| 2016-06-16 |    |
Millington Limousin Herd to Disperse
Harrison & Hetherington have announced that they will be handling the dispersal sale of the elite Millington Limousin herd.
The herd, based on Ashcourt Farms’ Millington Grange Estate near York, will be sold at Borderway Mart in Carlisle on August 19. The Millington females have been bred for size, strength, structure and muscle and their quality has taken the herd into the breed’s top 10 per cent. In total, 170 head of cattle including calves will be going under the hammer, giving buyers a rare opportunity to buy some of the best Limousin genetics in the UK.
Ian Nattress
H&H auctioneer James Little said:
“It has been an important herd
for a number of years and this is a major Limousin sale.
“Harrison & Hetherington are delighted to have received instructions to conduct the sale. There has been a lot of emphasis on the health status of the Millington herd, registered as a high health herd and with the genetics on offer this sale is sure to attract interest from across the UK and Ireland.”
The Millington Limousins herd is being totally dispersed as a result of a change and restructuring of Ashcourt Farms’ farming policy. The herd owned by Bob Bousfield and family and managed for five years by Ian Nattress, comprises 50 pedigree Limousin cows.
Limousin stock bull Ecran was imported from France in 2011 to improve the female bloodlines, many of which included in the sale. Also Greenwell Fieldmaster was purchased from Procter Farms in 2012 to add size and frame. In 2014, the herd added stock bull Norman Hawk, sired by Claragh Franco, from Carlisle's February sale, and Spittalton Imij, sired by Haltcliffe Vermount, who was purchased privately in the September. The additions were brought in to add shape and muscle to the herd.
Foundation females include Ronick Nestle, full sister to the famous Ronick Hawk, whose bloodlines are dominant in the herd. Progeny of Brockhurst Option, such as Millington Davina, Supreme Champion at the Royal Show as a maiden heifer in 2009, have sold for a top price of 28,000 guineas.
Other notable females include the multi-award winning Millington Highlight, by Wilodge Vantastic out of the great breeding female Brockhurst Option. Millington Highlight was reserve Supreme Champion at the Great Yorkshire as an in calf heifer in 2014 and with a Calf at Foot in 2015. She was also Interbreed Champion at Driffield in 2015 and Interbreed Champion at the 2014 Lincolnshire Show, following in the footsteps of full brother Millington Hawk at the 2013 event.
The herd scooped the North East Limousin Clubs Extra Large section of the herd competition in both 2014 and 2015. Yearling heifer Millington Joyous took the best young heifer title last year and Spittlaton Imij won best stock bull in the competition.
Millington
herd manager, Ian Nattress, said:
“The herd has won many accolades and
the dispersal sale is a rare opportunity for buyers to get their hands
on animals of exceptional quality.
“The bloodlines and genetics have been carefully nurtured and the sale will allow other herds to benefit from these.”
The Millington Limousins are performance recorded with the British Limousin Cattle Society for liveweight gain every 100 days until the animal is 500 days old. Bulls and heifers are scanned once a year for muscle and back fat at approximately 13 months of age. The herd is also monitored by the Biobest Herd Health Scheme for Johnes and BVD and Millington is in a 4 year TB area.
