BLCS Spring 2014 Magazine by British Limousin Cattle Society

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Limousin the official magazine of the british limousin cattle society

Spring 2014

37,000GNS GRAHAMS HUMPHREY LEADS FEBRUARY BULL TRADE RONICK HONEY SETS 2013 LIMOUSIN FEMALE MARK AT 20,000GNS

16,500GNS IN-CALF HEIFER HEADS EMSLIES SALE 9,000GNS MAYBE HEIFER TOPS FEBRUARY FEMALE SALE l LIMOUSINS LEAD BCMS FIGURES FOR 18TH STRAIGHT YEAR l 2013 BLCS SALES GROSS £5.7 MILLION l SEMENSTORE EXPORTS TO CZECH REPUBLIC l NEW YOUNG BREEDERS CO-ORDINATOR

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Limousin the official magazine of the british limousin cattle society

Spring 2014

37,000GNS GRAHAMS HUMPHREY LEADS FEBRUARY BULL TRADE RONICK HONEY SETS 2013 LIMOUSIN FEMALE MARK AT 20,000GNS 16,500GNS IN-CALF HEIFER HEADS EMSLIES SALE

9,000GNS MAYBE HEIFER TOPS FEBRUARY FEMALE SALE COWPORATION DISPERSAL TO 9,000GNS l LIMOUSINS LEAD BCMS FIGURES FOR 18TH STRAIGHT YEAR l 2013 BLCS SALES GROSS £5.7 MILLION l SEMENSTORE EXPORTS TO CZECH REPUBLIC l NEW YOUNG BREEDERS CO-ORDINATOR

Cover Picture: Courtesy of Alfie Shaw

NEXT ISSUE Reports and pictures from the May 2014 sales Pictorial round-up and reports from the 2014 Summer Shows and both Limousin Grand Prix Herd profiles and features, and all the news and views around British Limousin Technical Corner

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Iain Kerr Editor

British Limousin Cattle Society Ltd, Concorde House, 24 Warwick New Road, Royal Leamington Spa, Warks CV32 5JG Tel: 02476 696500 Fax: 02476 696716 Email: info@limousin.co.uk

Easy calving muscling

Length

It’s the business

& WIDTH

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Contents

Spring 2014

06 News round-up

21-25 Technical Corner In this issue we find the latest on Myostatin Genotypes as well as the Docility EBV. We include our regular feature the Top Ten Sires, Dams and Young Performance Recorded Bulls & Females.

14 £8,000 Ghyll House Calf tops Penrith All the latest news on the UK’s most numerical beef breed from up and down the UK including: £5.7 Million sales gross in 2013; £105,000 returned to breeders in health and breed improvement incentives; most used sires in 2013; Limousin commercial stock topping primestock and store trade all around the country.

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Commercial Limousin-bred stock have once again topped the trade at many a winter fair and spring calf show. Leading the trade again this year at £8,000 were W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House, with a nine-monthold Limousin-cross steer by Volcano.

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sales Carlisle Feb 14

p38

Stirling Feb 14

p42

Thainstone Feb 14

p45

Brecon Feb 14

p46

Dungannon Feb 14

p47

Ballymena Jan 14

p48

Red Ladies Dec 13

p49

Weaned Calves Dec 13 p51

32-37 Features We head to Wales to visit Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year, Phil Jones, and see why Limousins tick all the boxes for both maternal traits and as a terminal sire. We also feature the Kent-based 325-strong commercial suckler herd of FGS Agri. Our final feature sees us head north of the border to Lockerbie where we pay a visit to David & Rosemarie Cornthwaite.

38-51 245 Bulls sold at Spring Sales

27-31 Young Breeders Rounding up all the news from the YLBC including: appointment of new YLBC Co-ordinator; inaugural Young Handlers Competition; and pictures and words from the NI Calf Spectacular and Young Handlers’ Competition.

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At the five Limousin February fixtures (Carlisle, Stirling, Thainstone, Dungannon & Brecon), 245 bulls in all went under the hammer to gross £1,241,107 representing an average of £5,065 per head.

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Grahams Humphrey 37,000gns

Elrick Handsome 12,500gns

37,000GNS GRAHAMS HUMPHREY LEADS FEBRUARY 2014 BULL SALES Spring Sales Round-up

&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, Stirling secured the top price in the British Limousin Cattle Society February 2014 collective sales round when they sold their junior bull, Graham Humphrey, for 37,000gns at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Saturday 15th February. At the five Limousin February fixtures (Carlisle, Stirling, Thainstone, Dungannon & Brecon), 245 bulls in all went under the hammer to gross £1,241,107 representing an average of £5,065 per head. Leading an electric trade for junior bulls at Carlisle was the 37,000gns Grahams Humphrey which saw the sale close with 103 bulls sold in all to average £6,417, the 33 junior bulls averaged a fantastic £7689, up by over £2,400 on the year, whilst the sale average overall was up by £1,085 on the corresponding 2013 fixture with a clearance rate of 69%. Bringing something new to the bloodlines on offer at the sale, the October 2012born Humphrey is by the Irish-bred sire, Baileys Elderado, a bull purchased by Robert Graham at a Roscrea Sale in Ireland for 17,000 Euros. Elderado is by Queenshead Altea who was originally bought for 52,000gns by the Baileys herd at Carlisle and who features the noted Greensons Gigolo in his breeding. In 2013, the top-priced Limousin female in the year was Grahams Gayla at 17,000gns who is also by Baileys Elderado. Grahams Humphrey is out of Grahams Coffee, a Millington Vascular daughter, who is described as ‘one of the best cows in the Grahams herd.’ Purchasing the top price was Charlie Boden, Boden & Davies Ltd for his 30-cow Sportsmans pedigree herd at Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire. Commercial beef producers led a strong demand for Limousin bulls at United Auctions’ Stirling market on 4th February

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that saw 70 bulls average £5247, up by £862 on the year. Leading the way, at what was the British Limousin Cattle Society’s first collective bull sale of the 2014 year, was the 12,500gns paid for Elrick Handsome from Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire. In the pre-sale show, this April 2012-born bull had been placed as Reserve Overall Supreme Champion and Senior Champion by the judge Gary Oag, who runs the Brims Herd at Brims Mains, Thurso, Caithness. Elrick Handsome is a heifer’s calf out of Elrick Emily and whose breeding goes back to the brood cow Goldies Isadora. Corsairtly Harley from Messrs R & K Davidson, Corsairtly Farm, Keith, Banffshire secured the leading price of 5,000gns for Limousin bulls at Thainstone (Aberdeen) on February 26th. March 2012-born, he is sired by the Mas Du Clo son, Millington Dominator, and is out of the dam Redstroke Buttercup. He now heads to AR Mathers & Sons, Wardes, Kintore, Inverurie. Messrs Davidson later sold their other three bulls, all juniors aged 18-19 months, at 2,200gns apiece. Earlier in the day Corsairtly Harley had been placed as Reserve Champion Limousin by the judge Mr Allen Drysdale, Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie. At Thainstone, 290 bulls overall levelled at £3,554. A new fixture to the BLCS official sales list, and complementing the sales held in May and November, the Brecon February Sale saw 12 bulls sell in all to average £3,294. Leading the trade at 4,000gns was Ashledge Highlander from Messrs AG Kirton & Sons, Severn Lodge Farm, Buttonbridge Lane, Kinlet, Bewdley. An AI son by Fieldson Alfy and out of the dam Ashledge Alexandria, Ashledge Highlander was purchased by DN Eynon, Gwerngenny, Wormbridge, Hereford. In the pre-sale show, judged by Joe Gray of the Fleethill herd, Llandrindod Wells, this February 2012-born bull had placed first

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in class one before moving on to win the Overall Championship. At Dungannon, another 40 bulls found homes to an average of £2,556 to gross just over £100,000. Heading the prices in Northern Ireland was Trueman Hummer at 3,600gns when consigned by H Savage & Sons, Skerriff Road, Altnamackin, Newry. This June 2012-born bull holds a Beef Value of LM+42 and is sired by Hartlaw Excaliber and is out of the homebred dam, Trueman Concert, who has Nenuphar and Sympa bloodlines. He was purchased by Sam Chesney, Kircubbin for his well-known commercial enterprise. Full Reports on the above sales are to be found on pages 38-44 Market Shorts

March YORK MULTIBREED SALE PEAKS AT 3,200GNS The March Multibreed Show & Sale of pedigree cattle at York achieved a top price of 3,200gns for the 2010-born Limousin cow, Elderberry Francine, which sold with her bull calf at foot and in-calf to the French bull, Engy. Consigned by E Blenkhorn and Son, Goole, the pair sold to W Barr, Great Broughton. Two Limousin bulls sold for 3,000gns. The first was May 2012-born Middleton Huntsman, by Scorboro Enigma from P Byas, Driffield, which was knocked down to TH Kilby & Sons, Wetherby. Next came February 2012-born Coachhouse Hitman, by Coachhouse Eebygum, from Heald & Co, Retford, which sold to AV Etherington, York. Auctioneers: York Auction Centre.

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20,000GNS RONICK HONEY SUPREME CHAMPION & TOP PRICE AT RED LADIES

aking the top price and setting the leading price for a Limousin female in 2013 was the classy February 2012born heifer Ronick Honey when going under the hammer at the Red Ladies Derby Sale held at Carlisle’s Borderway Market on Friday 13th December. In the morning’s pre-sale show, Ronick Honey from Mr R Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling had also been crowned as the Overall Supreme Champion by judge Mark Phillips who runs the Newmarque Herd at Mains of Minnydow, Springholm, Castle Douglas. The Champion animal is by the 17,000gns herd stock bull Rathconville Eugene and is out of the Ronick Shapely-sired Ronick

Cute. Ronick Honey has been shown successfully throughout 2013 winning her class at the Royal Highland as well as several local shows and Interbreeds. She was also placed as the Best Heifer born in 2012 in the 2013 Scottish Limousin Club Herd Competition. Combining breeding and performance this heifer carried a Beef Value of LM+38. Purchasing the top price were GR & SC Brooke for their establishing Romford pedigree herd at Upper Huntly Wood Farm, Earlston, Berwickshire. Having kept track of the heifer’s prolific summer show season, this was an opportunity for the purchaser to buy from “the top of the Ronick programme” to establish a small, elite herd of pedigree Limousins.

16,500GNS IN-CALF HEIFER LEADS EMSLIES SALE l Five animals at five figures and over l Sale grosses £400,000

Representing the first animal bought at auction, Ronick Honey will join a number of other females recently purchased privately. For Full Report see p49-50

Ronick Honey 20,000gns

Sale leader at 16,500gns was the October 2011-born Emslies Guerlain, a Sympa daughter and out of the herd’s noted French cow Ubonie. Combining muscle, power, thickness and breed character, this heifer is a maternal sister to the 37,000gns Emslies Frenchman. Buying the top price, which also had a Beef Value of LM+37, was Drew Hyslop for his Newshot pedigree herd at Myrtle Cottage, School Brae, Haugh-of-Urr, Castle Douglas. Emslies Guerlain’s service details showed she had been AI’d to Salomon and then having run with the 18,000gns junior herd sire Dinmore Goldcrest. Emslies Duchess (LM+30) made 15,000gns when selling in a half share to Mr WD Wight, Whitrighill Farm, Melrose, Roxburghshire along with WJ & M Mash Ltd, Torrington Farm, Grove Lane, Chesham, Bucks for their Monkeypuzzle and Brockhurst herds respectively. A 2008-born embryo calf by the French sire Salomon and out of the 2009 Royal Welsh Show Limousin and Interbreed Champion, Ballymoney Veronica, she was sold with her June 2013-born bull calf at foot, Emslies Ironman (by Bailea Bullion) and back in calf to Dinmore Goldcrest. Also at 15,000gns was Emslies Ieryl (LM+34) when selling to Aileen Ritchie, Tamara, Burnside, Whitecairns, Aberdeen. This April 2013born maiden heifer is sired by the 28,000gns Procters Cavalier and is out of Emslies Eryl, who was shown at foot with the title-winning Ballymoney Veronica at the Royal Welsh in 2009, and whose first calf, Emslies Hendreron, took the 15,000gns top price at Stirling in October 2013.

Emslies Guerlain 16,500gns

he Sassy Lassies Sale from the Emslies Herd of Mr Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire saw a strong trade throughout led by the 16,500gns paid for the in-calf heifer Emslies Guerlain. Held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Saturday 18th January, this British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ Sale kicked off the 2014 pedigree Limousin trade in some style with a real depth of quality, bloodlines and prices throughout the catalogue. The sale, marking the first Production Sale from the herd since its foundation in 2003, saw a huge crowd in attendance with new and established breeders from all over the UK competing for the quality lots on offer. The sale grossed £390,705 with 26 cows and heifers served and/or suckling averaging a tremendous £6,021 and five lots in all breaching the five figure mark.

Going under the hammer at the 12,000gns mark to the Garyvaughan Herd of Mr CV Lewis, Buttington New Hall, Buttington, Welshpool, Powys was Emslies Farah (LM+35). Born in February 2010, she is by Procters Cavalier and is out of Ballymoney Sarah and was sold with her first calf at foot, Emslies Integrity, a May 2013 born young bull who is by the homebred sire Emslies Colossus. She was sold having run with the 37,000gns Emslies Frenchman. At the same money was Emslies Gillian when knocked down to JL Woodward, Rieton Close, Thorpe Saint Andrews, Norwich. An in-calf heifer by the French-bred Ulm and out of the Ionesco daughter, Kaprico Chrysanthemum, the March 2011-born Gillian (LM+35) was sold AI’d to Emslies Colossus and having run with Dinmore Goldcrest. Full Report on www.limousin.co.uk

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MERESIDE HELTERSKELTER SELLS IN PRIVATE DEAL FOR £10,000

Mereside Helterskelter

aving been under bidder on the 13,000gns Limousin bull Mereside Hannibal at Carlisle in February, suckled calf producers Andrew & Karen Nicholson, Swinside End Farm, Cockermouth, have purchased Mereside Helterskelter from Roger, Duncan & James Hazard, Skillington, Grantham, Lincolnshire, in a private deal for £10,000. An October 2012-born Carmorn Copilot son, Helterskelter is out of the French-bred Tarentelle, a Gabin daughter, who was purchased privately as a new line, she has already produced a bull sold privately as well as suckling a very good full brother to Helterskelter. Speaking of his purchase Andrew Nicholson said: “Helterskelter has everything I need in a bull; he’s got a tremendous top and end with great plates and loin, plus the added style I look for when producing suckled show calves.” Recent success has seen the Mereside Herd topping Carlisle in May last year at 40,000gns and taking a Carlisle championship in February with Mereside Hallmark, which went on to sell for 18,000gns. Adding his thoughts to the sale, James Hazard commented: “We’re delighted Andrew and Karen Nicholson returned to the herd to purchase a bull having missed out on Mereside Hannibal at Carlisle in February. Helterskelter’s mixture of UK fashion and French lines on the dam side means he’s packed full of muscle and we hope he breeds well for Andrew and Karen.”

Market Shorts COCKERMOUTH LIMOUSINS PEAK AT 3,100GNS The fifth annual sale of pedigree Limousin cattle held at Cockermouth on Friday 28th March included, for the first time, a pre-sale show judged by Drew Hyslop of the Newshot Herd, Castle Douglas. Trade topped at 3,100gns for Griseburn Hogarth from TA Horn, Great Asby with this bull selling to RJ & JM Tudhope, Wigton. Hogarth is a son of the 8,000gns sire Sandhills Diablo and is out of a dam by the 10,000gns bull Ballinloan Rascal. He stood second to the Overall Champion in the presale show, Whinfellpark Hbomb, by Dinmont Bandit and out of Whinfellpark Daniela, consigned by Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Penrith. Hbomb later sold for 2,700gns to Messrs Greening, Waverbank with another from the same stable, Whinfellpark Hefty, sired by Blageur and out of Middledale Shirley, a Heroique daughter, selling at the same money. HEXHAM STORE CATTLE TO £1,470 FOR LIM STEER Hexham and Northern Marts had an entry of 507 Store Cattle & Suckled Calves at their weekly sale on Friday 28th March which saw trade sharper on the week. The sale was topped by a Limousin-cross steer aged 23 months at £1,470 from local consigners M/s GS Eggleston, Thornham Hill. This was closely followed by another Limousin crossbred steer at £1,430 from George and Phillip Tomlinson, Sunniside.

9,000GNS MAYBE HEIFER TOPS LIMOUSIN FEMALE SALE

aybe Girly, an October 2011-born in-calf heifer from D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray Hill, Lockerbie, Dumfries was the 9,000gns sale leader at the British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ Sale held on Friday 14th February 2014, the evening prior to the bull sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. In all, 59 Females averaged £1,851 with the sale grossing a healthy £109,253. By the Irish-bred sire, Galbally C458, a Neuf son, Maybe Girly is out of Maybe Cute (by Ronick Hawk) who won Female of the Year in the 2013 Scottish Limousin Club Herd Competition, and she was shown at foot when her dam won the Interbreed Championship at the 2012 Dumfries Show, along with Breed Championships at Wigtown and Stewartry Shows respectively. Sold having run with the 12,000gns Netherhall Epic, a Sympa son, Maybe Girly (LM+29) was purchased by J & W Wilson, Kirkmabreck Farm, Creetown, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. The 9,000gns price tag led what was the first Production Sale from David & Rosemarie Cornthwaite’s Limousin herd established in 1993 which runs alongside their 370-strong commercial enterprise. Overall, 9 Maybe heifers averaged £2,870. The same purchasers, Messrs Wilson, also bought the next lot, the 2600gns Maybe Geological, by the same sire and out of the Marquis daughter, Maybe Biological, who was sold PD’d in-calf to Netherhall Epic.

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Maybe Girly D&R Cornthwaite 9,000gns

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10TH ANNIVERSARY NEWARK LIMOUSIN DAY PEAKS AT 7,000GNS TWICE

Millington Hampton Supreme Champion 7,000gns

Coachhouse Hathaway 7,000gns

wo bulls at 7,000gns led the way at the 10th Anniversary Limousin Day Show and Sale held at Newark Market on 12th April. Established in 2004, the Limousin Day sale has grown to the point where the 2014 catalogue saw some 635 head of pedigree and commercial Limousin cattle for sale. The pedigree bull trade saw 46 of the 51 bulls forward sell representing an excellent 90% clearance and to an average of just over £3,600 - up by over £100 on the year. Joint top price at 7,000gns was Millington Hampton, the pre-sale show Supreme

Champion, from Millington Limousins Ltd, The Grange, Millington, York. This bull, an embryo calf, is by Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the Ronick Matador sired Brockhurst Option. May 2012-born and with a Beef Value of LM+42, Millington Hampton had emerged as the Intermediate Champion before being tapped up as the Supreme Champion by judge for the day Eric Norman of the noted Norman Herd at Little Orton, Carlisle. Commenting on his Champion, Eric Norman said: “This bull had plenty of power and was really well put together. He had good shape, was naturally muscled, and had very good locomotion.” Purchasing the joint top

price was Gascoines Group, Church Street, Southwell, Notts. Also at 7,000gns was Coachhouse Hathaway from Messrs Heald & Co, Home Farm, Grove, Retford, Notts. June 2012 born this bull had placed as Reserve Intermediate Champion to the eventual Overall Supreme. Coachhouse Hathaway is by Mereside Daytona and is out of the Haltcliffe Hercules daughter Coachhouse Rouge. This bull was bought by GP Mayo, Maidford House Farm, Maidford, Towcester, Northants. Full report on www.limousin.co.uk

9,000GNS TOP PRICE AT COWPORATION DISPERSAL

he Dispersal Sale of the Cowporation Herd on behalf of Mr Teus Dekker, Cowporation BV, Alblasserdam, Netherlands, held at Carlisle on Friday 28th March 2014, saw a top price of 9,000gns paid for the four-yearold Nebo Favourite. Bred by Mr ML Thomas, Nebo, Llanwrst, Conwy, Nebo Favourite is by Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the Neuf-sired Nebo Caryl. A first calver, the September 2010-born Nebo Favourite was sold with her heifer calf by Ampertaine Commander, Cowporation Iris, at foot. Purchasing the top price was AJ Ewing, Dumbretton Farm, Annan, on behalf of a client. At 6,900gns was Ampertaine Heather who was purchased by Mr M McKeefry for his Eniver Herd of 18 breeding females based in Carhill Road, Garvagh, Coleraine, Co Derry, N Ireland. Ampertaine Heather is by the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Glenrock Ventura-bred cow, Ampertaine Cancan, who is maternal sister to Ampertaine Annabella (who bred the 20,000gns Ampertaine Commander) as well as to Ampertaine Bathsheba (who bred the 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman). July 2012-born, this maiden heifer was bred by Messrs WJ & J McKay, Maghera, Co Derry and sold with a Beef Value of LM+32.

Nebo Favourite 9,000gns

Full report on www.limousin.co.uk

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BCMS FIGURES CONFIRM BRITISH LIMOUSIN AS THE UK’S LEADING BEEF BREED FOR 18TH YEAR Beef-sired calves in Great Britain in 2013. Source BCMS Northern Ireland: Beef Registrations 2013 Source LMC GB TOTAL

Limousin AA Charolais British Blue Simmental Other beef breeds

ENGLAND

29%

495,310 269,549 220,576 186,927 163,555 362,603 1,698,520

29% 16% 13% 11% 10% 21%

Limousin AA Charolais British Blue Simmental Other beef breeds

SCOTLAND

28%

282,628 171,109 85,713 143,968 80,987 260,442 1,024,847

WALES

28% 17% 8% 14% 8% 25%

Limousin AA Charolais British Blue Simmental Other beef breeds

NORTHERN IRELAND

37%

29%

129,868 83,652 91,697 16,836 72,556 55,332 449,941

29% 19% 20% 4% 16% 12%

32%

igures released by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) for 2013 have confirmed British Limousin as the UK’s most numerical breed – beef or dairy. The Limousin’s share of beef-sired registrations in England, Scotland & Wales is 29% equating to 495,310 Limousin-sired calves born in the past year - more than the breeds in second and third place combined. Leading nationally, and in each of the home nations, the figures are also supported by numbers from the Livestock & Meat Commission (LMC) in Northern Ireland where Limousin-sired cattle registered in the year 2013 reveal a market share of 32% or 98,007 of the 309,645 beef calves registered in the preceding twelve months. Since the establishment of BCMS in 1996, and the issuing of cattle passports, this is the eighteenth year in a row that the Limousin breed has maintained its number one ranking position in the UK beef industry. The released figures come on the back of what was a very successful year for the Limousin breed and British Limousin Cattle Society. In the course of 2013, BLCS sales of pedigree Limousin cattle grossed £5.7 Million. Over 19,000 pedigree calves were also registered by the Society’s 2,800 breeder members – the fourth straight year that the 19,000 barrier has been reached. However, the figures reveal an underlying trend of reducing suckler cow numbers in the UK to 1,698,000 with almost 70,000 lost in the last 12 months alone. Despite this trend, it is the continental breeds

Limousin

Limousin AA Charolais British Blue Simmental Other beef breeds

82,814 14,788 43,166 26,368 10,012 46,584 223,732

37% 7% 19% 12% 4% 20%

that continue to dominate and siring more than two thirds of beef calves born annually in the UK. Angus in second place is the only native breed in the top five. Calves born in the dairy sector - all dairy breeds - equate to 826,087 with Holstein the leading sire. Commenting, BLCS Chairman Peter Kirton said: “These are again terrific figures and show the consistency of performance of the breed over a sustained number of years. Limousin remains the breed of choice of the commercial cattle man and is the UK beef industry’s benchmark for performance and profitability. Year on year these BCMS figures confirm that the demand for British Limousin genetics continues to be driven by the breed’s ability to meet the needs of the market place. Its versatility and flexibility, both as a terminal sire and as a suckler cow brings added value and ticks all the boxes for the UK’s beef farmers.”

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Limousin AA Charolais British Blue Simmental Other beef breeds

98,007 48,049 82,645 18,126 24,101 38,717 309,645

32% 16% 27% 6% 8% 13%

Market Shorts

Bishops Castle sees strong Limousin store trade

50-head of stores went under the hammer early March on behalf of the Bishops Castle & diatrict quality Cattle Association. Top price was the £1,450 for a 760kg Limousin from FG Jones, Lower Down who also sold a bunch of three 700kg Limousin steers at =£1,430 a head. A per kilo high of 287p came in the form of a Alimousin from IE & M Gittins, Lower Ucheldre. Heifers sold to a top of £1,190 for another Limousin from WD & ME Parry, Caetwp and 274p/kg for a 340kg Limousin from Messrs Gittins.

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NEW RED POLLED BULLS ON SEMENSTORE

SEMENSTORE EXPORTS TO CZECH REPUBLIC Further export order comprising of six Limousin bulls has been fulfilled by the online website www.semenstore.co.uk.

Greensons Howlett

Posthaven Polled Yellowstone

T Wilodge Cerberus

various markets back in the Czech Republic, with the order being finalised in January 2014. The Limousin bulls included in the order are Wilodge Cerberus (a second order to the Czech Republic), Plumtree Deus, Plumtree Fantastic, Haltcliffe Underwriter as well as two French-bred bulls Bolide and Vagabond.

Bolide

emenstore, the e-commerce website, has completed an export of semen to the Czech Republic comprising of six Limousin bulls. Further to the report in the Winter 2013 Limousin Magazine, visitors from the Czech Republic comprising of an AI company representative, a manager of a 2,000-head beef feedlot together with a commercial beef producer and Limousin pedigree breeder, toured over six UK farms and pedigree herds last August. Prospective purchasers Jan Machacek of Inplem and Agrofert’s Martina Tampierova paid particular attention to feet and legs as well as length and width in the tops. Having looked at progeny of Semenstore sires, six bulls were selected to suit the

Commenting, Semenstore’s Livestock & Genetics Specialist, Steve Jones, said: “This is another good order for the UK pedigree sector. Europe and indeed worldwide are actively seeking to buy into the best of UK bovine genetics. Calving ease, growth, muscle and mobility are just some of the traits that they are looking for and Semenstore with its portfolio of bulls of all major beef breeds is a great place to start.” This latest order to the Czech Republic follows hard on the heels of a shipment of semen from five Limousin bulls to Australia at the tail-end of 2013. A party of fifty German Limousin breeders has already confirmed a trip for June of this year when they will combine herd visits with attendance at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, Edinburgh. Since its launch in 2009, Semenstore has exported to 5 continents and over 50 countries. See www.semenstore. co.uk for further information.

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wo new homozygous polled, redcoated Limousin bulls have recently gone live on www.semenstore.co.uk.

Greensons Howlett is the first homozygous polled (100% polled calves) red Limousin bull bred in the UK to have semen available. More importantly, he has the shape and muscling of a British Limousin bull which is backed up by an impressive range of EBVs. Howlett is top 1% for Muscle Depth as well as 200 and 400 Day Growth. This is further enhanced by top 5% for Gestation Length, top 10% for Calving Value and top 5% for Beef Value. Howlett also measured a massive 42cm Scrotal Circumference at 12 months of age - a score rarely seen in the Limousin breed. Howlett is a long, easy-fleshing bull with a great top, super temperament and sound locomotion. He carries two copies of the F94L ‘profit gene’; he is pictured out working at 15 months of age. Semen priced at £20 per straw is now available on www.semenstore.co.uk The Canadian-bred Lim bull, Posthaven Polled Yellowstone is also homozygous polled meaning all calves will be born with no horns. He is sired by the world-renowned Posthaven Polled Urban Cowboy and his dam is a very correct cow who has produced many good daughters who are good milking females. Thick, well-muscled and super quiet, his semen has already found favour with breeders in Germany and sold to many breeders in the USA and Canada. Bred for easy calving, he should produce offspring that perform in the feeder pen or for breeding heifer replacements. Semen priced at £25 per straw can be purchased on www.semenstore.co.uk

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Limousin News FORTHCOMING SHOWS & EVENTS Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd May 2014 Carlisle Sale including Dispersal of Springsett Herd Monday 5th May 2014 Stirling Sale Monday 5th May 2014 Ballymena Sale Tuesday 6th May 2014 Thainstone Multibreed Sale* Saturday 10th May 2014 Brecon Sale Tuesday 13th May 2014 Northern Limousin Extravaganza*, Skipton Wednesday 14th May 2014 Skipton Red Sale* Wednesday 14th May to Friday 16th 2014 Balmoral Show Thursday 15th May 2014 Welshpool, North West Midlands & North Wales Club Sale* Saturday 17th May 2014 Carlisle, North West Cattle Breeders Club Show & Sale*

2013 LIMOUSIN GROSS SALES EXCEED £5.7 MILLION

Saturday 17th May 2014 BLCS Sale at Newark; dispersal sale of Pennys & Birdies Herds, with guest consignments from Rachels, Scorboro & Ironstone

l Total sales Gross £5,700,730 l BLCS Collective Sales £3,695,018 l BLCS Breeders’ Sales £2,005,712

Thursday 22nd May 2014 Beef Expo, Hexham

edigree Limousin cattle sold at official British Limousin Cattle Society sales in 2013 grossed a healthy £5,700,730. The 2013 year saw a very similar number of bulls sold in the year, 834, as compared to 850 in the preceding twelve months. Not unsurprisingly, and following the remarkable record sales gross, averages were slightly back on the year. This also came off the back of a difficult and challenging 2012 weatherwise for the industry, with its associated knock-on effects for farmers and producers in terms of costs.

value that is available to commercial producers at these sales for quality bulls with breeding, phenotype, and performance.

Since 2008, average sales gross for the breed in a calendar year has been a remarkable £6,493,120 with sales in that time grossing £38,958,722. A solid 2013 autumn trade saw Carlisle averages increase by £14 to £6,332; a new Stirling record average for Limousins was set at £5,162; two more bulls were sold on the year at Ballymena; whilst averages were up by £301 at Brecon to £3,750, with two more bulls sold on the year.

Commenting, BLCS Vice Chairman John Phillips said: “The demand for the breed continues to be driven by its all-round performance terminally, and maternally, and the recognised return that it brings. The traits of economic importance including ease of calving, ease of management, feed efficiency, fertility, longevity and marketability drive demand. This is added to its inherent carcase strengths of yield in the valuable cuts coupled with total meat yield and killing out percentages. The Limousin watchword truly is profitability.”

1,684 pedigree Limousins were sold in 2013 with the breakdown being 834 bulls and 850 females. At BLCS Collective Sales, bulls sold to average £4,148 underlining the

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Top price in the year was the 40,000gns paid for the Limousin bull Mereside Godolphin from RM Hazard & Sons, Grantham, Lincs whereas the leading price for a pedigree female emerged at the year-ending Red Ladies Derby with the 20,000gns paid for Ronick Honey consigned by Mr R Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling.

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Saturday 31st May 2014 Carlisle Breeders Sale from the Haltcliffe & Goldies Herds, with guest consignments from Lodge, Netherhall, Trueman & Tweeddale Herds Friday 13th June 2014 Carlisle Sale Friday 13th June 2014 Limousin Grand Prix Three Counties Show Saturday 14th June 2014 YLBC National Stockjudging, Three Counties Show Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd June 2014 Royal Highland Show Friday 27th June 2014 BLCS Breeders Sale on behalf of SW Club, Exeter Friday 4th July 2014 Carlisle Breeders Sale from Whinfellpark, Grahams and Wilodge Herds plus other consignments Sunday 6th July 2014 YLBC Workshop & Open Day, Ronick Herd, Stirling Tuesday 8th – Thursday 10th July 2014 Great Yorkshire Show Monday 21st – Thursday 24th July 2014 Royal Welsh Show * not an official BLCS sale

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£105,000 RETURNED TO BREEDERS IN BREED IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVES l £65,000 Returned to Members in Breed Improvement Incentive l £40,000 provided in Health Initiative Incentive l Over £500,000 returned to breeders in the last five years

he British Limousin Cattle Society is returning more than £100,000 to its members in two breed improvement incentives. This comprises of just over £65,000 in the breed improvement refund incentive, and almost £40,000 in a herd health initiative.

through its Herd Health Initiative; reduced performance recording fees; subsidised DNA testing; and efficiencies in the BASCO herd book system. Over the last five years alone, more than £500,000 in returns and savings have been made and passed back to BLCS members.

In the 2013 financial year, £65,750, up £5,000 on the year, was paid back to British Limousin breeders in pedigree refunds. A long-established breed improvement tool, the monies-back-incentive allows breeders to assess the quality of the stock they have registered up to the age of 450 days. If the breeder chooses to de-register the animal before it has attained this age, a flat rate refund of £20+VAT per animal is returned. Commenting on the figures, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “This is a simple but highly effective breed improvement tool that has seen the Society return over £650,000 of registration income to breeders. It is a significant investment in the breed’s future and is indicative of the Society’s on-going intent to encourage breeders to be selective and drive continuous breed improvement in the British Limousin Herdbook.”

Within these figures, £39,512 was refunded to members through its Herd Health Initiative in 2013. The cash-back scheme, based on £4+VAT for each calf registered in the past year, financially supports breeders who are making the long-term investment into herd health assurance through being a member of a CHeCSapproved health scheme. To receive the financial support, herds need to adhere to the terms of a CHeCS licenced scheme and have an approved animal health scheme in place through Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS), the selfregulatory body for cattle health schemes in the UK & Ireland. This must include a whole herd test for Johne’s disease.

In the 2013 year, an additional £100,000 in cost savings and returns to members has been achieved by the Society

In 2013, 366 herds made a claim on behalf of 9,878 calves registered in the year - an increase of 7% in terms of calf numbers and 12% in relation to herds. This means that 51% of all pedigree Limousin calves registered in the year are now born within herds participating in CheCS herd

health schemes. Having been originally established in 2005 as a four-year project and limited to a ceiling of £100,000, the BLCS Herd Health Initiative has subsequently grown to support members’ herds to the tune of over £200,000 over the intervening nine-year period. Over the years, uptake in health scheme membership has increased markedly with momentum further driven by the health rules around Johne’s and BVD which were introduced at Premier BLCS Collective Sales from 1st May 2011. From its position as the UK’s most numerical breed, the BLCS have very much been a driver behind the uptake in health scheme membership and providing herd health information at the point of sale. Speaking around the latest figures, BLCS Development Manager, Richard Saunders said: “Herd health is so important in maximizing productivity and profitability in both the pedigree and commercial sectors. Breeders and commercial customers welcome the fact that they are able to invest with confidence in Limousin stock from herds with a demonstrable health history.”

LIMOUSIN GRAND PRIX EVENTS SET FOR SUMMER 2014

Foxhillfarm Gracie

Ardglasson Highlander

Following the success of the inaugural Limousin Grand Prix events held last summer, the Royal Three Counties (Fri 13th June) will again stage the English event with the Scottish venue moving to Perth Show (Sat 2nd August). The Royal Three Counties Grand Prix promises a bumper Limousin showcase with not only the Grand Prix (judged by James Hazard of the Mereside Herd, Grantham) taking place but also playing host on the Saturday to the Burke Trophy Interbreed Pairs Competition (judged by Kay Adam, Newhouse) together with the Young Limousin Breeders’ Club Annual Stockjudging, again on the Saturday. The Scottish Grand Prix moves southwards from last year’s venue at the Black Isle and looks like attracting an entry of over 100 Limousin cattle at Perth Show to go before judge Eric Norman of the Norman Herd, Carlisle. The British Limousin Cattle Society is putting an additional £1,000 prize fund into each Grand Prix.

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Limousin News Most Popular 2013 Sires

WILODGE FASTRAC HEADS 2013 MOST POPULAR SIRES

WEY10002

Wilodge Fastrac

268

WEY07010

Wilodge Cerberus

236

MCN08010

Carmorn Dauphin

214

MGD07046

Ampertaine Commander

192

WEY02002

Wilodge Tonka

131

QA10074

Loosebeare Fantastic

130

MCN07038

Carmorn Copilot

121

FCE05384

Fieldson Alfy

120

MGD10039

Ampertaine Foreman

118

GS07954

Goldies Comet

115

HNH07019

Chytodden Conan

108

MGD09039 Ampertaine Elgin

107

CQE08003

104

Plumtree Deus

All-time Sire Usage

Wilodge Fastrac

ith pedigree Limousin registrations exceeding the 19,000 mark for the fourth straight year in 2013, a ‘new entry’ to the chart, Wilodge Fastrac, heads the most-used sires list in 2013. With 268 calves registered to him, Fastrac, who is by the prolific Wilodge Vantastic and out of Hazelhead Annie, was sold privately by breeder Christine Williams to the Gritstone Herd of David & Emma Armstrong with semen marketed through Cogent Breeding. The 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus slips to second from his pole position in 2012. Big risers in the year include Ampertaine Commander (+54 calves) and Carmorn Dauphin (+50). Carmorn Dauphin is by Dauphin and out of the noted Carmorn Penny whilst the 20,000gns Ampertaine Commander is a Glenrock Ventura son. Four new bulls join the 100+ Club: Loosebeare Fantastic, Ampertaine Foreman, Goldies Comet and Ampertaine Elgin. Thirteen bulls in all had in excess of 100 progeny registered to them in the preceding 12 months and they are listed opposite. All-time sire usage (up to 31 December 2013) reveals 14 bulls with 1000+ calves registered in their name.

DY92026

Ronick Hawk

4,288

CAVC031

Broadmeadows Cannon

2,996

4801006969

Sympa

2,151

8770003527

Fanfaron

2,099

3615030964 Rocky

1,899

2382004036

Talent

1,538

GATG009

Greensons Gigolo

1,472

WEY04037

Wilodge Vantastic

1,337

1994006256

Jockey

1,309

WEY02002

Wilodge Tonka

1,303

CAVT011

Broadmeadows Tombola

1,182

FCE05384

Fieldson Alfy

1,145

8797011143

Nenuphar

1,036

RP92009

Haltcliffe Hercules

1,020

£8,000 LIMMY FROM GHYLL HOUSE TOPS PENRITH

attle from W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House, Dufton, dominated both the prices and the show classes at the Spring Special Show & Sale of store cattle held at Penrith on 17th March. From Messrs Richardson and leading the trade at £8,000 was an unshown nine-month-old Limousincross steer by Volcano which sold to Norscot Seafoods, Kinlochbervie. From the same home came a seven-month-old Limousin-cross heifer at £3,800 and a seven-month-old pedigree Limousin heifer by Rossignol which sold for £3,500. The pre-sale show was judged by Blair Dufton, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, who gave the reserve championship to another Limousin-cross heifer by Volcano from the Richardsons which sold for £2,000. The winning unhaltered Limousin-cross bullock from Mr Raine, Alston, sold for £1,175 to the judge. Auctioneers: Penrith and District Auction Mart.

Ghyll House

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INTERNATIONAL LIMOUSIN CONGRESS – ARGENTINA 2014

LIMOUSIN WINNERS AT ST MERRYN CARCASE COMPETITIONS

Main Tour: Sunday 2nd November – Monday 10th November 2014

F Merthyr Championship FC Garlick & Sons

he British Limousin Cattle Society sponsored two Carcase Competitions held in November-December 2013 at St Merryn Foods’ Merthyr Tydfil & Bodmin plants respectively. At Merthyr Tydfil, the winner of the Limousin class was FC Garlick and Sons of Orcop, Hereford which went on to win the Heavy Steer class and finally the Supreme Championship weighing 416.1kg and grading E2. The Reserve Champion was also a Limousin from the same producer, having come second in the Heavy Steer class with a weight of 413.0kg and a grade of E4L. In the Medium Steers, the first and third prizes went to Limousins and the winner of the Medium Heifer class was another Limousin weighing 348.1kg and grading E3 which saw all 4 prizes in this class going to Limousin carcases. The 1st, 2nd and 4th prizes in the Young Bull Class went to Limousins with the judges commenting that it was a very strong entry and as expected lean carcases. The first 3 prizes in the Organic class went to Limousins, with the judges looking for “Supermarket Specification” i.e. yield. The winner of the Welsh Champion Carcase and also best homebred carcase was also a Limousin for TA Hughes of Lampeter with a weight of 405.8kg and an E2 grade.

urther details and booking forms are now available for this year’s much-anticipated ILC in Argentina. Prices start from USD $2688 per person sharing a double/twin or USD $3434 for single occupancy. This is the early bird rate for places booked by 14th May. Cost includes: 8 nights’ accommodation (2 x Buenos Aires/NH City & Tower Hotels + 3 x Rosario/Holiday Inn Express + 3 x Cordoba/Holiday Inn), meals, beverages, excursions and activities as detailed in the programme, coach travel, English-speaking staff, porterage. Not included are: international and domestic flights, airport taxes, arrival & departure transfers, meals and beverages other than stated, cancellation and personal insurance, personal expenses, travel insurance, medical fees, laundry and hotel room service. Booking forms are now available on the Limousin website or by contacting Field Farm Tours who will be looking after all UK bookings for the Society. Please check full terms and conditions when booking. Pre or Post Tour Options A variety of optional 2-3 day tour programmes have been designed by the Congress Organisers to give participants further opportunities to explore Argentina, either prior to the Congress Tour or immediately after and will depart and return to the city of Buenos Aires. The four options are: EL CALAFATE – CITY OF THE GLACIERS - includes a full day tour to see Perito Moreno Glacier – the only one in Patagonia glacier basin that is not retreating, but staying in balance. Afterwards enjoy the Safari Nautico, a boat ride along Rico Lake towards the Perito Moreno Glacier’s wall. IGUASSU FALLS – ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HIGHLIGHTS AND WONDERS OF ARGENTINA – Taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide, this wonder combines 275 falls in a magnificent cascade stretching for nearly two miles. Includes a full day tour to see the Argentinean side of the Falls, including a gas propelled train to the “Devil’s Throat”. A catwalk across several islands ends with a strategic lookout point over the Devil’s Throat. MENDOZA, THE WINE COUNTRY - HOME OF MALBEC. With 156,000 hectares of vineyards, Mendoza makes up 68% of Argentina’s vineyards. Includes city tour of Mendoza, a visit to the summit of Cerro de la Gloria as well as the most important wineries of Mendoza including wine tasting.

Bodmin Limousin Carcase Champion

he Bodmin winners of the Best Limousin Carcase were NJ & JM Williams of Great Kellow Farm, Looe, Cornwall which also won the Heavy Steer class and Reserve Championship Overall at a grade of E3 and weight 393.3kg. In the Medium Steers, 1st and 3rd prizes went to Limousin carcases – both from CCG Partridge of Calverleigh, Tiverton grading E3 and E2 respectively. On to the Medium Heifers and the 2nd and 4th prize from this class were won by Limousins: an E2 at 325.6kg belonging to DP Reed of Broadwoodkelly,Winkleigh and a U+3 at 322.6kg belonging to WH Phillips of Modbury, Ivybridge. The Heavy Heifer section saw 2nd prize go to SJ Symons & Son of Beaford, Winkleigh with an E4L at 382.1kg. In the Young Bulls, there was again a one-two for Limousins: AR Pincombe of Culmleigh, Devon with an E3 at 419.0kg followed by A Williams & MJ Saunders of Hemyock, Cullompton with an E3 at 393.4kg.

USHUAIA – THE MOST SOUTHERN CITY IN THE WORLD – Ushuaia is circled by the Beagle Channel and the Magellan Strait, near to Drake Strait which separates the island from the north of the Argentine Antarctica. Includes a journey inside the Tierra del Fuego National Park travelling on “The End of the World Train”, travel by coach through followed by a cruise ship trip to the Beagle Channel to see the geography and wildlife of Tierra del Fuego. Please indicate your tour preference on the booking form. It may be that several British Limousin members wish to join the same tour options so once the bookings are known, we will be able to request the relevant costs and advise accordingly. Field Farm Tours, Newark, T: 01636 616060; E: Carolyne@fieldfarmtours. co.uk

book now!

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£6,000 TWICE FOR LIMOUSIN CHAMPION & RESERVE AT H&H SPRING SALE

aking top honours and the joint top price of the day at the Annual Special Spring Show & Sale of continental-cross steers and heifers held on Wednesday 19th March at Borderway Mart, Carlisle was the Supreme Champion, a black ten-monthold Limousin-cross steer shown by John Smith-Jackson, Hightown, Haltwhistle.

Overall Champion £6,000

Reserve Overall Champion £6,000

By a son of Objat from the Fairywater Limousin herd of Andrew Ewing, the saletopping steer was bred out of a Limousincross cow and sold for £6,000 to the judge June Dowie of Girvan, Ayrshire.

The Reserve Overall Champion secured the other joint price of £6,000 for the Limousin breed and was shown by Andrew Harrison of Grange Farm, Great Asby. This was a homebred red eight-month-old heifer sired by Fieldson Alfy and bred from a threequarter-bred Limousin cow. This eye catching entry was from a run of 75 cattle from Grange Farm and was purchased by Messrs Sellers of Lincoln. With Limousins dominating the entries, over 200 more cattle sold than last year with the sale levelling out at £1,099.22 for steers (+ £28.21) and £984.91 for heifers (-£63.46). Brian & Angela Smith of Redhouse Farm, Warwick made the long journey north to kindly judge the pens of 4 cattle or more, where some tremendous animals were presented before them. The first prize pen of steers was awarded to James & Thomas Whiteford of Tercrosset coming from their run of 75 continental bullocks and heifers. This pen sold for £1,310 a head and was purchased by the judges. The red ticket for the first prize pen of heifers was presented to Michael & Robert Scott of Thirlwall Castle, Greenhead. This batch sold to £1,130 and purchasers were Messrs Retson, Eastriggs.

THREE-IN-A-ROW FOR NEWTON OF LOGIERAIT AT ROYAL NORTHERN SPRING SHOW Andrew Laird, Mossbank, Burray, Orkney. The winning steer, born in the Robertsons’ 160-cow suckler herd, was named Marooned after becoming trapped in the River Tay as a calf. They also scooped the heifer championship with an unnamed April-born 382kg Limousin out of a Limousin cross heifer bought for £2,700 at Carlisle last June with her calf at foot from breeder, Jimmy Mulholland, which sold for £2,800 again to Mr Laird. Top Price £3,800

Bullock Champion £3,400

The Reserve Overall & Reserve Steer Championships went to Monzie Farms, Gilmerton, with a home-bred April-born Limousincross, Wonder Boy, a 454kg son of Kype Eliot, a 3,500gns Carlisle purchase for their 240-cow suckler herd. This one is also destined for the summer show circuit having been bought by Stewart Brown, Roepark, Little Brechin for £3,400. Lims also take Carcase Honours

Reserve Bullock Champion £3,400

Heifer Champion £2,800

third consecutive Supreme Championship for father and son John & Craig Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Perthshire also saw them scoop the £3,800 top price at the Royal Northern Spring Show held on 28th February at Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre. The £3,800 sale leader came in the shape of a ten-monthold Limousin-cross steer which scaled 344kg and was sired by Craigatoke Butch and out of a Limousin-cross dam. Purchaser was Blair Duffton, Huntly. Another from the Robertsons and just behind at £3,400 was the bullock champion under judge Phil Sellers, Lincs, The 10-month-old 386kg Limousin-cross steer by the French-bred sire, Atilla, sold to

Limousin

In the well-filled carcase cattle classes, the top award in the live judging went to Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains with a 22-month-old home-bred Limousin-cross heifer by Knock Easter with the reserve going to Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft with a 17-month-old Limousin-cross bred by the Robertsons at Newton of Logierait. Mr Brown stood reserve for both steers and heifers – and repeated these successes on the hook - taking the Reserve Steer Championship with a 22 month old home-bred Limousin by Dumbreck Citroen as well as the Reserve Heifer Championship. Reserve Champion on the hook went to Mr Brown with the heifer which was placed reserve in the live judging. This 386kg heifer graded E4L. Mr Smith’s reserve live champion killed out at 398.7kg and E4L to win the carcase steer championship with Mr Brown taking reserve spot with his live reserve. Mr Smith also won the combined live/dead award.

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£5,000 LIMOUSIN £2,800 LIMMY SALE TOPPER AT - CROSS HEIFER CALLY MARTS SPRING SHOW TOPS NORTH WALES POTENTIALS

Caledonian Marts Spring Show £2800 Top Price from Allanfauld

Caledonian Marts Spring Show Champion £2,100 Hugh Dunlop

T T

he North Wales Potentials Show & Sale of Show potential cattle held at Ruthin on 22nd February saw a top price of £5,000. This was for the Reserve Champion, a Limousin-cross heifer from TM & EE Williams, Llanidloes which later sold at £5,000 to Phil & Sharon Sellers, Lincs. Another Limmy commercial female from Miss J Gilbert, Coventry Sold to Mr G Brooke, Worcs at £4,600. Topping the Lim-x steers was another from TM & EE Williams which realised £3,350 when purchased by Lin Pidsley, Devon.

he Caledonian Marts (Stirling) Ltd Spring Show & Sale held on 17th March saw the Reserve Open Show Champion, a 440kg Limousin-cross heifer from Archie MacGregor, Allanfauld sell for £2,800 to A Ritchie, Tamala with the same purchaser also taking home Hugh Dunlop’s Overall Open Show Champion, a 490kg Limousin-cross bullock for £2,100.

to a Limousin from J & C McKechine, France, Gartocharn which later sold to £1,200 to J & S Clark. Wooler-based Fred Murray’s blue rosette winner, a 315kg Lim heifer made £1,200 to J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait with the Robertsons themselves taking third spot with another Lim-sired heifer weighing 290kg when selling to £2,000 to D Morrison, Sutherland.

A second prizewinning Limousin crossbred heifer scaling 410kg, also from the Dunlops, realised £2300 to A Paul, Greigsland, Johnstonbridge with third in that class from Monzie Farms, knocked down to W Thomson, Hilton for £1,350. In the youngest heifer class born 08/05/13 – 20/07/13, first prize went

Newton of Logierait also sold their 415kg first prize-winning Limousin-cross bullock for £1,200 to J Maxwell, Halket Leathes, Castle Douglas with second in the same class from Monzie Farms, Crieff, another Limmy-cross stirk, making £1,350 to I Laird, Yeldabreck.

LIM BULL TOPS WELSHPOOL AT £6,400

elshpool on Saturday 23rd November 2013 saw the £6,400 senior stock bull, Haltcliffe Enzo, top the Dispersal Sale of the entire pedigree Limousin Cefndu Herd as well as the commercial herd on behalf of Glyn & Eileen Robinson, Cyfronydd, Powys. The four-year-old Enzo is by Cloughhead Umpire and is out of Haltcliffe Breeze and had been originally purchased at Carlisle in October 2010 for 7,500gns. Purchaser here was ML Howatson, Denbigh. Cows and calves peaked at £4,400 for the 2010-born pedigree Limousin cow, Cefndu Felicity (by Sarkley Boxer) who sold back in-calf and with her March-born heifer calf at foot to T & M Lewis, Llanbister. Cefndu Felicity £4,400

Auctioneer: Welshpool Livestock Sales with Halls

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LIMOUSIN CALVES REACH £4,050 AT BRECON POTENTIALS

fantastic show of quality cattle attracted one of the largest contingents of buyers ever seen at the Brecon Show Potentials Sale held on Saturday 8th February with McCartneys.

Limousin-cross heifer from DG & E Lewis

With Limousins dominating the Championships, top-priced Limousin was Malibu, a Limousin-cross heifer out of a Limousin-cross dam from DG & E Lewis, Cefncoed Mawr, when going under the hammer for £4,050 to Mr & Mrs Alford, Devon. Messrs Lewis also sold a steer for £1,750 to Loveday, Linconshire and another heifer for £1,950. Taking the haltered section Heifer Championship and Supreme Overall was a very well-balanced Limousin-cross called Frankie bred and shown by PJ & TA Jones, Tyishaf, later selling for £3,000 to Lin Pidsley, Devon. This one was sired by Nebo Frank, a son of Broomfield Regencey.

Champion from PJ & TA Jones

Champion Steer from TM & EE Williams

The Steer Champion and Reserve Overall Supreme was shown by TM & EE Williams of Nantygeifr Farm which made £2,800 to Mr Naylor from Derby. This was another Limousincross by the herd’s French-bred stock bull. The Reserve Heifer Championship was awarded to Emily Jones with Classy Lady, a Limousin-cross by Gunnerfleet Duke while the Reserve Steer Championship went to Messrs Bowen & Bowen with a Limousin-cross by Liscon Bigshow. There were 14 classes overall including two for unhaltered cattle under judge Richard Wright from Somerset, with Bowen & Bowen taking top honours in the unhaltered Championship, again with a Liscon Bigshow-sired steer which went on to make £1,900. In reserve here were CM and WC Phillips of The Batch with their pedigree Limousin heifer Powerhouse Iadora sired by Powerhouse Fusion (by Ulm) and out of Sarkley Bernie, who later sold to Mr Sellers for £1,900.

LIMS TO £3,500 AT LEYBURN

he March 2014 Leyburn Spring Spectacular under Judge Harry Emslie, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, saw the Reserve Heifer Champion from John Smith-Jackson sell for £3,500. May 2013-born, she is by the Limousin sire, Shire Apollo, and sold to Richard Anderson, Middleham who plans to take her to the Great Yorkshire and other local shows. The Champion Steer & Reserve Overall from Garrowby Farms, Bugthorpe, was an April 2013-born son of Garrowby Gizmo (by Glenrock Ventura) and was knocked down for £2,800 to Matthew Keel, Thirsk. Second to him in the class and Reserve Steer Champion was another Lim this time an April 2013-born son of Netherhall Elect consigned by Will & Gillian Sedley, Carnforth which sold for £1,800 to Nigel Bunkham, Cornwall.

Leyburn Reserve Heifer Champion £3,500 from John Smith-Jackson

JW Dent & Sons, Barnard Castle, sold a seven- and an eight-monthold Limousin-sired heifers for £1,650 apiece. At £1,600 was a class-winning Limousin steer from Bill & Maureen Orme, Stalling Busk, and another Limousin heifer from John SmithJackson. Overall, Limousin steers averaged £1,356 while Limousin Heifers levelled at £1,525. Auctioneers: Leyburn Livestock Auction Mart.

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THAME LIMOUSIN CHAMPION HITS £2,254

Thame Fatstock Show Supreme Champion MJ Dickens

T Leyburn Steer & Overall Reserve Champion £2,800 from Garrowby Farms

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he Thame Christmas Primestock Show held on 27th November 2013, saw the Supreme Champion Beast award go to MJ Dickens, Little Horwood, Bucks with his Limousin steer which had previously won the Best Continental Butcher’s Steer class. The 635kg steer went on to make 355p/kg or £2,254 when going under the hammer to PC Turner, Ringwood, Hants.

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Limousin News

£2,204 LIMOUSIN HEIFER TOPS OTLEY XMAS PRIMESTOCK Overall Reserve Champion Red Snapper

Butchers Champion Daisy

Otley Supreme Champion

YF Prime Cattle Champion Honey Boo Boo

YF Bullock Champion The Highlander

LIMS TO £3,800 TWICE AT ABERDEEN CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

he Aberdeen Christmas Classic held at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie saw Limousin-sired stock twice reach a £3,800 price tag. Judge Alan Healey, Operations Director for the Midlands-based catering butcher, Aubrey Allen Ltd, paid £3,800 for the Butchers’ Champion from George & Don Anderson, Brucewells, Netherley whose 22-month-old homebred Limousin heifer, Daisy, by the AI sire Killerton Travis and out of a homebred Limousin cow, tipped the scales at 514kg. The Reserve Champion sold for the same price to butcher, Andrew Gordon, Chattan Place, Aberdeen. This was for the Cumbrian-bred Limousin-cross heifer, Red Snapper, from Donald Morrison, Kinlochbervie who acquired her at a commercial sale at Carlisle in the Spring for £1,500. This 18-month-old heifer had been Commercial Cattle Champion at the Black Isle Show in August on her only previous show outing. The Young Farmers’ Champion, Honey Boo Boo, a 508kg Limousin crossbred heifer by Beulah Ernie bred by Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet and shown by Reece Simmers, Backmuir, Keith, sold for £2,200 to Fraserburgh butcher, Bruce of the Broch. The YF Steer Champion from 25-year-old Craig Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Aultmore, a homebred Limousin-cross named Highlander (by Spittalton Barty) came to Thainstone fresh from winning the Young Farmers’ Championship at the Scottish Winter Fair. The 672kg bullock sold for £1,943 (or 290ppkg) to Scotbeef, Inverurie.

LIMOUSIN-CROSS HEIFER WINS ST BOSWELLS TITLE

harfedale Farmers Auction Mart Ltd, Otley, West Yorkshire held their Christmas Primestock Show on Monday 2nd December 2013 with the Overall Champion, a Limousincross heifer exhibited by Messrs G & C Greenwood of Clifton View Farm, Hillings Lane, Hawksworth, Guiseley, Leeds. A special cash prize was also presented to Messrs Greenwood on behalf of the British Limousin Cattle Society. Born 10/03/2012 and sired by Brontemoor Dettori, a Glenrock Spartacus son, the heifer weighed in at 580kg and was sold for £3.80 per kilo (£2,204.00) to regular primestock purchaser and local butchers, John & Karen Summers Butchers of Clayton, Bradford. Incidentally, John’s brother, Phillip Summers, runs the Highbirks Limousin Herd. The heifer was purchased by Gary Greenwood from a store sale at the same auction mart in May 2013, from Messrs JM Wilson & Sons of Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, who had bred the animal. The Wilson Family use pedigree Limousin Bulls on their Limousin-cross suckler herd, being regular purchasers of breeding bulls at the North East Limousin Breeders Club Show & Sale held in May each year.

EWF CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE

he 2013 English Winter Fair Supreme Champion, Eye Catcher, a Limousin-cross heifer from G & E Jones, Holyhead has killed out at 71%. The Champion was purchased for £4,400 by butcher Anthony Kitson, Northallerton, N Yorks who commented: “What really stands out for me is the typical imousin shape but this heifer also has a wonderful thickness through the rib where all the high-value cuts will be taken – the sirloin, the fillet, the rump.”

St Boswells Christmas Cracker Champion

upreme Beef Champion at the John Swan Ltd’s St Boswells Christmas Cracker was a Limousin-cross heifer weighing 590kg from WB Hamilton, Bee Edge, which sold for 400ppkg (£2,360) to John Anderson Butchers of North Berwick.

Anthony Kitson bought the English Winter Fair Supreme Champion, a Limousin heifer, for £4,400 in November 2013

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“This heifer has a good amount of cover across the rear quarter and will deliver real flavour,” he added.

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RONICK LIMOUSIN “ESTABLISHED 1980” Winners of Scottish Club Extra Large Herd Competition 2012

Ronick Honey Top Priced Female 2013 – Red Ladies Supreme Champion - sold 20,000gns Best heifer born in 2012 in Scottish Herd Competition 2013 Sired by

Rathconville Eugene A “Rocky” son out of the 2008 All-Ireland Irish Beef Expo Junior Cow Champion “Ballinahinch Alexandria” First eight sons sold have averaged £5000 Semen available £50.00 UK Mainland

QUALITY BULLS & FEMALES AVAILABLE FOR SALE VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME CONTACT DAVID OR RONALD DICK Tel: 01786 813498 Mobile: 07885 735914 Email: ronick@btconnect.com Website: www.ronicklimousin.co.uk

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BASCO LIMOUSIN PERFORMANCE RECORDING Results from the March 2014 EBV Update

he most recent Limousin EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) update was carried out on 19th March 2014. The following tables identify the Top 10 Sires, Dams, Young Bulls & Heifers in the breed according to Beef Value and Calving Ease EBVs.

March 2014 Top 10 Sires The following table identifies the current Top 10 Limousin sires according to the following criteria: l All bulls are born before 19th March 2011 (ie older than 3 years of age at time of update) l All bulls have a calf registered in 2012, 2013 and/or 2014 l All bulls have the highest Beef Value recorded in the April 2014 EBV Update l All bulls have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4%

Bull Name

Bred

Owned

Calv. Ease EBV (%)

Beef Value

Emslies Colossus UK520779400668 DoB: 13.9.2007 Calves: 60 Sire: Objat

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-0.5

LM68

Rachels Dynamite UK142189500280 DoB: 13.4.2008 Calves: 63 Sire: Scorboro Aramis

Messrs D & MLP Woolhouse Rachels herd Yorks

-2.4

LM60

Scorboro Aramis UK142543100214 DoB: 7.11.2005 Calves: 133 Sire: Ronick Upshot

JCG Bloom & Son Scorboro herd E. Yorks

Messrs Ellis & Gottschalk Bowtells herd Essex

-0.1

LM58

Greensons Faulkner UK220156200167 DoB: 18.3.2010 Calves: 29 Sire: Newhouse Cupbearer

Greensons Limousins Greensons herd Cambridge

Messrs HB & LJ Lear Turville Herd Buckinghamshire

-1.0

Ampertaine Foreman UK 9564385/652-1 DoB: 27.8.2010 Calves: 172 Sire: Wilodge Cerberus

Messrs WJ & J McKay Ampertaine herd Co Derry

Mr S Fotheringham Ballinloan herd Perth & Kinross

-1.0

Wilodge FM UK 305117/701002 DoB: 9.12.2010 Calves: 12 Sire: Objat

Miss C Williams Wilodge herd Shropshire

-2.4

Orrisdale Demand UK 010575/101907 DoB: 16.6.2008 Calves: 9 Sire: Lowabbey Valuation

Mr & Mrs PA Kermode Orrisdale herd Isle of Man

-1.7

Newhouse Billy UK 540209/300572 DoB: 10.9.2006 Calves: 146 Sire: Greenhaugh U two

Messrs RM Adam & Son Newhouse herd Angus

Mr A G Howie Knock herd Aberdeenshire

-2.2

Netherhall Epic UK 103719601370 DoB: 15.2.2009 Calves: 70 Sire: 6272 Sympa

Mr & Mrs D Kelly Netherhall herd Cumbria

Mr & Mrs D Cornthwaite Maybe herd Dumfriesshire

-1.2

Millington Fiat UK143223301793 DoB: 23.3.2010 Calves: 32 Sire: Objat

Millington Limousins Ltd Millington herd Yorks

Messrs D & MLP Woolhouse Rachels herd Yorks

-0.6

LM58

LM56

LM54

LM53

LM52

LM51

To view pedigree and performance information for all registered Limousins go to www.limousin.co.uk and click on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Basco Online Herdbookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; button. You can then search by animal, by breeder and by EBVs.

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March 2014 Top 10 Dams The table below identifies the current Top 10 Limousin dams according to the following criteria: l All dams have produced at least one registered calf since 19 March 2011 (ie in the three years prior to this update) l All dams have the highest Beef Value recorded in the March 2014 EBV update l All dams have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4% Dam Name 1

Greensons Fathom UK 220156/100166 DoB: 17.3.2010 Sire: Newhouse Cupbearer Greensons Tiskie UK 220156/300056 DoB: 26.4.2002 Sire: Goldies Raver Goldies Clara UK 581575/200962 DoB: 19.11.2007 Sire: Goldies Terence Whinfellpark Ena UK 103847/200747 DoB: 2.3.2009 Sire: Goldies Terence Elmtree Flower UK 103049/500589 DoB: 29.3.2010 Sire: Goldies Apollo Scorboro Elite UK 142543/400364 DoB: 23.4.2009 Sire: Scorboro Aramis Scorboro Equity UK142543600366 DoB: 3.5.2009 Sire: Scorboro Aramis Whinfellpark Blossom UK 103847/700493 DoB: 24.6.2002 Sire: Ultimatum Goldies Flake UK 581575/601078 DoB: 30.1.2010 Sire: Ampertaine Bravo Goldies Velvet UK 581575/700575 DoB: 28.3.2004 Sire: SLVL Beef

Bred

Owned

Calv. Ease EBV (%)

Greensons Limousins Greensons herd Cambridgeshire

Greensons Limousins Greensons herd Cambridge

-0.4

LM62

Mr B T Goldie Goldies herd Dumfriesshire

-1.9

LM61

Messrs Jenkinson Whinfellpark herd Cumbria

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

Mr R A Walker Elmtree herd Cumbria

-1.9

LM56

JCG Bloom & Son Scorboro herd E. Yorks

-0.8

LM56

JCG Bloom & Son Scorboro herd E. Yorks

Mr W J Bird Birdies herd N. Yorks

-1.8

LM56

Messrs Jenkinson Whinfellpark herd Cumbria

-0.8

LM55

Mr B T Goldie Goldies herd Cumbria

-2.0

LM54

Mr B T Goldie Goldies herd Cumbria

-2.2

LM54

-1.1

-1.8

Beef Value LM64

LM58

March 2014 Top 10 Young Performance Recorded Bulls The table below identifies the current Top 10 young Limousin bulls according to the following criteria: l l l l

All bull calves born since 19th March 2011 (ie less than 3 years of age) All bulls are identified as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;liveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the Basco database and have been performance recorded All bulls have the highest Beef Value recorded in the March 2014 EBV update All bulls have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4% Bull Name 1

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Emslies Hunter UK 520779501201 DoB: 6.4.2012 Sire: Emslies Colossus Emslies Herod UK520779301213 DoB: 21.4.2012 Sire: Bailea BMW Emslies Hboss UK 520779/601216 DoB: 23.4.2012 Sire: Bailea BMW Emslies Inxs UK 520779/301325 DoB: 26.5.2013 Sire: Emslies Colossus

Bred

Owned

Calv. Ease EBV (%)

Beef Value

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

Messrs R&J Johnston Hewan herd Orkney

-1.0

LM65

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-2.0

LM65

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-2.4

LM62

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-1.3

LM60

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Ewdenvale Harlequin UK 120412300313 DoB: 20.3.2012 Sire: Ampertaine Bravo Emslies Iggypop UK 520779/401326 DoB: 30.5.2013 Sire: Emslies Colossus Greenhaugh Indiana UK 521765/602292 DoB: 21.7.2013 Sire: Bailea BMW Greensons Invictus UK 220156/600227 DoB: 25.4.2013 Sire: Greensons Gridiron Greenhaugh Islander UK 521765/302282 DoB: 18.7.2013 Sire: Bailea BMW

Mr S Wilde Ewdenvale herd Sheffield

Mr J R Hildreth Rufforth herd York

-1.1

LM59

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-2.0

LM58

K Stewart & Sons Greenhaugh herd Aberdeenshire

-1.9

LM58

Greensons Limousins Greensons herd Cambridge

-1.9

LM58

K Stewart & Sons Greenhaugh herd Aberdeenshire

-2.1

LM57

Emslies Horny UK 520779601202 DoB: 7.4.2012 Sire: Emslies Colossus

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

Messrs PW & SM Greed Killerton herd Exeter

-1.8

LM55

Thornham Goldrush UK 107522/200544 DoB: 24.10.2011 Sire: SLVL Beef

Mr G S Eggleston Thornham herd Northumberland

-2.4

LM55

March 2014 Top 10 Young Performance Recorded Heifers The table below identifies the current Top 10 Limousin heifers according to the following criteria: l l l l

All heifers born since 19th March 2011 (ie less than three years of age) All heifers are identified as ‘live’ on the Basco database and have been performance recorded All heifers have the highest Beef Value recorded in the March 2014 EBV update All heifers have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4% Heifer Name 1

Emslies Heledd UK520779101204 DoB: 10.4.2012 Sire: Emslies Colossus McLarens Helen UK54030200545 DoB: 5.2.2012 Sire: Bailea BMW Emslies Giggles UK520779401165 DoB: 23.11.2011 Sire: Emslies Colossus Emslies Glamorous UK520779701182 DoB: 29.11.2011 Sire: Emslies Colossus Emslies Gwawr UK520779201170 DoB: 24.11.2011 Sire: Emslies Colossus Emslies Groovy UK 520779/401172 DoB: 25.11.2011 Sire: Emslies Colossus Whinfellpark Halle UK 103847/301035 DoB: 26.1.2012 Sire: Wilodge Cerberus Rachels Ivy UK 142189/100430 DoB: 3.5.2013 Sire: Millington Fiat Scorboro Homer UK142543300447 DoB: 31.3.2012 Sire: Scorboro Aramis Greensons Impasse UK 220156/300231 DoB: 7.5.2013 Sire: Greensons Faulkner

Bred

Owned

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

Mr J Elliot Roxburgh herd Roxburghshire

Messrs McLaren McLarens herd Angus

-2.4

LM57

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-1.4

LM56

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

-1.6

LM56

Mr H Emslie Emslies herd Aberdeenshire

Miss L Pidsley Uptonley herd Devon

-2.0

LM56

Messrs Jenkinson Whinfellpark herd Cumbria

-2.1

LM56

Messrs D & MLP Woolhouse Rachels herd East Yorks

-1.6

LM55

JCG Bloom & Son Scorboro herd Driffield

-2.0

LM55

Greensons Limousins Greensons herd Cambridge

-1.2

LM54

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Calv. Ease EBV (%)

-1.2

-1.5

Beef Value LM62

LM56

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Limousin News

Publication of Myostatin (Double Muscling) Genotypes from 2015

ne of the characteristics that makes Limousin uniquely valuable to the commercial market is its ability to produce high quality, consistent carcases that are typically easy to calve. In many breeds, this is a particularly unusual combination, since by their nature these two traits are typically antagonistic and one must often be compromised to gain from the other. But with Limousin this is not the case. Achieving consistently high carcase grades from easy calving sires and dams is what the breed is all about and its ability to do it is partly down to the presence of different variations of the Myostatin (double muscling) gene. Myostatin (or double muscling) is a naturally occurring gene found in almost all Limousin animals. It influences the production of a protein that controls muscle development. Natural variations of the gene produce proteins that are less effective at controlling muscle development, which results in increased muscle mass.

Limousin

There are main types of variant in Limousin and they all have slightly different functions. Some increase muscle mass whilst others do this with no detrimental effect to calving. The benefits of double muscling are financially significant and well proven:

Increased Meat Yield: The carcases of double-muscled cattle dress out at between 65 and 70 percent due to a combination of increased muscle mass, reduced body fat, reduced bone mass and smaller internal organs. This is up to 19% higher than cattle that don’t exhibit double muscling. When muscle weight gain per unit energy intake is taken into account, double-muscled cattle have better feed efficiency than ‘normal’ cattle.

Improved Meat Quality: Meat from double-muscled cattle tends to be of better quality due to a combination of increased tenderness, reduced fat content and a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fats & this is significant for consumers.

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To enable all users of Limousin breeding stock to harvest the benefits effectively, all pedigree Limousin breeders are to commence a programme in 2015 that will ultimately publish the individual myostatin genotypes of all herd sires. The first year will focus on publication of the genotypes of AI sires. In 2016, it will roll out to all young bulls sold at Society sales and in 2017 all stock sires in pedigree herds will be genotyped. The genotypes will be published along with EBVs and pedigree information on the Basco database and will be available to all to view.

Breeders’ support of this move is demonstrating their commitment to the ongoing development of the breed and to the profitability of their customer base. The routine addition of Myostatin genotypes to the suite of technical information that commercial producers already have at their fingertips places Limousin apart in the pedigree market place & will ensure that buyers continue to source the highest quality genetics across the widest range of characteristics.

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Limousin News

“There is No Personal Charm So Great as the Charm of a Pleasant Temperament”

quote from poet Henry van Dyke could never ring more true than in the beef sector. Around the world, Docility in beef cattle is considered a key component of successful herd management and –personal charm aside - lack of it in a herd presents significant challenges in terms of time, cost and human and animal safety. An animal’s response to being handled in yards is influenced to a significant degree by the genes it inherits from its parents – the heritability being on a par with the growth and carcase traits – and the evaluation programmes in other countries all routinely measure it for this reason. From this they produce an Estimated Breeding Value which identifies animals that are likely to be more and less flighty when put under handling pressure. In the UK, the Limousin breed is the only breed to produce a Docility EBV in the same way. Routinely published since 2007, it helps commercial buyers identify whether their potential stock animals are likely to be more docile and therefore pass this attribute on to their calves.

The centre vertical line represents breed average for all traits. Bars to the right indicate the trait is above breed average. Bars to the left indicate the trait is below breed average.

A Docility EBV of 6.8% indicates that 3.4% more progeny from this bull will be calmer than progeny from a bull with an EBV of 0%. (The EBV is halved since half the calves’ genetics will come from their dams).

The cost of flighty animals in the UK’s beef herd is difficult to quantify but as a result of increased management time and costs, increased labour requirements, injuries to handlers and animals etc, it is considered to be significant. Year on year, breeders’ selection decisions within the Limousin breed are driving the levels of Docility up, improving how animals respond in a handling environment… Rate of Genetic Gain in Docility EBV in Limousin Cattle

The graph opposite illustrates the rate of gain made by the breed over the last 15 years. Assuming the gains seen since 2007 (when the EBV was introduced) are maintained, over the next ten years we can expect to see the average Docility within the breed improve by around 8%. This may not sound too exciting, but the exciting part is that an 8% improvement in the proportion of calm cattle also means an 8% reduction in the proportion of flighty cattle. Compounding the benefits of improvement year on year in this way quickly moves the disposition of any breed or individual herd within it. Surveys of bull buyers are conducted at regular intervals by the Limousin Society. As labour on farms reduces and the number of animals to care for per man increases, the importance that buyers place on calm cattle is increasing all the time. The desire to measure it and provide the EBV information demonstrates breeders’ commitment to their buyers’ needs and to driving breed change in a way that will cater for them for years to come.

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Limousin News

Easy calving

GROWTH beef yield

Feed Efficient carcase consistency Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the business

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L i m o u s i n Yo u n g B r e e d e r s

YLBC

info@limousin.co.uk T: 02476-696500

KAY ADAM APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF YOUNG LIMOUSIN BREEDERS’ CLUB

Incoming YLBC President Kay Adam & YLBC Chairman Willie McElroy (centre) pictured with YLBC Members at the Young Handlers’ Championship

rs Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Forfar has been appointed as the new President of the Young Limousin Breeders’ Club (YLBC).

Kay took over from James Cooper, Hill Top Farm, Dacre, Harrogate at the YLBC AGM held at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart on 12th December 2013 and will serve the customary two-year term of office. Well-known in Limousin pedigree circles, running the noted Newhouse Herd together with husband Bob and boys Andrew (15) and James (13), Kay is herself a former Chairman of YLBC – although this was as Kay Fotheringham before she got married. Commenting on her appointment, Kay Adam said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have had my name put forward for this exciting role and look forward to my

time as President. It is so important to help and support youngsters to get involved in agriculture and to nurture the farmers of the future. Over the next couple of years, I will do my very best to work with Young Limousin Breeders the length and breadth of the UK to help to stimulate not only knowledge and skills, but also encourage a life-long enjoyment and interest in livestock.” Also at the AGM, Willie McElroy, Aughnaskeagh Road, Dromara, Dromore, Co Down, Northern Ireland was re-elected for a third year as Chairman. He said: “It is an immense privilege to continue as Chairman and it gives me great pleasure to welcome Kay Adam as our new President. Without doubt, Kay will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Young Limousin Breeders’ Club.”

Current YLBC Officials Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Assistant Secretary Sponsorship & Promo President

Willie McElroy, Northern Ireland Kirree Kermode, Isle of Man Tom Illingworth, Lockerbie Stephanie Dick, Stirling Richard Priestley, Cumbria Kay Adam

07845-098398 07624-435560 07784-323988 01786-812422 01697-748175 01307-840234

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Check out the YLBC Facebook page or www.limousin.co.uk for reports and future events. YOUNG LIMOUSIN BREEDERS http://www.facebook.com/ groups/311318061854/?fref=ts

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L i m o u s i n Yo u n g B r e e d e r s 60 beef cattle and 50 purebred Charollais sheep. Further to this, Annabelle works together with her boyfriend, Robert Rowlinson, who established the Rowlinhills pedigree Limousin herd in 2011 with foundation animals purchased privately from the Dinmore and Forestside herds respectively. It currently numbers 6 pedigree breeding cows with the aim being to increase this in the future. “As the new YLBC Co-ordinator, I am really looking forward to this exciting opportunity to help and encourage youngsters to get involved in the Limousin breed, and to develop their livestock skills and interest through their Club. It’s a great way to gain knowledge, have some fun, meet people and inspire farmers of the future,” comments Annabelle.

Annabelle Wint

ANNABELLE IS NEW YLBC CO-ORDINATOR

he Society is delighted to welcome Annabelle Wint (22) from Alton in Staffordshire as its new Young Limousin Breeders’ Club (YLBC) Co-ordinator.

From a farming background, Annabelle’s granddad used to have a 90-strong bull hire business but nowadays the family run around

Commencing her new role shortly, Annabelle hopes to be at the May Carlisle Bull Sale to meet both senior and junior members and will then “hit the ground running” helping out with the Young Show Stars Challenge at Beef Expo in Hexham later the same month before heading to the Three Counties in June where the Annual YLBC Stockjudging is being held. Working for approximately one day per week, Annabelle will be combining the YLBC Co-ordinator position with her day-to-day farming as well as ongoing training towards becoming a qualified Chartered Accountant. As well as growing the YLBC membership, Annabelle hopes to bring structure to the Club, to develop and promote its activities, and to help with budgeting and fundraising – as well as that important element of fun!

GREAT TURNOUT FOR FIRST YLBC YOUNG HANDLERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP l Junior & Overall Champion Ruth Hamill l Intermediate & Reserve Overall Winner James Graham l Senior Champion Lin Pidsley Thursday 12th December 2013 saw the Young Limousin Breeders’ Club (YLBC) hold its inaugural Young Handlers’ Championship at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on the evening prior to the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Red Ladies Derby & Weaned Calf Sale. Replacing the Annual Calf Show, the new competition focused on the “Young Handler” rather than the calf with the aim being to encourage more members to participate in events, build their confidence when working with livestock, help them to develop lifelong skills but most importantly expand their knowledge of the Limousin Breed. The event was split into two sections: the preparation of the calf for showing followed by presentation of the animal in the show ring itself. Judged respectively by Ashley McInnes of McInnes Show and Ian Sedgwick, Gallaber Farm, Burton in Lonsdale, the competition was preceded by a short talk on nutrition by Tom Stevenson

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of Natural Stockcare underlining the importance of looking after and feeding animals correctly in preparation for breeding, showing and selling. Ashely McInnes also gave a short demonstration on what he would be looking for while judging the preparation of the animal section, allowing the young breeders to pick up tips for the future to make their animals stand out and catch the eye of a judge or future buyer. With almost 30 up-and-coming breeders taking on the challenge, classes were split into three different age groups: Junior (8-12 years); Intermediate (13-17) and Senior (18+). Taking the Overall title was the Junior class winner Ruth Hamill, Dunmurray Lane, Dunmurray, Belfast, N Ireland with the Intermediate class winner James Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling in Reserve spot. Winning the Senior section was Lin Pidsley, Upton Ley Farm, Honiton, Devon.

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Kay Adam, YLBC President (second from left) pictured with Judges Ashley McInnes (left) and Ian Sedgwick (right) and Young Handlers Champion Ruth Hamill (centre)

Young Handlers Championship Dec 2013 Int & Res Champion John Graham

Young Handlers Championship Dec 2013 Snr Champ Lin Pidsley

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LARKHILL BULL WINS NI LIMOUSIN YOUNG BREEDERS CALF SPECTACULAR l Wilodge Tonka-sired Commercial Champion stands Reserve Overall

cow Carmorn Penny who currently has over 12 sons being used in pedigree herds one of which being Carmorn Copilot who is a full brother to Countess. Countess’s first calf, Larkhill Firmount, was sold in Carlisle in October 2011 for 22,000gns to the Haltcliffe Herd. The Commercial Champion and Reserve Overall was the January 2013-born Mojo owned by S & J Smyth. A three-quarter bred Limousin heifer sired by Wilodge Tonka, the judge described her as “a very stylish heifer who oozed class and will be one to look out for in this year’s show circuit.”

Larkhill Istabraq Pedigree and Overall Champion

Pedigree Reserve Champion Craigatoke Irishcoffee

Mojo Commercial Champion & Reserve Overall

Mya Reserve Commercial Champion

he Northern Ireland Young Limousin Breeders’ Club Annual Calf Spectacular, held at Ballymena Market on Saturday 11th January 2014, saw the May 2013-born bull calf, Larkhill Istabraq, take the Supreme Overall Championship.

described the show as “a tremendous lineup of calves reflecting the dedication and passion that Northern Ireland breeders have for producing quality cattle. There will undoubtedly be several of these animals feature heavily in some of the forthcoming major sales.”

Bred and exhibited by the McAuley Family, Seven Mile Straight, Antrim he had earlier taken the Pedigree Championship under Judge Mr Chris Pennie of the Sarkley Herd, Gwern Yr Ychain, Llandyssil, Montgomery, Powys who

Larkhill Istabraq comes with an impressive pedigree. He is sired by the 2011 All-Ireland Bull Derby Champion, Millgate Fame, who was sold for 32,000gns in October 2011 at Carlisle. His dam, Larkhill Countess, is out of the top brood

JACK WINS SW WINTER FAIR

oung Limousin Breeder Jack Yates, Woodend Farm, Whitbourne, Worcester placed Overall Show Champion at the 2013 South West Winter Fair held at Sedgemoor. Sired by Bailea Dynamite, his crossbred steer had been purchased at the Show Potential Sale at Brecon in February 2013. As they were lambing at home, his Dad, Mervyn, who runs the Whitwood Limousin Herd, couldn’t spare the time so Jack had to go on his own. The steer was shown throughout the summer at local and county shows winning two overall

championships, four overall reserve championships and six male championships. At the English Winter Fair, he was placed second in a strong class, from where he went to the South West Winter Fair at Sedgemoor to eventually take the overall title. Following this success, Jack has been invited to judge the Show Potentials at Sedgemoor in February 2014.

Jack Yates with his Bailea Dynamite-sired Commercial Steer Champion

Reserve Pedigree Champion from MJ Conway, Meenagorp Road, Plumbridge was the heifer calf, Craigatoke Irishcoffee, sired by the 35,000gns Plumtree Deus and out of the Goldies Oswald daughter Craigatoke Ultrabright who also bred Craigatoke Butch who is producing prize-winning commercial calves in Scotland. Martin Conway won a further class with the similarly bred Craigatoke Irishlass and the two heifers later teamed up to win the Pairs. The Reserve Commercial Champion was Mya, a crossbred heifer by Hightown Dalglish, a Shire Apollo grandson, owned by Gareth Small and bred by James Alexander. Swarland Eddie featured heavily in the commercial classes siring over half the calves on show.

RUTH WINS DAVID ADAMSHEASLIP MEMORIAL TROPHY

oung Limousin Breeder, Ruth Hamill (13), has been awarded the David Adams-Heaslip Memorial Trophy for her contribution and endeavour within the Northern Ireland Young Limousin Breeders Club (YLBNI). Presenting Ruth with the cup was Rebecca Adams on behalf of her family; this is a trophy very close to all their hearts as it is presented in memory of Rebecca’s cousin David Heaslip who was tragically taken from them in a car crash on 23rd December 2006 aged just 18. The cup is presented to someone who the family and YLBNI committee feel have put all their effort towards the club and competitions during the past year and has shown good sportsmanship. David himself was extremely popular and wellknown for his cheery smile and witty sense of humour throughout Limousin circles being an active member in the Young Breeders Club.

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L i m o u s i n Yo u n g B r e e d e r s

SCOTTISH YOUNG BREEDER RAIDS NI YOUNG HANDLERS COMPETITION! l Stephanie Dick Overall Champion Young Handler l Reserve Champion Ruth Hamill l Junior Champion Andrew Hamil

Senior Champion, Stephanie Dick, with judge Kirree Kermode

1th January saw a group of enthusiastic Young Limousin Breeders take centrestage at Ballymena Mart to take part in the Young Handlers section of their Annual Calf Spectacular. The competitors were split into three age groups: 12 and under; 13-18 and 19+ under the watchful eye of judge Kirree Kermode from the Orrisdale Limousin prefix, Isle of Man, in both the preparation of their animal for the show ring and then their ring-craft. Kirree awarded each handler points for how they presented themselves, alertness to the judge’s commands, and the overall knowledge of their calf, commenting: “The enthusiasm and confidence demonstrated to parade, stand and answer the questions regarding the animals details and genetics were done with great ease and the competitors are a real credit to their parents, trainers and the NIYLB.” After much deliberation Stephanie Dick, Westerton of Cowie, Stirling came out on top after travelling over from Scotland to compete where she runs her own herd with the prefix Stephick. One of the bulls that Stephanie has bred and sold has been Stephick Flashy, who was sold in Stirling and purchased by Will & Gareth Corrie, Newtonards and exported to Northern Ireland for their commercial herd. Flashy then went on to be one of the stock bulls for the Jalex Herd owned by James Alexander.

Intermediate Champion, Ruth Hamill, with judge Kirree Kermode

Following closely behind and taking Reserve Overall and winning the Intermediate section was Ruth Hamill from the Cloverdale Herd, run by her Dad David. With this being the third year taking part in the Young Handlers competitions, Ruth is still fresh from her recent success in Carlisle in December 2013 where she won the Overall Champion Young Handler title. Taking the Second Reserve Champion spot was young Andrew Hamill at only 10 years of age. Andrew has recently established his own herd with the Huntley prefix and has a very keen interest in farming with cattle and sheep in particular.

Junior Champion, Andrew Hamill, with judge Kirree Kermode

JESS WINS TOP TITLE

he 32nd Exeter and District Christmas Show was a great success for YLBC Member Jess Maynard (16), of Bradninch, near Exeter who took home the championship title with Singapore Sling, her 15 month-old Limousin-cross heifer. The heifer had previously won the class for the best steer or heifer exhibited by a YFC member and the best homebred heifer at the show held at Exeter Livestock Centre. Jess, a member of Culm Valley YFC and the Young Limousin Breeders Club (YLBC) is currently studying for her GCSEs and cried tears of joy after the judge made his decision. Singapore Sling is sired by the Sympa son, Exmoor Champion, and is out of a British Blue-cross cow, part of a small 12-cow commercial herd run alongside the family’s Columbpark pedigree Limousin herd. Weighing in at 595 kilos, the heifer was sold by Kivells & Husseys Auctioneers to the judge, Mr Pascoe from Cornwall. Another YLBC Member, Lin Pidsley from Payhembury, near Honiton, took the Reserve Championship with her Limousin-cross heifer, Highland Magic, which weighed in at 563 kilos. Photo courtesy of Alan Quick

Jess Maynard with her Exeter Primestock Champion

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L i m o u s i n Yo u n g B r e e d e r s 2014 YLBC PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME 22 May

Young Show Stars Challenge, Beef Expo, Hexham

14 June

Annual Stockjudging, Three Counties, Malvern

22 June

NW Mids & N Wales Club Open Day & Stockjudging Alwen Herd, Corwen

6 July

July Training Day, Ronick Herd, Stirling

26 July

Anglo-Irish Stockjudging, Antrim Show

10 August

NW Mids & N Wales Club Open Day Twemlows Herd, Whitchurch

Sep/Oct tbc

YLBC day at ABP, Ellesmere, Shrops

11 Dec

AGM & Young Handlers Championship, Carlisle

INTRODUCING MISTIC GUCCI

www.glenrock.co.uk

Bremore Victoria, dam of Mistic Gucci

All-Ireland Junior Champion 2012, Mistic Gucci was purchased privately in October 2012. With a Beef Value, 400 day Growth & Muscle Depth all in the top 1%, he is a very long bull, well-muscled and extremely docile with his first calves already on the ground.

Semen available on

www.semenstore.co.uk

(£20ps plus £50 Royalty)

t h e b r i t i s hLockerbie l i m o u s i nDG11 c a t t l3AF e s o cTel: i e t01461 y ww w . l i m oMob: u s i n . 07754 c o . u k 919058 Email: glenrock@btinternet.com Stephen & Helen Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield, 800273

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Limousin Feature

EVER NEARER A PUREBRED LIMOUSIN FOR KENT-BASED SUCKLER HERD Feature on FGS Agri of Pluckley, Kent

desire to reduce disease risk and improve calf quality has seen Pluckley, Kent-based suckler herd manager Martin Russell progress towards a near purebred Limousin herd over the last six years, with the intention of maximising profitability. Managing a herd of 325 sucklers for farming and contracting company FGS Agri, Mr Russell is clear that a switch to retaining homebred Limousin-sired replacement heifers was the right route to take when he took over the herd’s management. “We’ve expanded cow numbers rapidly in the last five years, both by acquisition and by retaining our own replacements.

Limousins are Ideal Replacements “This year we’ll put 270 cows and 55 heifers to the bull with the intention of calving 300 next spring. It’s a big herd and that means everything has to be right. Retaining our own Limousin-sired replacements helps on a number of fronts, but primarily it cuts out the risk of bringing in disease from elsewhere and that is a big bonus in such a large herd.” Additionally, Mr Russell says homebred replacements can be selected from the better breeding cows in the herd and this gives some indication of future

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performance in the herd. “If we were buying in replacements we could be buying in cattle of unknown quality and background and that could mean buying poor milkers or bad mothers. By keeping our own we know we’re picking from the cows that have performed for us in the past.” Limousin bulls are sourced locally, with a number coming from Brian Baker’s Wealden Herd and others from Sue Watson’s Thorndean Herd. “Again, buying off-farm helps reduce the disease risk that comes with buying through sales where bulls can potentially pick up a number of diseases. The herd is BVD free and is vaccinated against leptospirosis and IBR. We’ve tested for BVD continually and have remained free, but I think we’ll have to switch to vaccinating for it in the next year or so as there’s always a risk of mixing with neighbouring cattle.” Mr Russell says that as well as the health benefits of buying off-farm he also feels he’s getting better bulls as a result. “It means we can see the bull’s mother and generally speaking bulls sourced from home aren’t pushed as hard as those brought out to sales. “Keeping our own replacements means we want milky females, but we also want cows with udders which last. Being able to see a bull’s mother gives a good indication of how milky his daughters might be and also helps gauge the quality of the bag they may have in years to

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come. Good tight bags are feature of the Limousin breed and one we want to maximise in our herd. Additionally, I want bulls to last, so I’d rather they weren’t fed too heavily early in life. We’ve one bull here now which is pushing on for 12 years old and that says a lot about the type of bull I want to work with.”

Tight Calving Pattern And fit, active bulls are central to the aim of a compact calving pattern too, he says. “This year we calved everything in 12 weeks and the aim for next year is to calve inside of 10 weeks. The herd is all spring calving and such a tight calving pattern means it’s a busy time, but it is important to have evenly grouped calves and it makes cow and calf management much easier if calving is tight.” To help maintain this tight calving pattern Mr Russell fertility tests every bull every year prior to use to ensure they are up to the job and where necessary replaces bulls not up to scratch. “We are quick to cull poor performing cows, too, and anything not getting in calf inside the service period is culled as there isn’t time to carry passengers in a herd of this size.” While the drive towards purer Limousin cows has been achieved by using high quality bulls, the herd also carries a dose of native breeding in the form of Sussex blood, he says. “We aren’t always running

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Limousin Feature cows on the best ground and having a bit of native blood in the cows helps them keep their condition better and milk better off some of our poorer grassland. The Limousin cow is good at holding her condition and, with the addition of some native breeding, can really thrive off poorer grassland,” he explains. “We’re diluting the native blood a bit now, so it may be that we need to re-introduce a Sussex bull in the next few years, the challenge will be to do it without losing the performance, growth

for this herd. While we’ve narrowed down the disease risks quite well already there is always a risk when bringing any animal in to the herd and that’s something we have to be acutely aware of. “Any disease breakdown could affect the herd significantly and we’d also be able to rear bulls less intensively than many breeders would want to. We’re looking for shape and milk in a bull, but without excessive feeding to get flesh on them.”

and shape we’ve gained with the higher proportion of Limousin breeding in the herd now. We’ve also still got a number of other Continental breed cows in the herd and we have to feed these on the finishing ration when they are housed to get them fit to calve. Increasing the Limousin content of the herd and mixing it with a dash of native blood will help avoid this in future.”

A trial group of heifers have also been bulled to calve at two years old next spring, too, with Mr Russell keen to reduce calving age if possible. “We’ve historically calved at three years old, but that means having a group of heifers running empty for a year. If we can calve at two it will simplify management and help improve returns,” he adds.

Cost-effective Finishing

“Our well-grown Limousin-sired heifers should be more than capable of calving at two years old and rearing a good calf in their heifer year.”

But, with most cattle finished on-farm, having a store animal that can finish quickly on a cost-effective ration is an important factor in the herd’s management. Cattle are weaned at housing, with cows wintered on hay or grass silage and calves moved in to a store ration to grow frame before finishing. “We creep feed calves at grass through the summer so they’re well grown when they come in and then they move onto the growing ration which is based on maize silage and rapemeal with ad-lib grass silage, too. “Then once they’ve got the frame, we move them onto the finishing ration which is based on potatoes, maize silage and straw. Other suitable ingredients are included as required and I’m not a big fan of feeding maize silage through the summer as it can go off very quickly in the heat.” The aim is to finish cattle from 16-22 months old, with all finished and cull cattle sold on a deadweight basis to ABP Guildford, with steers aimed at about 380kg deadweight. “We do sell up to 50 calves a year as stores through the local market at Ashford if the trade is right. The last couple of years have seen a strong store trade and it has been tempting to sell a lot more, but we’re earning well from finishing good quality Limousin crosses, so there’s no need to consider it just at the moment.” Looking ahead, Mr Russell says his continued quest to maintain a high health herd could see a switch to breeding his own bulls, too. “It may be that we set up a small nucleus herd to breed replacement bulls and use AI to access the best genetics possible

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Limousin Feature

LIMOUSIN FITS THE BILL FOR PHIL JONES, FW BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR

Feature on Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year Phil Jones, Lan Farm, Carmarthenshire

ward-winning commercial beef producer, Phil Jones, manages to achieve the best of both worlds. While he runs his business with ruthless efficiency and a keen eye to profit, he also has a genuine love of cattle breeding and is just as enthusiastic as any pedigree breeder. Over the years, he has come to the conclusion that the Limousin fulfils all his requirements, largely because of its outstanding maternal characteristics and good conformation. Phil was the deserving winner of the Farmers Weekly ‘Beef Farmer of the Year’ award in 2013, with the judges praising his clear focus on profit and excellent performance figures. They also commented favourably on his willingness to embrace new technology and his efforts to maintain high herd health status. One production figure which is bound to have swayed the panel is the postweaning 1kg daily liveweight gain for the calves, which is achieved without using any concentrates. Lan Farm is a part-rented, part-owned farm which covers 400 acres of land, situated at 650-800 feet above sea-level.

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The region has a fairly high rainfall average and the soil type ranges widely, including both peat and clay. It has been in organic production for well over a decade.

the local organic sale at Carmarthen auction mart. Stores usually leave the farm in batches of 10-12 and weighing around 350kgs.

Phil mostly works alone on the family farm, although he is ably supported by his wife, Shan, and the couple’s two children, Manon, who is 13 years old and Gwion, aged 11. The children get very excited when they are awaiting the arrival of a new Limousin bull and they both enjoy helping out on the farm when they are not at school, comments Phil.

During the first few years of organic production, it was common to find conventional finishers outbidding organic producers, says Phil, but more recently the majority have been sold on to organic farms and are commanding a small premium over the market average.

Anyone working with cattle on a daily basis gets a great deal of job satisfaction from admiring their visual appearance and Phil is no exception. He has a special affection for black Limousins and has recently registered a few of his own pedigree ‘Elfed’ females while the main herd is made up of just over 100 predominantly Welsh Black cows. Historically, the farm retained two Charolais bulls until the purchase of Dyfri Upstart as a mature bull, specifically to breed replacement females. Phil was delighted with the growth, structure and length of the calves to the extent that he currently runs two Limousins and one Charolais. All the cattle are sold as stores, with as many as 80-90% going to repeat private buyers. However Phil also likes to support

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Closed Herd Three years ago, the discovery of a subfertile bull and a positive test result for BVD prompted Phil to re-think his cattle breeding policy. At the time, he relied on bought-in replacements, but the female side of the herd is now closed, with stock bulls quarantined on arrival.

EBVs In the past, Phil placed little emphasis on EBVs, preferring instead to buy bulls purely on appearance. But his opinion changed radically after he attended a course on how to use EBVs to increase selection accuracy. “The course was fantastic and it really opened my eyes to the potential of EBVs,” he says. “I think they are one heck of a tool, although they are not the only way to evaluate cattle. Rather than just seeing a bull at a sale, I like to visit the herd and look at his relations, wherever possible.”

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Limousin Feature Bull Selection The number one quality that Phil requires of a bull is ease of calving, he stresses. Careful attention is also paid to daughter (maternal) calving ease, to produce replacement females that are able to calve without requiring assistance. Another policy implemented to minimise difficult calvings is the use of sexed semen on the heifers, so they produce smaller, female calves. Second in order of EBV priority are the sire’s 200 and 400-day growth rates. The use of heat detector collars, to identify cows bulling, has increased the choice of sires to include AI bulls and Phil spends a lot of time researching bulls using the Semenstore website and BASCO for EBVs. Through his research and having a preference for a black cow, the first black Limousin bull was purchased at Brecon in May 2011 at a Breed Society sale. Tamarvalley Endymion came from Mr WB Harper at Way Farm, Holsworthy in Devon, with a price tag of 3,200gns and is sired by Edwards Valiant (by Edwards Sirloin) and out of Tamarvalley Virtuoso (by Mapleleaf Just So). “I noticed the bull in the sale catalogue and went down to see him before the sale,” explains Phil. “In the three seasons we have had him, he has produced some very good calves and we are really pleased with his performance.” “That visit to Mr Harper’s farm was when I fell for the black Limousins. There’s something a little bit different about them and they are very pleasing to look at. I believe that black Limousins are definitely the way forward for a commercial breeder.” A second black Limousin stock bull arrived on the farm in 2013. Knock Hale and Hearty was bought privately from Mr A Howie’s herd at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, with Phil making the 1,000mile round trip to see the bull in his home environment before purchase. “I did my research and I knew that it was a quality herd containing mostly black Limousins. It did not disappoint and I was pleased to see the cattle were not being pushed too hard. Hale and Hearty won’t be used until May, when he’ll go in with the heifers.” One AI bull whose progeny are eagerly awaited is Newhouse Fullback. By Tamarvalley Boscastle, he was sold for 16,000gns at Stirling in 2012. Fullback has a maternal production value of 22, which puts him in the top 10% of the breed.

Cow Selection Phil has firm ideas about the selection of females as replacements. “The black Limousin has fantastic maternal characteristics; the females are extremely milky. This is a highly desirable trait; milk is

free and feed is expensive, so why spend money when the cow can rear the calf without supplementation? Even a saving of £10/calf will add up, when you consider the figure across a whole herd. “I like to breed a tidy-looking, square cow and let the bull put the shape on the calf. A mature cow should weigh around 600kgs at weaning; I don’t want anything too big.”

Block Calving Calving used to take place over a prolonged period during spring and summer, but Phil decided that block calving would help to ease the workload. Calving now takes place in March, April and May. “The only way to move to block calving is to cull females which don’t get in-calf over a set period and that is what I have done, although I still might give the benefit of the doubt to a young cow which has slipped. “Block calving has a number of benefits; it means that I can focus on the calving period and not get too distracted by other jobs that need to be done on the farm. When it comes to calf castration or de-budding, I can bring the cattle in and go through all the youngstock at the same time. All the calves are weaned in the first week of the New Year, for simplicity’s sake.”

Herd Management Hitting a 1kg/day liveweight gain average for weaned calves without the use of concentrates and on an organic system is something to be very proud of. Phil puts much of his success down to his homegrown “rocket fuel.” It is a combination of red clover silage, plus barley/pea whole crop silage. I usually have about 20 acres of red clover and grass growing at any one time, with the mix sown over the peas or barley. In the early days, I used Italian ryegrasses, but they were too aggressive and swamped the clover. Perennial ryegrasses work much better. The secret is to avoid cutting or grazing the red clover below the crown; otherwise it won’t grow back.”

Weighing Phil is a great fan of regular calf weighing and the task is carried out monthly from weaning onwards, with help from his daughter and son. “The children particularly like helping me to weigh the calves. I feel it’s a very important element of cattle breeding; a milk producer gets information on how his cows are performing twice a day in the parlour. Beef production is no different and if the cattle aren’t being weighed, then I have no clear picture of how they are progressing. I also weigh the cows at weaning, to give me a better idea of how to feed them as they enter the dry stage.”

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The ability to adapt to changing markets and keep control of costs is usually an indicator of business success and Phil already has his sights set on a second enterprise. “I’m looking forward to reaching the stage where I will have surplus black Limousin females for breeding. That will give me a second enterprise. I’m just like every other farmer; I have bills which need to be paid. My philosophy is simple; cash is king and quality is queen!” he says.

Herd Health Plan The herd is part of the SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) Premium Cattle Health Scheme. As well as receiving a BVD vaccination, the calves are also protected against pneumonia at housing.

Cow Efficiency Project Lan Farm has been an *HCC and Farming Connect Demonstration Farm and this has led to the farm becoming involved in a project to monitor cow efficiency. Using bulls with high growth EBVs will produce progeny that potentially have increased mature weight which will add to the maintenance cost of keeping the cow. By weighing the cows and calves at weaning and condition-scoring the cows, the change to Limousin genetics from Welsh Black is being evaluated. The first year’s data showed that the younger cows appeared to be breeding a calf that has superior growth, maybe as a result of choosing good growth EBV bulls to breed the dam line, but also appear to be rearing it well. This better calf performance however was at the expense of cow body condition score and weight which has possible repercussions on the ability of these cows to rebreed to avoid a slippage in their calving pattern. The challenge for the future will be to maintain a herd of medium-sized fertile animals capable of suiting Welsh upland farms, while continuing to push for higher growth rates in their calves. Phil is confident that the Limousin will help him deliver this objective.

PHIL JONES AND HIS FAMILY WILL BE HOSTING AN RABDF FARM WALK ON 29TH JULY 2014

* HCC (Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales)

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Limousin Feature

LIMOUSINS AT THE CORE OF BALGRAY HILL COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE Courtesy of The Scottish Farmer Words: Kayley Kennedy Photographs: Jacqueline Pettigrew

VER SINCE its humble beginnings some 20 years ago, the Maybe herd of Limousin cattle has gone from strength-tostrength and has achieved some outstanding results, despite not focusing on selling bulls through the pedigree ring. David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite relocated from the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria to their tenanted farm near Lockerbie nearly 23 years ago. Here, they took on the task of developing their commercial suckler herd and, in doing so, established a pedigree herd of Limousins. “We arrived at Balgray Hill in March, 1991,” explained David. “At the time, the farm ran a mix of Blue-grey and Simmental cross Blue-grey cows which were put to Simmental and Charolais bulls. But, we were keen to switch to the Limousin to improve the growth rates and calving ease of the herd.”

The best-known of these is Maybe Cute, a rising seven-year Ronick Hawk daughter out of Maybe Lovely. This 2013 Scottish Female of the Year was also the 2009 North West Limousin Cattle Breeders Association heifer derby winner and has many red, white and blue tickets under her belt. She lifted the inter-breed title at the 2012 Dumfries Show and, in 2013, was awarded the reserve inter-breed rosette at Kelso. Her daughters are enjoying the sparkle of the show ring too, as her 2013-born heifer, Maybe Innocent, an AI-bred Frewstone Breakdance daughter, was breed and inter-breed champion at Langholm Show, in 2013, at only five months old. Further still, her sister – the Galbally C458-sired Maybe – won the same titles and trophies only the year before. Maybe Girly was offered for sale at the Carlisle February 2014 Female sale where she secured the top price of 9,000gns.

Eager to start breeding their own bulls backed by proven family growth and femininity, David and Rosemarie founded the Maybe herd in 1994 with heifers from Hartside, Rufland and Sarkley herds, a cow from the Lodge herd and a privately purchased Ronick heifer. These, along with a cow bought from the College dispersal, created the base for the 40-strong herd and all members still trace to those initial six. Running alongside them on the 2270 acres of Balgray Hill are 365 Limousin cross commercial cows, 15 Galloway females – under the Balgray prefix – and 1900 ewes, mostly Texel crossed with hill breeds. They also run a 30-strong pure Texel flock for breeding stock tups. Helping David and Rosemarie are three full time stock men – Tom McGregor, Jason McKinnel and Tommy Rogerson – who, along with the Cornthwaites, have enjoyed turning out numerous show champions.

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Maybe Girly 9,000gns

“We’ve tried putting Cute to different bloodlines to the rest of the herd so that we can hopefully retain a stock bull in the future for the pedigrees,” Mr Cornthwaite commented of the herd favourite which they plan to flush to Breakdance in the coming months. “Initially we did a lot of AI work before buying Hudscales Omar as a yearling at Carlisle. He really put some shape in to the calves as well as Marquis, a bull bought a few years later,” explained David.

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Limousin Feature Then, in March, 2007 they bought the Nenuphar-sired Bremore Artist, in a two-way split with Stephen Illingworth, of the Glenrock herd, when he stood Junior Champion at Roscrea. “He then went on to stand Reserve Junior Bull Champion at the Royal Highland Show in the same year. He’s breeding big, growthy cattle with plenty of shape and natural fleshing that are good and quiet,” he added. The following year the Cornthwaites forked out €8,000 for the aforementioned Galbally C458 – a Neuf son – again at Roscrea. “The C458 bull is producing offspring which is very easily calved. The majority of heifers offered for sale next month are by him and in calf to Netherhall Epic, another easy calving bull,” David said, adding that Epic is a previous 12,000gns Carlisle sale bought privately a year later from Irish company, Progressive Genetics. “Epic is a Sympa son and sits in ninth position in the breed for beef value at +49. His calves slip out easily and, despite being small at birth, quickly develop great width.” Developing the herd has taken time but their efforts are certainly paying off as the Maybe herd has won its section of the North West club’s herd competition in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 as well as taking second place in 2012. Because of the large number of cattle at Balgray Hill, a new bull is bought every other year and covers the pedigree cows before going out to run with their commercial herd. “This way we can determine how they’ll breed, and whether they’re more suited to the commercial or pedigree herds. Often we’ve bought a bull with the commercial herd in mind but if he produces some exceptional offspring we may well use him on

suitable pedigree cows. The majority of the stock sires used on the commercial herd are home-bred,” he explained. But it’s not only the pedigree stock that earns its keep as the commercial herd also pays its way. Each year, around 125 store calves (mostly bullocks) are sold at nine to 11 months of age at the March Continental sale at Carlisle where, last year, they levelled at £1140. Following that, a batch of 65 is sold at the September Continental sale at 10-14 months where they averaged £1226. The female calves are either retained in the herd or finished and sold through Dumfries from late October through to July and, just last week, a group of four sold up to 243.5p per kg at a weight of 550kg. “We initially finished all the calves at Balgray but switched to selling a bulk batch in March to free up some shed space for both calving and lambing. Plus, the store trade was good last year and the costs for finishing an animal had increased so we felt it made sense to follow the market,” he added. But despite not selling at Stirling or Carlisle Bull Sales for a number of years, David and Rosemarie still regularly attend. “Bull sales are important for us as it helps us keep abreast of trends within the breed and is a good indicator as to which blood lines are performing – and what consumers want in a bull,” he said. “Plus, we are always on the lookout for bulls which may enhance either our pedigree or commercial enterprises.” And, ultimately, David feels that as long as the Limousin breed keeps its easy calving traits – which is becoming more important as there is less manpower on farms – and retains its natural fleshing ability, then the breed has a great future ahead.

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Limousin

Limousin Sales

37,000GNS GRAHAMS HUMPHREY LEADS STRONG JUNIOR BULL TRADE AT CARLISLE

Carlisle Feb 2014

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Limousin Sales

Sale Sponsored by:

All photos courtesy of Wayne Hutchinson

l 103 Bulls average £ 6,416 l Average up by £ 1,085 on the year l 3 bulls at 20,000gns and over; 40 at 5,000gns and over l Junior bulls average £7,689 - up by £2,400 l Sale grosses £660,951

Grahams Humphrey 37,000gns

&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, Stirling secured the top price of the day when they sold their young bull, Graham Humphrey, for a mighty 37,000gns at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s February Sale held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Saturday 15th February 2014. Bringing something new to the bloodlines on offer at the sale, the October 2012-born Humphrey is by the Irish-bred sire, Baileys Elderado, a bull purchased by Robert Graham at a Roscrea Sale in Ireland for 17,000 Euros. Elderado is by Queenshead Altea who was originally bought for 52,000gns by the Baileys herd at Carlisle and who features the noted Greensons Gigolo in his breeding. In 2013, the toppriced Limousin female in the year was Grahams Gayla at 17,000gns who is also by Baileys Elderado. Grahams Humphrey is out of Grahams Coffee, a Millington Vascular daughter, who is described as ‘one of the best cows in the Grahams herd.’ Purchasing the top price was Charlie Boden, Boden & Davies Ltd for his 30-cow Sportsmans pedigree herd at Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire. In the pre-sale show, Grahams Humphrey had secured the red ticket in the second last class of the day from the judge Jonathan Watson of the Tweeddale herd based at Berwick Upon Tweed. An electric trade for junior bulls saw the sale close with 103 bulls sold in all to average £6,417. The thirty-three junior

bulls averaged a fantastic £7689, up by over £2,400 on the year, whilst the sale average overall was up by £1,085 on the corresponding 2013 fixture with a clearance rate of 69%. The bull sale grossed £660,951, and with 59 females sold on the previous evening the two sales combined saw a total sale gross of £770,204. In all, forty bulls made 5,000gns or over, including three at 20,000gns and above, with nine at 10,000gns or more. Commenting on the sale, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “The recentlypublished BCMS figures for 2013 again show the dominant position of the breed in the UK with a market share of 30%. It has maintained that position by its ability to produce calves time and again that hit the carcase spec demanded by the industry, and through its maternal abilities of easy calving and all-round efficiency. Bulls here at the sale with shape, length, and width in the tops were readily sold. In just over two weeks at the Stirling and Carlisle sales, 173 bulls have grossed over £1 Million to average just under £6,000 as pedigree and commercial producers have competed strongly for the quality bulls of their choice.” Taking the second top price at 23,000gns was another junior, Fairywater Haig, from JA Ewing, Dumbretton Farms, Annan, Dumfries. This September 2012-born bull took the first prize before moving on to

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secure the Reserve Junior Championship. Fairywater Haig is by the herd’s stock sire, Ironstone Diego, a bull purchased at Carlisle for 18,000gns. A Wilodge Vantastic son, Ironstone Diego was also the sire of Fairywater Gabriella, a full sister to Fairywater Haig, and who took Reserve Championship at the 2013 Red Ladies Derby before selling for 15,000gns. Fairywater Haig is out of the Mas Du Clo daughter Pelletstown Catherine. Purchasing the stylish and correct Fairywater Haig was A & D Proctor for their Swarland pedigree herd at Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth, Northumberland which comprises of 30 breeding females run alongside 100 commercial cows. Andrew Proctor said, “This bull has great class, is a lovely walker and has a tremendous back-end. He is ideally suited for breeding show calves and will be also used in the first instance on Swarland Dapper daughters in the pedigree herd.” For the Fairywater herd, which itself runs 70 pedigrees alongside around 100 commercials, this was the first Diego bull calves forward at a Society sale and the 23,000gns represented a top sale price to date. Later in the sale Fairywater Hadley, also by Ironstone Diego, sold for 6,500gns. Continuing the strong run of juniors was Lowerffrydd Husainbolt from JG & JA Evans, Lower Ffrydd, Caersws, Powys who sold for 20,000gns to the Honeymoor pedigree herd of RS Harker & Son, Grayrigg Hall, Grayrigg, Kendal, Cumbria.

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Limousin Sales noted Ampertaine Commander. With a continuity in breeding of the two bulls sold, Hannibal is out of Mereside Primrose who again goes back to the Lumbylaw Upside bloodline.

Fairywater Haig 23,000gns

Back in the junior bulls, and Sandhills Herbie made 17,000gns when selling for J & HD Langcake, Sandhills Farm, Bassenthwaite, Keswick. An embryo calf, this September 2012 bull combined both muscle and breeding being by the noted sire Rossignol and out of the Ronick Hawksired Siddall Awny. A top sale price for the Sandhills herd, Sandhills Herbie was purchased by GW Lee & Sons, Stockley Burn Farm, Frosterley, Co Durham.

Lowerffrydd Husainbolt 20,000gns

Mereside Hallmark - Overall Champion 18,000gns

Local breeders ES & E Norman brought a fine line-up of bulls with shape and muscle that saw them sell eight in all to average a tremendous £7,250. Featuring strongly in their pen were the first six sons offered at sale from the herd’s stock bull Claragh Franco who was purchased at Carlisle in May 2011 for 24,000gns. Leading the way for the Normans was the June 2012-born Norman Hawk who had stood second in his class to the day’s Overall Supreme Champion. By Claragh Franco and out of Norman Clover, Norman Hawk carried a Beef Value of LM+43 and was snapped up by Millington Limousins for the Millington pedigree herd at The Grange, Millington, York.

Sandhills Herbie 17,000gns

Other Claragh Franco sons sold for the Normans on the day to 7800gns, 7200gns and 7000gns, whilst a Drummin Eagle-sired son also made 7000gns.

Norman Hawk 15,500gns

Homebyres Hawick 15,000gns

A second prize September 2012 bull, Husainbolt is an AI calf by the 28,000gns Procters Cavalier and is out of Corridan Fizz. Another bull with a tremendous top and width, this calf first came to public prominence when being on the Limousin Society’s promotional stand at the 2013 Welsh Winter Fair. The Overall Supreme Champion and Intermediate Champion was Mereside Hallmark from RM Hazard & Sons, Saltby Heath Farm, Skillington, Grantham Lincolnshire. In May 2013, the herd returned to sales at Carlisle after some nine years and duly sold Mereside Godolphin to the year’s top Limousin price of 40,000gns. In a ‘dream follow-up sale’ they secured the February 2014 Supreme Championship, a herd first, before selling Mereside Hallmark for 18,000gns. The June 2012 Hallmark, a heifer’s calf, is by the French-bred sire Dormeur who himself was bought as a calf and used in the Mereside herd for some three years before being sold to Chatsworth Estates. The Hazards noted that Dormeur had clicked extremely well with Vagabond daughters in the herd and Hallmark himself bore that out being out of the Vagabond-sired Mereside

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Enabel. With an emphasis placed on quality females and proven bloodlines, Hallmark’s pedigree goes back to one of the herd’s foundation females in the shape of Lumbylaw Upside. Commenting on his Champion, the judge Jonathan Watson said: “This bull had an immediate presence and just stood out for me when he first entered the ring. He’s a big bull, has very impressive width and carries a natural power. He is correct on his legs, has bags of style, and moves very well. He’s a class act and a true breeder’s bull.” Mereside Hallmark, who was also judged as the best young bull in the 2013 East Midlands Limousin herd competition, was purchased by the Gascoines Group Ltd, for the Gascoines pedigree herd at Southwell, Notts. The Hazards enjoyed an excellent sale day with their second bull Mereside Hannibal making 13,000gns when selling to the Cockleshell herd of Mr I Pitcher, Ivy House Farm, Friskney, Boston, Lincolnshire. A first prizewinner from Class 10, Mereside Hannibal is an embryo calf sired by the

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Another fine pen of bulls was once again brought forward by the Homebyres herd of Messrs J Logan, Humebyres, Kelso. Full of power, shape and width, four bulls from the herd grossed £36,855 to average £9,214. The top price from the pen was the 15,000gns paid for the Reserve Senior Champion Homebyres Hawick by JE Carruthers, Silloans, Rochester, Newcastle upon Tyne and his Redesdale pedigree herd. The first prize winner from the third class of the day, Homebyres Hawick is by Kaprico Davelle, a bull purchased by the Logans for 18,000gns at Carlisle in October 2009, and is out of the Haltcliffe Nijinsky daughter Homebyres Suncity. Hawick was sold with a Beef Value of LM+38. From the same pen, Homebyres Houston made 9,500gns when selling to Messrs Hutchinson, White House Farm, Eastgate, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. April 2012born and another Kaprico Davelle son, Homebyres Houston is out of Homebyres Cinique and carried another strong Beef Value of LM+39. Homebyres Hawick at 15,000gns is the top price son to date by Kaprico Davelle. Winning one of the strongest pre-sale show classes (Class 5) was Iveagh Harry from Stephen Magill, Poyntzpass, Newry. Bred for shape, this May 2012-born calf is by the AI sire Sympa and is out of the Rocky

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Limousin Sales daughter Carhill Davina. This was Carhill Davina’s second calf with her first calf being Iveagh Gilkes who sold for 20,000gns at Carlisle in October 2012. Another bull with good figures (Beef Value LM+39), Iveagh Harry was bought by the Turville pedigree herd of HB & LJ Lear, The Manor, Creslow, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Another Sympa son to feature strongly in the sale was the Reserve Supreme Overall and Junior Champion, Goldies Hurricane from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries who made 13,000gns. Goldies breeding has continued to feature strongly at Carlisle sales and particularly in the junior section with the herd having bred at least one parent of six of the last eight pre-sale show junior champions. August 2012-born, Goldies Hurricane is out of the French-bred cow Rosabelle who was originally purchased when the herd was restructured in 2001 following FMD. Still going strong at 15 years old, Rosabelle has previously bred a Perth Sale Champion for the herd. Purchasing Goldies Hurricane were CR & MM Gollop & Sons for their Sloughpool pedigree herd at Slough Farm, Halberton Road, Willand, Cullompton, Devon. Purchaser Michael Gollop, who runs the 60-strong pedigree Limousin herd as well as a dairy enterprise, commented that the bull had “shape and style in abundance.” The opening lot of the sale had seen the Goldies sell their five-year-old stock bull Hartlaw Excaliber, a Wilodge Tonka son and past 2011 National Limousin Show Male Champion, for 9,000gns to an undisclosed buyer. Later in the day, a Hartlaw Excaliber son, Goldies Hotspur, sold for 8,000gns to Craig Cameron, Greenferns Farm, Bucksburn, Aberdeen. Anside Hulk, a second prize winner from the strong class five made 12,500gns when selling for Mr & Mrs Stephen Irvine, Braehead Farm Drummuir, By Keith, Banffs, Moray. A heifer’s calf, the May 2012 born Hulk is by the herd’s 22,000gns sire Derriaghy Enfield and is out of the Fleethill Talisman daughter Anside Evita. In 2013, this young bull won the Junior Championship and Reserve Overall at Keith Show and the Reserve Overall Championship at Turriff Show. Purchasing Anside Hulk was Innes Farms, Millbrae, Findhorn, Forres, Morayshire. Late in the catalogue, Roxburgh Homeland made 12,000gns for John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. A second prize winner in the last class of the day, Roxburgh Homeland had enjoyed an unbeaten show record in 2013 when winning the Senior Limousin Championship at the Stars of the Future Show and also the Limousin Championship at the Scottish Winter Fair pedigree show. An embryo calf, and November 2012-born, Homeland is by the £40,000 Plumtree Fantastic and is out of the Jersey-sired French cow Nova. Snapping up this bull was GH Walton

& Sons, Greyside Farm, Newbrough, Hexham, Northumberland. Having purchased the top price of the day, Boden & Davies Ltd, Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire, were also in action as vendors and sold their third prize winner Sportsmans Hagrid for 9,500gns. Got by AI, Sportsmans Hagrid is by the 30,000gns Lowerffrydd Empire and is out of the Mas Du Clo daughter Glenrock Éclair. July 2012-born, and with a Beef Value of LM+39, this bull also went to a pedigree herd when selling to McKinney Bros and their Heathmount pedigree herd at Craigadick Road, Maghera, Co. Londonderry, N Ireland. A second Rossignol-sired calf to make his mark on the day was the April 2012born Lodge Henri from S & GA Potter & Son, Westside, Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Originally bred by Mr & Mrs W&A Callion, Bolfornought Farm, Stirling, this bull is out of French-bred Anisette who was imported from the noted Champeval herd. Purchasing Lodge Henri for 9,000gns were Messrs Carroll, Edenadiack, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Iveagh Harry 14,000gns

Goldies Hurricane 13,000gns

The strong junior trade continued when Cloughhead Hesta also made 9,000gns when selling for GL Hutton, Setmabanning, Threlkeld, Keswick Cumbria. Entirely French-bred, this October 2012 bull is by Ugues and is out of the Breton-sired Fanie. Heading to Wales, Cloughhead Hesta was purchased by DB Davies & Son, who run the Eisteddfa pedigree herd at Eisteddfa Fawr, Brynberian, Crymych, Pembrokeshire.

Other leading prices and purchasers:

Mereside Hannibal 13,000gns

8,500gns Reddings Hero to W & T Nelson 8,500gns Ampertaine Hollywood to South Eastern Cattle Breeders 8,000gns Goldies Hotspur to C Cameron 8,000gns Saunders Handyandy to GP Taylor 8,000gns Gritstone Humdinger to J Thompson 7,800gns Norman Hardy to DR McIntyre 7,200gns Norman Hex to W Lockhart & Son 7,000gns Norman Harry to AJ Forsyth & Co 7,000gns Norman Harley to RA Wilson & Son

Anside Hulk 12,500gns

7,000gns Emslies Holeymoley to JF Teague 7,000gns Dolcorsllwyn Hamish to D Baillie

Averages 16 Senior Bulls 54 Intermediate Bulls 33 Junior Bulls Overall 103 Bulls Auctioneer: H&H

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£6,181.88 £5,708.89 £7,689.08 £6,416.80 Roxburgh Homeland 12,000gns

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Stirling

Feb 2014

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Limousin Sales

Newhouse Hartley 12,000gns

Elrick Handsome 12,500gns

Allanfauld Highland Park 10,000gns

12,500GNS ELRICK HANDSOME LEADS STRONG COMMERCIAL DEMAND AT STIRLING l 70 bulls average £5,247

l 29 bulls in all at 5,000gns and over

l Averages up £862

l Clearance rate 83%

l Three bulls at 10,000gns and over

l Sale grosses £367,290

ommercial beef producers led a strong demand for Limousin bulls at United Auctions’ Stirling market on Tuesday 4th February 2014 that saw 70 bulls average £5247, up by £862 on the year. Leading the way, at what was the British Limousin Cattle Society’s first collective bull sale of the 2014 year, was the 12,500gns paid for Elrick Handsome from Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire. In the pre-sale show, this April 2012-born bull had been placed as Reserve Overall Supreme Champion and Senior Champion by the judge Gary Oag, who runs the Brims Herd at Brims Mains, Thurso, Caithness. Elrick Handsome is a heifer’s calf out of Elrick Emily and whose breeding goes back to the brood cow Goldies Isadora. Two years ago, the prolific Elrick herd won the Supreme Limousin Championship at Stirling with another bull from this same family line. The sire of Elrick Handsome is Craigatoke Dundee, a Haltcliffe Underwriter son, who was purchased at

Carlisle in 2011. Handsome emerged from the bull’s second crop of calves for the Elrick herd which numbers forty cows. Purchasing the top price bull, who also carried a Beef Value of LM+38, was Walter Cruikshank for his Clury pedigree herd at Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown on Spey. Three bulls in all made five figures with the second top price being the 12,000gns paid for Newhouse Hartley from Messrs RM Adam & Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Forfar, Angus. This upstanding bull weighed in at 1,065kgs and stood second in his class to the Reserve Junior Champion who also came from the Adam team. Newhouse Hartley is by Rosecroft Duke, a Grahams Unbeatable son that was purchased privately after Bob Adam had seen him whilst judging at the Royal Welsh Show. He is out of the homebred Newhouse Fay, a daughter of the 19,000gns Hudscales Bigboy. Carrying a big Beef Value of LM+46, Newhouse

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Hartley was purchased by Robert McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee. The Newhouse herd, which comprises of 40 red cows, and 30 black cows, sold eight bulls in all to gross £45,465. Other prices included bulls at 6,400gns, 4800gns, and two at 4,500gns. Commenting after the sale, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “As a whole, the sale saw a good quality, level show of bulls meet with a ready demand from predominantly commercial beef producers. The standard and consistency of bulls forward saw a strong middle trade with 29 bulls in all making over 5,000gns. To see averages up by £862 on the year and to sell 70 bulls from the 84 through the ring is excellent and reflective of the ongoing confidence in the breed. This sale very nicely tees up Carlisle on the 15th February where there will be another 190 Limousin bulls on offer.” The Overall Supreme Champion and Intermediate Champion was Allanfauld

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Limousin Sales Highland Park from Archie & John MacGregor. The Championship completed a unique hat-trick that has seen the herd lift the Overall Supreme award at three consecutive Limousin sales held at Stirling. Full of breeding, this June 2012-born bull is by the proven Sympa-sired Haltcliffe Underwriter, a bull purchased privately for the herd some three years ago, and is out of Allanfauld Chelsea described as one of the MacGregors’ ‘favourite’ cows in the herd. Commenting on his Champion, the judge Gary Oag said: “This was a great carcase animal with the style to go with it. He was full of muscle, had great width, impressive second thigh, and had the presence and breed character to go with it.” Purchasing the day’s Champion, who had a Beef Value of LM+33, at the 10,000gns mark was Balfour Baillie, Sebay Cottage, Tankerness, Orkney. Messrs JR MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow made 8,500gns when selling Dyke Highlander to Hartside Farms, Lammington, Biggar, Lanarkshire. A first prize winner from the first class of the day and the strong senior section, this March 2012 bull is by Cloughhead Delboy and is out of Dyke Amazon. Amazon is a full sister to Dyke Triumph who himself was sold for 7,000gns and has been a noted suckled calf breeder. The Dyke herd went on to sell Dyke Humbug for 5000gns, and Dyke Harry for 3800gns. The Anside herd of Mr & Mrs Stephen Irvine, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, By Keith, brought a team of four bulls all by the 22,000gns stock bull Derriaghy Enfield owned in partnership with Harry Emslie. The Irvines met with due reward when securing 8,500gns for their first prize winner from the fourth class, Anside Harry. Another strong bull, who weighed 1015kgs, this Enfield son is out of the Fleethill Talisman daughter, Anside Catrina. Anside Harry was sold to England and the Middledale herd of Mr PR Byas, Middledale Farm, Driffield, East Yorkshire. Later in the sale Anside Hancock, a second prize winner to the Reserve Intermediate Champion, made 7200gns when selling to J Lyon, Little Kilchattan, Isle of Bute. Similar breeding saw this May 2012 bull sired by Derriaghy Enfield and out of another Fleethill Talisman daughter, Anside Elinor. The herd also sold Anside Highflyer for 5,000gns to J Ireland, Feoch Farm, Darvel, Ayrshire. Local breeders Ian and Wendy Callion, Bolfornought Farm, Stirling, also made 7,200gns when selling their third prize winner Lodge Highlander. This bull is an AI calf got by the noted Wilodge Tonka son Hartlaw Excaliber and is out of a Ronick Urinocco daughter, Lodge Blossom. July 2012-born, and with a Beef Value of LM+36, Lodge Highlander was bought by G Yarr, Witton Farmhouse, Edzell, Brechin.

Picking up a first prize in the third class and a sale price of 7,200gns was Lauder Hilux from the establishing Lauder herd of John & Craig Connell, Wanton Walls, Lauder. This bull with both muscle and shape is by Homebyres Eagle, a Homebyres Vanhee son, and is out of Bapton Sparkle whose pedigree contains the noted Gabarit breeding. Purchasers of this bull were Lochty Farms, Anstruther. The Spittalton herd of J Burnett & Sons, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, Stirling brought a strong pen of six bulls that saw them gross an impressive £34,230 in all. Leading the way for them was the 7,000gns Reserve Senior Champion, Spittalton Harrier, which stood second to the day’s top price bull. This April 2012-born bull is by the herd’s homebred Spittalton Denzil, a Wilodge Vantastic son who has previously bred bulls up to 11,000gns. Harrier is out of the Middledale Shergar daughter Spittalton Ciggy. This bull was bought by JP Clark for the Kinnahaird pedigree herd at Contin, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire. Picking up the Intermediate Championship and this time standing second to the Overall Supreme was the 6,800gns Spittalton Harley. This bull again combined some strong bloodlines being by the Ronick Luke son Lodge Equal and out of the Greensons Gigolo-sired Spittalton Figolo. May 2012-born, Spittalton Harley was purchased by MW Sloan, Daljedburgh, Barr, Girvan. Two Spittalton bulls made 6,500gns. The first of these was the May 2012 Spittalton Hyper. Got by AI this bull is by the noted 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Spittalton Derry. Spittalton Hyper was picked up by H MacKay, Wester Tomloan, Nairn, Morayshire. Also at the 6,500gns mark was Spittalton Hummer. June 2012 born, Hummer is by the Knock Atlas son Glassick Diego and is out of Clarkton Valerie, a Cloughhead Lord son. This bull now heads to Glasgow University, Cochno Farm, Clydebank, Glasgow.

Dyke Highlander 8,500gns

Lodge Highlander 7,200gns

Spittalton Harrier 7000gns

Spittalton Harley 6800gns

Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Wigton secured a 7,000gns top price when selling the April 2012 Haltcliffe Hitman to JA Cruickshank, Coleburn, Longmorn, Elgin. Another strong bull who placed third in the second class of the senior section, Haltcliffe Hitman is by the 43,000gns Cloughhead Umpire and is out of the Sympa daughter Haltcliffe Versailles. Kype Hurricane made 6,500gns when selling for Ron & Aileen Cruickshank, Little Kype Farm, Strathaven. Another bull from the strong senior section, the April 2012born Hurricane is by the Irish-bred Crillaune Edric, a Fieldson Alfy son, and is out of the Cloughhead Lord daughter Kype Abigail. Purchasing this bull were RE Greaves & Son from Castle Hill Farm, Wheatley, Oxfordshire.

Redpaths Henry 6000gns

Averages 70 bulls 53 Females

£5,247.00 £1,514.00

Auctioneer: United Auctions

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5,000GNS CORSAIRTLY BULL TOPS ABERDEEN LIMOUSIN TRADE l Corsairtly Harley Top Price 5,000gns l 20 Bulls Average £3,554 Twenty months of age, this bull is by Elrick Admiral and out of Whitelums Belinda. This annual multi-breed show and sale of pedigree beef bulls was held by Aberdeen & Northern Marts as part of the Royal Northern Spring Show. Trade was in step with last year in terms of number of bulls sold with 20 bulls overall averaging £3,554.

Taking a final bid of 4,500gns was the Overall Champion Emslies Hurricane brought out by Mr Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead. July 2012-born, Hurricane is by Procters Cavalier and is out of the homebred dam, Emslies Verity. New owners are C & G Thomson, Upper Tillenhilt, Midmar, Inverurie. The Emslies Herd later sold two furtherbulls at 3,000gns and 2,900gns respectively. Two bulls from Mr & Mrs J Penny, Shannas, Mintlaw, Peterhead realised bids of 4,400gns and 4,300gns. At the 4,400gns mark was Shannas Hearsay by Craigatoke Bart and out of Shannas Toya. This April 2012 bull was purchased by GW Arnott, Bridgend, Tyrie, Fraserburgh. Their very next lot, Shannas Harald, again by the 6,500gns Craigatoke Bart but this time out of Shannas Boadicea, made 4,300gns when knocked down to JS Youngson, Westerton, Echt, Westhill. The Pennys later sold another bull at 3,700gns.

Corsairtly Harley 5,000gns

At 4,000gns was Knock Harris, a Baileys Finalest son and out of Knock Ellen, from seller Mr Albert Howie, West Knock Farm, Mintlaw, Peterhead. Again April 2012born, the new owners are A & H Sim & Son, Rorandle, Monymusk, Inverurie. Another at 4,000gns was Buchaam Hernandez from Messrs C & E Ogg, Buchaam Farm, Strathdon. Buchaam Hernandez is by the AI sire, Carmorn Dauphin, and is out of Emslies Violet. He now heads to A Chisholm, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord.

Emslies Hurricane 4500gns

orsairtly Harley from Messrs R & K Davidson, Corsairtly Farm, Keith, Banffshire secured the leading price of 5,000gns for Limousin bulls at Thainstone (Aberdeen) on Wednesday, February 26th 2014. March 2012-born, he is sired by the Mas Du Clo son, Millington Dominator, and is out of the dam Redstroke Buttercup. He now heads to AR Mathers & Sons, Wardes, Kintore, Inverurie. Messrs Davidson later sold their other three bulls, all juniors aged

18-19 months, at 2,200gns apiece. Earlier in the day Corsairtly Harley had been placed as Reserve Champion Limousin by the judge Mr Allen Drysdale, Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie. Mr Colin Stuart, Belnoe, Chapeltown, Ballindalloch was the consignor of the second leading price as Lettoch Hotspot went under the hammer for 4,700gns to the same buyers, AR Mathers & Sons.

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A draft of four females from the Shannas Herd of Mr & Mrs J Penny sold to a top of 2,000gns twice with the other two heifers making 1,900gns apiece.

Averages 20 bulls 4 Females

£3,554.25 £2,047.50

Auctioneer: ANM

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Limousin Sales

ASHLEDGE HIGHLANDER LEADS NEW BRECON LIMOUSIN FIXTURE AT 4,000GNS l Twelve bulls average £3,294 l Eight at 3,000gns or more May and November at the same market, this Spring Sale saw 12 bulls sell in all to average £3,294. Also selling at 4,000gns was Sherry Horace from Mr & Mrs T & S Jones, Bowley, Clehonger, Herefordshire. November 2012-born, Sherry Horace is another AI son of Fieldson Alfy and is out of the homebred Sherry Buttercup, a Mas Du Clo daughter. This bull was bought by J & H Phillips, for their Gronw herd at Esgerddeugoed, Cwmfelin Mynach, Whitland. At 3,600gns was Loosebeare Houdini from Messrs EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. Second in his class, this July 2012-born bull is by the herd’s noted sire Rainbow Simon and is out of the Greenwell Manager-sired Loosebeare Pussy. This bull, whose full brother sold for 13,000gns at Carlisle, was purchased by J Price, Tycook Farm, Mamhilad, Pontypool, Gwent. Also from the Quicks, the April 2012-born Loosebeare Hunk made 3,600gns when selling to CJ & JC Durston who run the Rushlin pedigree herd at Knoll View Farm, Vole Road, Mark, Highbridge. This bull is by the Sympa son Haltcliffe Anzac and is out of Loosebeare Doebe.

Ashledge Highlander Supreme Champion 4,000gns

Taking the Reserve Overall Championship, and the winner of the third class, was Dinmore Hocco from Mr P Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford, Herefordshire. An embryo calf, Dinmore Hocco is full of breeding being by the prolific Wilodge Vantastic and out of Wilodge Priceless, the dam of the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus. This June 2012-born bull, who placed second in his class at the 2013 Royal Welsh Show, was purchased for 3,500gns by Mr JJ & Mrs BD Comer who run the Moonleaze herd at New Moonleaze Farm, Braydon, Swindon.

Dinmore Hocco Reserve Champion 3,500gns

shledge Highlander from Messrs AG Kirton & Sons, Severn Lodge Farm, Buttonbridge Lane, Kinlet, Bewdley sold for 4,000gns and led the trade at the first official British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) Spring Show & Sale held at Brecon Market on Saturday 22nd February 2014.

Highlander was purchased by DN Eynon, Gwerngenny, Wormbridge, Hereford. In the pre-sale show, judged by Joe Gray of the Fleethill herd, Llandrindod Wells, this February 2012-born bull had placed first in class one before moving on to win the Overall Championship.

An AI son by Fieldson Alfy and out of the dam Ashledge Alexandria, Ashledge

A new fixture to the BLCS official sales list, and complementing the sales held in

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A small show of females saw a top price of 2,300gns paid for the maiden heifer Mynach Heybaby from Messrs ED Griffiths & Co, Cilgryman Fawr, Cwmfelin Mynach, Hen Dy Gwyn,Carmarthenshire. Mynach Heybaby is by Greenwell Enrique and is out of the Sable-sired Mynach Bay. Averages 12 bulls 7 Maiden Heifers Auctioneer: McCartneys

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£3,294.00 £1,710.00

Limousin Sales

TRUEMAN BULL HEADS DUNGANNON LIMOUSIN TRADE AT 3,600GNS l 40 Bulls Average £2,556 l 8 more bulls sold on the year

l 89% Clearance Rate l Sale grosses £118,891 Trueman Hummer 3600gns

Ballyrobin Holyfield 3300gns

solid commercial trade and a very good clearance rate underpinned the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Spring Sale of Bulls & Females held at Dungannon Mart on Monday 10th February 2014. Overall, 40 out of 45 bulls found homes averaging out at £2,556 with 9 out of 10 heifers levelling at £1,662 representing a near 90% clearance rate for both bulls and females. Eight more bulls sold on the year. The top price of the day was the 3,600gns paid for Trueman Hummer bred by H Savage & Sons, Cullyhanna. This June 2012-born bull holds a Beef Value of LM+42 and is sired by Hartlaw Excaliber and is out of the homebred dam, Trueman Concert, who has Nenuphar and Sympa bloodlines. He now heads to the home of Sam Chesney, Kircubbin for his well-known commercial enterprise. Following on from that, three bulls in all made the second best price of 3,300gns, the first being Culnagechan Hacka bred by D Hume, Randalstown. This June 2012 bull is bred out of the herd’s stock bull Culnagechan Exceptional whose bloodlines include Heros and Carmorn Penny. The bull’s dam is Ballydonaghy Uglybird, a consistent breeding cow, and Hacka now heads to commercial breeder R Robertson, Newtownards. The second bull to fetch 3,300gns was Ballyrobin Holyfield bred by J Gilliland, Antrim. This June 2012-born bull is sired by Carmorn Copilot and is out of the homebred dam Ballyrobin Beata, a Nenuphar daughter who also has Broadmeadows Cannon in her back pedigree. Ballyrobin Holyfield holds a Beef Value of LM+25 and was purchased by S McConvey, Ardglass. Also making 3,300gns was the youngest bull catalogued, Carmorn Hitchhiker, bred by C & F McAuley, Toomebridge. This

December 2012 bull is sired by Ampertaine Eliminator, a Glenrock Ventura son, and bred out of the dam Carmorn Virginia, a Nenuphar daughter. This young bull was purchased by commercial breeder G Corrie, Newtownards. Next best price was 2,900gns for the Overall Supreme Champion Rahoney Hezekiah bred by Messrs H & D McFarland, Trillick. This May 2012-born bull had been picked out by judge, local breeder and NI Limousin Club Committee Member, David Kenwell, Dromore. This bull holds a Beef Value of LM+28 and is sired by the 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount and is out of Rahoney Ethel, a Homebryes Visitor daughter. This bull was snapped up by F Watson, Newtownards.

Carmorn Hitchhiker 3300gns

Other bulls fetching 2,900gns were Shanhill Hercules bred by L Crilly, Newry, a Sympa Son out of dam Limo Vixen selling to Mackin Farming, Newtownhamilton and Reserve Junior Champion Eniver Hull, bred by M McKeefry, a Ampertaine Bermuda son out of a homebred dame Eniver Elly and sold to F Watson, Cloughey. Four bulls secured bids of 2,800gns: Aghadolgan Henri from RAG Savage; Ballyrobin Highflyer (J Gilliland); Carnew Highlight (J & J Aiken); and Trueman Hymn (H Savage & Sons).

Culnagechan Hacka 3300gns

In the females, judged by Derek Frew, Antrim, the youngest heifer and Reserve Female Champion, Craigatoke Iloveit, bred by M Conway, Plumbridge realised 3,000gns. This February 2013-born heifer is sired by Plumtree Deus and is out of the homebred dam Craigatoke Chantelle, a Haltcliffe Underwriter daughter and she now heads to C O’Reilly, Keady. Second top female price of 1,900gns went to the Overall Female Champion, Kendrom Gail, bred by D Kenwell, Dromore. This heifer is sired by Procters Cavalier and is out of the dam Laurelbank Tarna and now heads to her new home with J Cranny, Newry.

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Craigatoke Iloveit 3000gns

Averages 40 bulls 9 Heifers

£2,556.75 £1,662.15

Auctioneer: Dungannon Farmers Mart

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2,700GNS AGHADOLGAN HEIFER TOPS BALLYMENA l Clearance Rate 86% l 32 Females average £1,576 l Sale grosses £50,452

ghadolgan Hesme owned by Mr Raymond Savage, Castlerock secured the 2,700gns top price at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Sale of Haltered & Unhaltered Females at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday 11th January 2014. The year’s first collective Limousin sale saw a steady trade for females with a very good clearance rate of 86%, up 2% on the year, and at an average of £1,576 per head. Most of the females sold were born in 2012 and therefore perfect for breeding replacements being under two years of age. Leading the sale at 2,700gns was Aghadolgan Hesme, a November 2012born daughter of Cloughhead Ernie, an Objat son, and out of the homebred dam Aghadolgan Filly, a Sympa daughter. She now heads to the home of commercial buyer H Miskelly, Crabtree Road, Ballynahinch, who purchased 21 females on the day of the sale.

Aghadolgan Hesme 2,700gns

Joint second top price of 2,300gns went to two heifers - the first being Rahoney Heather owned by Messrs H & D McFarland, Trillick. This April 2012-born heifer is an embryo calf sired by Haltcliffe Vermount and out of Rahoney Deborah, a Mas Du Clo daughter. Holding a Beef Value of LM+31, Rahoney Heather now heads to the Wisharts Herd of pedigree breeder Mr A Wishart, Portadown. Also obtaining 2,300gns was Millgate Hiphop owned and bred by Mr M Loughran, Dunamore. This December 2012-born heifer is sired by the herd’s French-bred stock bull Condor and is out of the homebred dam Millgate Ainsi, a Ronick Gains daughter. With a Beef Value of LM+31 she how heads to J Cranny, Newry. Fourth top price of 2,250gns went to Rahoney Hayley owned and bred by Messrs H & D McFarland, Trillick. This June 2012-born heifer with a Beef Value of LM+33 is sired by Carmorn Copilot, a Wilodge Vantastic son, and is out of the dam Rahoney Elizabeth. She was another of the purchases on behalf of H Miskelly, Ballynahinch.

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Rahoney Heather 2,300gns

Next best price at 2,100gns came in the shape of Carnew Imogen bred by Messrs J & J Aiken, Dromara. This heifer was born in January 2013 and carries a Beef Value of LM+32. She is sired by Procters Commander and is out of the homebred dam Carnew Dawn, a Ryedale Paragon daughter, and was snapped up by D Harrison, Annalong.

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Averages 32 Females

£1,576.64

Auctioneer: JA McLelland & Sons

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Limousin Sales

Ronick Honey 20,000gns

20,000GNS RONICK HONEY SUPREME CHAMPION & TOP PRICE AT RED LADIES

Regional Group of Three Winners S Wales & Mid-West Club

l Champion makes 20,000gns; Reserve makes 15,000gns

l 79% clearance rate

l Seven animals in all at 5,000gns and over

l Red Ladies sale grosses £143,535

ringing the official British Limousin Cattle Society Sale year to a close was the Red Ladies Derby Sale held at Carlisle’s Borderway Market on Friday 13th December 2013. Taking the day’s top price at 20,000gns, and the leading price for a Limousin female in 2013, was the classy February 2012-born heifer Ronick Honey from Mr R Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling. In the morning’s pre-sale show, Ronick Honey had also been crowned as the Overall Supreme Champion by judge for the day Mark Phillips who runs the Newmarque Herd at Mains of Minnydow, Springholm, Castle Douglas. The Champion animal is by the 17,000gns herd stock bull Rathconville Eugene and is out of the Ronick Shapely-sired Ronick Cute. Ronick Honey has been shown successfully throughout 2013 winning her class at the

Royal Highland as well as several local shows and Interbreeds. She was also placed as the Best Heifer born in 2012 in the 2013 Scottish Limousin Club Herd Competition. Combining breeding and performance this heifer carried a Beef Value of LM+38.

Immediately after the show, the judge Mark Phillips said of his Champion: “This is a tremendous heifer with great presence. She has size and power added to her breed character and femininity. Beautifully turned out, she’s a very correct heifer in every area.”

Purchasing the top price were GR & SC Brooke for their establishing Romford pedigree herd at Upper Huntly Wood Farm, Earlston, Berwickshire. Having kept track of the heifer’s prolific summer show season, this was an opportunity for the purchaser to buy from “the top of the Ronick programme” to establish a small, elite herd of pedigree Limousins. Representing the first animal bought at auction, Ronick Honey will join a number of other females recently purchased privately.

Enjoying a good day all-round, the Dicks also sold Ronick Gleeful, who had taken the first prize ticket in the third class of the day, for 7,000gns. This heifer, got by AI, is by the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and is out of Ronick Delight, whose pedigree combines both Bailea Olympia and Broadmeadows Cannon. November 2011-born, and with a big Beef Value of LM+43 to boot, this heifer was purchased by Craig Cameron, Greenferns Farm, Bucksburn, Aberdeen for his Greenferns pedigree herd.

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Limousin Sales

Fairywater Gabriella 15,000gns

Ronick Gleeful 7,000gns

Dinmore Hottie 6,500gns

Trueman Harmonica 5,000gns

Trueman Holly 5,000gns

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In all, two animals made over five figures with seven in total at 5,000gns or more. 31 out of the 39 animals forward sold representing a clearance rate of 79%. The sale grossed a healthy £143,535 with the 24 maiden heifers averaging over £4,500. The Overall Reserve Champion, Fairywater Gabriella, from Mr A Ewing, Dumbretton Farm, Annan, made the day’s second top price of 15,000gns when bought for export by Michael Phillips, Donn West, Gurteen, Co. Sligo, Republic of Ireland. September 2011-born, this heifer is by the herd’s stock bull the 17,000gns Ironstone Diego. She is out of Pelletstown Catherine, a Mas Du Clo daughter, and was sold with a Beef Value of LM+38. Dinmore Hottie from Paul Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford made 6,500gns. Winning first prize in her class here, Dinmore Hottie had also been a first prize winner and Reserve Junior Champion at the 2013 Royal Welsh Show. By the AI sire Objat and out of the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Dinmore Caprice, Hottie is maternal sister to Dinmore Foxy and Dinmore Foxtrot who sold for 22,000gns and 14,000gns respectively at the herd’s Production Sale in 2012. Dinmore Hottie was sold with an excellent Beef Value of LM+44 to the Monkeypuzzle herd of W Wight, Whitrighill Farm, Melrose, Roxs. Out of the same cow family as Hottie was Dinmore Heiress, again from Paul Dawes, who sold for 6,000gns. April 2012-born, Dinmore Heiress is by Hafodlas Cymro who is a son of the noted Cloughhead Umpire. Full of breeding, she is out of Wilodge Priceless who is the mother of the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and also Dinmore Hannah, the 2013 Royal Welsh Show Junior Champion. Purchasing Dinmore Heiress was Danny McMullan for his Lyttle herd at 86 Moneysharvin Road, Maghera, Co Derry, N Ireland. Completing a nice hat-trick of sales for Paul Dawes was the February 2012-born Dinmore Herena at 4,000gns. Another sired by Hafodlas Cymro, this heifer is out of Wintercott Serena, the mother of the noted Dinmore Athena - a past Female Champion at the Royal Welsh Show. Purchasing Dinmore Herena were Messrs Seagrave & Stevenson for their Season Herd at Checkerleazes Farm, Copeland Road, West Auckland, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. Earlier, these three heifers had teamed up to win the Special Regional Club Team Competition in the pre-sale show. At 5,200gns was Anside Halle from Mr & Mrs Stephen Irvine, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, By Keith, Banffs, Moray. This heifer is by the herd’s 22,000gns stock bull, Derriaghy Enfield, and is out of Lethendry Rebecca. Derriaghy Enfield’s progeny have so far sold up to 18,000gns at sale for the Anside Herd which won the Best Overall Herd award at the 2013 Scottish Limousin Herd Competition. Purchasing

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the May 2012 born Anside Halle was AJ MacLean, Haylipol Farm, Isle of Tiree. Henry Savage & Sons, Altnamackin, Newry, Northern Ireland secured 5,000gns for the March 2012-born Trueman Holly. This heifer had earlier stood second in her class to the day’s Overall Champion. She is another by the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Sympa-bred Trueman Encore. Trueman Holly had featured at this year’s Royal Ulster Show where she was part of the winning Pair and Group of Three teams. Sporting a big beef value of LM+40, Trueman Holly was purchased by HJ & A Francis & Son for their Cain pedigree herd at Penllwyn, Llanfyllin, Powys. The same vendor and buyer combination saw Trueman Harmonica also sold for 5,000gns to the Cain Herd. Trueman Harmonica, January 2012-born, is an embryo calf by Objat and is out of Trueman Acoustics. Acoustics is rated as the best cow in the herd and is the mother of the 38,000gns Trueman Duet - herself a top price at Red Ladies back in 2009. Also over from Northern Ireland, K&C Knox, Whitehill North, Lisnarick Road, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, took a first prize ticket and made 4,800gns with their October 2012born heifer Beachmount Honey. Another got by AI, Beachmount Honey is by the Vivaldi son, Ardlea Dan. Honey’s dam is the Sympa daughter Beachmount Ebony whose first calf was also a class winner at the 2012 Red Ladies show and who sold for 5,500gns. Beachmount Honey goes to the Creoch Herd of Messrs J Sloan & Son, Little Creoch, New Cumnock, Ayrshire. Another at 4,800gns was Powerhouse Honeybee from Colin & Wendy Phillips, The Batch, Weobley, Herefordshire. Another embryo calf sired by Objat, the May 2012-born Honeybee is a full sister to the bull Powerhouse Elite. Out of the Rocky daughter Sarkley Eileen, Powerhouse Honeybee was purchased by Mark Whitlock for his Whitbred herd based at Hillfields Farm, Coombefields Road, Ansty, Coventry. Making 4,000gns was Mardoneen Highness from William J Bird, Oldgate Farm, Barkston Ash, Tadcaster, N Yorks. This embryo calf, bred by Mrs K Phillips, Springholm, Castle Douglas, is by the French sire Bahut and is out of the 8,100gns Baileys Countess. This February 2012-born heifer was another purchased by Messrs Seagrave & Stevenson. Averages 2 Cows served and/or suckling 5 Served Heifers 24 Maiden Heifers Auctioneers: H&H

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£2,415.00 £6,027.00 £4,523.75

Limousin Sales

FOXHILLFARM IMPRESSIVE LEADS WEANED CALVES AT 7,000GNS l Burnbank tops Heifer Calves at 5,200gns

l 88% Clearance Rate

l 54 Calves gross £121,595

l 9 Calves at 3,000gns or more dam Vanille, this January 2013-born calf now heads to TW Hutchinson, Bail Hill, Forestin-Teesdale, Barnard Castle.

Foxhillfarm Impressive 7,000gns

ollowing on from the Red Ladies Derby Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday 13th December, was the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Show and Sale of Weaned Calves.

Ipad, by Ionesco and out of the 35,000gns Bankdale Elizabeth, sold to R & MG Elliott, Hallburn Croft, Longtown, Carlisle for 3,200gns.

The pre-sale show, judged by the Red Ladies judge Mark Phillips, Mains of Minnydow, Springholm, Castle Douglas, saw one class judged for the bull calves and heifer calves respectively. The winner of the Bull Calf class was Foxhillfarm Impressive from Mr & Mrs M Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon. An embryo calf, Foxhillfarm Impressive is by Hartlaw Excaliber, the Male Champion at the 2011 National Limousin Show. January 2013-born, he is out of Bankdale Chanel a maternal sister to the multi-title-winning Foxhillfarm Gracie. Commenting, Mark Phillips said: “This is a big, powerful bull calf with excellent muscling and very good on his legs.”

The second top price in the bull calves was the 5,200gns paid for the April-born Barrons Indiana from Mr W Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhope, Co. Durham. This calf is by the herd’s prolific stock sire the 20,000gns Ampertaine Commander and is out of the Sarkley Volvo daughter Barrons Classy. Barrons Indiana was bought by L Guy & Son, Home Farm, Gilmonby, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. In 2012, another Ampertaine Commander son, Barrons Harness, won the Bull Calf class for Mr Barron at the corresponding sale and made 6,000gns. Mr Barron’s earlier lot, Barrons Ironman, another by Ampertaine Commander and out of the Sarkley Volvo-sired Barrons Cbabe made 3,000gns to H Thompson & Sons, High Corn Park, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle.

Foxhillfarm Impressive backed up his first prize when going on to take the top price of 7,000gns in the Weaned Calf Sale when being snapped up by ES & E Norman, Little Orton Farm, Carlisle for their Norman pedigree herd which numbers approximately 120 breeding females. He was bought on account of his shape, mobility and breeding as a future junior stock bull to go onto the herd’s Claragh Franco daughters.

Selling at 4,800gns was the third prized bull calf, Dylans Irnbru, from GJ Morris, Mwche Farm, Lanstephan, Carmarthen. Another calf to feature breeding and performance, Dylan’s Ironbark is by Simper and out of the WI lodge Fantastic daughter Dylans Fanta and carries a Beef Value of LM+40. This calf heads to the Kinniside Herd of G & AE Marrs, Cathow Farm, Kinniside, Cleator, Cumbria.

The identically-bred Foxhillfarm Impulsive secured a final bid of 2,900gns for the same vendors when going under the hammer to GW Dent, The Bungalow, Gordon House Farm, Cockfield, Bishop Auckland for their Mayfellden Herd. The third bull from Mr & Mrs Alford, Foxhillfarm

Staying with the bulls, the next lot into the ring, Wilodge Inchbyinch, bred by Miss C Williams, Lodge Hill Farm, Shifnal, Shrops and brought forward by J & E Pattinson, Lough Head, Blackford, Carlisle realised 3,400gns. Sired by the Rainbow Simon son, Loosebeare Diego, and out of the French

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Winning the Heifer Calf class were D&L Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling with Burnbank Isabella. Entirely homebred, this April 2013born calf is by the Lino-sired Burnbank Frank and is out of Burnbank Eclipse, an Ionesco daughter. Commenting on his heifer winner, Mark Phillips said: “Although just a youngster, this is a super little heifer, very stylish and well balanced.” Backing up the judge’s placement, Burnbank Isabella made the top price in the heifer section, and second top overall in the calves, when selling for 5,200gns to HC & LA MacGillivray, Home Farm, Barcaldine, Oban, Argyll. The previous lot Burnbank Ida, also from the Grahams, sold for 3,100gns having stood second in the class. February-born this heifer is also by Burnbank Frank and is out of the Redstone United-sired Burnbank Britney. New owner is Mr L Wilson who runs the Wilson Herd at Oak Tree Farm, Main Road, Westwood, Nottingham. Sold as a half share to Northern Ireland was the 4,500gns Ronick Ivory from Mr R Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling. Sired by the stock bull, Rathconville Eugene, a Rocky son, and out of the Grahams Bonzo-sired Ronick Evoire this January-born heifer calf went under the hammer with a strong Beef Value of LM+42 to joint purchasers Mr D Small, Irvington Close, Kilkeel, Co Down and Mr J Alexander, Gloverstown Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim.

Burnbank Isabella 5,200gns

Averages 20 Weaned Bull Calves £2,622.38 34 Weaned Heifer Calves £1,974.93 Auctioneers: H&H

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