, which in turn is out of Mr Goldie's top breeding female, Goldies Vitality.
Mr Goldie also received 12,000gns for another Ampertaine Opportunity son, Goldies Royalty, purchased by TLL and Mrs CP Wynne, Hendre Glan Alwen, Corwen, Conwy. This December 2020-born ET also goes back to Vitality, with the dam, Goldies Goldilocks being the sire of Goldies Orinocco, sold privately to the Whinfellpark and Novelty herds.
Another Ampertaine bull was the sire of the reserve intermediate, Glenrock Redemption, from fellow Dumfriesshire breeders, Stephen and Thomas Illingworth, Howgillside, which made 25,000gns to Michael Fieldson, Corringham, Gainsborough. This similarly aged ET entry is the result of a flush from the top breeding Objat daughter, Glenrock Diamante, which originally sold for 15,000gns to the Procters herd. The sire is Ampertaine Majestic – a former overall champion here that sold for 35,000gns.
Just behind, on 24,000gns, new breeder, Graham Morrison, who is better known for his Deveronvale Texel flock from Banff, sold Deveronvale Razzledazzle ET. Living up to his name, this November 2020-born lad is backed by the best of genetics being the result of a flush from Garry Patterson's Aultside Jazz – a daughter of Spittalton Flush that bred the 65,000gns Aultside Meanmachine. The sire is Foxhillfarm Jasper, a former show winning bull that has bred several five-figure priced bulls for Mr Patterson's Keith-based herd. Razzledazzle, a red ticket holder was knocked down to Steven Wilson, buying for his Impulsive herd from Corby Hill, Carlisle.
Dumfriesshire breeder, Colin Wright, Hunthills, Parkgate, forked out 19,000gns for the junior champion, Pabo Superspice, a natural born calf from Welsh breeder, Llyr Hughes, Fferam Gyd, Rhosgoch. This 15-month-old is a full brother to the 15,000gns Oldpsice, being sired by the AI bull, Derrygullinane Kingbull, and out of the Norman Harvest daughter, Pabo Mared which is bred from Pabo Icemaden – dam of the 38,000gns Pabo Rolex.
Another following in the price rankings, the reserve senior male, Strawfrank Romeo, from Carstairs Mains-based Allan Campbell, made 17,000gns to Andrew Proctor of the Swarland herd from Morpeth. A son of the AI sire, Foxhillfarm Lordofthering, this September 2020-born entry brought out by stockman Kenny O'Connor, is out of the Homebyres Guthrie-sired Strawfrank Napoleon.
Almost financing that transaction, Mr Proctor received 12,000gns for the November 2020-born natural born, Swarland Rosco, from James Tennant, Manor House Farm, Fraisthorpe, Bridlington. His pedigree features the stock bull, Ronick Nissan, a 7000gns purchase, onto the Swarland Eddie-sired Swarland Jingle.
Matching the 17,000gns price, Willie Barron's Barrons Snowman, from Morrow Edge, Durham, was knocked down to J Hunter and Son, Steel Farm, Bellingham, Hexham. This 16-month-old is by the Mereside Godolphin son, Barrons Major, a bull that sold for £10,500 as a five-year-old at the herd reduction sale, while the dam, Barrons Oulip, by Ironstone Colonel, made £6825 in calf to Major.
Anthony Renton, Stuartslaw, Duns, was another in the money, taking 16,000gns for the August 2020-born bull, Meadowrig Rifraf, brought out by stockman, Alistair Cormack. His pedigree features the stock bull, Homebyres Macadoo, which bred sons to 9500gns in February, onto the Ronick Matador daughter, Brockhurst Fuzzy. Rifraf heads down to Newark with RP and DL Hutchinson, Greenhill, Balderton.
Top price for Northern Ireland breeder, Stephen Reel, was 13,000gns paid for the 16-month-old ET, Gorrycam Saxon. Bred from the Ampertaine Elgin daughter, Gorrycam Lacey, a cow family that has produced several five-figure prices bulls, Saxon is sired by the 26,000gns Gorrycam Hazzard, a Cloughhead Umpire son. He also sold south with JA Wood and Sons, Kinnerton Hall, Ratlinghope, Shrewsbury.
Bob and Kay Adam and sons Andrew and James, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, then went to 13,000gns for the junior bull, Intack Solomon, from Zac Ward, Intack, Carnforth. This 15-month-old ET is the result of a flush from the Dolcorsllwyn Brynmor daughter, Gunnerfleet Hiseni, and sired by the top breeding bull, Plumtree Fantastic.
Gunnerfleet genetics were also behind Garrowby Farm's Garrowby Rene, an October 2020-born ET bred from the French cow, Minute and sired by Gunnerfleet Hicks – a bull that has bred sons to £22,000, show calves to £8000 and is still being used through AI. The buyers at 12,000gns were Messrs Reed, Lands Farm, Westgate, Bishop Auckland.
Matching that 12,000gns sale, J and T Waring who run the Everpark herd at Park Farm, Everingham, York, bought Craig Ridley's Haltcliffe Ringo from Haltcliffe, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton. A December 2020-born son of Westpit Omaha – a bull that bred the 32,000gns Haltcliffe Racquel and the 6000gns Hatlcliffe Radar, Ringo is a natural born calf out of the Swalesmoor Liam-sired heifer, Haltcliffe Onassis.
OTHERLEADING prices
11,000gns – S and T Illingworth's Eagleside Rockstar, by Ampertaine Majestic, to Messrs Tennant, Fraisthorpe, Bridlington; BT Goldie's Goldies Starter, by Carrickmore Maximus, to E and I Macarthur, Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn; Turner Farms' Broadhead Slayer, by Chytodden Conan, to J MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs M Alford's Foxhillfarm Sportman, by Ampertaine Foreman, to Messrs Henderson, Insch, Aberdeenshire.
10,000gns – J Watson's Tweeddale Rocksolid, by Gallaway Kemp, to Messrs Kunz, Ingmanthorpe, Wetherby; M Diamond's Pointhouse Rumble, by Ampertaine Gigolo, to Messrs Jones, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed, Gwynedd.
9000gns – Norman Farming Company's Norman Rorey, by Claragh Franco, to Messrs Studholme and Son, Carlisle; PJ Henshall's Ringway Retro, by Millington Langton, to Messrs Youdan, Barnby Dun, Doncaster; JM and SM Priestley's Brontemoor Ranger, by Brontemoor Max, to Tottingworth Farms, Heathfield, East Sussex; Messrs Jenkinson's Whinfellpark Ralphie, by Lowerffrydd Empire to Messrs Pearson, Peak Forrest, Buxton; NP Wilson's Reddings Razor, by Scorboro Magnum, to Messrs Brown, Aspatria, Wigton; J Watson's Tweeddale Realmadrid, by Gallaway Midland to Messrs Swindell and Sons, Hognaston, Ashbourne; WJ and J McKay's Ampertaine Rustler, by Ampertaine Rustler, to Messrs Dodd, Lockerbie.
Averages: 23 senior bulls, £8861.09 (for two less); 38 intermediate bulls, £13,188.55 (for six fewer); 23 junior bulls, £8249.35 (for seven fewer). Overall, 84 bulls, £10,651.25 (for 15 fewer).
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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