A tremendous demand from commercial beef producers from all corners of the United Kingdom, and Southern Ireland, resulted in another fantastic day’s trading at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s May Sale at Carlisle on Saturday, 5th May.

Craigatoke Apache sold for 30,000 guineas

Top price on the day was 30,000gns with 13 lots breaking the 10,000gns mark and 45 in all over 5000gns. In a sale full of depth right through the catalogue, 185 bulls were sold from the 219 forward representing a mighty clearance of 84%. The averages came out at £4480, up £127 on the year for 43 more bulls sold. The sale, which also saw 26 females sold, grossed £866,275.

It was a glorious debut day for Northern Irish breeder Martin Conway, 26 Meenagorp Road, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone who with his first bulls at Carlisle, topped the trade when receiving 30,000gns for the eighteen-month-old Craigatoke Apache. This mark set a new record for bulls from Northern Ireland pipping the 29,000gns figure set at the February 2007 Carlisle Sale. For the three Craigatoke animals presented, all sired by Haltcliffe Underwriter, Mr.Conway grossed a very acceptable 42,200gns. Haltcliffe Underwriter was purchased as a stock sire, from Carlisle’s May 2004 Sale for 10,000gns. Craigatoke Apache is an embryo calf out of the Malibu sired homebred dam Craigatoke Unique whose pedigree also features Broadmeadows Cannon. In the pre-sale show, judge William Smith Jnr, Milbrook, Oldcastle, Co.Meath, Republic of Ireland had placed this bull as his Intermediate Champion and Overall Reserve Champion and described him as having “a combination of style, shape, good lines and tremendous power.” These attributes along with excellent performance figures, a huge Beef Value of LM+45, proved irresistible to Richard Bartle purchasing on behalf of the Dinmore Pedigree Herd of Paul Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford. The growing Dinmore pedigree herd, building on quality bloodlines, consists of approximately 50 pedigree females.

Commenting on the sale, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said, “This was a superb sale with a real depth in demand from commercial beef producers. Truly national in its make-up there were buyers from the north of Scotland right down to Devon and Cornwall with bulls going to all parts of the UK. Market prices for Limousin crossbred calves and breeding cattle remain at a consistent and premium level. As such the breed name is synonymous with efficiency, quality and profit and it is the all-round economics that drives the ever increasing demand for Limousin cattle”.

Stirling breeders, Messrs R&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, took the second top price when selling Grahams Arkle for 26,000gns. An October 2005 born bull, Arkle is by the Grahams French bred stock sire Samy, a prolific show winner whose titles include the breed championship at the Royal Highland and the Burke Trophy Interbreed at the Royal Show. Arkle’s dam is also French bred in the shape of the ten-year-old Limier sired Nicole. Purchaser was well known commercial producer Mr J Thompson, Eastern House, Hilton of Beath Farm, Kelty, Fife. Grahams Arkle will be used in Mr Thompsons developing Beath pedigree herd and within his Limousin based commercial suckler herd.

Continuing a tremendous day for Northern Irish breeders, Stephen Clyde, Templepatrick, Co. Antrim made 24,000gns when selling Clydevalley Arty. This November 2005 born bull, a first prize winner from the Intermediate section displayed extreme muscle and tremendous width. Sired by Ronick Sphere, a Goldies Porterhouse son, he is out of Clydevalley Ophera whose pedigree features Djerk on the sire line and Talent on the dam line. Purchaser was Miss C Williams, T/S DA Williams, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal for the Wilodge pedigree herd.

The show’s Overall Champion, Goldies Bob, came from the Goldies herd of Bruce T Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries. This heifer’s calf is by the Ideal 23 son Goldies Terence whose first five sons have averaged just under £13,000. His dam is Goldies Tinkerbell, by the noted sire Lascard and out of Ronick Nainsi a full sister to the 28,000gns Ronick McAinsi. A November 2006 born bull Goldies Bob came through the Intermediate Section before winning the Championship. “This bull had a lot of class, was very correct and long with a very good muscle profile. He is the type of bull that will provide a good stamp for the breed in years to come,” commented show judge William Smith. Backing up these comments, Goldies Bob was duly sold for export when purchased for 20,000gns by a syndicate of Southern Irish breeders including Sean O’Sullivan, Frank Daly, Bobby Jones and Doreen Corridan. He will head straight into AI centre to be collected and thereafter his semen will be marketed by Goulding Genetics International, West End, Mill Street, Co. Cork

Millbrow Bellman, the Reserve Junior Champion made 13,000gns for breeders George & Pat Long, Mill Brow Farm, Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside, Cumbria. This February 2006 born calf is by the Southern Irish bred Ardnacrusha Uthman, a son of Nestor, whose first three sons sold averaged £6000. Bellman is out of the homebred Millbrow Tricia, by Highcross Pete. Sold with a cracking Beef Value of LM+35, he was purchased by well-known show calf producer Hugh Dunlop, Holehouse Farm, Ochiltree, Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Also at the 13,000gns mark was Maraiscote Arnie from Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Bogside, New Mains, Wishaw, Lanarkshire. The Reserve Intermediate Champion was snapped up by Richard Bartle again purchasing for the Dinmore Herd of Paul Dawes. Maraiscote Arnie is a full brother to Maraiscote Uganda sold for 10,000gns at Carlisle in October 2004. He is by the prolific Broadmeadows Cannon son Tyddyn Mei and is out of the Glespin Classic sired cow Marasicote Marguerite.

Welsh breeders Messrs ED Griffiths & Co, Cilgryman Fawr, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Hendygwyn, Carmarthenshire, secured their top price at sale to date when receiving 12,000gns for their Reserve Senior Champion, Mynach Axle. This July 2005 born calf is by the Griffiths French bred stock bull Sable, imported into the UK in 2002 and adjudged Best Stock Bull in 2005 and 2006 in the South Wales and Mid West Limousin Herd Competition. Mynach Axle is out of the homebred cow Mynach Rose and was purchased for the Cracrop pedigree herd of Messrs DT & M Stobart, Cracrop Farm, Brampton, Cumbria. J Gilchrist, West Meikle, Pinkerton, East Lothian paid 8,000gns for the first prize winning Mynach Alpha also from the Griffiths Mynach herd. Again by Sable, this August 2005 born bull is out of the home bred dam, Mynach Ophelia.

A good team of bulls from the Brontemoor Herd of Mr SM Priestley, Hill Top Farm, Denholme, Bradford, was led by Brontemoor Apache who made 12,000gns. Sired by Heros son Procters Subaru and out of Brontemoor Royalty by Glenrock OJ, this October 2005 sired calf, a first prize winner in the Intermediate Section, was purchased for the Swarland pedigree herd of Messrs A&D Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth.

Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Wigton, Cumbria enjoyed another excellent day’s trading led by the 11,500gns they received for Intermediate Section first prize winner Haltcliffe Ambassador. By the prolific Sympa, whose sons have sold to 43,000gns and out of the French bred cow Rolande, this September 2005 born bull was purchased by Mr EA Davies, Pantmaenog, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. Earlier, the Ridleys had received 11,000gns for the show’s Senior Section Champion, “an extreme commercial producer’s bull”, Haltcliffe Antler. Antler is by Penyrheol Sam, the sire of the world record 1000,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount, and is out of the Sympa daughter Haltcliffe Ultraviolet. Purchaser was Messrs AC Fotheringham, Ballinloan, Dunkeld, Perth for their Ballinloan Pedigree herd. At the 8,800gns mark was the Ridley’s class winner Haltcliffe Argent. Again a Sympa son, Argent is out of the dam Ronick Jester and was bought by East Anglian breeder HG Blaxell & Sons, Eastfield Farm, Hickling, Norwich for the Blaxfield pedigree herd.

Cheshire breeder Mr MJ Bennett, Clough House Farm, Threaphurst Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport, received 11,000gns for their fully homebred bull Threaphurst Butch. Sired by Espoir son Threaphurst Rolo and out of the Cannon daughter Threaphurst Sapphire, this January 2006 born bull was purchased for the Homebyres pedigree herd of Messrs John Logan, Humebyres, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

The fourth youngest bull in the catalogue, Frewstown Breakdance, underpinned a magnificent day for Northern Irish breeders when selling to 11,000gns for Mr D Frew, 29 Kellswater Road, Antrim, Co. Antrim. Sired by the Imperial son Mereside Topman and out of the Goldies Oswald sired Frewstown Uncut, this smart young February 2006 calf was snapped up by Banffshire breeders Mr & Mrs S Irvine, Braehead Farms, Drummuir, Banffshire for their Anside pedigree herd.

Fittingly, the final five figure price bull also came from Northern Ireland, this time Sylvandene Alpha from Mr J Baird, 10 Old Mill Road, Scarva, Craigavon, Co. Armagh. Selling at 10,500gns, this Mas Du Clo sired bull is out of the French bred cow Neige. Born in December 2005, Sylvandene Alpha sold to Messrs ET White & Son, Hyde Farm, Brewood, Staffordshire.

At 9,000gns was the red ticket winning Senior bull Allanfauld Alpen, presented by A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow. This August 2005 born embryo calf is a Jockey son and is out of the homebred dam, Allanfauld Della. Sporting an impressive Beef Value of LM+38 he heads to pedigree breeders G Prentice & Son of the Hermitage prefix, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. At the same figure was the Junior bull Fieldson Bigboy brought forward by JW Fieldson, Poplar Farm, Corringham, Lincs. This rising 18 month old bull is by Goldies Uppercrust and out of Fieldson Rebecca again with a high Beef Value of LM+36 putting him towards the top 1% of performance recorded Limousin cattle. New owners are commercial producers G&W Halliday, Crawthat, Tundergarth, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.

The powerful Gunnerfleet Atlas, a son of the French sire Silex and out of Gunnerfleet Uster made 8,800gns for J Handley, Gunnerfleet Farm, Chapel Le Dale, Ingleton, Carnforth, Lancs. A September 2005 born calf, he was purchased by Mrs ME Brown of Housenrigg, Brayton, Aspatria, Cumbria for her Windyhill pedigree herd.

At 8,000gns was Ronick Arinocco, a November 2005 born Junior bull bred by R Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling. A Ronick Rascard son and out of the Cannon sired Ronick Orinoco, he was snapped up by OD Tranter, Illa Farm, Clythaclytha Itill, Ragland, Monmouthshire.

Averages:

60 Senior Bulls £3,895.68
76 Intermediate Bulls £5,053.82
49 Junior Bulls £4,268.57

185 Bulls £4,480.95 (plus £127.15)

1 Cow served and/or suckling £2,730.00
4 Served Heifers £1,837.50
21 Maiden Heifers £1,435.00

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