Animals sold at British Limousin Cattle Society Official Sales broke through the £4.5 million barrier in 2006. With 16 Collective and 33 Breeders’ Sales held, the total sum grossed reached £4,696,130.30, an increase of over £461,000 on the year. In the last four years, the breed has grossed over a remarkable £19,184,000 for pedigree stock at Limousin Society Sales.

Haltcliffe Vermount selling for a world record
100,000gns at Carlisle in February 2006

In all, at Official Collective Sales at Carlisle, Perth, Aberdeen, Dungannon, Brecon and Bristol, bulls averaged £3413 – up by £553 on the year. The ongoing demand for Limousin breeding females at Society Sales is also apparent with 1144 females, across all age classifications, sold to an average of £1603. In total 2,003 lots overall, male and female, were knocked down to buyers during 2006 at an average of £2,344.55 representing an increase of £97 on the year. This included no less that 35 five figure prices and one six figure price!

Commenting, British Limousin Cattle Society Chairman Aled Edwards welcomed the figures and noted that pedigree breeders remained focussed on meeting the market place, “Pedigree breeders have made giant strides in breed improvement over the last decade or so, at a time when the financial encouragement for culling was so weak. In today’s prime market the by-product of Limousin breeding bull production is a much sought after premium product. Breeders are taking full advantage of this and as a consequence, the standard of young bulls forward at Society Sales will continue to increase”.

“Limousin females reputation for ease of management and efficiency of production continues to find great favour with the modern beef producer. This market has been further buoyed during the past year by the emergence of a strong demand from Central and Eastern Europe, and in particular, Poland”, continued Mr. Edwards.

The individual highlight of the Limousin sale year was the 100,000gns paid for Haltcliffe Vermount, the Supreme Champion from Carlisle in February, from Messrs Ridley, Hesket New Market, Cumbria when selling to Procters Farms, Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancs. It was a landmark moment for the British pedigree livestock sector as the 100,000gns price set an all breeds World, European and British record at auction. Collectively, October 2006 at Carlisle saw another record-breaking day at the autumn sale of Limousin bulls. A high quality show of bulls met with an electric trade that saw a breed and centre record average of £4510 set for the 132 bulls sold.

Bailea Limousin Heifer Sells For 21,000gns
Limousin Heifer wins 2006 National Primestock Show
Export Boom For Aberdeen-Angus