Limousin Bull Sets New Record at Brecon Market
2009-11-17

An all-breeds centre record and record autumn average underpinned a very strong commercial trade for the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Autumn Show & Sale held at Brecon Livestock Market on Saturday 14th November 2009.

Glangwden Derwent - 12000gns

Glangwden Derwent, an April 2008 born bull from Mr & Mrs CL & FE Jerman, Glangwden, Trefeglwys, Caersws, Powys made 12,000gns when topping the trade and breaking the five-figure mark for the first time ever at McCartneys’ Brecon sales centre.

A good show of commercial bulls were readily snapped up by a packed ringside audience which resulted in twice the number of bulls selling as the previous year with averages up by £867 to £3,467 for 38 bulls sold representing a healthy clearance rate of 81% - also up on the previous year. In the female section, 27 cows averaged £1,967 (up by £462) with 11 heifers realizing £1,130 apiece. In all, 68 animals went under the hammer to gross £197,315.

Buying the top-priced lot were Messrs DE & G Davies & Son, Llwynpiod, Garth, Builth Wells, Powys for their commercial suckler herd which numbers approximately 70 females. Glangwden Derwent joins two forces with one other Limousin bull which was previously bought privately from the Jermans. Commenting, Mr Davies said: “We’re very pleased with our purchase; this bull is very quiet, full of muscle and I’m sure will do a great job on our commercial females.” A first prize-winner at the pre-sale show, Glangwden Derwent carries plenty of shape and muscle in his pedigree. He is sired by the senior stock bull, Haltcliffe Ullswater, the Sympa son purchased jointly by the Glangwden and Sarkley herds in May 2004 for 43,000gns and is out of the Jacot granddaughter, Glangwden Temptress. The bull carries a Beef Value of LM+33 placing him squarely in the top 10% of recorded Limousins. Breeder Fiona Jerman commented: ”We exhibited two Haltcliffe Ullswater sons at the 2009 Royal Welsh. The first of these, Glangwden Dodi, sold at Carlisle in October for 8,000gns to Messrs Pritchard Bros, Anglesey and we’re delighted to have got the centre record here in Brecon with the second.” The previous Brecon record of 8,000gns was also held by the Jermans for Glangwden Arnie sold May 2007. The Glangwden herd, which comprises of 75 pedigree females, has previously sold bulls at Carlisle to 12,500gns (Glangwden Useful Feb 2005) and 14,000gns for heifers (Glangwden Ulreka Red Ladies 2005).

Messrs AG Kirton & Sons, Severn Lodge Farm, Kinlet, Bewdley, Worcs enjoyed an excellent day’s trading with their three bulls going under the hammer for 8500gns, 6000gns and 4000gns respectively. Second leading price of the day was the 8,500gns paid by EJ Smith & Son, Norton Farm, Oxwich, Gower, Swansea for the rising 19 month old bull, Ashledge Drummond, another red rosette winner. Sired by senior herd sire Kendrom Acracker, a Ronick Hawk son purchased at Carlisle in October 2006 for 6,600gns, and out of the homebred dam Ashledge Azure, Ashledge Drummond also sports a top 10% Beef Value of LM+32.

The Ashledge Herd comprises approximately 65 breeding females and this represented their top price at sale to date. Sons of Kendrom Acracker had previously sold to 5,200gns at Welshpool in October with another son, Ashledge Darius, reaching 4,000gns also at Brecon when purchased by Messrs DL Lewis, Dolymelinau, Tregynon, Newtown. MJ Williams, The Woodlands, Docklow, Leominster, Hereford then bought the final Ashledge bull, Ashledge Dubrovnik, for 6,000gns. April 2008 born, Dubrovnik is by Goldies Osprey and out of the homebred 12 year old cow, Ashledge Nancie, a Broadmeadows Cannon granddaughter. He was sold with a Beef Value of LM+33.

Two other bulls also hit the 6,000gns mark. The first of these was the youngest bull in the ring and the last catalogued entry, Powerhouse Database, brought out by first-time exhibitors Mr & Mrs C Phillips, The Batch, Sarnesfield, Weobley, Hereford. Database is by the French sire, the Jacot son Soleil, and out of the dam Chatsworth Bridgette, a Greensons Gigolo granddaughter. Purchaser was JG Mills, Lower Wootton, Almeley, Hereford.

Also at 6,000gns was Fleethill Dusty consigned by Mr MJ Gray, Great Cellws, Crossgates, Llandrindod Wells. January 2008 born, Fleethill Dusty is by the 15,000gns Maraiscote Volt (Senior Champion Carlisle February 2006) and out of Fleethill Unakite. He heads to G Greenow & Son, Blaenau Mawr, Cwmdu, Crickhowell, Powys. The Fleethill herd sold three further Volt sons at 3500gns, 2900gns and 2100gns respectively to conclude a solid day’s trading.

The first black coated Limousin bull to be offered for sale at Brecon made 5,000gns when selling to JT & GE Bowen, Pencoedcae Farm, Princetown, Tredegar who run a 70-head mainly commercial herd of Welsh Black and Angus cows put exclusively to Limousin bulls. Tamarvalley Black Carnbrae was exhibited by Mr WP Harper, Way Farm, North Tamerton, Holsworthy, Devon and this 23 month old bull is by Edwards Valiant and out of Tamarvalley Virtuoso, a Cronshill Moses daughter.

At 4,000gns was the pre-sale Champion, Cowin Cadwalador, got by AI by the French sire Rocky and out of the Malibu daughter, Cowin Vi. This represented the first Championship success for the Cowin herd of WDD & C James, Blaencowin, Bryn Iwan, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire who have previously sold bulls to 26,000gns for Cowin Anton – the highest price achieved up to then by a Welsh breeder for a Limousin bull at auction (February 2007, Carlisle). The Cowin herd comprises of around 45 pedigree breeding females and Cowin Cadwalador had stood second to the eventual Reserve Male Champion, Cowin Carlito, at the 2009 Royal Welsh Show.

Pre-sale Champion, Cowin Cadwalador

Judge, Mr Duncan Hazard of the Mereside Herd, Saltby Heath Farm, Skillington, Lincs described his Champion as “a real eye-catcher with a very good top line, width from shoulder to rump, very square and with fine bones.” He was impressed by the overall standard of bulls which, he said, were representative of young bulls of very good breed type, fantastic temperament, mobility and which demonstrated the typical Limousin traits of muscling and conformation.

Mr. Hazard’s Reserve Champion was the 3,600gns Dinmore Dakota from Paul Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford. Sired by the 31,000gns Wilodge Thumper, who has previously bred bulls to 7,800gns (Wilodge Aldiniti, Perth October 2006 Reserve Junior Champion), Dakota is a heifer’s calf out of a daughter of the 30,000gns Wilodge Tonka. Having previously stood first in his class at Monmouth Show, Dinmore Dakota was described by the judge as: “a lovely Limousin type, very well put together with a super top line.” He was purchased by RJ Roderick, Newton, Scethrog, Brecon.

Also reaching 3,600gns were bulls consigned by Messrs N&J Matthews, Pye Brook Farm, Sutton, Stanton Lacy, Ludlow and by Messrs EH Pennie & Son, Gwern Yr Ychain, Llandyssil, Montgomery respectively: Pyebrook Davros (LM+27), a Tunnelby Scallywag son and out of Newstart Tempeste was purchased by A&F Lewis, Far Hall, Dolau, Llandrindod Wells; Sarkley Delmonte (LM+32) is by Rocky and out of Sarkley Virina and is full brother to the 9,000gns Sarkley Corina sold at 10 months of age. He heads to M&A Powell, Drefor, Kerry, Newtown.

Heading a very firm female trade was the 2,900gns Church Davina bred by TP Jerman, Church Farm, Trefeglwys, Newtown and exhibited by BC & JW Evans, Penrhos, Trefeglwys. Church Davina is a May 2008 born heifer by Sarkley Ami and out of Church Uma. New owner is LM Howells, Gelli Farm, Cymmer, Port Talbot on behalf of their Rhiwllech pedigree herd.

Averages:

38 Bulls £3467.76 (+ £867)
27 Cows £1967 (+ £462)
11 Heifers £1130.18 (- £37)

Auctioneers: McCartneys

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