World record price for Limousin embryo lights up Brockhurst Sale
19/04/05

The Limousin record books were rewritten once again on Saturday 16th April 2005 at the on-farm production sale from the Brockhurst herd of WJ & M Mash Ltd at Torrington Farm, Chesham, Bucks when a recipient heifer carrying an embryo went under the hammer for an incredible 5,500gns.

The mating that triggered this Limousin world record embryo price was the truly Royal pairing of Grahams Samson, himself the Limousin world record priced bull and ILC 2004 National Show Champion, and Ronick McAinsi, the Royal Show Overall Supreme Limousin Champion 2004. Due to calve on 1st August 2005, the birth is eagerly anticipated by new owners Smiths of Bloxham, Newlands Farm, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxon who continue to invest heavily in the future of their pedigree Ironstone herd.

Overall, the sale met with a brisk trade for females with 39 cows served or with calf at foot averaging just under £2,000 and 18 young maiden heifers averaging just under £1,000. Through the sale, 105 lots grossed an impressive £162,535.87 and the demand saw buyers range in geography from Lochgilphead to Cornwall.

Top price of the day at 10,000gns, however, went to the imported female Occitane who and again sold to Smiths of Bloxham, Newlands Farm, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxon. Occitane, a six year old female by Laurier and out of Licorne, was sold in-calf to the bull Uruguay. A second French import, Ubonie, an October 2003 born well-muscled cow by Nenuphar and out of Moutarde was knocked down to Mr J Graham of Grahams Agricultural, Meadow Lea Farm, Mickle Trafford, Chester for 4,000gns.

Further evidence of the rapid expansion of Mr Graham's pedigree Limousin herd with the Trafford prefix saw buying 5 of the top 14 lots. He purchased 2 French bulls, Umilio and Unisson, at 3,600gns and 3,200gns respectively as well as two females, Fenrose Solitaire and Brockhurst Ricotta, at 2,800gns and 2,300gns. Each was sold with a heifer calf at foot and again each was PD'd in calf to Glenturk Ultrasolid, the May 2003 born bull which topped the Carlisle bull sales at 21,000gns last Autumn.

Another star of the sale and second highest price on the day was Brockhurst Ulysses, a son of McAinsi, who was at foot when she was Female Champion at the Royal Show this time in 2003. By Brockhurst Raffles, he joins Mrs E Beeney & Sons' Broomfield herd at Mount Pleasant Farm, Hoath, Canterbury, Kent for 6,400gns. Mrs Beeney also snapped up Thorndean Sally, a four year old cow sold in calf to Brockhurst Premier, for 2600gns.

Further Ronick McAinsi offspring featured strongly in the sale when her daughter Brockhurst Starlight by Ronick Matador sold for the third top price of 5,800gns when going under the hammer to Millington Grange Estate, Cold Skin Farm, Pocklington, York.

Fifth leading price was the 4,200gns paid by JS Adam, Garraron Farm, Ardfern, Lochgilphead, Argyll for Brockhurst Paradise, a 5 year old Ronick Matador daughter out of homebred dam Brockhurst Heavenly. She embarks on the long journey North together with her heifer calf at foot, Brockhurst Vamp.

Brockhurst Phoebe, a 1999 born Ronick Lenor daughter was sold with her third calf at foot, a bull calf named Brockhurst Vapour by Brockhurst Premier for 3,600gns. Purchaser was WL & GW Hollow, Chytodden, Towednack, St. Ives, Cornwall for their Chytodden pedigree herd.

Averages
Brockhurst Pedigree Cattle
41 Cows served and/or suckling £2235.26 (+£680)
18 Maiden heifers £982.78 (-£150)
7 Junior bulls £1553.57 (+£142)
15 Senior bulls £1,694 (-£681)

Brockhurst Commercial Cattle
20 Cows & Heifers £531.25 (-£271)