BLCS Spring 2017 Magazine by British Limousin Cattle Society

Limousin www.limousin.co.uk

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

the official magazine of the British Limousin Cattle Society

MAMMAMIA! FOXHILLFARM HEIFER MAKES 42,000GNS ‘FANTASTIC FORTNIGHT’ SEES 424 LIMOUSINS SOLD TRUEMAN HERD DOMINATES INTERBREEDS AT BALMORAL SHOW LIMOUSINS LAUNCH NEW GEBVS FOR FEMALE FERITILITY TRAITS

100,000GNS

AMPERTAINE MOZART LEADS BIG DEMAND FOR LIMOUSIN BULLS

A Sensational New Bloodline 2

COPIES OF

F94L

EXCEPTIONAL INDECES BASED ON FRENCH PROGENY

Muscular Development - 119 Skeletal Development - 110 Growth - 115 OVERALL INDEX 120 - top 1%

Fenomen 87-28-891-777

Imported from France to the UK after winning his class at the National Show. Jointly owned by the Dyfri and Scorboro Herds Correct and sound with great muscularity and length. A bull of immense power, style and stature. Arguably, the best bull to be imported in the last decade.

SEMEN AVAILABLE

to order online via Semenstore or contact Aled Edwards on the number below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jim Bloom: 01964 550 756 Aled Edwards: 01550 720 464 www.dyfrilimousin.com

Cover shot: A typical Limousin bull, with width and shape, content out in the field and ready to work

NEXT ISSUE: Coverage in words and pictures from the Limousin sales held around the UK Full report and pictorial round-up from all the summer ‘major’ shows Technical round-up and reports on the ongoing work in the Limousin Breed Improvement Plan including: a look at the Feed Efficiency Project; Carcase Traits update; and results from the July 2017 EBV & GEBV BLUP run Catch up on the latest features, herd profiles and all the ‘news and views’ from British Limousin, the UK’s No.1 Beef Breed

Editor: Iain Kerr 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 www.limousin.co.uk Designed by GHOST Leamington Spa

Limousin Easy calving

Length muscling

It’s the business

& WIDTH

www.limousin.co.uk

Contents

06 News round-up Limousin breeders have ensured that it’s been another high performing year to date for the UK’s Number One Beef Breed with some sizzling sales, both pedigree and commercial, and a cracking start to the summer show season. Within this issue of Limousin we cover: ‘Flying’ British Limousin sales sees a big demand for both bulls and females; the ‘fantastic fortnight’ of May Sales sees 424 Limousins sold with a top price bull at 100,000gns and a maiden heifer at 42,000gns; Limousins launch female fertility and calf survival trait GEBVs, another first for the UK industry; Semenstore secures export order to the USA, Australia, and New Zealand; James Callion announced as the new YLBC President

SPRING / SUMMER 2017

44-48 Trueman Lute Takes Individual Interbreed as Limousins dominate at Balmoral The Trueman team led by Henry Savage Snr was in tip top form at the opening summer ‘major’ when winning the Individual Interbreed and a host of interbreed team titles at Balmoral Show, Belfast, in May. Full coverage inside.

50-56 Commercial features focus on Robert and Sue Scott, Ayston, Rutland; and Peter Gardiner, Norfolk This issue carries two commercial farm features with a focus on enterprises in the east of England. Leading off is Robert & Sue Scott who run a suckler herd of 150 spring calving cows in England’s smallest county. We then move to Norfolk and take a look at Peter Gardiner who, following a change to using Limousin bulls on his commercial sucker herd, starting to see benefit right along the supply chain.

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www.limousin.co.uk

SALES Stirling Feb 17

p58

Dungannon Feb 17

p64

Carlisle Feb 17

p66

Aberdeen Feb 17

p72

Brecon Mar 17

p74

Newark Apr 17

p76

Ballymena May 17

p78

Stirling May 17

p80

Carlisle May 17

p84

Brecon May 17

p90

19-22 Semenstore bulls proving

58-91 Sales

popular at both home and abroad

Summary

There’s been plenty of demand also for semen from bulls on the online platform www.semenstore.co.uk In this issue we report on another solid export order and introduce five new bulls that have been added to the site in the period.

A huge demand for bulls and females with increased numbers sold on the year, tremendous clearance rates, and increased averages. That’s been the story to date at the 2017 Limousin sales. In a bumper sales section we have a round-up, in pictures and words, of all ten Society sales held from February through to May.

06-11 & 23-29 Technical Corner In a two part Technical Corner this issue takes a detailed look at the progress to date in the Limousin breed’s long range breed improvement plan (BIP) and the added value and efficiency it is aiming to deliver. Within the BIP, and announced in this issue, is the delivery of Genomic Breeding Values (GEBVs) for three new Female Fertility traits and a new Calf Survival trait. We also reflect on the demand at the point of sale for bulls with performance figures and identified genetic superiority.

www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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TECHNICAL NEWS

ADDING VALUE AND EFFICIENCY FROM LIMOUSIN BREED IMPROVEMENT • Limousin research and development projects see £3.4 million co-funded investment. All work is sharply focussed on delivering ‘market-ready’ genetics. • Positive change at breed level impacts across all sectors. Limousin is the single most dominant breed in the prime slaughter and suckler sectors. • Recent developments identify new income streams for Limousin producers. New commercial opportunities now available. • The pathway for Limousin development is established, ‘future-proofing’ its performance across all sectors.

ver decades, beef breeders and producers have become very proficient at exploiting all management and husbandry resources available to them to maintain and grow their enterprise margins. For many, in comparison with past times, the degree of knowledge, skill, technology and precision deployed to manage successful enterprises has never been greater. However, across all breeds, our most easily available resource - genetics - has, arguably, not been exploited by industry to quite the same degree as other areas of animal breeding, feeding and management. The consequence of this is it presents a magnificent resource to be plundered, at a time when positive margins are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve through good practice alone and at a

time when market instability demands rapid response to change. In 2014, the British Limousin Cattle Society adopted a 10year Breeding Improvement Plan, representing significant plans for funding and investment. The plan is all about ensuring that users of Limousin cattle capture optimum value from the genetics they are using in ways that haven’t been possible before. As markets change – and they inevitably will – the Society considers it crucial that producers have a breed where the genetics to respond to that change and flourish as a result of it are identifiable, measured and harnessed. The value of the research and development work that the Society has engaged in and co-funded is in the region of £3.4million. The following is an overview of the work being undertaken by the

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Society and its plans for the future, identifying commercial opportunities and the new

streams of income that are already emerging.

Limousin genetics: “A magnificent resource to be plundered”

“The 10 Year Breed Improvement Plan: is all about ensuring that users of Limousin cattle capture optimum value from the genetics they are using in ways that haven’t been possible before”.

www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL NEWS Background

For over 20 years, the Limousin breed has been the single most dominant breed in the UK. It accounts for just under 1/3rd of all prime cattle slaughterings each year and just under ¼ of all beef-bred

suckler cows in the country. The breed has critical mass within the sector; change at genetic level has potential to impact significantly on all parts of the supply chain and

the breed improvement work we do is taken seriously. Following 18 months of planning and industry consultation, the Society adopted its Breed

Improvement Plan in 2014. This identifies 10 key areas where investment in genetic improvement is desirable and lays out the anticipated approach planned for each.

10 Goals Within the Limousin Breed Improvement Plan:

Increase the perf rec population

Maintain and improve Limousin's inherent calving ease

Investigate breeding solutions to key animal health issues

Improve Growth and Carcase Traits

Investigate breeding solutions to traits associated with feed intake and feed efficiency

Investigate breeding solutions to traits associated with meat quality

Maintain and improve breed Docility

Improve Maternal Efficiency

Maintain and improve Longevity

Maintain and improve maternal weaning weight

The necessary work has commenced and in some cases has been fully delivered. What follows is a summation of the most advanced areas of work, identifying the economic opportunities coming available to the ‘early adopters’ and those willing to engage.

www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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TECHNICAL NEWS

Genomic Breeding Values (GEBVs) for Carcase Traits This £1.5m research project ended early in 2016. Its aim was to use visual image analysis (VIA) records from selected ABP abattoirs in conjunction with animal DNA and records from BCMS to produce genomic breeding values for: üü Age to Slaughter üü Carcase Weight üü 6 Prime Cuts – fillet, striploin, rump, topside, silverside and knuckle. Limousin breeders and producers can now genotype their animals to gain breeding values for these traits and some 1200 animals have been evaluated in this way since the service was launched. In asking the obvious question ‘why invest in this project?’ some work was undertaken during the project to challenge whether the eventual breeding values would tell us anything about our cattle that we didn’t already know.

Abattoir records from a sample of 20,000 Limousinbred steers out of dairy herds were examined. Of those that had similar carcase weights (all were between 350kg and 360kg) and had been allocated the same EUROP grade for conformation, the difference in weight of Striploin was found by VIA to vary on average by approximately 2kg. At a retail value of between £35-40/kg for striploin, it is not difficult to see that there is value to be captured that is currently undetected. When the combined difference between all six cuts was examined, the retail value between the best and worst animals – again within the same carcase weight and EUROP grade was in the region of £150/ head. On a level arguably leaving more pounds directly in producers’ pockets, the genetic difference between the Top 1% and Bottom 1% animals for Age at Slaughter

is 44 days. In other words, animals with Top 1% genetics for Slaughter have the genetic potential to finish 44 days (approx. 6 weeks) faster than those in the Bottom 1% simply by dint of the fact they have inherited faster finishing genetics. A quick back-of-the-

envelope calculation suggests that the faster finished animals would be worth approximately £80 more (44 days at £1.80/ day finishing cost) than their slower contemporaries and this is, without doubt, ‘added value from genetics’ at its best.

Genomic Breeding Values for Female Fertility (Maternal) and Calf Survival Traits The wide use of Limousin as a suckler dam in the UK challenges the breed to continually deliver genetics that produce what it takes to be a productive, efficient, cost effective cow. In 2016, the Society, along with SRUC, were successful in securing funding to develop new GEBVs for Female Fertility and Calf Survival traits; the first of their kind, as it was with the Carcase Trait GEBVs. The pathway laid out by the Carcase Trait GEBVs provides the platform for these new GEBVs. Calving records collected from all Limousinbred dams in the country (via BCMS) and animal DNA are combined to produce the breeding values. The research phase was a 12 month project, ending this July, whereupon

the GEBVs will be available for widespread industry use. The GEBVs are: üü üü üü üü

Age at 1st Calving Calving Interval Longevity Calf Survival

Whilst the breed already has some of these traits available as EBVs, they are typically low accuracy and are based on pedigree records only, generated from within the Society. The breeding information used for the new GEBVs is from the whole of the BCMS dataset, which is considerably larger in volume, producing more accurate results that truly reflect the commercial performance of Limousin-bred cows.

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Some interim findings during the earlier research phases in 2016 revealed that: üü

üü

Limousin has a national replacement rate in the UK that is 5% lower than the next most common type of suckler cow Limousin has 2% greater longevity at 8 years of age Limousin as 1.5% lower calf mortality in the UK than any other breed

The outcomes of this work will provide opportunity to extend these differences further still. Previously, SRUC have identified an advantage in the region of £42/cow/pa from cows that hold to first service and calve annually successfully.

The differences begin to add up: a cow worth an additional £42/pa producing a calf that saves £80 from quicker finishing, with a carcase that is worth up to £150 more is money for the taking when all it involves is identifying and selecting the right genetics. And purchasers of Limousin genetics can now do that.

www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL NEWS

Estimated Breeding Values for Feed Intake and Feed Efficiency Limousin is the primary breed in this £1.75m project, co-funded by DEFRA and AHDB. Part way through, its aim is to collect feed intake records over a three year period (ending 2018/19) to produce EBVs for traits associated with feed efficiency. Feed intake

recording protocols for the UK will also be established, as will a plan for the ongoing collection of feed intake records beyond the funded stage. The end point will be that, two years from now, Limousin will have new EBVs that

will identify animals with favourable and non-favourable genetics for feed efficiency. Work carried out to date by the Beef Improvement Group in the UK is suggesting advantages between such animals in the region of £96 over a 200 day finishing

period. This is in keeping with differences found between efficient and non-efficient animals in other countries where such work is well established and, as with other species, there is much to gain from embedding these EBVs in beef breeding programmes.

The Plan is Taking Shape!

Improved Carcase Quality £150

Quicker Age to Slaughter £80

Improved Maternal Performance £42pa

Improved Feed Efficiency £96

The work completed thus far is already offering income opportunity to those willing and able to adopt it. It has also successfully created a pathway that will enable the roll-out of investment and activity within the other Goal areas of the Breed Improvement Plan. This will ‘future-proof’ the breed’s performance in all sections of the supply chain and ensure that when market change comes, producers have the means and the genetics to quickly and successfully respond.

LIMOUSIN:

Best breeding females

LIMOUSIN:

Reliably cheapest to feed

www.limousin.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PRODUCER

LIMOUSIN:

Highest % in new and evolving market specifications

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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TECHNICAL NEWS

LIMOUSINS LAUNCH NEW GENOMIC BREEDING VALUES FOR FEMALE FERITILITY AND CALF SURVIVAL TRAITS • Limousin Driving UK Suckler Dam Improvement

he first of their kind for the UK beef industry, Genomic Breeding Values (GEBVs) for three new Female Fertility traits and a new Calf Survival trait are being launched for Limousin cattle in July. Following closely behind the breed’s introduction of Carcase Trait GEBVs last year, this is an exciting new era for the strongestyet genetic evaluation of Limousin-bred beef cattle. GEBVs are estimates of genetic merit using truly new and independent sources of information; the Carcase Trait GEBVs come from commercial prime slaughter records from selected ABP abattoirs, the new Fertility and Survival information comes from the 350,000 Limousin-bred cows that calve annually and both are supported by vast pools of Limousin DNA to produce breeding values that indicate each individual animal’s strengths and weaknesses for each trait. The evaluation is carried out by Egenes (a unit in Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)) and the GEBVs are reported back to industry through the Limousin Society database, alongside all the traditional Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).

So What are the New GEBVs All About?

The Female Fertility and Calf Survival GEBVs are based on the calving and survival records of all Limousin-bred dams in the BCMS database (purebred and crossbred), as well as the DNA from related pedigree animals. The traits that breeding values are produced for are:

GEBVs: Genomic Estimated Breeding Values üü GEBVs are estimates of an animal’s genetic merit for a range of different traits. üü GEBVs are calculated from a ‘SNP (‘snip’) Key’. This key is like a library that cross refers information from the DNA strand with slaughter, maternal and survival records for thousands of animals. An animal’s DNA can then be compared to this key to produce its GEBVs.

üü üü üü üü

Age at First Calving: identifying animals more capable than others of holding to first service Calving Interval: identifying animals more likely to get back in calf quicker than others Cow Longevity: identifying animals more likely to last in the herd longer than others Calf Survival: identifying calves more likely to survive between the ages of 3 weeks and 10 months of age.

Bulls pass on their genetic merit for these traits to their daughters, and the GEBVs should be used in exactly the same way as our conventional EBVs when breeding decisions are being made.

Using Female Fertility GEBVs: GEBV Test

Result

100

120

140

Age at first calf

9.93

Age at first calf

Calving interval

-26.86

Calving interval

Longevity

-2.86

Longevity

Calf Survival

1.61

Calf Survival

Female Fertility and Calf Survival GEBVs

99 The centre line of the graph represents Breed Average for all traits 99 Bars that lie to the right of the centre line indicate the GEBV is above Breed Average (superior). The further to the right, the further above Breed Average it is.

99 In a similar way, bars that lie to the left of the centre line indicate the GEBV is below Breed Average. The further to the left, the further below Breed Average it is.

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www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL NEWS

New Income Opportunities from Limousin GEBVs

In combination with the established Carcase Traits GEBVs, these new Female Fertility and Survival GEBVs offer all Limousin producers – pedigree and commercial – considerable opportunity to: üü Reduce costs of production by increasing calf returns and reducing the replacement cost for breeding stock üü Dovetail the new GEBVs with the existing Carcase Trait GEBVs to identify breeding animals with the genetic potential to excel across several areas of production. üü Find new markets and generate new income streams through the sale of high performance genetics for these traits üü Increase the rate of genetic improvement in the herd for these traits üü Use GEBVs as an additional promotional tool when selling breeding stock John Phillips, Chairman of the British Limousin Cattle Society says “This exciting area of work is the first of its kind for beef cattle in the UK and because of the Limousin breed’s dominance in the suckler herd it will have sector-wide impact. It represents delivery of the aims set out in the BLCS Breeding Improvement Plan, the objective of which is to invest in targeted areas of the breed’s performance to ensure it delivers market-focussed

www.limousin.co.uk

genetics. Recent market changes are seeing increasing demand for medium-sized, high performing dams. Limousin can deliver these and the new GEBVs present quantifiable financial opportunity for all commercial producers to target the key performance drivers in their herds”. The pathway that the Carcase Trait, Female Fertility & Survival Traits GEBVs has developed for Limousin presents valuable opportunity to investigate and find breeding solutions for traits that have not been possible until now. GEBV technology is well-suited to traits that are expensive or difficult to measure, and the Breed Improvement Plan has a number of these identified. The Society’s aim is to provide a breed that is not only fit for the market today but one that has the genetics and technology that can respond to market change tomorrow. Producer investment in the breed must yield a return and, through the ongoing roll-out of its Plan of Improvement, the Society’s objectives are firmly anchored around this. The first Maternal GEBVs are scheduled for release on 13th July. The research was completed by in partnership with SRUC and funded by InnovateUK and BBSRC. For further information on GEBVs, please get in touch or see our website limousin.co.uk and click on ‘performance programmes’.

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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NEWS

BLCS WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE SERVICES, VALUE AND EFFICIENCIES AT LOWEST COST • Core fees and costs unchanged for 30 years

BLCS Chairman John Phillips

provide members with core Society services at as low a cost as possible. It is relevant to note that the only core cost to increase in the last 30 years has been the membership fee which increased to £50 in 2009. All other fees for core services have remained static or been reduced in that time:

n a major statement, BLCS Chairman John Phillips has outlined the British Limousin Cattle Society’s commitment to continue to pursue a programme of heavy investment in meaningful breed improvement coupled with the provision of members core services at the lowest cost. The statement, circulated to all BLCS members, highlights that many of the core fees and costs of the Society have remained unchanged for 30 years and in some instances have been reduced. Extracts from Mr Phillips statement are highlighted here: “In 2016, sales of pedigree Limousin cattle sold at official Society sales increased on the year by over £300,000 to gross to a figure of £5.6 million. The early sales in 2017 have been even stronger with increased demand, clearance rates, and averages. The early part of the year also saw the breed again confirmed as the largest numerical beef breed in the country for what is the 21st consecutive year. This represents considerable, sustained success and is reflective of the ongoing, strong demand for the breed both bulls and females. The market is looking for easycalving, cheap-to-produce cattle that hit targets, and recent changes to weight specification at slaughter fits

üü

üü the Limousin breed extremely well. Acknowledging that markets and trading environments will continue to change – not least as a result of Brexit – the Society’s Council of Management continue to encourage and endorse significant breed development work. This is to ensure that all producers of Limousin cattle – be they pedigree or commercial – will have the means to produce the genetics that cements Limousin as the ‘go-to’ breed and both sustains and grows its market share. To date, research funding of £3.4 million has been secured and drawn down by the Society to invest in the early phases of its Breed Improvement Plan and

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industry support continues to be drawn in for new work in the pipeline. Much has already been achieved in the Carcase Traits project with a focus on days to slaughter, carcase weights, and the introduction of six Carcase Trait GEBVs, a UK first. Work is now ongoing concentrating on maternal traits and addressing key areas of economic performance in all breeding herds. Limousin is also the main breed in DEFRA’s Feed Efficiency project and what a commercially relevant project that is for the breed and the industry. Through efficiencies and good operating practice, the Society has been successful in achieving this – on an ongoing basis – whilst continuing to

üü

No increases in fees have been made in 30 years to: • Registration fees; Semen Royalty entry fees and administration fees No increases in fees have been made in 20 years to Transfer fees All Semen Royalty work is now automated by the Society including collecting fees and making credits to members. This is a saving as fees previously had to be collected individually by members. The BASCO database has increased members efficiencies. This has reduced (saved) members spend annually on registrations by £30£40,000 per annum for approximately the same number of animals registered. Performance recording fees have been reduced

www.limousin.co.uk

NEWS

üü

by a minimum of £120 per herd (a membership fee is no longer charged) which has brought a saving of around £3540k per annum. Embryo registration fees have been reduced in increments from £150 to £60. Herd Health Scheme monies were given to members over a four year period (as an incentive) and capped at £100k. The scheme was extended to 8 years with the expenditure being just over £180k. De-registrations approximately £60k is given back annually to the members The two points above in combination have seen the Society give back over £1 Million to members since the schemes were initiated.

The BASCO herdbook database itself, the central and modern hub that the Society’s core work is built around, also benefitted from an initial grant award of £450k the largest Agricultural Development Scheme grant ever awarded at that time. Continuous additions and improvements have been made to the database with online performance recording being introduced in 2012 and more recently the ability to order and track all DNA work, and the ability to enter sale animals online being made available. At every turn the emphasis continues to be on keeping costs down for members, adding efficiencies, attracting investment, creating streams of income to support development, running the Society office efficiently and carrying out work that brings real benefit, value, and ultimately money to members and commercial producers using Limousin genetics. This end goal is something that we all want and that the Society continues to work very hard toward.”

www.limousin.co.uk

‘FANTASTIC FORTNIGHT’ OF FOUR LIMOUSIN SALES IN MAY SEES BIG DEMAND AND GROSS OF £2,052,130! 100,000gns Ampertaine Mozart with buyers Procters Farm Ltd & vendor James McKay immediately following the BLCS May Sale at Carlisle

illed in the run up as a ‘fantastic fortnight’ the four official BLCS Limousin sales in early May, held in what was actually a twelve day, period more than lived up to its billing! Kicking off with Stirling on 1st May, through Ballymena and Carlisle, and concluding with Brecon on Saturday 13th May, 424 pedigree Limousins were sold at these sales (bulls and females) to gross a fantastic £2,052,132. That equates to an average per animal of £4840 covering all ages and classes of stock. In almost every instance averages and/or numbers sold were significantly up on the year. Some highlight sale facts include: • •

•

• •

237 bulls sold to average £5913 and gross £1,378,973 187 females (mainly maiden heifers) sold to average £3600 and gross £673,157 Carlisle led the way with 128 bulls averaging £7712 (up by £1294). 142 females grossed £603,485. 47 bulls at Carlisle sold for 6000gns and over The Stirling Sale is the first time the Limousin breed have had the largest numbers sold of all the breeds forward.

Speaking beyond the sales BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “There is a terrific demand and momentum for the Limousin breed across the country and these outstanding sales, for both bulls and females,

are reflective of that. The industry pressure is demanding versatility and efficiency and British Limousin is meeting the challenges of market change at every level. Easy calving, cheap to keep, feed efficient, and hitting the target weights and grades consistently, Limousin provides the full package. The industry shift to sourcing cattle at 15-16 months of age and between 350-400kgs fits the breed very well. It’s the flexible, marketable breed with the premium built in and is driving the future for farmers and the industry. The breeders brought forward a high standard of cattle and found their reward in these terrific sales.” Whilst the sales across the UK were very much driven by commercial buyers there were also some high end pedigree prices to boot. Leading the way at Carlisle was James McKay, Co Derry, who sold the January 2016 born Ampertaine Mozart to the Procters pedigree herd based at Procters Farm, Clitheroe, Lancashire. A ‘flying female’ trade the previous evening at Carlisle had seen 142 lots sell (87%) to a lead price of 42,000gns for the January 2016 born maiden heifer Foxhillfarm Mammamia from Michael and Melanie Alford, Cullompton, Devon. Buying the top price, who is an embryo calf by Foxhillfarm Irishlad and out of Glenrock Illusion, was Messrs BC and JW Evans, Penrhos, Trefeglwys, Powys. For full reports and pictures please see the bumper sales section in this issue on pages 58-91.

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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NEWS

SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!

enry Savage, Newry, Co Down (right) welcomes James McKay, Maghera, Co Derry to the exclusive ‘club’ of five Limousin breeders who have bred and sold a pedigree Limousin to over £100,000. James breached the magical figure when selling the young bull Ampertaine Mozart at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s May Sale held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. The world record Limousin price is still held by Henry and the Savage family who sold Trueman Jagger for £147,000 in 2015. Both breeders

continue to be fantastic ambassadors for the Limousin breed in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom. The remaining members of the ‘100 Club’ are of course the Ridleys (Haltcliffe), the Vaughans (Dolcorsllwyn), and the Illingworths (Glenrock). The picture attached was taken at the 2017 Balmoral Show in Belfast where the Savage Team also ‘just happened’ to win a host of titles and awards including the Supreme Individual Interbreed with the heifer Trueman Lute!

RICHARD BARTLE FLYING THE UK FLAG AT 2017 SIMAGENA SHOW, PARIS

British Limousin judge was again to the fore when Richard Bartle, the farm manager at Dinmore Estate, Hereford, was the man in the middle whilst judging the Limousin section and Championships at the prestigious 2017 SIMAGENA Show held in Paris in early March. Highlighted as a key event for the breed, the show saw 105 Limousins forward featuring a wide variety of bloodlines and genetics. Placing as his Champion was a stylish young bull from Gaec Champeval named ‘Lucky’ who was out of a Celestin cow. This further judging stint followed on from a high profile 2016 when Richard Bartle judged at the World Limousin Congress in Ireland, the English Winter Fair, and the Welsh Winter Fair respectively!

PROVISIONAL NOTICE OF 46th BLCS AGM Provisional notice is hereby given that the 46th Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Society will be held on Thursday 14th September 2017 at the BLCS Offices, Concorde House, Leamington Spa, Warks, CV32 5JG commencing at 11.00am.

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NEWS

SOCIETY PAYS BACK £66,670 TO BREEDERS THROUGH BREED IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE • Total returns now in excess of £831,500 as part of long term breed improvement commitment

ncouraging ongoing breed selection and improvement the BLCS paid back £66,670, up again by over £2100 on the year, to British Limousin breeders in pedigree refunds in the 2016 year. A central part of the Society’s breed improvement programme, the monies-backinitiative provides breeders with the opportunity to assess the quality of the pedigree cattle they have registered up to the age of 450 days. If the

breeder chooses to de-register the animal from the herdbook before it has attained this age, a flat rate refund of £20+VAT per animal is returned. With the inclusion of the latest figures some £831,500 has now been returned to breeders since the start of the incentive scheme. Commenting, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “The Society is working hard to provide breeders with the technologies and choices to

produce efficient, marketrelevant cattle that are attractive to commercial producers and increase returns. Very much coupled with this is giving breeders a financial incentive that encourages them to be selective with their animals at a young age and focus on quality. It’s an important part of the Society’s breed improvement programme and used to a positive effect by breeders.”

ONLINE LIMOUSIN SALE ENTRY FACILITY ADDED TO THE LIMOUSIN DATABASE

s part of the on-going development of the Limousin database the British Limousin Cattle Society has rolled out an easy to use online entry system for Society sales. The new facility enables members to enter their animals online into sales right up to the closing dates. The main benefits of this new development are: üü

üü

üü üü

Speed of entry submission of entries is quick and receipt will be confirmed immediately. Entries can also be submitted at any time of the day without restriction of office hours. Accuracy of animal identities at the time of entry Submission of entries in good time Accuracy around herd health declarations

www.limousin.co.uk

üü

Reminders if entered animals have outstanding DNA test requirements Auctioneer access to input entries they receive direct

…all of which lead to an accurate sale catalogue produced in a timely manner, for quick distribution to buyers well ahead of each sale. This will also significantly help the

Society’s advance advertising and publicity of all sales. The system is now available to use and has been fully, and successfully, trialled for the May Sale at Carlisle. Feedback from both members and auctioneers has been very positive with comment particularly on the ease of use. For those members who don’t have internet access entries can be taken directly over the phone and entered

into the system. Auctioneers have access to the system and can submit entries on members’ behalf up until the sale closing date. The aim is that entries to all major BLCS sales, commencing with the Autumn 2017 sales, will be taken and eneterd through this new facility. Commenting on the roll out, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “This is another easy to use facility aimed at helping the Society’s members and increasing efficiencies and accuracies around sale entries, producing sale catalogues, and the marketing of sales. It a valuable addition to the functionality of the Limousin database.” If you would like assistance at any point, or have any query, please get in touch with Polly Goldie or Natalie Abbott by telephone 02476 696500 or email polly@limousin.co.uk or natalie@limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 15

NEWS

DEBBIE BUTCHER JOINS THE BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY IN NEW COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING ROLE

he British Limousin Cattle Society is delighted to announce that Debbie Butcher has recently joined the organisation. She has been appointed to the new position of Communications & Marketing Manager. Bringing a wealth of practical industry experience to the Society Debbie has been working as the Senior Beef and Lamb Analyst with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) for the past 10 years or so. At AHDB, Debbie has built a particularly strong knowledge and understanding of the beef industry. She has acted as a voice of the sector on market intelligence and production related matters in the UK, the EU and further afield. As well as producing weekly and monthly publications she has developed close working relations with many key industry bodies and the wider supply chain. She also has an awareness of related legislative and policy developments. Speaking about her appointment Debbie commented: “As the Agriculture industry speculates on what the Brexit vote means for the United Kingdom’s beef farmers, pedigree and commercial, there is no doubt that changes and challenges are on their way. The industry is already moving to one being more driven by efficiency and profitability. There is little doubt that cattle with the genetics to convert food efficiently, reach slaughter weights earliest and deliver carcases consistently hitting target grades will be in greatest demand; they already

are. Retailers have been sending a clear message for some time about the size of the carcase they want. The change in market focus is one that I think fits the Limousin breed extremely well; medium sized cows delivering fast growing quality calves with top grades, good yields and high killing out percentages. With this in mind, I am delighted to be bringing my experience to the Society as I start to work on behalf of members promoting the Limousin breed and the work of the Society to every level of the beef industry.”

in the UK. Debbie will be in attendance at as many of the shows and events taking place over the summer season as possible, meeting members at large. She will be robustly driving this message on behalf of the Society and its members at every opportunity across the entire supply chain. Commenting, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “This is a key appointment for the Society and we welcome Debbie to the team

along with the wealth of relevant industry knowledge, contacts and experience that she brings. Communication, promotion and knowledge exchange of the Society’s breed development work, commercial relevance, and ongoing achievement and performance, is so important. Debbie’s appointment will increase the Society’s professionalism in delivering these key messages to every level of the beef industry.”

Debbie has already seen the breed at first hand attending Borderway’s annual May Limousin Sale where averages, for bulls and females, were notably up on last year. Providing evidence of the current dynamics of the trade, and the momentum for the Limousin breed, commercial producers were clearly willing to pay top prices for their bulls of choice to deliver the performance and efficiency they are looking for. Since the first imports of the Limousin breed in 1971, the breed has become the number one beef breed in the UK, by some margin. Looking ahead, the Society’s ongoing feed efficiency project, in conjunction with AHDB and Defra, will demonstrate how feed efficiency traits can be measured and selected for. This will provide significant opportunities for commercial beef producers to cut their cost of production while delivering the message that Limousin cattle are the most viable and profitable breed for beef production

16 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

NEWS

2016 BCMS FIGURES 27%

GB TOTAL

Limousin

493,623

27%

Aberdeen Angus

310,971

17%

British Blue

222,419

12%

Charolais

207,767

11%

Simmental

159,752

Hereford

145,892

Shorthorn Other Beef Breeds TOTAL

18,836

286,036

16%

1,845,296

100%

25%

ENGLAND TOTAL

Limousin

286,321

25%

Aberdeen Angus

196,617

17%

British Blue

168,619

15%

Hereford

108,658

9.5%

Charolais

77,327

Simmental

76,086

Shorthorn Other Beef Breeds TOTAL

8,161

0.5%

207,980

18%

1,129,769

100%

27%

SCOTLAND TOTAL

Limousin

124,635

27%

Aberdeen Angus

91,728

20%

Charolais

86,448

19%

Simmental

74,320

16%

British Blue

20,605

9,438

Hereford Shorthorn Other Beef Breeds TOTAL

9,314

49,578

11%

466,066

100%

33%

WALES TOTAL

Limousin

82,667

33%

Charolais

43,992

18%

British Blue

33,195

13%

Hereford

27,796

11%

Aberdeen Angus

22,623

9,346

Simmental Shorthorn Other Beef Breeds TOTAL

www.limousin.co.uk

1,361

28,478

11%

249,458

100%

Limousin news, advertising, and promotion through

facebook and twitter

he popularity of the Society’s Facebook and Twitter pages continues to grow as an easy-to-use means of communication and keeping up-todate, on a day-to-day basis, with news from around the world of British Limousin. The Society’s Facebook page now has 9,801 ‘likes’ and is constantly growing. Regular updates keep it fresh and informative. The reach of social media is such that individual posts are attracting up to 50,000 ‘views’ within 48hours of posting! That’s a lot of advertising and getting the Limousin word out!

# Facebook and Twitter are free to use. You can send messages, upload photos and videos for free, and link to websites.

# Facebook and Twitter connect to people from all around the world and the UK. Limousin posts are regularly viewed and commented upon from the USA, Australia, Canada, across Europe, and many more countries worldwide.

# Facebook and Twitter plays a very important role in getting the latest news, updates, and reminders of all the Society’s forthcoming sales, shows, events, and activitites. So if you haven’t already why not ‘like’ the Society on Facebook or ‘follow’ us on Twitter. It’s a great way to network news to an ever-growing audience and to keep up-to-date with all the news, as it happens, from the world of the UK’s number one beef breed!

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 17

NEWS

LIMOUSIN MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE

n another new addition, the British Limousin Cattle Society has made available a Limousin Membership Directory. Similar in format to the previous Stud Book, the Membership Directory lists names, addresses and contact details of all Society members on a regional basis. A click through icon to the Directory has been placed on the front page of the Limousin website www.limousin.co.uk and can be found as shown here:

FORTHCOMING SHOWS, SALES & EVENTS UP TO DECEMBER 2017 *Not an official BLCS Sale. NB dates correct at the time of going to press. Friday 16th June Carlisle Bull & Female Sale Saturday 17th June Newark - Reduction Sale of the Bassingfield Herd and Dispersal of the Copperhurst Herd* Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th June Ingliston, Edinburgh, Royal Highland Show Friday 23rd June Exeter, South West Limousin Summer Sale * Friday 7th July Carlisle - Sale from the Ronick, Stephick, Rachels and Lodge Herds

Tuesday 11th – Thursday 13th July Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Show

Friday 13th & Saturday 14th October Carlisle Bull Sale, Borderway Mart

Saturday 25th November Lanark Agricultural Centre, LiveScot (formally Scottish Winter Fair)

Monday 24th – Thursday 27th July Builth Wells, Powys, Royal Welsh Show

Sunday 22nd - Tuesday 24th October Stirling Bull Sale, United Auctions

Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th November Builth Wells, Powys, Welsh Winter Fair

Friday 18th August Carlisle - Dispersal from the Castlenook, Redland & Redrock Herd, and Sale from the Dyke Herd

Friday 3rd November Carlisle, Borderway Agri Expo

Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd December Peterborough, East of England, Winterstock Festival

Monday 28th August Hilltown Mart, Northern Ireland - Female Sale*

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th November Bingley Hall, Staffordshire. English Winter Fair

18 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

Saturday 7th October Newark Club Sale*

Saturday 11th November Brecon Sale, Brecon Mart

Friday 8th December Carlisle, Red Ladies Derby & Weaned Calf Sale

www.limousin.co.uk

SEMENSTORE

The online semen website www.semenstore.co.uk has added a further six new additions to the site in recent weeks. The Limousin portfolio of bulls continues to grow and consists of ‘something for everyone’ in terms of price, bloodlines, easy calving, gestation length, growth, muscle, polled, and sexed semen options. Here’s a quick look at the new additions but why not visit the site and see the choice available.

Tomschoice Milord

Lowflan Lee

Quick Info : £9.50 per straw : available UK only

Quick Info : £10.00 per straw : available UK only

The vendor says: Tomschoice Milord is in the top 1% of the breed for Gestation Length and Calving Value, and within the top 10% for 400 Day Growth. He should be very suitable for using on heifers with a wealth of easy calving sires within his pedigree. His dam, Governess, is maternal sister to Tomschoice Earl who sold at Carlisle for 10,00gns in October 2010. Milord carries two copies of the F94L gene.

Lowflan Lee was purchased at Carlisle in October 2016. A Broadmeadows Cannon Grandson he was bought for his very short gestation length making him a trait leader and his high calving value. Lee should be an easy calving bull with lots of shape. He is a very docile bull.

Alagils Humberston

Alagils Grammaticas

Quick Info : £20.00 per straw : available UK only

The vendor says: Alagils Humberston comes from strong proven female lines on both sides of his pedigree. He is a powerful son of the Millington herd stock bull Vagabond, by Neuf. His dam Alagils Bella, a Grahams Poncho daughter, is a strong square cow that milks well. Humberston is a long powerful easy calving bull with big growth rates and easy fleshing characteristics which are borne out by his EBV figures. With a 300 day weight of 598kg, a 400 day weight of 785kg, high 200 and 400 day EBV weights, a high positive fat figure, an overall EBV in the top 1% for the breed and easy calving, this is a bull for the modern beef industry.

The vendor says: Grammaticas has proven to be very easy calving on both heifers and cows. He leaves all his stock with a dark red coat, excellent growth rates and conformation. He and all his stock have excellent temperaments. His dam is the well known show winner Alagils Ainsi whose sire Scorboro Regius was RHAS Beefbreeder Champion. His maternal grand dam the legendary Broadmeadows Jiji, our foundation cow, is the daughter of the multi show winner Broadmeadows Didi. His sire Millgate Caesar was all the All Ireland Bull Derby Champion and Carlisle champion selling for 18,000gns. His full ET sister Alagils Gillie is the dam of the 28,000gn Alagils Jambon

www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 19

SEMENSTORE

Kilcor Iceman

Hinz

Quick Info : £40.00 per straw : available UK only

Kilcor Iceman is described as the ‘outcross sire’. Purchased at Roscrea, Eire for 28,000 Euros, Iceman is a son of Fieldson Alfy out of a Rocky dam. He has a “five star” rating Terminal sire/ Carcase Conformation and Docility. Iceman himself won the Overall Calf Championship at North East calf finals in Carnoross. The vendor says: “Iceman is a powerful medium framed bull with extreme muscling. His first calves are very impressive in muscularity and carcase conformation together with a good growth rate. Iceman is going to be “hot man”!!

Homozygous Polled, the German bred Hinz was purchased privately from France after becoming one of the most popular Polled Limousin sires in Europe. The vendor Robert Graham says: “Since arriving at the Grahams herd Hinz has consistently produced some of the most balanced, well grown, easiest temperament we have worked with. Visitors to the herd have commented on the impressive females from Hinz and his sons are easy to work with, having growth/muscle and no horns. If you want them Polled and good – it has to be Hinz”!

BOLIDE HEIFERS SELL TO $8300 AT AUSTRALIAN LIMOUSIN MUSCLE SALE

imousin maiden heifers sired by Bolide (available on Semenstore) sold for $8300 at the eighth staging of the Limousin Muscle Sale held through Auctions Plus and the Australian Limousin Breeders’ Society. In all three Bolide heifers sold to average $5600. Putting this into some perspective Limousin heifers at the 2016 National Sale averaged $4673. The Muscle Sale again reflected an increasing demand for the heavy muscle / high yield cattle represented. The sale’s second top priced heifer at $8300 was Keystone Pearl L69 who was the first

daughter of Bolide to be sold at auction in Australia. Consigned by Tim Keys, Keystone Genetics, Victoria, this heifer was sold to Kel and Janelle Graham, Bella Valley Limousin Stud. Further Bolide sired heifers, also from Tim Keys, made $4300 and $4200 respectively. Keystone Genetics have been year on year purchasers of Limousin semen through Semenstore and have taken consignments including Bolide, Kaprico Eravelle, Bahut, Baileys Iain, and Dolscorllwyn Fabio. Bolide semen is available on Semenstore.co.uk priced at £30 per straw.

20 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

SEMENSTORE

SEMENSTORE EXPORTS TO USA, AUSTRALIA, & NEW ZEALAND • Semen from eight Limousin bulls in all fulfills orders • Export orders through www.semenstore.co.uk

strong demand for Limousin genetics has resulted in multi-exports of semen from eight bulls in all to the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. The various orders have come through the online www. semenstore.co.uk Featuring established names and bloodlines within the breed the Limousin exports comprise of semen from Dolcorsllwyn Fabio, Ampertaine Foreman, Bahut, Procters Duvalier, Titanic, Wilodge Cerberus, Fenomen, and Karlos respectively. Two separate consignments head to the USA. Betty Anglani purchased semen from Dolcorsllwyn Fabio (the previous Limousin sale world record holder), Ampertaine Foreman, and Bahut for her Fullblood Limousin herd in Missouri. Bertha and James Jarnagin of Jarnagin Limousins, Tennessee, also purchased semen from Bahut (conventional and female sexed) and in addition to

www.limousin.co.uk

straws from Procters Duvalier (conventional and female sexed), Titanic, and Wilodge Cerberus. The James’ were attracted to the choice of Limousin bulls on Semenstore featuring ‘heavier muscling, easy fleshing, and good growth rates’. The French bred bull Bahut featured across the exports with another significant order for both conventional and female sexed semen heading to regular Semenstore customer Tim Keys of Keystone Genetics, Victoria, Australia. With a stated aim of sourcing the best UK-based Limousin genetics available for his Australian clients, Mr Keys has previously purchased

Bahut semen whose first progeny he described as being ‘thick calves with moderate frames and a lot of width’. A significant order from the bulls Fenomen, and Karlos (homozygous polled) is on its way to Danny and Bethley O’Shea, Snake Gully Limousins, Whangarei, New Zealand. Again previous Semenstore customers, the O’Shea’s were attracted to these two bulls by a combination of their short gestation lengths, ease of calving, and 200-day-milk

figures respectively. Commenting on the online export sales Iain Kerr, Director of Semenstore Ltd said, “It’s great to see such a demand for Limousin genetics and we are delighted to secure and fulfil these orders to new and existing buyers across three different continents. The online Semenstore continues to provide easy access, visibility, and choice, on a worldwide basis to a wide range of British based Limousin genetics.”

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 21

Semenstore is a practical one-stop Limousin semen shop for vendors and buyers. Semenstore features:-

• On-line semen purchasing

• Export and domestic

• Automated service

• Competitive pricing

• Payment collection • Professional marketing • Semen for all markets

and costs

• Unique offers & packages • One-stop Limousin semen shop

www.semenstore.co.uk 22 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL CORNER

GENETIC TECHNOLOGY OFFERS EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEEF SECTOR

n February and May of this year, Farming Connect funded work within two Limousin herds – the Reddragon herd of Messrs TE & HE Price in Carmarthen and the Glangwden herd of Messrs CL & FE Jerman in Powys – to investigate the use and outcome of two new areas of development in genetic technology for Limousin. Genomic Breeding Values (GEBVs) and DNA testing for the presence of different types of ‘Myostatin’ (double muscling) gene have been introduced by the British Limousin Cattle Society in recent times and the aim of the herd work has been to identify its relevance to pedigree and commercial producers alike. The following is a report on the first of the producer meetings held at the Reddragon herd in February. “Tapping into new genetic technology has great potential to improve the productivity and profitability of beef businesses through betterinformed breeding decisions. Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBV’s) use DNA technology to identify superior genetics for carcase traits, which could have a significant impact for both pedigree and commercial producers. GEBV’s for carcase traits have been available for the Limousin breed for a

www.limousin.co.uk

year and are calculated differently from conventional Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s) which are based on measured performance onfarm and information from other contemporary animals. GEBV’s use pedigree and BCMS records, performance data, DNA testing and Video Imaging Analysis (VIA) measurements from abattoirs for six different carcase cuts. The VIA carcase data and DNA are combined to create a breed ‘SNP’ key and build a library of performance information. DNA samples from other live animals can then be compared against the library to identify traits for good performance. “Genetics is the biggest untapped resource for herd improvement and one which has a fairly big impact on whether a herd is making a profit or not. GEBV’s are highly accurate and offer a very powerful source of information to create breeding values that can help breeders respond quickly to market change,” Alison Glasgow, Technical Manager for the British Limousin Cattle Society told farmers at a meeting at Pencraig, Trelech, Carmarthen, where some of the pedigree Reddragon herd have been DNA tested as part of a Farming Connect Focus Site project.

“Genetics doesn’t take away from the stockmanship and management that are also needed to produce good animals, but we’re trying to provide breeders with the tools to respond to any changes when the commercial market needs it.” New GEBV lists are produced three times a year with values for carcase weight, age at slaughter and six primal cuts - silverside, rump, striploin, topside, knuckle and fillet. “When assessing which traits are important it depends on what you’re looking for, but days to slaughter and carcass weight are important economic factors in the herd. At an average cost of £1.80-£2 per animal per day, that’s a lot of money if the animal takes longer to finish,” added Alison. “The real value of the information is when you start looking at where you go next, using the information in the choice of bulls to use and heifers to retain.” At Pencraig, Tomos Price is now considering the best way to apply the new information gathered from DNA tests of 40 animals in the herd. He said: “Thanks to the testing we’ve done through Farming Connect we now know the genetics of the cows and our bull, rather than just having an idea of how they might

perform. Now it’s all about how we use the information to improve our herd.” DNA testing can also provide information on Myostatin – the gene responsible for double muscling. Natural mutations of the gene are less effective at controlling muscle development which leads to increased muscle mass. This offers distinct advantage to Limousin producers in terms of increased meat yield, feed efficiency and meat quality, and knowing animals’ genotypes means that any breeding concerns around calving can be easily managed. The Myostatin status of his stock is an important aspect of DNA technology for Thomas. “In the future we will definitely be keeping an eye on the Myostatin variants so that we get all the carcase benefits and don’t get any calving problems. It’s all down to where we go next on the daughters and having herdwide information is extremely valuable” he added. It is hoped to develop GEBV’s for fertility traits, production traits such as feed efficiency and disease traits in the future”. The Farming Connect Knowledge Transfer Programme and Advisory Service is delivered by Menter a Busnes on behalf of the Welsh Government.

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 23

TECHNICAL CORNER

HIGH QUALITY GENETICS IN DEMAND ACROSS LIMOUSIN SALES I n the last 12 months, sales of Limousin cattle sold at official British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) auctions have increased on previous years to gross in excess of £5.8 million. Trade in the first half of 2017 has seen averages across all main sales centres significantly up on the year, achieving exceptional and consistent clearance rates ranging from 84% to 100% of all animals sold. Underpinning this has been the significant and long term industry move to sourcing finished cattle at 15-16 months of age within deadweight ranges of 350-400kgs. This has put Limousin even more firmly in the spotlight as a mainstay for most types of enterprise. Medium-sized cows producing fast-growing calves that can finish at this age and weight are what the breed is all about. The ongoing changes in market focus fit the breed very well and this is undoubtedly the principle reason for the high levels of demand for breeding stock that we see. More so now than ever before, suckler producers and finishers are targeting the breeding stock they buy for the job they expect them to do. Combined analysis of prices from the key sales centres of Brecon, Carlisle, Dungannon and Stirling over the 12 months since 1st June last year reveal that demand is greatest and highest values paid for animals with identified genetic superiority within the breed… BEEF VALUE

COUNT

AVERAGE GNS

Top 10%

LM36+

301

6289

Top 25%

LM30-LM35

137

4638

Average

LM24-LM29

4690

<LM23

4334

4101

Below Average Non Recorded

Average prices from Brecon, Carlisle, Dungannon and Stirling Bull Sales 1st June 2016 – 31st May 2017

This information is indicative of several things… 639 bulls sold at these centres in the year to average 5340gns. Given that a proportion of animals within this average were sold at high value for pedigree use, an average price of 5340gns confirms a very real, commercial trade and indicates a wide availability of bulls that can fit all budgets. The demand for animals with performance recording measures (EBVs, Estimated Breeding Values) is greater than those without. Animals without EBVs achieved the lowest average across all groups. The highest proportions of animals brought to sale have EBVs in the top 10% of the breed. Just under half (47%) of all bulls forward had Beef Values in the Top 10% of the breed. With plenty of animals available, this offers buyers an easy opportunity to source the best genetics.

24 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL CORNER The higher the genetic merit, the greater the demand. • Bulls with Beef Values above breed average and in the Top 25% achieved a higher sale price than those that were below the breed average. • Bulls in the Top 10% achieved significantly higher averages than all other groups – up by 1600gns on the next closest group. EBVs have been around for a considerable period of time now. Buyers are driving the demand; they have used them, they have been successful with them, and now they actively source cattle with the genetic merit that suits them. The British Limousin Cattle Society is continuing to invest in new ways to identify and measure genetic merit for a range

www.limousin.co.uk

of performance drivers. In 2016, it released new Genomic Breeding Values for Carcase Traits and this summer is seeing the introduction of new Genomic Breeding Values for Female Fertility and Calf Survival traits using the whole of the BCMS data set and the performance of all Limousin-bred cows in the country. Further detail on this latter development is on page 10. Limousin is also the principle breed in Defra’s ongoing Beef Feed Efficiency Programme, aiming to produce EBVs for traits associated with feed intake and feed efficiency in 2018/19. The outcome of this and wider work will be a breed that has the tools and the ability to respond to the changes in our markets that are ongoing and significant now, and in the years to come. As our industry becomes increasingly subject to political and global change, this is a key Society priority.

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 25

TECHNICAL CORNER

BASCO LIMOUSIN PERFORMANCE RECORDING

Results from the March 2017 EBV & GEBV Update The introduction of Genomic Breeding Values (GEBVs) for Carcase Traits brings with it many more traits where leading animals in the breed can be identified. The following tables therefore report on sires and young bulls only. To widen the criteria to females, or to choose your own criteria, please go to www.basco.org, click on ‘Beef Search’ then ‘EBV Search’. You can then select the animal groups and traits you are most interested in.

March 2017 Leading Carcase Trait Sires The GEBVs available for Limousin cover a range of eight Carcase Traits (Carcase Weight, Age at Slaughter and six primal cuts) and are based on weekly downloads of VIA measurements from Limousin-bred cattle in five of ABP Food Group’s abattoirs in combination with individual animal DNA. A Retail Yield index is also produced; this is an economically weighted index comprising the breeding values of the six primal cuts (Fillet, Striploin, Rump, Silverside, Topside and Knuckle).

Which Carcase Traits to Choose? It is important to note that the new breeding values for the six primal cuts are adjusted to a standard carcase weight of 350kgs… •

In other words, animals with high GEBVs for these traits are animals with the genetics to produce higher weights of prime cut as a proportion of a 350kg carcase.

•

The Carcase Weight breeding values will identify animals with the genetics to produce heavier carcase weights.

•

And Age at Slaughter will identify the animals that get there quickly!

FILLET GEBV/EBV (KG) STRIPLOIN GEBV/EBV (KG) RUMP GEBV/EBV (KG) SILVERSIDE GEBV/EBV (KG) TOPSIDE GEBV/EBV (KG)

RETAIL VALUE

KNUCKLE GEBV/EBV (KG) All of this means that producers of pedigree and commercially-bred Limousin cattle now have breeding values at their disposal to identify animals with the genetics to not only perform well for the traditionally-measured traits, such as growth to 400 days of age, but that will also go on and perform well through to slaughter. Irrespective of end market, the value of stock that can do this is considerable.

26 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

All three elements in combination are therefore important to most types of beef enterprise

www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL CORNER The following table details the leading Limousin bulls for Age to Slaughter GEBV/EBV (see note1) that also meet the following criteria: • • •

The bull’s breeding values are published on the Limousin database (www.basco.org) The bull has sired a calf within the last three years (since 1st June 2014) The bull’s Carcase Weight and Retail Breeding Values are equal to and above the 2017 Breed Average of 4kg and LM21R respectively.

Animals are listed by their Age at Slaughter breeding value in descending order. The Calving Ease EBV for each animal is included as a point of reference only. Accuracy values are shown as % alongside each breeding value. 1 Carcase Trait EBVs are made available as part of the process that produces the GEBVs. (The GEBVs use information from the animal’s DNA in their calculation. The EBVs do not, but both use the same slaughter records obtained from the abattoir). Where an animal’s accuracy % for the EBVs is greater than 50%, the values are automatically published for that animal on the Limousin database. The way in which both types of value should be interpreted and used is the same.

BREEDING VALUES BULL NAME

BRED

OWNED

SLAUGHTER AGE (DAYS)

CAR. WT (KG)

RETAIL VALUE (POINTS)

CALV. EASE (%)

Spittalton General - UK 542794/100525 DoB: 23/02/2011 No Calves: 20 Sire: Wilodge Vantastic

Mr J Burnett & Sons Spittalton herd Stirling

JF & MB Teague Teague herd Edinburgh

-21 (60%)

11.8 (65%)

LM41R (64%)

-7.3 (73%)

Newhouse Hartley - UK 540209/301069 DoB: 07/07/2012 No Calves: 43 Sire: Rosecroft Duke

RM Adam & Son Newhouse herd Angus

Mrs P Blair Littleinch herd Fife

-20 (58%)

21.2 (64%)

LM35R (63%)

-2.0 (80%)

Bickertonhall Epic - UK 562482/300318 DoB: 06/04/2009 No Calves: 20 Sire: Grahams Unbeatable

JR Hamilton & Sons Bickertonhall herd Lothian

-7 (82%)

26.3 (86%)

LM25R (85%)

-4.0 (68%)

Ronick Luke - UK S1166/00010 DoB: 06/01/1995 No Calves: 490 Sire: Broadmeadows Cannon

Mr R Dick Ronick herd Stirling

Mr P Edmondson Seathwaite herd Cumbria

-5 (59%)

10.4 (63%)

LM45R (62%)

-6.8 (97%)

Davlin Eric - UK 166104/400656 DoB: 15/05/2009 No Calves: 7 Sire: Manorhouse Bonus

Messrs D&L Critchlow Davlin herd Buxton

Mr & Mrs J Gibbs Wolfscotegrange herd Buxton

-2 (70%)

26.1 (76%)

LM28R (75%)

-1.6 (54%)

Mr J Logan Homebyres herd Roxburghshire

-2 (65%)

10.9 (72%)

LM34R (70%)

-3.2 (76%)

NEW

Alagils GT - UK 502062/700162 DoB: 15/02/2011 No Calves: 16 Sire: Tehix

Macschoice Chris - IE 181455560244 DoB: 13/01/2007 No Calves: 84 Sire: 5331 Rocky

Mr T Burke Macschoice herd Eire

Mr J Nimmo Maraiscote herd Lanarkshire

-1 (58%)

14.0 (64%)

LM34R (63%)

-6.7 (82%)

Tanat Mostyn - UK FT0848/00228 DoB: 22/12/1996 No Calves: 297 Sire: Ronick Hawk

Mr TA Ellis Tanat herd Oswestry

Greenmount College Limo herd Co Antrim

-1 (56%)

5.6 (58%)

LM31R (57%)

-1.4 (96%)

Ryedale Paragon - UK YL0612/00266 DoB: 22/01/1999 No Calves: 538 Sire: Ronick Iceman

Lang Partners Ryedale herd York

Wilodge Wilodge herd Shropshire

1 (73%)

8.4 (77%)

LM36R (76%)

-4.1 (98%)

Kingdom Fabio - UK 541769/500033 DoB: 10/12/2010 No Calves: 10 Sire: Wilodge Vantastic

Mr MW Jack Kingdom herd Fife

2 (64%)

4.2 (70%)

LM45R (69%)

-4.4 (57%)

NEW

8 NEW

9 NEW

10 NEW

Messrs Macnab Alagils herd Inverness

Further information on Carcase Trait GEBVs can be found in this Magazine and at www.genesure.co.uk.

www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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TECHNICAL CORNER

March 2017 Maternal Sires The most recent Limousin EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) update was carried out on 7th March 2017. The following tables list all stock sires and young bulls that are leading the breed in terms of their genetic merit for overall Maternal Value. The Maternal Value is an economically weighted index that groups together Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) in to one single value as follows:

LONGEVITY AGE AT 1ST CALVING 200 DAY MILK WEIGHT MATERNAL CALVING EASE CALVING INTERVAL

MATERNAL VALUE

Animals with high Maternal Values typically have superior EBVs for a combination of these trait EBVs. Other aspects of animal performance, such as calving ease and growth, remain important when selecting Maternal breeding stock, however, and these characteristics are also included in the lists that follow.

A. Leading Maternal Stock Sires The • • • • • •

league table below identifies the current Top 10 Limousin sires according to the following criteria: All bulls are born on or before 7th March 2014 (ie are older than 3 years of age at time of update) All bulls have a calf registered in the last three years (ie since 7th March 2014) All bulls have the highest Maternal Value recorded in the March 2017 EBV Update All bulls have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2017 breed average of -2.2% All bulls have a Beef Value greater than or equal to the 2017 breed average of LM24 All bulls have a 200 Day Milk EBV greater than or equal to the 2017 breed average of -1kg. BULL NAME

BRED

OWNED

MATERNAL VALUE (PTS)

CALV. EASE EBV (%)

BEEF VALUE (PTS)

200 DAY MILK EBV (KG)

Haltcliffe Iceman - UK 100996/101225 DoB: 18/04/2013 No. Calves: 65 Sire: Cloughhead Umpire

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe herd Cumbria

AG Kirton & Sons, Ashledge herd, Bewdley

MV42 (65%)

-1.0 (82%)

LM45 (90%)

0 (61%)

Haltcliffe Gunner - UK 100996/701014 DoB: 310/03/2011 No. Calves: 16 Sire:Cloughhead Umpire

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe herd Cumbria

MV39 (62%)

-0.7 (68%)

LM35 (78%)

1 (60%)

Kaprico Eravelle - UK106173500054 DoB: 01/07/2009 No. Calves: 250 Sire: Wilodge Tonka

Mrs C Stafford Kaprico herd, Sunderland

JM & SP Cooper Tomschoice herd, N Yorks

MV37 (83%)

0.3 (94%)

LM42 (96%)

+2 (65%)

McTurk Bushbuck - UK141094/300580 DoB: 23/02/2006 No. Calves: 111 Sire: Silverbird

Manby Farms Ltd McTurk herd Lincolnshire

Non member owner

MV35 (82%)

0.2 (92%)

LM28 (96%)

+2 (73%)

Greenhaugh Utwo - UK521765200762 DoB: 14/02/03 No. Calves: 50 Sire: Mapleleaf Kickoff

K Stewart & Sons, Greenhaugh herd, Aberdeen

Mr J Rendall Norseman herd, Orkney

MV33 (78%)

-0.1 (86%)

LM36 (93%)

+3 (78%)

Sloughpool Germaine - UK366818/400494 DoB: 20/06/2011 No. Calves: 6 Sire:Lumbylaw Penandpaper

Messrs Gollop & Sons Sloughpool herd Devon

MV33 (55%)

-1.6 (63%)

LM27 (74%)

+1 (52%)

Norman Ely - UK 101316/300607 DoB: 03/09/2009 No Calves: 124 Sire: Saphir

Mr & Mrs E Norman Norman herd Carlisle

Mr M Loughran Millgate herd Co Tyrone

MV32 (70%)

1.5 (88%)

LM33 (93%)

1 (55%)

Copperhurst Ike - UK 183403/500213 DoB: 07/05/2013 No. Calves: 13 Sire: Kaprico Eravelle

AR Howarth Copperhurst herd Manchester

MV32 (52%)

-0.3 (65%)

LM49 (78%)

+2 (48%)

Haltcliffe Exocet - UK 100996/400850 DoB: 15/06/2009 No. Calves: 22 Sire: Cloughhead Umpire

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe herd Cumbria

Mr KD Harryman Keskadale herd Cumbria

MV32 (61%)

-1.7 (64%)

LM28 (75%)

1 (60%)

Newstart Vindicator - UK131241/600064 DoB: 14/06/2004 No. Calves: 63 Sire: Ronick Iceman

D&M Cormack Newstart herd N Yorks

Mr DM Williams Llanan herd Dyfed

MV32 (64%)

-2.2 (85%)

LM25 (88%)

+1 (58%)

NEW

28 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

TECHNICAL CORNER

B. Leading Maternal Young Bulls The table below identifies the current Top 10 Limousin young bulls according to the following criteria: • • • • •

All bulls are born since 7th March 2014 (ie are younger than 3 years of age at time of update), are pedigree registered and are performance recorded. All bulls have the highest Maternal Value recorded in the March 2017 EBV Update All bulls have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2017 breed average of -2.2% All bulls have a Beef Value greater than or equal to the 2017 breed average of LM24 All bulls have a 200 Day Milk EBV greater than or equal to the 2017 breed average of -1kg. BULL NAME

BRED

OWNED

MATERNAL VALUE (PTS)

CALV. EASE.

BEEF VALUE (PTS)

200 DAY MILK (KG)

Copperhurst Lionking UK 183403/600235 DoB: 25/10/2015 Sire: Copperhurst Ike

AR Howarth Copperhurst herd Manchester

MV33 (43%)

-1.1 (54%)

LM55 (69%)

+2 (38%)

Haltcliffe Jerome UK 100996/101337 DoB: 18/05/2014 Sire: Haltcliffe Gains

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe herd Cumbria

MV33 (53%)

-1.6 (61%)

LM34 (74%)

+2 (44%)

Haltcliffe Linford UK 100996/601426 DoB: 26/04/2015 Sire: Haltcliffe Fencer

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe herd Cumbria

MV33 (50%)

-1.8 (58%)

LM33 (73%)

+1 (48%)

Larkhill Mark UK 9063020/0386-6 DoB: 17/03/2016 Sire: Wilodge Tonka

Mr B McAuley Larkhill herd Co Antrim

MV33 (59%)

-2.1 (66%)

LM41 (72%)

1 (57%)

McTurk Masvingo UK 141094/501520 DoB: 29/01/2016 Sire: Norman Ely

Manby Farms Ltd McTurk herd Lincolnshire

MV32 (46%)

1.1 (60%)

LM27 (70%)

+1 (36%)

Ashledge Lennox UK 303330/601592 DoB: 09/05/2015 Sire: Haltcliffe Iceman

AG Kirton & Sons Ashledge herd Worcs

Non member owner

MV31 (42%)

-0.7 (54%)

LM35 (68%)

0 (39%)

Tweeddale Juventus UK 107511/401651 DoB: 09/10/2014 Sire: Haltcliffe Argos

Mr J Watson Tweeddale herd Berwick upon Tweed

MV31 (51%)

-0.7 (58%)

LM31 (75%)

0 (44%)

Bizzyberry Lakota UK 560514/201344 DoB: 03/11/2015 Sire: Kaprico Eravelle

Mr JM Moffat Bizzyberry herd Lanarkshire

MV31 (50%)

-1.2 (61%)

LM38 (62%)

0 (44%)

Tweeddale Jaguar UK 107511/601562 DoB: 14/04/2014 Sire: Goldies Goldmine

Mr J Watson Tweeddale herd Berwick upon Tweed

MV31 (50%)

-1.2 (63%)

LM36 (72%)

0 (46%)

Haltcliffe Leo UK 100996/501432 DoB: 29/04/2015 Sire: Haltcliffe Gains

Messrs Ridley Haltcliffe herd Cumbria

MV31 (52%)

-1.9 (61%)

LM43 (74%)

+2 (43%)

NEW

3 NEW

NEW

8 NEW

9 NEW

10 NEW

To view pedigree and performance information for all registered Limousins go to www.limousin.co.uk and click on the ‘Basco Online Herdbook’ button. You can then search by animal, by breeder, by EBVs and by GEBVs.

www.basco.org www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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NEWS

BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

ROUND-UP

For full sale reports please visit www.limousin.co.uk

MAMMAMIA! 42,000GNS AND 35,000GNS FOXHILLFARM MAIDEN HEIFERS LEAD FLYING LIMOUSIN FEMALE TRADE AT CARLISLE • 142 lots sell to a clearance rate of 87% • Seven animals make 10,000gns and more • Twenty six animals in all make 5000gns and more • Averages up by £422 with 62 more sold on the year • Animals sell to broad mix of pedigree and commercial homes

he ongoing strong, and seemingly insatiable, demand for pedigree Limousin females was left in little doubt following the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Spring Female sale at Borderway Mart on the afternoon of Friday 5th May. At the end of the day, a packed sale ring saw 29 served heifers average £3990, 110 maiden heifers average £4294 and an overall sale average of £4162 for 142 animals, an increase of £422 on the year for 62 more sold. A mighty clearance rate saw 87% of all animals sold, these heading to a combination of both pedigree and pedigree buyers looking to invest in the quality genetics on offer. In all, 142 females were sold with the all-in trade for the day achieving sales in excess of £600,000. Striking the high note for the day at 42,000gns was the outstanding January-16 born maiden heifer Foxhillfarm Mammamia from Mr & Mrs M Alford’s Foxhillfarm herd from Cullompton, Devon. An embryo calf she is one of four heifers at this sale that were the first to be offered out of the noted 125,000gn Glenrock Illusion, jointly owned with the Swalesmoor herd. As a calf, Mammamia was Junior Limousin Champion and

Foxhillfarm Mammamia - 42,000gns

Foxhillfarm Missworld - 35,000gns

Reserve Interbreed Champion at the Stars of the Future show in 2016. By the 38,000gns Foxhillfarm Irishlad now owned by the Tweeddale and Goldies herds, she has a Beef Value of LM49, in the Top 1% of the

30 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

breed. Taking her home along with two further purchases from this herd were Messrs BC and JW Evans, Penrhos, Trefeglwys, Powys. The second top price for the day also came from the

Foxhillfarm stable in the shape of Foxhillfarm Missworld. Similarly-bred to the top price Mammamia, this stylish January-16 born heifer is an embryo calf out of Glenrock Illusion and by Foxhillfarm Irishlad. With growth EBVs and a Beef Value in the Top 1% of the breed, she also heads to the Penrhos herd of Messrs BC and JW Evans in Powys. In a memorable day for the Foxhillfarm team, the next leading result came in the shape of Foxhillfarm Liberty. A June-15 born heifer out of the famous Bankdale Alice this time, and by noted sire Broadmeadows Cannon, she sold for 19,000gns, once more heading to the Penrhos herd of Messrs BC and JW Evans. Liberty’s dam, Bankdale Alice was purchased for 15,000gns at the dispersal sale of Mr G Wilson’s Bankdale herd in 2011. She has produced breeding stock in excess of 380,000gns, including bulls Foxhillfarm Impeccabull, Inthegold, Jackflash, Jasper, Justthejob and Lordofthering. Second in to the ring for Foxhillfarm was Foxhillfarm Mary. Full sister to the wellknown Foxhillfarm Gracie out of Bankdale Alice and by the noted sire Wilodge Vantastic, she sold for 15,000gns to head across the water to Mr E Lynch, Drumbannow, Co Cavan,

www.limousin.co.uk

NEWS Foxhillfarm Liberty - 19,000gns

Ireland. On the day, Michael and Melanie Alford’s Foxhillfarm herd sold 17 lots to average over an incredible 10,600gns. Next up were three heifers all sharing a headline at 10,000gns. The first of these was Procters Jamaica selling for Procters Farms Ltd, Clitheroe. Born October 2014 Jamaica is out of a Greenwell Ronick dam, Procters Divine, and sired by the noted Swarland Eddie. Procters Divine has bred bulls to 21,000gns in the shape of Procters General, Senior Male Champion at Carlisle in October 2012. Jamaica was sold AI’d to Gunnerfleet Hicks

Foxhillfarm Mary - 15,000gns

and heads to the Ladybowers pedigree herd of Mr L J White near Bamford, Derbyshire. Also at 10,000gns, and again from the Alford’s Foxhillfarm herd, was Foxhillfarm Missmoneypenny. The third of the four embryo calves out of Glenrock Illusion and by Foxhillfarm Irishlad, this tidy January-16 born heifer heads in to Aberdeenshire to Mr G Morrison, Inchbruich, Banff. The third in the trio at 10,000gns came in the form of Tweeddale Lollipop from Messrs J Watson and Co’s Tweeddale herd near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Bred by Foxhillfarm Irishlad and

Tweeddale Lollipop - 10,000gns

half-sister to the two toppriced heifers on the day, this October-15 born was the second to head to Ireland and the Grangeford Limousin herd of Mr G Morrison in County Carlow. From north of the border next at 9000gns came the July-15 born Grahams Lilley. From Messrs R&J Graham near Stirling, she is maternal sister to Grahams Lorenzo who sold for 40,000 to the Wilodge herd at the Limousin National Show in 2016. Lilley heads once more to Ireland and the Glenford herd of Mr K Stephenson, County Wicklow. A further heifer from Procters

Farms Ltd, Procters Leiha, made 8000gns. This is a March-15 born heifer out of a Haltcliffe DJ dam, Procters Harleiha. In a run of success on the day for sire Ampertaine Foreman, she made 8000gns going to the Telfers herd or Messrs E Telfer & Son, Stocksfield, Northumberland. SALE AVERAGES 3 Cows £3710 3 Weaned Calves £1435 29 Served Heifers £3990 110 Maiden Heifers £4294 See www.basco.org for online Limousin herdbook information

Procters Jamaica - 10,000gns

LARKHILL MAIREAD TOPS LIMOUSIN FEMALE SALE AT 1,750 GNS

he British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) sale of haltered and unhaltered females was held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday 21 January 2017. A clearance rate of 75% was achieved with 24 females ranging in age from 9 months to 3 years being offered for sale. Larkhill Mairead, a homebred heifer from Brian & Cahir McAuley, Antrim realised the highest price at 1750gns. This

www.limousin.co.uk

11-month-old heifer calf is sired by Goldies Hallmark the stock bull for the Larkhill & Carmorn pedigree herds. Her dam, Larkhill Hazel is a daughter of Hatcliffe Doctor. Larkhill Mairead holds a beef value of LIM40 which places her in the top 10% for EBV. She now heads to new owner Martin Irvine, Banffs, Scotland and his pedigree herd Anside.

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BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

NEWS

ROUND-UP

5,800GNS BARRONS MAISEY TOPS CARLISLE FEMALES

n the sale of females held on Friday 17th February, the top price of 5,800gns was paid for Barrons Maisey from Willie Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Durham. This February 2016 born maiden heifer is by the herd’s 40,000gns stock bull Mereside Godolphin and is out of Barrons Hansy, an Ironstone Colonel daughter. Paying the top price was W Richardson, Ghyll House, Dufton, Appleby-In-Westmorland, Cumbria for their Mystyle pedigree herd. In all 40 females sold on the evening to a good average of £2404.50

Barrons Maisey - 5,800gns

4,500GNS ABSOLUTE MELODY LEADS NEWARK LIMOUSIN FEMALES

rade was keen in the females on offer at the Newark Limousin Day Sale held on Saturday 1st April at Newark Livestock Market, with a top call of 4500gns made for the stylish Absolute Melody, the Reserve Female Champion, from Richard Bartle and Mary Cormack, Upper Dinmore, Herefordshire. Sired by Diamant and out of the Wilodge Tonka daughter Wilodge Venelle, a full sister to Wilodge Vantastic, she sold to the Gould family, Bromere Heath, Shrewsbury. A 4400gns bid followed that, with this paid for Mereside Herena from Messrs RM Hazard & Sons, Saltby Heath Farm, Grantham, Lincs. Sired by Dormeur this second calver is

out of the Vagabond daughter Mereside Ferena and sold with a bull calf at foot by a nonpedigree Limousin sire and incalf again to a Blue sire. Buying her were D J Summers and Son, Somerby, Gainsborough. Then making 4300gns was another of the Hazard family’s offering, this time the Objat daughter, Mereside Demitria. She is out of Mereside Amber, a Mereside Tobius daughter and sold with her sixth calf at foot, a heifer calf by Haltcliffe Dancer. This one went home with P M and L Harris and Son, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Next best at 4000gns was Wilodge Bravenelle from Richard Bartle and Mary Cormack. This Wilodge Tonka daughter is out of Ravenelle,

Mereside Herena 4400gns

32 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

Absolute Melody 4500gns

making her a full sister to Wilodge Vantastic, and sold with her fifth calf at foot, Absolute Myrtille, a daughter of the world record priced Trueman Jagger. She was knocked down to W Tomlinson, Treswell, Retford.

AVERAGES: 15 in-calf cows 25 cows and calves 9 in-calf heifers 74 maiden heifers

£1701.00 £2811.90 £1942.50 £1717.29

Auctioneers: Newark Livestock Sales

Lesly 3200gns

www.limousin.co.uk

BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

NEWS

ROUND-UP

RECORD PRICE AT HOLSWORTHY SEES LOOSEBEARE LIBERAL SELL TO 4,800GNS • Record top price for the fixture

Champion Loosebeare Liberal, Mark Quick, Judge Chris Richens, Kivells

• 86% clearance rate • Twelve bulls average £3308

imousin bulls met with a record trade for the fixture at the South West Limousin Spring Show and Sale held at Holsworthy Livestock Market on Wednesday 26th April 2017. In all, twelve out of the fourteen bulls forward sold to average a very healthy £3308. The day’s top price of 4,800gns was a record for this fixture and seven bulls made 3,000gns and more. Commenting, the auctioneer Mark Brommell, Kivells, Holsworthy Livestock Market said: “It was a flying trade for well grown and well fleshed bulls. With the competition around the ring we could have easily sold double the numbers here today!” Leading the way with the record top price of 4,800gns was Loosebeare Liberal from Messrs EW Quick & Son, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. This June 2015 born

Reserve Champion - Killerton Larch

bull is by the herd’s stock sire Aghadolgan Emperor and is out of Loosebeare Evilla, a Rainbow Simon daughter. Paying the top price was A Rowe, East Totleigh,

Sheepwash, Beaworthy. Loosebeare Liberal had earlier in the day been placed as the Supreme Champion of the pre-sale show by the judge Chris Richens formerly of the

Broadoak Herd. Speaking at the close of the sale Mr Richens said: “There was a very good entry of strong senior bulls at Holsworthy. The Champion was a lovely well managed bull with a very good back end.” The Reserve Champion was Killerton Larch from Mr & Mrs PW & SM Greed, Columbjohn Farm Ltd, Columbjohn Farm, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. Having followed the Champion all the way through this bull went on to sell for the second top price of 4,500gns to GA Richards, Trendeal Farm, Summercourt, Newquay. June 2015 born Killerton Larch is by Emslies Horny and is out of Killerton Frogmore. Three lots later Killerton Lincoln, also from the Greeds made 3,900gns when selling to Needham & Son, Old Henley, Bucklands, Newton, Dorset. This October born bull is by Chinauley Fibber and out of Killerton Gusty. Rounding off a solid day for the Greeds the Emslies Horny sired Killerton Limestone later made 3000gns when selling to N Rottenbury, Great Heasley, South Molton. AVERAGES 12 Bulls 6 Cows & Calves

£3308 £2100

Auctioneers: Kivells

RACHELS LIMOUSIN LEADS YORK PEDIGREE SALE AT 3,400GNS

he sale of pedigree cattle at York in March was topped by the pre-sale show champion, a Limousin bull from D & MLP Woolhouse, North Dalton which went on to sell for 3,400gns to G Gilleard, Thorne. Next at 3,200gns was another Limousin bull, consigned by E Blenkhorn & Son, Howden, which was knocked down to GD Stephenson, Market Weighton.

www.limousin.co.uk

York Champion 3,400 gns from D & MLP Woolhouse

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

NEWS

ROUND-UP

6,000GNS GARROWBY HURRICANE STORMS TO SKIPTON LIMOUSIN TOP PRICE Garrowby Hurricane 6,000gns

Procters Master 4,500gns

• 78 head forward with a 91% Clearance rate • Judge – Mr Ian Wildgoose, Derbyshire

rices topped at 6000gns at the Craven Limousin Day at Skipton Market, on Wednesday 10th May, when Garrowby Hurricane returned to an old hunting ground after his 2013 win at the Craven Limousin Extravaganza. Purchased at the 2013 sale by Michael and Stephen Priestleys’ Brontemoor herd, Hurricane has four crops of calves on the ground at the Priestleys’, Kirkcambeck farm in Cumbria, producing multiple show winners. Winning second prize in the senior bull section the 2012 Glenrock Ventura son, having served his time at Brontemoor, was keenly sought by Pedigree and Commercial suckled calf producers alike before finding

a new home with RW Dalton of Barnard Castle. A very strong intermediate bull section saw Copperhurst Lenny consigned by Lancashire Breeder, Andrew Howarth of Whitefield lead off at 4600gns for the 2015 Plumtree Fantastic son bred from a Twemlows Sax cow, Copperhurst Camilla. This bull went to Messrs AM&DE Stones of Ebberston. The Copperhurst herd also rang the bell with Copperhurst Lionking who is sired by Copperhurst Ike, a bull with good growth and ease of calving throughout his pedigree which joined Adam Kunz of Ingmanthrope for 4500gns. The team from Procters Farms Ltd of Slaidburn produced an excellent pen

of bulls which included the Intermediate Bull Procters Lancastrian. This shapey, mobile 2015 bull by Ampertaine Hotshot bred from the Haltcliffe Vermount cow Procters Haleiha went to Kevin Huck and John Tennant of Borderley for 4500gns. Strong competition and a total clearance of Junior Bulls saw Messrs JM&SP Cooper’s Tomschoice herd produce first prize winner and Supreme Champion from the previous evenings Limousin Extravaganza in Tomschoice Matador. His sire Carwin Icarus was the 2016 pre-sale champion whilst Matador himself carries EBV’s which puts him in the top 1% of the breed for gestation length and calving ease. He became first choice for WP Brewer & Sons’ Coredale herd at 4600gns. Procters Farms Ltd were hard

on the heels of Matador with their second prize junior bull Procters Master an Ampertaine Foreman son bred from a cow, Procters Heiress which was sired by Haltcliffe DJ. Master was snapped up for 4500gns by another Procter, this time Messrs E&MA Procter and Son of Great Musgrave for the production of high quality calves from their suckler herd. The top price female was Swalesmoor Lara from Kedzlie Farm Ltd, Blainslie, a strong may 2015 daughter of Bial and carrying a service in April and selling to Mark Crabtree of Kettlesing for 3100gns. AVERAGES 2 Senior Bulls £4463 20 Intermediate Bulls £3313 19 Junior Bulls £2863 20 Maiden Heifers £1683 7 Cows In-calf/with calves at foot £2713

£5,300 FOR HEIFER AND LIMOUSIN CALF AT FOOT

potted at a commercial sale on May 1st, just prior to the Bull Sale, at United Auctions’ Stirling Mart. This Blue x Limousin heifer, with a twelve week old Limousin calf at foot, sold for a mighty £5300. The outfit was offered by John McAllister Wester Thomason, Banknock and the calf was sired by a son of the noted Rossignol.

34 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

NEWS

ROUND-UP

6,500GNS BARRONS MATADOR SETS CENTRE RECORD AT HEXHAM

6,500gns - Barrons Matador

• Seventeen out of nineteen bulls sell to average £4,410, up by £420 • 100% clearance of females, seventeen sell to average £1,680

exham and Northern Marts held their Second Annual Limousin Bull & Female Show and Sale in May on behalf of the North Eastern Limousin Cattle Breeders Club. More bulls and females forward on the year met with increased demand with more sold and averages up on the year. Leading price was the Junior Class winner Barrons Matador from Willie Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhope, Co Durham. This Mereside Godolphin son realised a centre record of 6500gns when selling to M.s Thompson, Springwell, Tow Law. Second highest price of 5800gns was Lissett Monte, a Homebyres Felboy son, from JH Tennant Ltd, East Yorkshire who sold to Messrs Crammond, Armond Carr, Tow Law. The presale Show Champion, judged by Andrew Clark (Mayfields Herd), was Romford Lord from Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston. This Roxburgh Ghurka son sold for 5600gns to Mr A L Booton, Ripon.

Overall Champion 5,600 gns - Romford Lord

8,400GNS WILODGE LENNOX TO THE FORE AT WELSHPOOL LIMOUSIN SALE • 23 bulls average £3962 (up by £376) • Clearance rate of 85%

opping the sale at the North West Midlands & North Wales Limousin Club spring show and sale held at Welshpool on Saturday 20th May was the Supreme Champion Wilodge Lennox selling for 8400gns. This was the second year in a row that the Wilodge herd, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal had topped this annual fixture. Wilodge Lennox is an embryo calf sired by Brutus Hashtag and is out of the noted Wilodge Vantastic daughter Wilodge Diamante, a cow who combines the very best of Wilodge breeding. Hashtag was purchased by Red House Farm for their Hafesp herd based near Newtown. Two weeks previously Wilodge had also sold Wilodge Lookout, another embryo calf out of Wilodge Diamante, for 60,000gns at Carlisle. Another grandson of Wilodge Vantastic was the next best at 5600gns. This was ML Thomas’ Nebo Liam who is sired by the Vantastic son Wilodge Fastrac and out of the Cloughhead Jurassic daughter Nebo Dora. The successful bidder on this occasion was RJ Roberts from Llanegryn. Alyn Edwards’ Banwy Llew sold for 5100gns to TH Davies & Sons

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Wilodge Lennox Supreme Champion 8400gns

from Llanbrynmair. This May 2015 born bull is by the Objat sired Chaumeil and out of Dinmore Hope. Reaching 4800gns was another bull from ML Thomas’ Nebo herd. Nebo Logan was sired by the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin and out of the Mas Du Clo daughter Nebo Gingerspice. He was purchased by P Roberts from Llanerchymedd. Following this at 4700gns was AJ & SD Heath’s Ternvalley Lamborghini, also by Wilodge Fastrac he was out of a Glenrock Spartacus daughter who goes back to the noted Glenrock Saspirilla cow and the successful bidder on this occasion was RM & O Watkins from Craswall in Herefordshire. AVERAGES 23 bulls 3 maiden heifers

£3961.74 £1820.00

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

NEWS

ROUND-UP

£4,100 ‘JONNIE WALKER’ IS LEADING LIMOUSIN AT BRECON SHOW POTENTIALS Steer Champion Jonnie Walker £4,100

recon’s sale of show potential cattle held in February saw a leading steer price of £4,100 paid by Colin Harris, Torrington for the Champion Steer Jonnie Walker, a May 2016 born Limousin cross from the

Limousin Heifer My Gracie £3,350

Brute family, Brecon, who had also won the Baby Beef Championship at the 2016 Royal Welsh Winter Fair. Amongst a number of purchases the judge for the day Mr Blair Dufton, Huntly, gave £3,350 for My Gracie,

Garnedd Model from KI E & HI Jones £4,600

a Limousin heifer with a black sire from MT Jones, Sennybridge. The seven month old animal was second in its class on the day. Black Ice from Colin & Wendy Phillips, Sarnesfield, made £3,100 when selling to BE

Williams, Sennybridge. This calf is a son of Powerhouse Elite which has sired three out of the four of the last Royal Welsh Winter Fair champions with Mr Phillips also breeding the most recent.

Champion Heifer & Overall Supreme from Geraint & Adrian Williams £3,800

£4,600 PEDIGREE GARNEDD LIMOUSIN HEIFER TOPS RUTHIN SHOW POTENTIALS

he pedigree Limousin heifer Garnedd Model, from Messrs K I & E & H I Jones, Bryn Ddraenen, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, sold for £4600 to lead the trade at the 2017 Ruthin Show Potentials held at Ruthin Livestock Market on Saturday 25th February. September 2016 born, the five-month-old Garnedd Model is by Trueman Idol and is out of the Bremore Djerk daughter Garnedd Joy. The Champion heifer and Overall Supreme from Geraint & Adrian Williams, Llanidloes, sold for £3,800 to R Whitfield, Cannock, Staffordshire. Pre-Sale Judge Mark Harryman, Pickering, North Yorkshire, described the turnout as “tremendous” and heralded his Overall Champion as a superb animal with plenty of mileage and breeding potential. Born in July 2016, this heifer is by a homebred Limousin bull and headed the line up to give the exhibitors their second Ruthin Supreme Championship having first lifted it in 2011.

36 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

NEWS

ROUND-UP

RECORD PRICE OF £9,000 PAID FOR JOHN AND CRAIG ROBERTSON’S LIMOUSIN HEIFER

new show record of £9,000 was set when John and Craig Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry sold their Limousin cross heifer at the Royal Northern Spring Show at Aberdeen on Wednesday 1st March. Earlier in the day the heifer had been awarded the Show’s Supreme Championship by the judge Lyn Pidsley, Upton Ley, Devon. Sired by Calogale Irresistable, an Objat son purchased for 6500gns at Carlisle, and out of a Limousin cross heifer by Mas Du Clo this heifer weighed in at 416kgs. Paying the record price which worked out at £21.63 per kg was Bill Stewart, Huntly, on behalf of a telephone bidder. The second top price of £6050 was also from the Robertsons and was another by Calogale Irresistable and out of a Limousin cross heifer. Weighing in at 342kgs this heifer was purchased by Bill Stewart of Greenfold, Huntly, for a telephone bidder. “She was full of style, very correct and balanced with a leg in each corner and the potential to go on and do very well” said Judge Lin Pidsley of Upton Ley, Devon, who produces show calves and runs a small her of pedigree Limousins. The Robertson’s next best, at £6,050 came for a second prize

heifer by the same sire but this time out of another Limousin cross whose dam was a former show beast for Gareth Small. This 10 month old weighed in at 342kg and sold to Michael and Melanie Alford, Devon.

TELFER TOPS HIGH QUALITY HEXHAM SALE WITH £3,100 LIMOUSIN SIRED HEIFER • John Smith-Jackson's Overall Champion makes £3,000

Top Price £3100 & Reserve Champion

Overall Champion from John Smith-Jackson sold for £3000

imousin sired animals led the way at Hexham & Northern Marts special March prize show and sale of store cattle held over two days on 9th and 10th March. Taking the top price was Malcolm Telfer, Newton High House with an 11-month-old Limousin sired black heifer that had earlier lifted the Female Champion and Reserve Overall Champion prizes. Purchasing the top price at £3100 was the master judge Craig Bentley from Kepwick, Thirsk. Taking the Overall and Male Championships was a pure bred Limousin steer aged 12 months and exhibited by John Smith-

Jackson, Hightown Farm, Melkridge, Haltwhistle. This calf, sired by Lodge Hamlet, had actually been sold through the ring at Hexham ten-months earlier at the dispersal sale of the Rookerhill herd of pedigree Limousin cattle of Mr Steven Dale, Rooker Hill Farm, Helperby, York. In front of a packed ringside the hammer finally fell at a worthy £3000 to Messrs Hyslop, Girvan, South Ayrshire.

SMITH-JACKSON’S LIMOUSIN HEIFER HITS £5,400 AT LEYBURN SPRING SPECTACULAR

op price at Leyburn’s Spring Spectacular for show potential cattle, held in March, was the Overall Champion, a nine month old Limousin heifer from the prolific calf producer John Smith-Jackson, Haltwhistle. Sired by Waindale UFO this calf made £5400 and sold to Messrs Wilkinson & Marwood, Leyburn.

www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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NEWS Overall Champion from Andrew & Fiona Harrsion £2800

BREEDERS’ SALES & GENERAL EVENT

ROUND-UP

Messrs Laird's Limousin cross heifer £3,300

HARRISON’S £3,800 HEIFER TOPS THE LIMOUSIN PRICES AT CARLISLE

eading the Limousin trade at the spring show of continental cross bullocks and heifers at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart in March, was Andrew and Fiona Harrison Grange Hall, Great Asby. Their unhaltered Limousin heifer, by the home bred bull Noble Freddie who was also the sire of the Reserve Bullock at the Scottish Winter Fair in 2015, made £3800 when selling to Stewart & Lynsey Bett, Newmills, Airth.

Overall Supreme Champion, Monty, from BE Williams

Lifting the Championship was an eight month old red Limousin bullock also from the Harrisons which sold to the Judge, Mrs Sharon Sellers, Lincs, for £2,800. Bought as a cow and calf unit from Philip Dawson, Kentmere at Kirkby Stephen Mart, this calf is by Keskadale Cyclone. Two sold for £3,300 apiece with the first of these being a black Limousin cross bullock from Willie Barron, Morrow Edge, Durham. Selling to Messrs Blair, Newport

on Tay, Fife, this son of Mereside Godolphin is bred from a pure Blue mother. Also hitting £3,300 when knocked down to A Dickinson, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, was a heifer from the Lairds at Sunnyside and Carbellow Farms, Cumnock. Their red Limmy cross heifer had stood third in her class. Anita Padfield, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, paid £3,000 for a Limousin cross heifer from TF & C Robinson, Bog Hall, Kirkheaton.

Reserve Overall & Champion heifer, Cheeky Girl, from Mike Rowlands

LIMOUSINS WIN CHAMPION AND RESERVE AT NBA’S 2017 BEEF EXPO AT STONELEIGH

imousin sired cattle dominated once again at the NBA’s Beef Expo Show held this year at the NAC, Stoneleigh, Warks on Thursday 18th May. Coming from the heavyweight Limousin class and taking the Steer Championship and Overall Supreme was the 544kgs ‘Monty’ from well known showman Elfed Williams, Sennybridge, Powys. Pure bred, Monty is by Lodge Hamlet and is out of a Sarkley cow. Bred by G Lewis, Welshpool, this April 2016 born calf was given the nod by the judge Colin Phillips, The Batch, Weobley, Herefordshire. Commenting on his champion Mr Phillips said: “This steer had exceptional balance which just gave it the edge. The Championship line-up was superb with the standard of cattle a credit to the exhibitors.” The Reserve Champion was also the Heifer Champion in the shape of the January 2016 born Cheeky Girl from Mike Rowlands, Llanidloes. Bred by Dai Brute, Brecon, and shown by him on the day, it was purchased for £4000 by Mr Rowlands at the 2016 Royal Welsh Winter Fair (where it had placed as Baby Beef Champion. Weighing in at 507kgs, Cheeky Girl is by Cwmlimo Hercules and is out of a Brutus Cracker sired heifer.

38 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

| 39

YOUNG LIMOUSIN

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

CURRENT YLBC OFFICIALS

YLBC 2017 Syllabus

Chairman

Stephanie Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling

Vice Chairman

Tom Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie

Sponsorship Co-ordinator

John Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Stirling

Hon President

Mrs Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Angus

YLBC Co-ordinator

Natalie Cormack - ylbc@limousin.co.uk

YOUNG BREEDERS WELCOME JAMES CALLION AS THE NEW YLBC HON PRESIDENT

National Stockjudging Competition

Anglo-Irish Competition

National Show Stars

National Young Handlers Competition

Overall YLBC Member of the Year

Great Yorkshire Show Wed 12th July – 3pm

Dumfries Show Sat 5th August

Malvern 23rd- 24th August

Borderway Mart, Carlisle Thurs 14th Dec

Agribition Trip / Travel Bursary Points based award where points are awarded for participation at club events and places gained in YLBC competitions

40 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

ames Callion was welcomed as the Club’s new Honorary President at the YLBC AGM held at Carlisle in February 2017. James follows on from Kay Adam, of the noted Newhouse herd, who retired in February after a successful three year term. Before we introduce James as our new president, the Club would like to sincerely thank Kay for all she has done, supporting, mentoring and guiding the Club and the Young Breeders forward. We’ve have had a great three years with Kay and her bubbly presence will be missed! Our new main man, James Callion, runs the Melbreak herd in Co.Tyrone, with his wife Alison and his three sons, Thomas, Angus and Toby. His grandfather, former breed Chairman, Bill Callion, started the Lodge herd that is now run by Ian and Wendy Callion in Stirling, Scotland. This is where James’ passion for the breed began, having shown cattle at many of the major shows in the U.K and also being a steward at the Royal Show. James competed

James Callion YLBC President

at stockjudging from a young age and throughout Young Farmers alongside his brother, Stuart. James now works full time as a veterinary surgeon at his own clinic in Omagh and has a herd of nine breeding females, with the calves being aimed at the weaned calf sale at Red Ladies in Carlisle. We welcome James to the YLBC fold as our President from 2017 and look forward to getting him involved in all our events!

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YOUNG LIMOUSIN

STEPHANIE DICK REPORTS ON ‘SUCCESSFUL’ YEAR AT THE YLBC AGM

he February Limousin Bull Sales at Carlisle was a fitting venue for the YLBC team to host its AGM. The turn-out was once again great and it was clear to all that attended that the Club is growing, has an enthusiastic membership and is going from strength to strength. Stephanie Dick, YLBC Chairperson, gave a detailed report of the numerous events held throughout the year and commented: ‘I feel that the YLBC have had a tremendous year with a great deal of events being held successfully and a large amount of

fundraising being done also. I would like to thank all who have helped us along the way with organising, sponsoring, supporting us, and taking part. Hopefully we can have the same again this coming year and I look forward to helping develop the Club further in my second year as Chairperson.’ With Steph leading the Club, the rest of the committee were elected that evening and filling the other positions are Thomas Illingworth of the Glenrock and Eagleside herd as Vice Chairman. The Sponsorship Convenor role is taken

on by John Graham of the Burnbank herd. The Club then welcomed new YLBC Hon President James Callion and got on with organising the agenda of events for the year to come! Many great events are arranged for this year, so please have a look at the syllabus (left) and get involved in the events. The Anglo Irish Finals are sure to be a great event this year with a team from Holland being invited to join the competition, so in order to qualify get yourself along to the Yorkshire show National Stock judging!

Stephanie Dick

www.limousin.co.uk

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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YOUNG LIMOUSIN

LIMOUSIN TEAMS NOW ENTERED FOR THE 2017 NATIONAL YOUNG SHOW STARS

he National Young Show Stars competition is fast approaching and we have now entered two Limousin teams (as we look to defend the title won in 2016) for the event on 22nd and 23rd August at Malvern. It is great to see kids coming forward for this competition as it is very educational as well as exciting! Teams of three must look after two cattle for two days, the cattle must get clipped, dressed and shown with all aspects being judged! There is also judgement on team work and promotion of your breed, displayed on erected stands, that the teams must design themselves, along with a stock judging and reasons section, a team quiz and an interview! Plenty to keep teams busy whilst at the same time trying to win the outstanding prize of a trip to compete in Canada. The teams are looking for sponsors to help them fund some team clothing etc so if anyone is willing please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie Dick and she will very happily let you help with the teams. So we wish William Nichols, Emma Rathbone and Joseph Macklay in one team and Amy Lindsay, Iona Smith and Alan Lindsay in the other team all the success for their competition! Pictured here are the two teams from 2016 including the winning 'Limmy Lads'.

2017 NATIONAL YLBC STOCKJUDGING TO BE HELD AT THE GREAT YORKSHIRE

his year the National YLBC Stockjudging will be held at the Great Yorkshire Show on Wednesday 12th July at 3pm. It’s open to all Young Breeders so come along and have a go. If you would like more information then please contact Stephanie Dick or Natalie Cormack who’ll be happy to explain all! For those who haven’t competed before there will be three classes to judge with one set of reasons to be given to our master judge, Mr Dennis Gall. Don’t worry if you haven’t given reasons before. As at going to press a training day is due

42 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

to be held on 11th June at Jim Bloom’s Scorboro herd with some coaching on offer from Phil Hallhead and Stephanie Dick. The National Stock Judging is open to junior and senior individuals and regional teams of two. It is also an Anglo Irish Stockjudging qualifier so we hope to see all members and interested Young Breeders coming along, having fun and making new friends. Keep an eye on YLBC Facebook for all updates.

www.limousin.co.uk

YOUNG LIMOUSIN

2016 Anglo Irish Competitors

YLBC TO THE FORE AT CALLY MART!

C DUMFRIES SHOW SET TO HOST YLBC ANGLO IRISH STOCKJUDGING COMPETITION

lyde and Central Young Farmers calf rally was once again dominated by our enthusiastic Young Breeders members. After last year’s result of Stephanie Dick being Champion and John and James Graham being Reserve champion, the YLBC committee members once again took the top honours at the rally this year. The tables were turned however and Champion Calf was exhibited by John and James Graham, Burnbank Herd. ‘That’s My Girl’ the Limousin cross heifer was bought from Robert Currie in Oban in December. After being tapped out Champion, the boys sold her for £1700 to Fraser McNicoll. ‘Calamity Jane’ followed on in Reserve from Stephanie Dick. This Welsh bred Limousin cross heifer went on to sell for £1350 to some new Young Breeders members, William and David Moir. Top price calf on the day of £1800 went to another YLBC member Andrew Weir with another Limousin cross heifer. It is great to see our members having such an influence and promoting the breed, keep up the good work! Stephanie Dick's Reserve Champion, Calamity Jane

he annual Anglo-Irish Stockjudging competition will be held as part of the Scottish National Limousin Show at Dumfries Show on 5th August. The Republic of Ireland team is heading over for the event to defend its title won at last year’s terrific competition held with the ILC in Ireland. The YLBC have invited a Dutch team to compete this year to try to expand the competition, and we very much look forward to welcoming them in August. We are very pleased to announce that both Bruce Goldie (Goldies Herd) and Jonathan Watson (Tweeddale Herd) have agreed to judge this year’s competition. The qualifier for team entry for this is the 2017 YLBC National Stockjuding event at the Great Yorkshire Show (details above), so don’t be shy to get involved! Again, look out for details and updates on YLBC Facebook.

YLBC MEMBERS ‘SHADOW’ THE JUDGE AT CARLISLE BULL SALE

oung Breeders Kile Diamond (Pointhouse Herd, Co Derry) and Charlotte Alford (Foxhillfarm Herd) were given the opportunity to ‘shadow’ Douglas Graham, Mains of Burnbank, as he judged 19 classes of Limousin bulls and the Championships at Carlisle on Friday 5th May. This was a great opportunity to observe, first hand, the mechanics of efficiently judging such a large number of classes. The young members were able to ask Douglas questions in between classes and thank the exhibitors after each class. Wellknown stockman Neil Lloyd mentored the two while they were in the ring and provided explanation throughout. We have opportunities for shadowing the judge at Carlisle in October and next February, so please let us know if you would like to participate in what is an excellent opportunity.

www.limousin.co.uk

Kile Diamond & Charlotte Alford

BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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SHOWS | 2017 BALMORAL SHOW

Supreme Champion and Individual Interbreed Trueman Lute

INTERBREED CHAMPION

TRUEMAN LUTE CALLS THE TUNE WITH MULTI TITLE WIN AT 2017 BALMORAL SHOW • Trueman Limousin team dominates the breed section and overall interbreed titles • Trueman animals win seven interbreeds including Supreme Individual, Group of Three and Group of Five • Trueman Lute crowned as Individual Interbreed Champion • Derriaghy and Carrickaldreen also feature in the Championship prizes • Limousin sired cattle win Commercial Championship 44 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

he 2017 summer show ‘major’ season kicked off in memorable and remarkable style at Balmoral Show, held for the first time over four days between 10th – 13th May, with an unprecedented title winning hall by Henry Savage & Sons with their Trueman Limousin team from 70 Skerriff Road, Altnamackin, Newry, Co Down. From amidst some fine competition on a warm and sunny opening day the Trueman team emerged with thirteen out of fourteen possible Limousin Championships or Reserves. Over the following three days, and head to head with the best in show of other breeds, a further six Interbreed titles was added

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BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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SHOWS | 2017 BALMORAL SHOW

Trueman Mozart Reserve Overall & Male Champion

Trueman Melody Reserve Overall Female & Junior Female Champion

"It’s easy to see the quality of the Limousin breed in Northern Ireland…..I’d like to congratulate all the exhibitors.” Judge Michael Massie to the haul including the show’s blue riband Overall Supreme Individual Interbreed award. The prize winning haul is thought to be perhaps the most dominant show by one breeder, and one breed, at any of the modern day summer ‘majors’ including Balmoral, The Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh respectively. Five Trueman animals took the titles between them with Peter & Serena Murphy of Carrickaldreen winning the Junior Limousin Male Reserve

46 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

& Reserve Overall Male, and Derriaghy’s David Green having last year’s winner, Glenrock Inclusive, within the winning Interbreed Team of Five. The winning team of Trueman animals comprised of the heifers Trueman Lute, Melody, Madonna, and Minogue, along with the young bull Trueman Mozart. In front of Limousin judge Michael Massie of the noted Elrick herd, Mains Of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire it was the stylish September 2015 born

heifer Trueman Lute who came through a field of sixty-two Limousin entries to lift the Female Championship and Limousin Overall Supreme Championship. After three previous Overall Reserves this was the first time the Trueman herd had secured the breed Championship title. A twin to a heifer Trueman Lute is by the AI sire Haltcliffe Hitec, a Volcano son, who the Savages had seen and liked when being sold at Carlisle. She is out of Trueman Foxtrot, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter, who is described as one of the three foremost females in the eighteen cow herd. Come Friday, and the second day of the show, Trueman Lute strutted her stuff against her fellow breed champions before being given the highest accolade of Supreme Individual Interbreed Champion by the judge this time in the shape of the well-known Terry Coghill, Birsay, Orkney. Following the Limousin judging Michael Massie said of his Champion: “This was just a super heifer. She’s very correct with a leg in each corner, she has a great top on her, a full body, and a lovely Limousin head. There’s so much potential there and I’m sure that she’ll make a great cow.” Of the Limousin show generally Michael Massie went on to say: “It was a very good show of cattle featuring some great class winners. It’s easy to see the quality of the Limousin breed in Northern Ireland. The stockmanship across the board was fantastic and I’d like to congratulate all the exhibitors.” The show marked another landmark achievement for the Savage team of Henry Snr, Henry Jnr, Phelim, Benedict and Dermot. In recent years Team Savage has sold the heifer Trueman Duet for 38,000gns, won the 2011 National Limousin Show with Trueman Euphonium, and in 2015 lit up the pedigree sector when selling the world record priced bull Trueman Jagger for £147,000! Commenting Henry Snr said: “Each of these achievements has been fantastic in its own right but to win your home show and have such success in the Interbreeds and against the quality of cattle here is really something as special as it was unexpected.” Of the herd’s breeding philosophy Henry Snr went on to say: “Our simple aim is to concentrate on the three or four best cows in the herd to produce the highest quality calves that we can. In recent years those cows have been Trueman Euphonium, Indie, and Foxtrot. We’re still a small herd but moving forward we are looking to increase in size but keep the emphasis on quality.” Breeding of the influential Wilodge Vantastic was also

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Carrickaldreen Maverick Reserve Male Overall & Reserve Junior Male Champion

Brookmill Klunk

evident through the team and featuring as a grandparent in all bar one of the Trueman cattle. For the record Trueman Lute won: Limousin Female Champion; Limousin Supreme Overall Champion; Individual Interbreed Supreme Champion; M&S Signet Beef Interbreed Heifer Champion; was part of Champion Limousin Pairs; Champion Limousin Group of Three; Champion Interbreed Team of Five; and Interbreed Reserve Pairs. Asked what the future of Trueman Lute holds, Henry Snr said: “She’ll be going home with the team and back to the grass on Sunday”! A similarly impressive haul was achieved by the young bull Trueman Mozart who lifted the Limousin Male Championship; Reserve Limousin Supreme Overall; Junior Male Champion; Overall Limousin Junior Champion; Limousin Pairs and Group of Three; Overall Junior Interbreed Champion; M&S Signet Beef Interbreed Bull Champion; featured in the winning Interbreed Groups of Three and Five; and Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs. The May 2016 born Trueman Mozart is an embryo calf and is the first bull, and the first to be shown, by the aforementioned Trueman Jagger. He is out of Trueman Honey who is herself a past Overall Reserve Supreme at Balmoral Show. Aimed at the October Bull Sale in Carlisle, Trueman Mozart weighed in at 682kgs. Trueman Mozart picked up the prestigious Junior Overall Interbreed title again in front of Terry Coghill. Nipping in to lift the Reserve Junior Limousin Male & Reserve Male Overall title was the smart June 2016 born Carrickaldreen Maverick from Peter & Serena Murphy, Mullaghbawn, Newry,

Champion Interbreed Group of 3 Trueman Mozart, Lute & Madonna

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BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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SHOWS | 2017 BALMORAL SHOW

Champion Interbreed team of 5 Trueman Mozart, Lute, Madonna, Minogue & Glenrock Inclusive

"the most dominant show by one breeder, and one breed, at any of the modern day summer ‘majors’" Co Armagh. Another with a Savage connection, this young bull is by the 12,000gns Trueman Jukebox and is out of Sarkley Francesca, a Haltcliffe Ullswater daughter. Francesca was herself purchased for the Carrickaldreen herd for 5000gns at the Sarkley herd’s production sale. Moving forward, and keen on the mating, Peter Murphy aims to flush Francesca to Trueman Jukebox. Carrickaldreen Maverick is himself another bull being aimed at the Carlisle October 2017 sale. No stranger to show awards the presently ten breeding female Carrickaldreen herd has previously placed Junior Champion and Junior Heifer Champion at Balmoral whilst picking up major awards at the All Ireland Limousin Derby and Northern Ireland Limousin Championships respectively. Trueman Melody sired by Ampertaine Abracadabra and out of Trueman Indie picked up the Reserve Overall Female Championship and was also Junior Female Champion and Reserve Overall Junior. Melody is an April 2016 born maiden heifer calf who picked up the first red ticket of the day. Taking first prize in the second class and lifting the Reserve Female Championship was Trueman Madonna. An embryo calf Madonna is by Ampertaine Elgin and is out of the 2011 National Limousin Show Champion Trueman Euphonium. This January 2016 born calf also featured in the winning Interbreed Groups of Three and Five as well as the winning Limousin Group of Three. Last year’s Limousin Supreme Champion at Balmoral was Glenrock Inclusive from close local breeders Messrs DG Green & Son, Derriaghy Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim. Originally bred by Stephen Illingworth, Lockerbie, the November 2013 born

48 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

heifer was back in the 2017 prizes when she featured in the winning Interbreed Group of Five along with her January 2017 born heifer calf Derriaghy Noodles sired by Wilodge Tonka. Glenrock Inclusive was originally purchased by the Greens for 14,000gns at the Glenrock Herd sale held in Carlisle in August 2014. She is by the Nenuphar son Bremore Artist and is another embryo calf out of the renowned Glenrock Spangle. The Interbreed Team of Five, a new competition within the four day format, was judged by Martin Ryan. The winning Limousin Team comprised of Glenrock Inclusive, Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute, Trueman Madonna, and Trueman Minogue. Three of those five also combined to win the Interbreed Group of Three, in front of the judge Albert De Cogan, in the form of Trueman Mozart, Trueman Lute, and Trueman Madonna. The same judge oversaw the Interbreed Pairs where the Limousin Team of Trueman Mozart and Trueman Lute picked up the Reserve Championship. In the keenly contested Commercial Beef Championships on the Thursday morning it was another Championship for Limousin sired cattle before the judge Drew Hyslop, Boquhan Home Farm, Kippen, Stirling. The February 2016 born heifer Valentine, from K & S Williamson, Benburb, Co Tyrone won the Medallion Plaque for Best Commercial Beef Heifer, Junior Commercial Beef Champion, Supreme Champion Commercial Beef animal and Best Commercial Animal Bred by Exhibitor. By Elite Forever Brill, this heifer is a full sister to Donald MacPherson and Jock Currie’s Scottish Winter Fair 2015 winner Price Tag which was bred by the Williamsons.

Glenrock Inclusive

Trueman Madonna

Supreme Commercial Champion, Valentine from K & S Williamson

Cowporation Macferide

Slieve Leonardo

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MAKING BVD HISTORY EXPERIENCE THE LIVE VACCINE DIFFERENCE

Now that we’re moving from BVD control to eradication, and with BVD estimated to cost £40 per cow per year1,2, you’ll want a vaccine that is proven to deliver a full 12 months’ prevention of foetal infection after a single injection. Not only protecting against both types of BVD, but also proven to stimulate both antibody and cellular immunity3. Ask your vet for more information.

Dual protection made simple References: 1. Stott et al (2010) Vet J 185: 138–143 2. Stott et al (2012) IVJ 65:12 3. Roth (2016) WBC Dublin Proceedings *Proven to prevent the birth of PI calves caused by transplacental infection by BVDV for 12 months when Bovela has been used as recommended in the product label (SPC). Advice on the use of Bovela or other therapies should be sought from your veterinary surgeon. Bovela lyophilisate and solvent for suspension for injection for cattle contains modifi ed live BVDV-1, non-cytopathic parent strain KE-9: 104.0 –106.0 TCID50, Modifi ed live BVDV-2, non-cytopathic parent strain NY-93: 104.0 –106.0 TCID50. UK: POM-V. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Limited, Vetmedica, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1344 746959 (sales) or +44 (0)1344 746957 (technical). Email: vetmedica.uk@boehringer-ingelheim.com. Date of preparation: Jan 2017. AHD9692. Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible).

FEATURE

PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY OF LIMOUSIN CATTLE CENTRAL TO SCOTT & SCOTT (AYSTON) SUCKLER HERD Guest writer James Hazard reports on the central role of Limousin genetics in the 150 cow suckler herd of Robert and Sue Scott, Ayston, Rutland.

n the heart of the country’s smallest county of Rutland, and set in the most beautiful rolling countryside, lies a very well organised and driven farming family owned by Robert and Sue Scott, trading as Scott & Scott (Ayston) Ltd. The farm is situated in the idyllic village of Ayston, one mile away from the market town of Uppingham. The farm has been in

50 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

the family since 1913, originally run by Roberts’s grandfather who was a true stockman and grazier. It was then progressed and expanded by Roberts’s father into a mixed farm and now with Robert and wife Sue at the helm it totals some 1100 acres with 150 mainly Limousin sired suckler cows. Both Robert and Sue are very busy with all farming activities as you can imagine but Sue also runs a bed and breakfast and a small

livery yard for horses. Day to day activities are undertaken by Robert and Sue who partake in every aspect of the business. Their son-in-law Ed Bell runs the majority of the arable operation but also aids feeding during the winter months when the cattle are housed. This year the family have taken an apprentice under their wing and there is no doubt that Harry will be very well looked after and will

www.limousin.co.uk

FEATURE

“They seemed to be the quality commercial cattle that the market wanted, Limousins just ticked all the boxes.”

learn very valuable lessons working for this progressive farming operation. The farm is split over two sites totalling 1100 acres. Of this 400 acres is down as grass with the remainder drilled with cereals. Wheat is grown aiming to produce high end bread and biscuit quality grain, spring barley, beans, oil seed rape and spring oats. The grassland is not of the highest quality and is dotted all around the farm where arable production is not suitable. Therefore groups of cows and calves are stocked quite thin to clear up the large areas of rough pasture. The suckler herd started some 35 years ago for two main reasons, firstly to clear up the rough pasture but also to get away from health issues they found rearing calves. Limousins were soon selected as the breed to use as, “they seemed to be the quality commercial cattle that the market wanted, Limousins just ticked all the boxes.” Viewing a number of fatstock shows in the local area, the late Mr Geoff Watchorn of the Loodal

www.limousin.co.uk

Tomschoice Milord

herd was in winning ways more often than not with his Limousin cattle. “Geoff was very helpful to us and we subsequently bought our first two Limousin bulls from the Loodal herd,” commented Sue.

The impressive suckler herd now totals 150 spring calving suckler cows, which are mated with six Limousin bulls and one British Blue bull. The herd has been closed for 20 years, only buying in bulls from herds

that have a high health status. Around nine years ago the veterinary practise approached Robert and Sue to carry out an XL veterinary group project as they had funding to carry out testing for the four main health

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FEATURE diseases, namely Johnes, BVD, IBR, Lepto. “We were fortunate that we were clean of Lepto and IBR at the very beginning. This was a good base for us to quickly take aim at being clear of everything and we saw the benefits in doing so.” The herd today is monitored and proud to be BVD clear and Johnes monitored clear, with all stock bulls tested annually for Johnes disease before turnout. “Health is paramount to us, health, fertility and productivity is what we strive for.” Therefore Robert and Sue like to select from high health herds and buy bulls privately, selecting on ease of calving, conformation and temperament. Two bulls from the recently dispersed Millington herd have left their stamp on the herd, firstly Millington General, sired by Objat and out of the French dam Noce, who is a full sister to the noted Mas Du Clo. With quality bloodlines and good figures sporting an impressive Beef Value of LM48, he is leaving very smart offspring finishing very well. The other sire is Millington Donut, who is sired by Mas Du Clo and out

of the Broadmeadows Cannon sired brood cow Ronick Nestle. Again this bull has been a great acquisition to the herd and has really left his stamp. A real powerhouse of a bull in the field, Lowgate Grant from the high health herd of Ian and Jenna Brown in Lincolnshire, is leaving powerful females with length and top. Grant is sired by the Fieldson Alfy son Threaphurst Dynamo and is out of Lowgate Rosie, a Goldies Oswald daughter. There is also Fieldson Icandy, sired by the Objat son Sarkley Cossack and out of the Goldies Uppercrust dam Fieldson Candy, from the noted herd of the Fieldson family who are also from Lincolnshire. This bull has proven to be short

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gestation and easy calving, and is leaving calves with shape and style. Two further Limousin bulls came from the Cambridgeshire based Greensons herd of Guy Green. Both Greensons Jarrah and Greensons Larkin are sired by the short gestation, easy calving sire Greensons Howlett. Firstly is Greensons Jarrah, who is sporting a fantastic set of EBV’s for not only calving but for growth rates and maternal qualities also. He is out of the Wilodge Cerberus sired dam Whinfellpark Fable and is proving a big hit for the herd, “He has been very easy calving and left some good calves in his first year and therefore we have put him in with the heifers,” commented Robert.

The second bull, Greensons Larkin, is out of the Greensons Ural sired dam Greensons Amour. He too has tremendous EBV’s with an overall Beef Value of LM51 and Robert and Sue watch keenly the development of his progeny in his first year. Semen from the sire of both bulls Greensons Howlett can be purchased on the Semenstore website. Most recently the Scotts have acquired the young bull Tomschoice Milord, sired by the popular easy calving sire Kaprico Eravelle, from the Yorkshire base herd of James Cooper. Milord is out of Tomschoice Governess who is sired by Homebyres Drummie. Again a young bull with very good gestation and calving

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FEATURE figures Tomschoice Milord also has very good growth rates. A jump of semen was taken by James Cooper prior to departure and is another marketed via the Semenstore website. The farm had produced for a number of years produced store cattle, selling stores at Newark Livestock market at the April ‘Limousin Day’ sale, where the cattle met a flying trade on many occasions and selling to many repeat customers. However, a slight change has seen a move recently to finishing all the offspring as the farm produces the grain that allows this. “It also gives us a wealth of information on the bulls progeny but also which cow families are producing the

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growth rates and quality we are trying to achieve,” added Robert. The cows are wintered inside on a limited grass silage ration along with ad lib straw prior to calving. As soon as cows start calving down, they are given ad lib grass silage before being turned out from the end of March onwards as calves are born, weather permitting. First calved heifers are given a little bit of home mix ration to aid them a little after calving. During the summer months calves are offered creep feed to aid growth rates and when the grassland starts to burn up into August. The creep is introduced starting with home grown whole oats in August and then moved onto the home grown

mix ration. This ration is made up of a mixture of the home produced cereals, barley, beans, and oats along with a little 38% liquid protein molasses to act as a dust buster but also to bump up the protein level in the ration. “Where we can, we make full use of the cereals we grow on the farm.” Calves are then weaned around the end of October, the cows are kept inside to dry off after weaning before being pregnancy scanned, before being turned out to grass again therafter. Depending on the season cows are then left out running thinly over the acres for as long as possible with the aim to keep them out until the first week of December.

Now that Robert and Sue have taken the decision to finish all the offspring, I was shown around the yards of finishing cattle and saw a tremendous run of cattle with pen after pen of quality throughout. Finishing cattle are fed in bunkers with around 6-7kg / head / day of home grown cereals, 1kg of the 38% protein molasses and around 7-8kg of grass silage. “Keeping the ration simple with quality home produced feed makes it simple and cost effective,” said Robert. In conclusion Sue said that the aim of the business is, “to produce the ultimate butchers’ animal in a cost effective manner.” Limousin genetics are the important and central part of meeting that objective. Many thanks to both Robert and Sue for showing me around their herd which is an absolute credit to their selection and efforts over the years. I have no doubt they are producing exactly what the market is requiring with a very watchful eye on cost.

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FEATURE

FLEXIBLE, LOW MAINTENANCE

LIMOUSINS DOING THE BUSINESS AT WHITE HOUSE FARM, NORFOLK One Norfolk beef producerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to change breeding policy and use Limousin bulls on his commercial sucker herd is showing benefits right along the supply chain. Here we feature Peter Gardinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move to using Limousin bulls at White House Farm, Catfield, Norfolk.

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well-finished animal and absolute flexibility when it comes to marketing are two headline benefits identified by Peter Gardiner since he made the move to Limousin sires.

Having previously not been satisfied with the levels of growth and finish on his calves, he decided to completely overhaul his breeding policy and use Limousin sires on his crossbred simmental cows to breed an animal that he knew would be attractive to buyers of his animals in the store market. The ability to source a wide selection of quality bulls in all price brackets also appealed.

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FEATURE Now four years into the breeding strategy and the improvements in cattle quality are clear to see in the sheds at White House Farm, Catfield, Norfolk. Peter comments: “Since using Limousin sires we’ve got better growth, better carcass conformation, no change in temperament and it’s easier to get the finish and fat covering on them, especially heifers. We’re definitely producing a more shapely calf. You see the shape appearing in the calf a lot earlier on.”

The Limousin blood also creates flexibility in marketing as both parties know calves would command good interest at live market and castrated males would still produce a quality carcass. Peter is also taking advantage of the Limousin heifers’ ability to do well off forage as a means of staggering when animals are ready to move onto the finishing unit. This helps cash flow, reduces his costs and means heifers are ready when Roger has space in his shed

Roger Balls, beef finisher: “Limousin calves reduce my costs and increase my throughput considerably” This improved growth has also been noted by local finisher, Roger Balls. Roger purchases Peter’s bull calves at 8-10 months of age weighing around 420kg and heifers at 11-12 months old at around 400kg. He then takes them through to finish, with carcasses generally grading R and U and bulls averaging 380-420kg DW. He says Peter’s change in breeding policy has resulted in better carcass quality and means he is able to produce “a good butcher’s animal” to meet buyer requirements. He adds: “The Limousin calves reduce my costs and

when his own sucklers go out to grass. Peter’s 140-cow suckler herd calves from mid-February to April, with cows and calves heading out to marshland on the Norfolk Broads around the end of April. Bulls and heifer calves are split at grass and receive creep at the end of the summer. White House Farm includes 400 acres of predominately arable land with Peter also contract farming an additional 1,600 acres. The herd runs over 250 acres of grassland including owned and rented blocks. The low maintenance requirements of Limousin

“Absolute flexibility when it comes to marketing” increase my throughput considerably.” In the early days of introducing the Limousin, Peter used to finish cattle himself and weigh regularly. He recorded average growth rates of 1.8kg/day from weaning to finishing with some peaking at 2kg/day and believes cattle are still likely to be achieving similar performance.

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calves, particularly at calving, means it fits easily with the other farm enterprises. Bull calves are housed at weaning in October/November and receive straw and the same ad lib, cereal-based 16% protein pellet they were given whilst at grass. The first bulls will then move to Roger’s finishing unit in groups around Christmas. At weaning, heifers move

onto a grass silage ration with some wheat distillers and minerals and remain on this throughout the winter. They then head to Roger’s from the end of April to May. The fact heifers also have the ability to finish quicker also creates added options. Peter explains: “If I store them and then suddenly decide to finish them hard and fast I can do and they’ll respond to it.” Growth rate EBVs are some of the main criteria Peter looks at when choosing Limousin stock bulls - along with calving ease. All of his bulls are sourced from Ben and Eric Cole’s high health status Blacksands herd at Winfarthing, Norfolk. Every year Peter carefully constructs a crib sheet including his current stock bulls and bulls he’s interested in buying and ranks animals according to his preferred EBVs. This means he has an idea of which bulls he’ll be interested in before

selection day. “Figures aren’t all I look for in a new bull but they are a very good guide as to what you’re getting,” explains Peter. Body weight and calving ease are his top two criteria, followed by 200 day and 400 day growth and Beef Value. Docility and 200 day milk are also considered. “200 day growth is important for me as I want to get them as big as I can in 200 days. But I keep an eye out for 400 day as I want Roger to be a repeat customer,” explains Peter. He recognises that growth figures can compromise calving ease and vice versa so he opts for a good balance across the five Limousin stock bulls he keeps on farm (see table). With Peter doing much of the beef work single-handedly and the arable side of the business taking up much of his time, calving ease is

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FEATURE of particular importance especially when breeding from heifers. “I need a cow to calve on its own, unassisted and the calf to get up and feed. I don’t want to be pulling every calf…The aim is to produce a reasonable sized calf which is born quickly and up on its feet feeding in minutes and then away and growing fast. That’s what I’m getting with the Lims,” he says.

All Blacksands bulls are semen tested and guaranteed for a season, with Peter investing about £3,000-£4,000 per bull. Peter adds: “I knew Ben had good bulls with good pedigree and breeding and bulls on paper with sensible figures. He’s quite progressive. He buys in good blood and uses a bit of AI and some French blood. I’d describe the bulls as good, honest, commercial bulls,” he

Peter Gardiner: “I need a cow to calve on its own, unassisted and the calf to get up and feed.” Peter says buying from one known source, with high health status and good breeding figures also appeals.

explains. When assessing bulls by eye, Peter then looks for a good stretch of loin and a square

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back-end with meat down the legs as far as possible. Locomotion is also ranked highly as bulls have to serve cows on the marshland. Peter concludes: “It’s

definitely worth investing in the right bulls by doing a bit of research prior to or at the time of purchase. It’s worth spending money on good commercial type bulls.”

THE BLACKSANDS HERD The Blacksands herd of 35 pedigree Limousin females was established in 2004 by ex-dairy farmers Ben and Eric Cole from Banham Hall, Norwich, Norfolk. “We aim to produce good quality, long lasting bulls for a local market. We have seen an increase in demand for Limousin bulls in East Anglia and we now don’t have to advertise,” says Ben, who aims to sell about 10 breeding males a year, the majority of which are now through repeat business. When sourcing sires themselves, the Coles look for good muscle conformation, good legs and feet, longevity and maternal traits. They aim to use bulls with EBVs in the top 1% for 200 day and 400 day growth.

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Sales 01 STIRLING FEBRUARY 2017

06 NEWARK APRIL 2017

02 DUNGANNON FEBRUARY 2017

07 BALLYMENA MAY 2017

03 CARLISLE FEBRUARY 2017

08 STIRLING MAY 2017

04 ABERDEEN FEBRUARY 2017

09 CARLISLE MAY 2017

04 05 BRECON MARCH 2017

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10 BRECON MAY 2017

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STIRLING

FEB

2017

SUPREME CHAMPION GOLDIES LORDOFTHERINGS MAKES THE TOP PRICE OF 12,000GNS AT STIRLING • 62 bulls average £5102, up by £501 • 91% clearance of the 68 bulls forward • Six more bulls sold on the year • 30 bulls make 5000gns or more

strong demand from commercial producers highlighted the sale of Limousin bulls held at United Auctions Stirling Market on Monday 6th February. Averages were well up on the year by over £500 to £5102 for the 62 bulls sold. Six more bulls were sold on the year with the sixty two of the sixty eight bulls forward selling representing a clearance rate of 91%, one of the highest figures in recent years at Stirling. Two bulls made over five figures with 30 in all selling at 5000gns and more. Leading the way, and making the top price of 12,000gns, was Goldies Lordoftherings from the prolific Goldies herd of Bruce Goldie, Townfoot Farm, Mouswald, Dumfries. This June 2015 born bull had earlier in the day secured the Overall Supreme and Intermediate Championships in the pre-sale show in front of the judge Jonathan Watson

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Goldies Lordoftherings 12,000gns

from the noted Tweeddale Herd at Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed. An embryo calf Goldies Lordoftherings is entirely homebred being sired by Goldies Fantastic, a Wilodge Vantastic son, and out of Goldies Dove. A pedigree packed with performance Goldies Dove has previously bred bulls to 9000gns whilst Goldies Fantastic had sired the top price at the Stirling May 2016 Sale of Limousin bulls.

Judge Jonathan Watson

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Sales

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STIRLING | FEBRUARY 2017

Purchasing the top price for his 65 cow pedigree Dyke herd was JR MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. Commenting Donald MacGregor said: “This was just the stand out bull on the day. He has power, width, plenty of volume and backs this up with a great pedigree and strong performance figures.” These comments were very much endorsed by the show judge Jonathan Watson who said: “The Champion is a terrific bull all round. He has a lot of presence and style, carries himself well and just flows. He’s very clean, has a great top, had great width in the plates and is full of meat coming right down into the hock. Having all the attributes of a breeder’s bull he could very much do both jobs, pedigree and commercial, with the muscle, style and length that he has.” With a terrific track record behind them, the Goldies herd arrived at Stirling having had the top Limousin herd average at the preceding four sales at the venue. The 12,000gns for Goldies Lordoftherings represented a remarkable third consecutive sale top price, and four out of the last five, for the herd at Stirling Limousin sales. In another strong day of trading the Goldies offering saw seven bulls in all sell too average £5535. Included within this at 5000gns was the Reserve Junior Champion Goldies Black Lee. This July 2015 born polled bull is by Haltcliffe Doctor and is out of Goldies Toronto who has previously bred bulls to 12,000gns. Purchasing Goldies Black Lee was J&J Wyllie, Crossford, Dunfermline. Confirming a ready demand for some quality black Limousin bulls on offer was the ‘highlight’ trade achieved by the family partnership of Mary Fotheringham along with Robert and Hazel MacNee, (Westhall) Overfinlarg Farm, Tealing, Dundee. Leading the way for them was their Reserve Senior Champion Westhall Black Landman who made the sale’s second top price of 11,000gns. The sire of this April 2015 born bull, and his first calves offered at sale, is Newhouse Hartley who was purchased at Stirling in 2014 for 12,000gns from Bob and Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis Forfar. Landman is out of the Westhall Fothers sired dam Westhall Hlame. Liking this bull for ‘his size and correctness’ was the purchaser in the shape of the noted commercial herd of Wester Kinloch Farm, By Blairgowrie, Perth. A herd with a long history in Limousin breeding, Westhall have secured previous Limousin Supreme Championships at the world famous Perth Bull Sales. The Reserve Senior Championship is their highest award at the new Stirling venue. At the business end, the sale of three bulls

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Westhall Black Landman 11,000gns

Strawfrank Leroy 8,000gns

Westhall Black Lance 8,000gns

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Sales Spittalton Lancer 7,200gns

Haltcliffe Limoges 7,200gns

Homebyres Landmark 7,200gns

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on the day to gross £27,090 was also the herd’s best sale performance to date. Selling at 8000gns was Westhall Black Lance who had stood second in his class to the Senior Champion. Again April 2015 born, Lance is by the homebred (and aforementioned) Westhall Fothers and is out of the Tamarvalley Boscastle sired Westhall Fame. Again going to a local and noted commercial herd, Westhall Black Lance was purchased by J&J Pattullo, Sandyford, Kirriemuir, Angus. From the same class, Westhall Black Lordofthedance made 6800gns when selling to the Fife based commercial herd of Balcaskie Farms, Lochty Farm, Anstruther. March 2015 born this bull is another by Newhouse Hartley and is out of Westhall Gogogirl. Speaking afterwards Robert and Hazel MacNee said: “We have always been strong supporters of the sales at Stirling and those held by United Auctions and we’re really delighted with the trade we’ve had today. The bulls have gone to some top and local commercial herds and we feel there has always been a bit of a liking for black by many Scottish commercial men to both breed females and to produce calves.” The Westhall herd comprises of both black and red cows but with it being noted that most contain an element of black Limousin genetics. Also selling at the sale’s joint third top price of 8000gns was the first bull in the ring, the Senior Champion Strawfrank Leroy from Allan Campbell, Strawfrank Farm, Carstairs Junction, Lanark. March 2015 born this upstanding bull had previously stood as Junior and Male Champion at the 2016 Scottish Limousin Grand Prix. Got by AI Strawfrank Leroy is by Vagabond, a bull that has been used in the herd by Allan Campbell after he liked the calves by him from some cows he had purchased in-calf from the Greenwell Herd of the Nattress family. Leroy is out of Gunnerfleet Fassuna who was purchased as a heifer from the herd of Ian Handley at a breeders’ sale at Carlisle. Purchasing the Senior Champion was J Walker & Sons, Sauchenbush, Echt, Aberdeenshire. Three bulls made 7200gns. The first of these was Homebyres Landmark from Messrs J Logan, Homebyres, Kelso, Roxs. From the first class of the day this April 2015 born calf was got by the noted AI sire Swarland Eddie and is out of the Homebyres Vanhee daughter Homebyres Hallmark. This bull was bought in a two-way split by Low Middleton Livestock, Low Middleton Farm, Belford, Northumberland, and J MacGregor, East Loanend Farm, Horncliffe, Berwick on Tweed. From the same home and selling at 6800gns was the entirely homebred Homebyres Lawman. This time from the

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STIRLING | FEBRUARY 2017

Dyke Laird 6,500gns

Maraiscote Lionel 6,500gns Goldies Black Lee 5,000gns

second class this April 2015 born bull is by the noted Homebyres Vanhee and is out of the Homebyres Arnott sired Homebyres Echinacea. Off to the islands, Homebyres Lawman was bought by N&M McLellan, Kilchiaran Farm, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll. The Homebyres herd sold further bulls on the day to 5500gns, and 4000gns respectively giving them a gross of £24,675 and an average of £6169. The second bull at 7200gns was Spittalton Lancer from the local herd of breeder Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond. May 2015 born, Spittalton Lancer is by the Objat son Dinmore Hitman, who has previously bred bulls at the same mark at Stirling, and is out of the Hargill Blaze daughter Spittalton Edwina. Moving to the North of England this bull was purchased by GH Walton & Sons, Greyside Farm, Hexham, Northumberland. In all the Spittalton herd sold eight out of eight bulls on the day to gross £38,535. Amongst their other featured prices was the 5800gns paid by A McAllister, Blairmore, Balfron, Glasgow, for the Netherhall Gallant son Spittalton Lendal. Completing the bulls at 7200gns, and selling late in the catalogue, was Haltcliffe Limoges from Haltcliffe, Hesket-NewMarket, Wigton. A polled bull, Haltcliffe Limoges is by the German bred sire Tigris and is out the dam Holy who was bred in the noted Rochard herd in France. Buying this August 2015 born bull, which had placed fifth in his class, was R

Simpson & Son, Mains of Creuchies, Alyth, Perthshire. Recouping some of their outlay for the Champion bull, Messrs JR MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow, made 6500gns when selling Dyke Laird. This April 2015 bull had stood as second prize in the second class of the day. By Netherhall Gilbert he is out of the Haltcliffe President sired Dyke Amazon. Dyke Laird was bought by the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Knocknagael Farm, Essick Road, Inverness and was one of six purchases made by the Bull Stud through the sale. Included within the Bull Stud’s purchases, and another at the 6500gns mark, was Maraiscote Lionel the second prize bull in the fourth class from Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw. Lionel is sired by the Irish bred bull Macschoice Chris, a Rocky son, and is out of the Normande Urquhart daughter Maraiscote Fuzzy. Bulls from the senior section made almost a total clearance and featuring within this was Aultside Luckystrike from Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith, who made 6200gns. A fifth prize winner in the second class this April 2015 born bull is an embryo calf, and one of the first sons to be offered, by the 55,000gns Aultside Hulk who Garry Patterson sold in May 2014 at Carlisle. Out of Clarkton Evelyn, Aultside Luckystrike was purchased by Messrs MacNeill, Tiraghoil, Isle of Mull, Argyll.

Champion & Reserve Stirling Feb 17

AVERAGES: 62 Bulls (+6) Auctioneers:

62 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

£5,102 (+£501) United Auctions

www.limousin.co.uk

LIMOUSIN-SIRED CALVES REQUIRED Limousin or Limousin-cross steer calves required for the Beef Feed Efficiency Programme; an initiative aiming to produce Estimated Breeding Values for traits associated with Feed Efficiency. Ideally calves will be • Dairy or suckler-bred steer calves • In groups of 8-16 head by the same registered (or previously registered) Limousin bull or Limousin AI sire. The bull must be known but need not be identified on the passport. • be aged from 2 weeks up to approximately 7 months old Market prices will be paid for any selected cattle or calves can be provided on a retained ownership arrangement. For more information please contact Natalie Cormack, Project Manager on 07866 934563, natalie. cormack@ahdb.org.uk or Alison Glasgow, Limousin Society on 07885 255621, alison@limousin.co.uk

The programme is funded by DEFRA and AHDB http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/research/geneticselection/genetic-selection-beef/beef-feed-efficiency/

HALTCLIFFE LIMOUSIN

Semen available from several top sires

Haltcliffe Hitec Sire: Volcano; Dam: H. Elle Sired Overall Limousin and Interbreed Champion at Balmoral Show 2017

SEMEN FOR SALE Bulls For Sale NEW: Dinmore Jacot Semen Available SEMEN ALSO AVAILABLE FROM: Ballyrobin Joop, Ampertaine Elgin, Haltcliffe Gentry, Loosebeare Fantastic, Haltcliffe Dancer, Haltcliffe Gunner and Umpire

We have a number of quality young Bulls for sale privately - aged from 16 – 24 months, and ready to work.

Contact Craig for Enquiries

Bulls and females always available for sale privately, visitors are always welcome Phone Craig on: (0044) 016974 78619 Email: craig.ridley@btconnect.com

www.haltcliffe-limousin.co.uk www.limousin.co.uk

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DUNGANNON | FEBRUARY 2017

FEB 2017

DUNGANNON Drumgarner Luke 5,000gns

DRUMAGARNER LUKE TAKES OVERALL SUPREME CHAMPION AND 5000GNS TOP PRICE AT DUNGANNON LIMOUSIN SALE • 100% clearance of bulls forward • Fifteen bulls average £2987 (up by £285) 64 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

www.limousin.co.uk

Sales Lynderg Lancaster 3,600gns

Balyhone Leon 3,500gns

Slieve Lord 3,200gns

here was a solid demand for Limousin bulls from commercial producers at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s bull and female show and sale held at Dungannon Mart on Monday 13 February 2017. A 100% clearance rate was achieved of the fifteen bulls presented for sale and the average of £2987 was up £285 on the corresponding sale last year. Leading the way and taking top price of 5000gns, was Drumagarner Luke, owned and exhibited by Barney O’Kane & Son. This August 2015 born bull, originally bred by E McCloskey, Kilrea, Coleraine, also secured top spot in the pre-sale show. Drumagarner Luke lifted the Intermediate Male Champion, Overall Male Champion and Overall Supreme Champion prizes under the watchful eye of the judge George Conway, Plumbridge, Omagh. Commenting the judge said; “Drumagarner Luke was the stand out bull today with good muscle, length and style.” Sired by Ampertaine Gigolo, the sire of the world record priced Trueman Jagger, and out of the homebred Drumagarner Begley, Drumagarner Luke now heads to new owner Peter Gormley, Carrickmore, Co Tyrone. The next highest price at 3600gns went to the Senior Male Champion Lynderg Lancaster a homebred bull by N.I. Limousin Club President Jim Quail, Banbridge. This May 2015 born bull is sired by the noted Lynderg Hero and is out of homebred dam Lynderg Ethel. A first prize winner in his class this bull now heads to new owner Daniel Harrison, Annalong, Co Down.

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A Loosebeare Fantastic son Ballyhone Leon realised 3500gns for breeder Brian Hall, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. He was placed first in his class and boasts a beef value of LIM+39 which puts him in the top 10% of the breed. The purchaser was Jim Hayes, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Meanwhile judge George Conway awarded the Reserve Overall Supreme Champion to Slieve Lord, a homebred bull by father and son John & Shane McGeehan, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone. His sire Slieve Intostyle has Ampertaine Commander and Elite Bearl in his pedigree. Slieve Lord made 3200 gns on the day and was bought by Martin Meehan, Portaferry, Co Down. Females presented at the show and sale were young in age and the top price at 1700 gns went to Quinliz Lorna bred by Roger Quinn, Swatragh, Co Derry. This June 2015 daughter won Female Champion in the show and is sired by Ampertaine Foreman. Purchaser of this heifer was Derek Campbell, Magherafelt. Reserve Female Champion title was won by Killydun Lara bred by Quinn Brothers, Kilrea, Co Derry. This May 2015 heifer is a Mas Du Clo daughter. More results and prices: Junior Male Champion was won by Carmorn Lionking a homebred bull by C & F McAuley, Toomebridge, Co Antrim. An October 2015 Goldies Hallmark son he sold for 2800 gns and was purchased by A J Browne & Sons, Claudy. Reserve Junior Male was another win for C & F McAuley. A November 2015 bull

Carmorn Lionking 2,800gns

he is sired by the homebred Carmorn Cantona and out of Carmorn Bethany. He sold on the day for 2600 gns and was purchased by Emmett Gildernew, Dungnannon. Reserve Intermediate Champion was Culnagechan Lamborghini bred by Derek Hume, Randalstown, Co Antrim. A July 2015 Ronick Hawk son and out of the dam Carmorn Velvet. Her last 4 bulls have averaged 10,000gns and included a Senior Champion and Intermediate Champion at Carlisle bull sales and an Overall Champion at Ballymena. Culnagechan Lamborghini sold for 2900gns and was bought by James Savage, Portaferry. The N.I. Limousin Cattle Club would like to thank auctioneer Dungannon Mart, judge George Conway and sponsors of this event Norbrook Ltd for their continued support.

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CARLISLE | FEBRUARY 2017

Limousin Judge Rob Kirton

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www.limousin.co.uk

Sales

CARLISLE

FEB

2017

30,000GNS SWALESMOOR LIAM LEADS BIG DEMAND FOR LIMOUSIN BULLS AT CARLISLE • 114 bulls average £6668 up by £1058 on the year • 91% clearance as 114 of the 125 bulls forward sell • 17 more bulls sold on the year • 16 bulls make five figures and over • 53 bulls in all make 5000gns and over • Bulls and females gross £856,332 Swalesmoor Liam - 30,000gns

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imousin bulls met with another strong demand and a flying trade at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s February Sale held at Borderway Mart on Saturday 18th February. There was something for everyone with commercial producers out in force and the trade added to with a sprinkling of breeder’s bulls. Sixteen bulls made five figures and over with 53 in all making 5000gns and more. Underlining the strong demand, averages on the year were up by £1058 to a mighty £6668 for the 114 bulls sold. The clearance rate was an exceptional 91% with the 114 bulls sold being out of the 125 forward. Leading the day’s trade at 30,000gns was the stylish Swalesmoor Liam from the Swalesmoor Partnership, Kedzlie Farm Ltd, Kedzlie Farm, Lauderdale. This October 2015 born bull is an embryo calf by the noted Cloughhead Umpire and out of Nebo Favourite, a cow with a strong show record behind her and purchased for the herd at 9000gns. In the summer of 2016 Swalesmoor Liam had stood as a first prize winner at the National Limousin Show and in Friday’s pre-sale show he stood second in a strong class to the Reserve Junior Champion. Purchasing the top price in a two way split was Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Wigton, along with Richard Harker for his 60-cow Honeymoor herd at Grayrigg Hall, Kendal. Speaking at the close of the sale Richard Harker said: “This bull is a very modern Limousin. He has tremendous length, is clean, and good on his legs.

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He carries a lot of style and has plenty of depth and quality in his pedigree.” Echoing these sentiments Craig Ridley commented: “I saw Swalesmoor Liam at the National Limousin Show at the end of July. At the time I thought he was the outstanding young bull there and I tried to buy him but Danny (Sawrij) wouldn’t sell. Again this weekend he is just absolute sheer class, and just what a Limousin bull should look like. He’s a super colour, has a beautiful head, is long, clean, has great flesh and style, and is still just a very young bull, I am delighted to get a share of him.” For the Swalesmoor herd, established in 2010, this was their highest sale price to date. Two bulls made 22,000gns. The first of these was the first prize winner in class 11 and the Junior Male Champion in the shape of Swarland Likelylad from A&D Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth. September 2015 born this calf is by the 23,000gns Fairywater Haig and is out of Swarland Fanciful a daughter of the noted female breeder in the herd Brontemoor Apache. Purchasing this bull was the Harestone pedigree herd of Neil Barclay, South Road, Insch, Aberdeenshire. The purchase of Fairywater Haig at Carlisle back in February 2014 was looked at as a considerable investment by the Proctor family but that investment is now reaping its reward in the 40 cow pedigree herd (run alongside 80 commercial cows) with his first three sons at sale having averaged 16,000gns. The 22,000gns was the best sale price to date for a herd that has recently won the 2016 Most Improved Limousin Herd award. Commenting Andrew Proctor said: “Fairywater Haig calves are small when they are born and then just take off at six to eight months. Likelylad has always been a good calf and he’s got a tremendous top line, is very good over his plates, and has great balance.” The strength of the sale saw 36 Junior bulls average over £7250 and this included the Reserve Junior Male Champion Gunnerfleet Lion (and first prize in class 14) who also made 22,000gns for vendors J Handley, Gunnerfleet Farm, Ingleton, Lancs. An embryo calf, Gunnerfleet Lion is by Gunnerfleet Hicks and is out of Gunnerfleet Ilocks whose dam line is quoted as having grossed the herd over £500,000. Speaking prior to the sale Ian Handley had noted that Gunnerfleet Lion was “one of the best bulls bred at Gunnerfleet for many years”. Weighing in with an opening bid of 20,000gns, Gunnerfleet Lion was purchased by the 120 cow pedigree Whinfellpark herd of Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Clifton, Penrith, Cumbria. Whinfellpark stockman

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Swarland Likelylad - Junior Champion - 22,000gns

Gunnerfleet Lion - Res Junior Champion - 22,000gns

Foxhillfarm Louisvuitton - Intermediate and Overall Champion - 20,000gns

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Sales Maraiscote Lothario - Res Intermediate and Res Overall - 19,000gns Westpit Lowry - 18,000gns

Culnagechan Lazio - 17,000gns

Hightown Leon - 18,000gns Haneve Luigi - Res Senior Champion - 16,000gns

Swarland Leon - 13,000gns

Craig Douglas commented, “We are very pleased to have secured Gunnerfleet Lion as we think his width, shape and overall power will complement the females in the Whinfellpark herd.” Judging the pre-sale show of bulls was Rob Kirton of the noted Ashledge herd at Severn Lodge Farm, Buttonbridge Lane, Kinlet, Bewdley. After fifteen keenly contested classes Rob tapped up Foxhillfarm Louisvuitton, from Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill Farm, Cullompton, Devon as his Intermediate and Overall Supreme Champion. This bull arrived at Carlisle with an impressive show record behind it having stood as Reserve Overall Senior Male at the 2016 Stars of the Future Show; Reserve Overall Champion at the 2016 English National Calf Show; and a first prize winner at the 2016 National Limousin Show. An embryo calf, Louisvuitton is by the 22,000gns Guards Boomer and is out of the multi-title winning show heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie.

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This is the second Overall Supreme Champion at Carlisle in a row (and the fourth overall for the five-year-old herd)) for the Alfords and following on from the 35,000gns Foxhillfarm Lordofthering in October 2016 who was also sired by Guards Boomer and out of Gracie’s mother Bankdale Alice. Purchasing this August 2015 born bull was John Penny & Sons, Leeds Road, Rawden, Leeds, W.Yorkshire. Speaking after the sale John Penny said: “Myself and my uncle came to Carlisle on Saturday looking for a bull. The Foxhillfarm bull we thought was just terrific and his length and width along with his pedigree breeding lines was just what we were looking for. From here we plan to put Louisvitton with some of our selected heifers that we have pulled out of our fattening cattle. Thereafter we are looking to buy some pedigree heifers this year to put to him also for the production of top quality pedigree calves to both show and sell.” The Pennys also have an

abattoir and an EU meat packing plant that requires top quality meat 52 weeks a year. Commenting on his Champion and the show of bulls generally the judge Rob Kirton said: “Having been invited to judge I went into Friday’s show with the mind to look for a bull that I would have liked to have bred myself, or that I would personally like to buy for myself. All of the class winners, section Champions and the Supreme Champion fitted the bill of what I consider to be a modern Limousin bull and what I would like to see in a bull. The Champion was a very stylish bull, had tremendous width, was clean and had good length. He was an eye catching bull that I couldn’t walk past.” Following hard on the heels of the Champion was the Reserve Overall Supreme and Reserve Intermediate

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Champion, Maraiscote Lothario, from the 150 cow herd of Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. This bull made 19,000gns when selling to the noted commercial producer, G Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharrade, Argyll. July 2015 born, Maraiscote Lothario is a son of the herd’s prolific stock sire Goldies Comet (who has sold sons in the herd up to 30,000gns) and is out of the Virginia Andy daughter, and second calver, Maraiscote Genie. In July 2016 Maraiscote Lothario had stood second in his class to Foxhillfarm Luisvuitton at the National Limousin Show also in Carlisle. Having secured the fourth top price the Nimmos then invested 18,000gns when buying Westpit Lowry from Andrew Gammie, Drumforber, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire. A first prize winner in Class 10, Westpit Lowry is by Ardglasson Highlander a bull that has previously been Supreme Champion at the Scottish Limousin Grandprix. He is out of Brockhurst Holy whose granddam Brockhurst Bolshoi was a prolific show winner having claimed Supreme titles at both the Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire Shows respectively. Andrew Gammie purchased Brockhurst Holy, in calf to Ardglasson Highlander, for 5800gns at a sale at Newark Market, Notts. The 18,000gns top price eclipsed the 17,000gns figure the herd had received at the October 2016 BLCS Sale in Carlisle. Commercial producers readily willing to go to five figures was a feature of the sale and this was again highlighted when JC & J White, Rigg Farm, Lunedale, MiddletonIn-Teesdale, Barnard Castle paid 18,000gns for Hightown Leon from John Smith-Jackson, Hightown, Melkridge, Haltwhistle. Another out of the junior section, this muscly bull is by the noted show calf sire Waindale UFO and is out of the Hartside Jacko daughter College Unice. John Smith-Jackson has a prolific reputation in show calf circles but this was the highest price he had attained at a pedigree sale to date. The purchasers, JC&J White, are also familiar names in the show calf world and bred the 2016 Commercial Supreme Champion, Black Beauty, at the National Limousin Show. Breeder John Smith-Jackson commented: “I’m over the moon with the sale price and the fact that the calf is sired by the well-known bull Waindale UFO who bred the 2016 Smithfield Champion, along with numerous top prices and championships over the last 10 years.” Purchaser of the bull Mr John White said, “it was the best crossing type of bull in the market in my opinion and exactly the type I go for. I really liked his father Waindale UFO and this bull displays the

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Homebyres Lockett - 14,500gns

Mereside Leo - 13,000gns

shape and style that is required to breed show calves.” Selling at 17,000gns was the upstanding Culnagechan Lazio from the herd of Derek Hume, Randalstown, Co Antrim. June 2015 born this calf was got by the AI sire Ampertaine Elgin and is out of Culnagechan Celine who had previously bred the 48,000gns Culnagechan Falcon. This bull was knocked down to an undisclosed buyer in the north of England. Taking the Reserve Senior Championship, and selling for 16,000gns, was the April 2015 born Haneve Luigi from John Murray, Glebe Farm, West Butsfield, Tow Law, Bishops Auckland. First in class three Haneve Luigi was described as “a quiet, well- muscled bull with very good legs and feet”. In 2016 this bull had won the Best Young Bull award

in the North East Limousin Regional Herd Competition. Sired by Powerhouse Elite and out of Haneve Geraldine, a Haltcliffe Doctor daughter, Haneve Luigi was bought by commercial producer Alistair Ward, Rogerley Hall, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. The Haneve herd had previously sold bulls to 6200gns at the inaugural pedigree Limousin bull sale held at Hexham in 2016. This was however by far their top price to date in what was only the herd’s second BLCS Bull Sale at Carlisle. In 2016 the herd calved fourteen pedigree cows which are run alongside 60-65 commercial cows. Selling store calves at 12-14 months of age with shape and growth the Murrays are also looking to produce ‘bulls that you would use yourself’ for the suckler market. Commenting, John Murray said: “the sale price has far exceeded our expectations

www.limousin.co.uk

Sales Withersdale Levi - 10,000gns

and we are very glad that he’s gone to such a good home.” Following on from a strong sale at the Stirling Limousin Sale a fortnight ago, the Homebyres herd of Messrs John Logan, Humebyres, Kelso, made 14,500gns when selling their first prize winner in class seven to the Rhiwllech pedigree herd of Messrs Howells, Gelli Farm, Cymmer, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan. The July 2015 born Homebyres Lockett is by the 30,000gns AI sire Lowerffrydd Empire and is out of the Kaprico Davelle daughter Homebyres Freesia. Mereside Leo from RM Hazard & Sons secured a price of 13,000gns for their third prize winner Mereside Leo. August 2015 born Mereside Leo is got by AI and is by Mereside Godolphin who the Hazards bred and sold for 40,000gns in May 2013 at Carlisle. Out of the Haltcliffe Dancer sired Mereside Hougie, Mereside Leo was purchased by James Cooper for the Tomschoice pedigree herd at Hilltop Farm, Dacre, North Yorkshire. A&D Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth were back in the prices when another Fairywater Haig son, this time Swarland Leon, made 12,000gns. A heifer’s calf, Leon is out of Swarland Helen who is a half-sister to Swarland Hansy who has produced bulls at 14,000gns. Picking up this bull for their pedigree Hudscales herd was WR & JM Cowx & Son, Hudscales, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton, Cumbria Senior bulls sold very well and set the tone for the day. Included in these was the first prize winner from class five, Loosebeare Lunar from EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. Entirely homebred this June 2015 born bull is by the Wilodge Vantastic son Loosebeare Fantastic and is out of Loosebeare Samanna, a Greenwell

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Manager daughter. Heading to Ayrshire, South West of Scotland, this bull was bought by the commercial producer R Dunlop, Pinvalley Farm, Barr, Girvan for 11,000gns. Local breeders Eric & Elaine Norman, Little Orton Farm, Carlisle, enjoyed another terrific day’s trading when selling seven bulls to average £7590. Leading their prices was the 10,500gns Norman Levi who had stood second in his class to the Overall Reserve Supreme Champion. This July 2015 born bull is by the herd’s prolific stock bull Claragh Franco who has produced many five figure prices for the Norman herd and was also the sire of the 32,000gns Grahams Lilly at the 2016 Red Ladies Sale. Out of Norman Clover this bull, a full brother to the 15,500gns Norman Hawk, again went commercially when being purchased by J Pritchard, Evistones Farm, Rochester, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Three lots later Norman Lloyd, also a Claragh Franco son, made 9000gns when selling to H Rutherford, Low Eshells, Hexham, Northumberland. Further Norman bulls sold for 8000gns, 6500gns (x2), 6200gns, and 3900gns respectively. The second bull in the ring and the winner of the first class, Withersdale Levi, made 10,000gns for DC Wharton, Willow Farm, Mendham, Horleston, Norfolk. With plenty of breeding behind him this March 2015 born bull is by the 35,000gns AI sire Plumtree Deus and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Withersdale Finesse. Noticeably a number of bulls sold into the north east of England and this was another when heading to the noted commercial enterprise of J Leiper & Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne. The final bull at the five figure price of 10,000gns was another from the Loosebeare herd of EW Quick & Sons and

in the shape of Loosebeare Lord. Also by Loosebeare Fantastic this June 2015 born bull is out of the Haltcliffe Anzac sired Loosebeare Dewdrop. Also going to the north east Loosebeare Lord, who had stood second in his class to the 11,000gns Loosebeare Lunar, was purchased by W Robson Farm Limited, High West House Farm, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland. From class six Loosebeare Lampard, an Aghadolgan Emperor son, made 8500gns and was a further purchase by J Leiper & Sons, Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne. The Garyvaughan herd of CV&EM Lewis, Buttington New Hall, Welshpool, sold two bulls to 9000gns. The first of these was Garyvaughan Leo to A Peart & Son, Woodcroft Farm, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. Sired by Garnedd Gower, the August 2015 born Leo is out of Garyvaughan Enamel. Four lots later Garyvaughan Longtain was sold for the same price to T Laird & Son, Sunnyside Farm, Cumnock, Ayrshire. This September 2015 born calf is the first to be sold by the herd’s stock bull Emslies Integrity and is out of Garyvaughan Itain, a Plumtree Deus son. OTHER LEADING PRICES: 213 8,800gns I Brown, Lowgate Farm, Lowgate Fleet, Lincolnshire 4th prize class 11 154 8,500gns J Leiper & Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne 2nd prize class 6 248 8,500gns T & R Harper & Sons, Southmains, Skirling, Biggar, Lanarkshire 3rd prize class 14 247 8,200gns K Lister & Sons, Kiln Hall Farm, Kettlewell, Skipton, N.Yorkshire 5th prize class 14 138 8,000gns NA Birch, High Rakes Farm, Monyash, Bakewell, Derbyshire 2nd prize class 4 141 7,500gns Messrs Beckwith, New Hall, Barras, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria 108 7,000gns W & J Cameron, Burnside, Edingight, Grange, keith, Banffshire AVERAGES 27 Senior Bulls £5323.89 (+ £1153.73) 51 Intermediate Bulls £6967.06 (+ £1240.36) 36 Junior Bulls £7253.75 (+ £157.35) 114 Bulls £6668.42 (+ £1057.98) 40 Females £2404.50

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ABERDEEN | MARCH 2017

ABERDEEN 2017 FEB

7,000GNS WESTPIT LAMPARD HEADS UP ABERDEEN LIMOUSIN TRADE • 16 out of 18 bulls sold to average £4,515

Westpit Lampard 7,000gns

• Averages up by £390 on the year with three more sold

he June 2015 born Westpit Lampard from Andrew Gammie, Drumforber, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire, sold for 7000gns and led another strong trade for Limousin bulls at Aberdeen & Northern Marts Spring Show, Inverurie, on Tuesday 1st March. Sired by Jalex Itsallgood and out of the Vagabond daughter Greenwell Dior, this 20-month-old bull had earlier picked up the Limousin Supreme Championship in the pre-sale show judged by Tracey Nicol, Balthayock Home Farm, Perth. Purchasing the top price was N Meldrum, Shenval, Ballindalloch, Banffshire. Topping the sale at Aberdeen followed hard on the heels of the sale at Carlisle a fortnight earlier where Andrew Gammie made 18,000gns for his bull Westpit Lowry. Taking the second top price at Aberdeen was Anside Lascard at 6500gns from Mr & Mrs S Irvine, Anside Pedigree Livestock, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, By Keith, Banffs. July 2015 born this bull is by Powerful Irish and is out of the Frewstown Breakdance daughter Anside Gale. Anside Lascard was bought by RS MacKenzie, Dunbeaden House, Bettyhill, Thurso. In all sixteen out of the eighteen bulls forward sold to average a healthy £4515. Three more bulls sold on the year and

72 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

averages were up by £390. Selling at 6000gns was Shannas Leman from Mr & Mrs J Penny, Shannas, Mintlaw, Peterhead. This July 2015 born bull is by Goldies Emperor and is out of the Dyke Thunder daughter Shannas Dinah. Purchasing Shannas Leman was Monymusk Land Estate Office, Monymusk, Inverurie. Earlier in the catalogue a further Goldies Emperor son, Shannas Lodger also from the Pennys, sold for 4000gns to Arnage Farms, Ellon. Knock Legend from Mr AG Howie, West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead made 5500gns. This June 2015 born embryo calf is by the Wilodge Vantastic son Goldies Goldfinger and is out of the Sympa daughter Knock April. Buying Knock Legend was AM & DM Irvine, Newton Farm, Cairnie, Huntly. The Overall Reserve Limousin Championship went to M Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt for his 21-month old Elrick Lord. Sired by the herd’s 23,000gns stock bull Rahoney Geoffrey and out of Elrick Candy, the May 2015 born Elrick Lord sold for 5,000gns to J Boyne, Whinnyhaugh, Garmouth, Moray. Two bulls from RS Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch made 4200gns. The first of these was Livet Largo which went to C&G Gordon. Lost Farm, Strathdon. Livet Largo, an August 2015

Elrick Lord Overall Reserve Champion

born twin to a male is by the homebred Livet Franco and out of Kilronan Connor. The second bull at 4200gns was two lots later in the shape of Livet Loki who was also August 2015 born. This calf was sired by Livet Ike and is a heifer’s calf being out of Emslies Izbicky. Purchasing this bull was A&M Simpson, Mains of Leslie, Insch.

AVERAGES: 16 bulls (+3)

£4515 (+£390)

Auctioneers: Aberdeen & Northern Marts

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LINDIEN RJ

February 2017 Lanaud Buyer : CLARK Farms - UK

More than h 30 years of experience

LUTIN RJ

April 2017 Lanaud (Sold to Switzerland)

ConformaƟon, docility, maternal qualiƟes

Top French geneƟcs

Dates to remember in 2017/2018

HAMAC RR VS

Champion naƟonal Show 2017 in Italy

Semen Available

Semen and embryos available

LARA

Lanaud AucƟon Sales

1 Females Lanaud AucƟon Sale April 2017 Buyer : GRANGE LIMOUSIN (UK)

2017, June 14th and 15th 2017, November 15th and 16th 2018, January 10th and 11th 2018, March 7th and 8th

Pôle de Lanaud - 87220 Boisseuil - FRANCE

Limousin NaƟonal Show

Tél : 00.335.55.06.46.46-Fax : 00.335.55.06.46.30

interlim@limousine.org Gilles LEQUEUX : 00 336 88 20 61 57 Sophie MOURNETAS : 00 336 89 49 48 57 Olivier RAMBERT : 00 336 88 20 62 80

www.interlim.com

LimousinUK-Ad_April-2017_IGS.indd 1

(Sommet de l’Elevage) 2017, October 4th to 6th

Grand Cru AucƟon sale 2017, October 5th

Agrimax females AucƟon sale 2017, October 28th

04/05/2017 15:37:04

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27/04/2017 17:27:31

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BRECON | MARCH 2017

BRECON

MARCH

2017

GARYVAUGHAN LINKY MAKES 5,800GNS AT BRECON LIMOUSIN BULL SALE • Sixteen bulls sell to average £3596

Garyvaughan Linky 5,800gns

• Nine more bulls sold on the year and 73% clearance

he August 2015 born Garyvaughan Linky from Mr CV Lewis, Buttington New Hall, Welshpool, Powys, sold for 5800gns to lead the prices at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s (BLCS) early Spring Show & Sale held at Brecon Livestock Market on Saturday 4th March 2017. Sired by Emslies Integrity and out of the Plumtree Deus daughter Garyvaughan Inky, the top price Garyvaughan Linky was purchased by RW & J Edwards, Tyn Twll, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Llangollen, Clwyd . At the recent BLCS Sale in Carlisle the first Garyvaughan calf offered at sale sired by Emslies Integrity, an Emslies Colossus son, had made 9000gns. The Garyvaughan herd was judged to be the Champion Herd in the 2016 North West Midlands & North Wales regional herd competition, a title it has won in each of the last three years. In what is only the third staging of this new and establishing early Spring

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sale fixture at Brecon, sixteen out of the twenty two bulls forward sold (73%) to average a solid £3596. The second top price of 5100gns went to Ashledge Latvia from regular Brecon consignors Messrs AG Kirton and Sons, Severn Lodge Farm, Kinlet, Bewdley. This June 2015 bull is a son of the Irish sire Killcastle Horace and is out of the

Goldies Osprey daughter Ashledge Tammy. Ashledge Latvia was purchased by T Jenkins & Son, Torycoed Farm, Rhiwsaeson, Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan. At 4300gns was Killerton Lava from Mr & Mrs PW & SM Greed, Columbjohn Farm Ltd, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. Featuring early in the catalogue this bull is by Kaprico Donato, an Ampertaine Abracadabra son

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Sales Reserve Champion Ashledge Latvia 5,100gns

Killerton Lava 4,300gns

Loosebeare Lazy 4,000gns

purchased for 7500gns in 2010, and is out of Killerton Etna. Purchasing this April 2015 bull was TP & TI Rogers, Manor Farm, Monkland, Leominster, Hereford. Earlier in the day this bull had stood as Senior Champion in the pre-sale show judged by Gareth Thomas of the Orllwyn Herd, Orllwyn Farm, Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen. The Killerton herd also had the day’s Junior and Overall Supreme Champion in the shape of the August 2015 born Killerton Longjohn. This bull, got by the AI sire Crossdykes Goliath, is out of Killerton Hotpants. Purchasing the Champion at 3900gns was O&H Moyle, Brynunty, Llanbrynmair, Powys. Loosebeare Lazy, a bull with a top 1% Beef Value of LM+46 made 4000gns for Messrs EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. Sired by the Sympa son Aghadolgan Emperor, and out of Loosebeare Gemma, the July 2015 born Loosebeare Lazy went locally when purchased by IT Davies & Son, Danyreglwys Farm, Garthbrengy, Brecon. The third last bull in the catalogue, Temeside Limitededition from VAS & TVS Corbett, The Gorther, Felindre, Nr Knighton, Powys, made 3850gns when selling to RB & JI Carter, Carswalls Farm, Upleadon, Newent, Gloucester. September 2015 born this bull is by the AI sire Wilodge Goldcard and is out of Temeside Fragrance. Temeside Limitededition had been previously shown at the 2016 Brecon Stars of the Future Show where he had won the

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Champion Killerton Longjohn 3,900gns

Reserve Junior Male Championship. Selling at 3650gns was Twemlows Leo from WL & JA Forrester, Twemlows Farm, Higher Heath, Whitchurch, Shropshire. Another got by AI, the April 2015 born Leo is by Anside Flint and is out of Twemlows Ffion. Purchasing this bull was JJ Price & Co, The Farm, Glynbrochan, Llanidloes, Powys.

Following the sale of bulls seven heifers were also sold to average £1624.50. AVERAGES: 16 bulls 7 maiden heifers

£3,596.00 £1,624.50

Auctioneers: McCartneys

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NEWARK | APRIL 2017

NEWARK

APRIL

2017

CALOGALE HITS 6,000GNS HIGH SPOT AT NEWARK LIMOUSIN DAY SALE • 31 Bulls average £3787

Calogale Lionheart 6,000gns

• 74 Maiden Heifers average £1717 • 96% clearance rate across the sale

edigree and commercial buyers were active at the Newark Limousin Day Sale held on Saturday 1st April at Newark Livestock Market. The bull trade peaked at 6000gns, while females sold to a top of 4500gns under the gavel of auctioneer Paul Gentry. Mr Gentry said the sale had seen another exceptional day’s trading with solid demand from start to finish and once again buyers from across the country eagerly bidding on the cattle forward. “The ringside was packed from start to finish and a number of buyers left without having been able to buy the cattle they came for. A clearance rate of 96% across the sale demonstrates the keenness of buyers and vendors are to be commended for putting forward a highly saleable offering of cattle. Leading the Newark Limousin Day Sale was the May 2015 born Calogale Lionheart from Messrs Lee and Lloyd, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. This embryo calf is a son of the noted Ampertaine Gigolo and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Goldies Glorious. Sporting

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excellent performance figures this bull, which placed first in class four in the presale show, was sold with a beef value of +41 and growth and muscle depth figures in the top 1% of the breed. Described as a “strong and tremendously well balanced bull, long and clean, with plenty of width”, Calogale Lionheart was bought by J T Mitchell and Sons, Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk. Second best of the day was a 5800gns call for the August 2015 born Loosebeare Lumpy from Messrs EW Quick & Son, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. This son of homebred sire Loosebeare Fantastic is out of

Loosebeare Governess, a Haltcliffe Anzac daughter. Buying this one were J and J R Appleby, South Somercotes, Louth, Lincolnshire. Loosebeare Lumpy had earlier stood second in his class to the Reserve Male Champion. The first bull of the day, Sportsmans Ferguson from Ian Brown, Lowgate Farm, Spalding, Lincs sold for 5000gns. This Wilodge Vantastic son, bred by Boden & Davies, Stockport, is out of Glenrock Ursula, a Marquis daughter and was sold as a result of coming back on his daughters. Purchasing this bull was H Kelsey and Son, South View Farm, Belcroft, Doncaster.

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Sales Loosebeare Lumpy 5800gns

Champion Gascoines Lawrence Res Coachhouse Lyle and Judge Vicki Smith

Sportsmans Ferguson 5000gns

Gascoines Lawrence Champion 4500gns

Clifftown Lynx 4000gns

Bonshaw Black Leopard 4000gns

Then making 4500gns was Gascoines Lawrence from the Gascoines Group, Southwell, Notts. This son of Fieldson Beefy, a Fieldson Ultimatum son, is out of Bailea Feebee, a Veteran daughter and was the pick of Fristling Farms, Essex. Earlier in the day the April 2015 born Gascoines Lawrence had been placed as the Male and Overall Champion in

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the pre-sale show judged by Vicki Smith who runs the Columbpark herd at Little Orchard Farm, Lammas Close, Thelbridge, Crediton. Commenting on her Champion Vicki Smith said: “This was a long, clean bull with good hindquarters. He had length, was well balanced and correct, and good in his locomotion. A bull with presence he had a lovely head which caught my eye straight away”. Also at 4500gns was another from the Quick family in the shape of Loosebeare Login. Also sired by Loosebeare Fantastic this one is out of the rising ten-year-old Loosebeare Canna. Login was knocked down to C E Hardcastle, Little Porton, Grantham. Three bulls then sold at 4000gns. The first of these was Bonshaw Black Leopard from Moonlight Hollow Ltd, St. Mary’s Hall Farm, Colchester. This March 2015 born bull is by Goldies Gymnastics and is out of Bailea Heythere, a Dragueur daughter. Purchasing this bull was A Smith and Son, Selston, Nottinghamshire. Second at this money was Clifftown Lynx from D S Townend, Quarry Farm, Malton, North Yorkshire. He is a son of Acajou out of Millstone Fragrance, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter. Already used at home, and a bull which had placed Junior Champion at Ryedale Show, he sold to H and S Nesfield, Cranbrook, Kent. The final 4000gns call was made for Ewdenvale Luke, a Vagabond son from Steven Wilde, Bradfield, Sheffield. This one is out of an Ionesco daughter, Ewdenvale, Candy, and sold with a beef value of +36. He was taken by R Dunthorne, Limpenhoe, Norwich. Selling at 3800gns was another from the Quick family, Loosebeare Lucas. This son of Norman Gus is out of Loosebeare Danabell, a Raysonhall Utah daughter

Judge Vicki Smith

and was the choice of F and S M Stamper, Bromeswold, Huntingdon. A further three also sold at 3800gns, with the next being Messrs Heald’s Coachhouse Lyle, a Mereside Daytona son out of Coachhouse Georgina, a Coachhouse Amos daughter. Taking this one were A Peacock and Sons, East Drayton, Retford. Coachhouse Lyle had placed Reserve Male Champion in the pre-sale show. Also at this level was Threaphurst Lotus from J M and M J Bennett. Sired by Netherhall Gallant he is out of Threaphurst Gabby, a Wilodge Tonka daughter, and sold to G J and J H Byard, Pisley, Chesterfield. The final 3800gns call among the bulls came for Fieldson Lordship from the Fieldson family. This son of the noted Ronick Hawk is out of Fieldson Galaxy, a Rocky daughter and sold with a beef value of +42, being bought by S Higgott and Son, Nailstone, Nuneaton. AVERAGES: 31 Limousin bulls 15 in-calf cows 25 cows and calves 9 in-calf heifers 74 maiden heifers

£3786.61 £1701.00 £2811.90 £1942.50 £1717.29

Auctioneers: Newark Livestock Sales

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BALLYMENA | MAY 2017

BALLYMENA MAY 2017

Ballyrickard Macho - 4000gns Supreme Champion

BALLYRICKARD MACHO TAKES TOP SPOT AND TOP PRICE OF 4,000GNS AT LIMOUSIN MAY DAY SALE IN BALLYMENA 78 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

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Sales • Clearance rate of 82% with 31 bulls sold

Clydevalley Larson - 3600gns

• Averages up by £337 on the year Judge Owain Llyr

Heathmount Michaelangelo 3600gns

he British Limousin Cattle Society’s Show & Sale was held on Monday 1 May 2017 at Ballymena Livestock Mart. With buyers present from all over Northern Ireland, 31 bulls found new homes at a healthy clearance rate of 82% and to an average of £2,752 up £337 on the same time last year. Twelve females also sold at a clearance rate of 80%, and selling at an average of £1,502. Realising the top price of 4000gns on the day was Ballyrickard Macho bred by Mr Ian Davidson, Larne, Co Antrim. This January 2016 born bull is sired by Ampertaine Elgin and out of the home bred dam Ballyrickard Eleanor. He caught the eye of judge Owain Llyr from Ruthin, North Wales and at the pre-sale show was awarded Overall Supreme Champion, Overall Male Champion and Junior Male Champion. With a beef value of LM+32 and muscle depth of 5.4 he was purchased by Kenneth Houston, Hillsborough, Co Down. Gaining the second top price of 3600gns was Reserve Overall Male Champion, Senior Male Champion and class winner, Clydevalley Larson bred by Robert Clyde, Templepatrick, Co Antrim. This June 2015 born bull is sired by Sarkley Hotshot and out of the homebred dam Clydevalley Hamy. Clydevalley Larson was purchased by N McCracken, Limavady. Also, selling for 3600gns was class winner and Reserve Junior Male Champion Heathmount Michaelangelo bred by McKinney Brothers, Maghera, Co Derry. This February 2016 born bull is sired by Sportsmans Hagrid and out of the home bred dam Heathmount Elevation, a Sarkley Bethany daughter.

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He now heads to new owner D Gaston, Ballymena, Co Antrim. Next was Culnagechan Lasvegas bred by Derek Hume, Randalstown, Co Antrim selling for 3200gns. This October 2015 born bull is sired by Iveagh Gilkes, who was purchased at Carlisle in October 2012 for 20,000gns and is out of the homebred dam Culnagechan Goldie. With a beef value of LM+39, placing him in the top 10% for the breed, he now heads to the farm of Brian Moore & Sons, Crumlin, Co Antrim for their large commercial unit. Following at 3100gns and standing third in his class was Ballyhone Milo bred by Brian Hall, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. This January 2016 born bull is sired by Ampertaine Foreman and out of the home bred dam Ballyhone Daisy, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter. He now heads to new owner Roland Graham, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. Newhillfarm Liam stood second in his

class and sold on the day for 3000gns. Home bred by Michael & Ann McPolin, this November 2015 born bull is sired by Kaprico Eravelle and out of the home bred dam Newhillfarm Iris. With a beef value of LM+34 he was purchased by Dale Irwin, Roslea, Co Fermanagh. Fetching the top price of 2000gns in the females was Rahoney Jewel bred by H & D McFarland, Trillick, Co Tyrone. This June 2014 female is sired by Wilodge Cerberus and out of the homebred dam Rahoney Abigail. She is also a full sister to Rahoney Geoffrey who was sold in Carlisle in February 2013 for 23000gns. She now heads to new owner W J Marshall, Ballymena, Co Antrim.

AVERAGES: 31 Bulls 12 females

£2752.00 £1502.00

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STIRLING | MAY 2017

STIRLING

MAY

2017

Judge Michael Norman

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Sales

7,200GNS GOLDIES LIAM AS STIRLING LIMOUSINS SEES MORE BULLS SOLD ON THE YEAR • 84% clearance with 51 bulls selling out of 61 forward • Eight more bulls sold on the year and highest number of Limousins at a May Stirling Sale • Twelve bulls in all make 5000gns and more • Goldies take the top price for fourth Stirling sale in a row

‘fantastic fortnight’ of Limousin sales kicked off in solid style at Stirling on Monday May 1st when 51 out of 61 bulls forward sold to average £4025. The number of bulls sold was up by eight on the year with the 51 being the highest number sold across the breeds at this multi-breed sale day fixture held by United Auctions at Stirling Agricultural Centre. Leading the way, and continuing the herd’s prolific sale form at Stirling, was the 7200gns paid for the September 2015 born Goldies Liam from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries. Goldies Liam is by the herd stock sire Foxhillfarm Irishlad and is out of Goldies Eva. With plenty of performance in the pedigree Goldies Eva is out of Rosabelle who herself has bred a Champion at Perth and has had progeny up to 13,000gns. Purchasing the top price was commercial producers A&H Sim & Son, Rorandle, Monymusk, Inverurie. Remarkably this is the fourth consecutive Limousin bull sale at Stirling that the Goldies herd have topped. Adding to this recent run the herd has bred the mother of the top price bulls at

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Goldies Liam 7200gns

Stirling in both February and May 2017, Stirling in October 2016, and Newark in April 2017. Commenting on the Stirling sale, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “Efficiency and performance is the name of the game. Limousin really is the breed with the premium built in for commercial producers who are looking for efficient, easy-calving, cheap-to-keep cattle. The industry requirements for weight specification at slaughter, age to slaughter, and carcases hitting the target grades, fits the breed extremely well and is driving this strong demand for Limousin genetics. To sell more bulls on the year at Stirling is a real positive and as we head to the upcoming sale at Carlisle at the end of the week”. Taking the next top two prices of 6500gns and 6400gns Messrs JR MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. The first of these was Dyke Lino. A heifer’s calf this October 2015 born

bull is by Netherhall Gilbert and is out of Dyke Ina. Again full of performance Netherhall Gilbert has previously sired the top price at the June 2016 sale at Carlisle. On the dam line Dyke Ina’s mother, Dyke Davina, has produced calves selling up to 9000gns (Dyke Gambler). This bull was bought by the noted pedigree breeder and commercial producer Mr J Thomson, Hilton of Beath Farm, Kelty, Fife. In the pre-sale show, judged by Michael Norman of the note Norman herd, Little Orton Farm, Carlisle, Dyke Lino had been placed as Supreme Champion. Speaking afterwards Michael Norman said: “The Champion was the most balanced bull in the show ring. He was clean through middle, had a good top, and carried good width and second thigh. Carrying the most style on the day he had a beautiful breed head. All over it was very much a good show of bulls with plenty of choice for the commercial breeders. Regularly featuring amongst the

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STIRLING | MAY 2017

Dyke Luke 6400gns Goldies Legionaire 6200gns

Dyke Lino 6500gns Spittalton Lancaster 6000gns

top sale prices and the championship placings this was the 65 cow Dyke herd’s first Supreme Champion at Stirling. Selling at 6400gns from the MacGregors was Dyke Luke. Second in his class this bull is another by Netherhall Gilbert who was himself purchased for 8500gns. Dyke Luke, who is also a heifer’s calf being out of Dyke Icicle, was bought by H&R Davidson who runs the Corsairtly herd at Corsairtly Farm, Keith, Banffs. Earlier the day Messrs MacGregor also sold Dyke Laurel for 4500gns to M Bignal, Smaladh, Isle of Islay Back in the action at 6200gns was Goldies Legionaire from Bruce Goldie. Entirely homebred this September 2015 born embryo calf is by Goldies Fantastic and is out of the Ampertaine Bravo sired Goldies Dove. Legionaire who is a full brother to Goldies Lordofthering, the top price at the Stirling February 2017 Limousin sale, was purchased by J&R Semple, Netherton Farm, Dalrymple, Ayrshire. The Goldies also sold Goldies Legion, the same way bred as Legionaire for 4500gns to S&M Dalgleish Ltd, Balgownie Mains, Dunfermline. Another prolific seller at Stirling Limousin sales is the local Spittalton herd of Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton Farm, Blair Drummond, Stirling. Once again enjoying a good day with a big line-up the Spittalton herd sold eight bulls to gross 33,000gns. Heading their consignment at 6000gns was the October 2015 Spittalton Lancaster. This calf, with another good beef value of LM+45, is by the AI sire Bolide and is out Spittalton Emma. Heading north Spittalton Lancaster goes to A Sime & Son, Bruceland, Elgin, Moray. Three lots later Spittalton Lotus, who had stood second in his class to the Champion, made 5800gns when

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selling to J&J Wyllie, Knockhouse Farm, Crossford, Dunfermline. Also an October 2015 bull, Spittalton Lotus is by the AI sire Ampertaine Foreman and is out of Spittalton Iris, a Haltcliffe Vermount daughter. Further Spittalton bulls sold included prices at 5000gns and 3500gns (twice). Near neighbours to Spittalton, Messrs D&L Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blair Drummond, also made 5800gns when selling Burnbank Ladiesman. This bull is by the AI sire Huntershall Gladiator and is out of Burnbank cheeky, a Grahams Tycoon daughter. A bull with a beef value of LM+45, Burnbank Ladiesman was bought by J&A Galloway, Lochlyoch Farm, Carmichael, Biggar. Selling a clean sweep of five bulls to gross 19,500gns was the Tweeddale herd of Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland. Leading the Watson’s offering at 5500gns was the first prize winner Tweeddale Luckystrike. An embryo calf Luckystrike is by Goldies Terence and is out of the Haltcliffe Doctor daughter Tweeddale Horny. Buying this October 2015 bull was J Orr & Son, Randerston, Kingsbarns, Fife. Also from the herd was the Reserve Supreme Champion Tweeddale Landmark who was the first prize winner in the first class. This bull is by the Foxhillfarm Irishlad, the same sire as the day’s top price and a bull in shared ownership with the Goldies herd. Landmark’s dam is Ballerine who was bought as an in-calf heifer from France and has had progeny sell up to 6700gns. The Reserve award is the first major Limousin sale award at a Stirling sale for the Tweeddale herd which consists of eighty pedigree cows and twenty recipients.

Tweeddale Landmark 5000gns

OTHER LEADING PRICES: 5000gns Maraiscote Longfellow from Ian Nimmo sold to S Adams, Mahaar Farm, Kirkholm, Stranraer. 5000gns Spittalton Lancelot from Andrew Burnett sold to Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Orkney. 5000gns Newhouse Lusius from Messrs RM Adam & Son sold to Lour Farms, Ladenford, Forfar. 4800gns Alagils Lazer from Mr AJ & Mrs G Macnab sold to Southwick Farms, Dumfries. AVERAGES: 51 Bulls 6 Females

£4025.00 £1516.00

Auctioneers: United Auctions

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GOLDIES Goldies James Sold 21,000gns May 16

Goldies Jurassic Sold 20,000gns Oct 15

Goldies Lord of The Rings Supreme Champion & top price Stirling Feb 17

Goldies Heifers

Goldies Juggler outstanding retained stock bull

Goldies Jackpot Sold Privately to Tom Bailey Dec 15

For Sale: pedigree and crossing bulls; a few stock cows & next batch of super heifers available privately. All related to the above animals. Top 1%, Great conformation, easy calving, TB4 and Johnes Level 1. Tel: 07712 435 408 / 01387 830105 bruce@goldietownfoot.co.uk www.goldietownfoot.co.uk

Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries, DG1 4LX

The world of Limousin at your fingertips. Sale and show reports, news pages, catalogues, technical, galleries, blogs, classifieds, on-line shop, links, archives, young breeders, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the lot.

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CARLISLE | MAY 2017

CARLISLE

MAY

2017

100,000GNS AMPERTAINE MOZART CONDUCTS CLASSIC LIMOUSIN SALE AT CARLISLE • 128 Bulls average £7,712.70 (up £1,294 on the year for seven more bulls)

• Ampertaine Mozart becomes fourth Limousin bull at 100,000gns or more

• 88% clearance of the 146 bulls forward

• 273 Limousins (bulls and females) gross £1,590,713 over the two day sale

• 47 bulls make 6,000gns and more Ampertaine Mozart - 100,000gns

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Sales

Judge Dougie Graham

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CARLISLE | MAY 2017

he fantastic fortnight of British Limousin Cattle Society sales powered into top gear on Saturday May 6th at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, when 128 bulls sold to average £7712.70. Averages were up on the year by a mighty £1294 for seven more bulls sold and with a clearance rate of 88%. It was a sale that saw another huge demand from commercial producers, willing to pay top prices for the bulls of their choice, and supplemented by some highlight pedigree prices. Three bulls made 50,000gns or more with a remarkable 47 bulls at 6000gns and more highlighting the depth in the trade. The bull sale came hard on the heels of the Limousin female sale the previous afternoon that had seen top prices of 42,000gns and 35,000gns and 145 lots sell (plus 65 on the year) to gross over £600,000. The two sales together saw 273 Limousin animals sell in all too gross £1,590,713. The bull sale on its own saw a gross of just over £987,000. Conducting the orchestra and leading the way was the 100,000gns Ampertaine Mozart from James McKay, Maghera, Co Derry. This January 2016 born bull by Kype Orkney, and out of Ampertaine Glamourgirl, becomes the fourth Limousin bull in all to breach the magical 100,000gns mark. Purchasing the top priced bull was Procters Farm Ltd, for their 80-cow pedigree herd at Slaidburn, Nr Clitheroe. Commenting, the Farm Manager at Procters Farm said: “Buying a bull of this quality is another cornerstone investment in the future of the Procters herd. The sire Kype Orkney is a bull I’ve always liked and one I actually tried to buy back in 1999. Mozart himself is just full of class and along with his depth of pedigree has very good calving figures.” Back in 2006 the Procters herd became the first to pay 100,000gns for a Limousin bull when buying Haltcliffe Vermount. For the seller James McKay the 100,000gns was a new sales high for his prolific Ampertaine herd which sold five bulls in all on the day to gross £144,165. On the previous afternoon the herd had also managed to sell 17 maiden heifers to average £3351! Over a ten year period the Ampertaine herd has sold a number of bulls year on year at Carlisle to five figures and to a previous sale high of 45,000gns for Ampertaine Jamboree in 2015. Speaking afterwards a delighted James McKay said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to sell a bull at 100,000gns and way beyond expectation. Mozart is a bull I’ve just loved from day one. He was very small at birth but was up and sucking straight away and just went on from there. I feel he’s the best bull we’ve bred in the herd and he combines weight with class

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Wilodge Lookout - Overall Champion - 60,000gns

Bassingfield Machoman - 50,000gns

and style, easy calving, and milk on the mother’s side. He’s a bull that could easily be put to heifers. ” In answer to why Kype Orkney was the choice of AI sire James continued: “Mozart’s dam, Ampertaine Glamourgirl, has such style and shape that I just thought that Orkney would bring that little bit of weight and power and the mating has worked out tremendously well.” Humbly describing the family operation as ‘an ordinary farm just selling away at cattle’ the 120 cow Ampertaine herd is run on a commercial basis and sells around 50 plus bulls each year for breeding with the majority sold privately. The concentration is very much on easy calving and breeding bulls that can manage in all conditions. Over the two

days James McKay was ably helped and supported by his girlfriend Lynne Briggs and stockman Barney O’Kane. Commenting on the two days of sales the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “There is a terrific demand and momentum for the Limousin breed across the country and these outstanding sales, for both bulls and females, are reflective of that. The industry pressure is demanding versatility and efficiency and British Limousin is meeting the challenges of market change at every level. Easy calving, cheap to keep, feed efficient, and hitting the target weights and grades consistently, Limousin provides the full package. It’s the marketable breed with the premium built in and is driving the future for farmers and

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Sales Foxhillfarm Manhattan - Junior Champion and Res Overall - 35,000gns

Procters Legacy - 24,000gns

the industry. Every credit must go to the breeders for providing such a high level of choice in cattle over the two sale days.” Selling at 60,000gns was the pre-sale show Intermediate and Overall Supreme Champion, Wilodge Lookout from Wilodge Limousins, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire. This September 2015 born embryo calf is by the Irish bred sire Gerrygullinane Glen and out of Wilodge Diamante, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter. Described as ‘the outstanding homebred star and breeding female’ the classy Wilodge Diamante combines the bloodlines of the herd’s highly noted Wilodge Vantastic and Wilodge Cerberus. Wilodge Lookout’s sire, Gerrygullinane Glen, was bought as an eight-monthold calf from breeder Gerry Walsh in the

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Republic of Ireland. Synonymous with some of the foremost names in Limousin breeding the 60,000gns price was the highest sale price to date for what is presently the 30 pedigree cow Wilodge herd. Wilodge Lookout was also the third Supreme Champion the herd has had at Carlisle sales. Speaking of his Champion the pre-sale show judge Dougie Graham who runs the noted 85-cow Burnbank herd at Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blair Drummond, Stirling said: “This was just a terrific bull. He had tremendous width, was hard muscled, and had real power for his age. He was very correct, had plenty of style, and was presented extremely well. A modern Limousin he had a lot of class and is a real breeder’s bull.” Purchasing the Champion was the

Sportsmans herd of Boden and Davies Ltd, Mellor Hall Farms, Mellor, Stockport. The Wilodge herd enjoyed a fine day at the sale that saw four bulls sell to gross £95,025. Making a major impression at the sale was the January 2016 born Bassingfield Machoman from John Crofts, Holme Farm, Bassingfield Lane, Gamston, Nottingham which sold for 50,000gns to the Maraiscote pedigree herd of Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. This January 2016 born embryo calf is by the 32,000gns Millgate Fame and is out of Sarkley Ellajen who herself was purchased for 17,500gns. For the Bassingfield herd, founded seven years ago, and which has been established around some quality British and French genetics, the 50,000gns was by the far the herd’s highest sale price to date. For good measure the herd also picked up the Senior Male Championship with Bassingfield Lobo which went on to sell for 6500gns. Commenting John Crofts said, “We are really delighted with this achievement in a relatively short space of time, and very pleased that both bulls sold went to such good homes.” Michael & Melanie Alford continued their remarkable run of sales and Championships over the course of the two days. Following hard on the heels of Friday’s female sale where they sold the two top prices of 42,000gns and 35,000gns for maiden heifers (and averaged over £11,000 for seventeen in all), the herd also sold Foxhillfarm Manhattan for 35,000gns. This January 2016 born embryo calf, described by the judge as “very correct with exceptional conformation and style”, placed as Junior Male Champion and Overall Reserve Supreme in the pre-sale show. Manhattan had come first in Class 15 where bulls from the Foxhillfarm filled the first three positions. Sired by Guards Boomer and out of the multi-title winning Foxhillfarm Gracie, Manhattan is a full brother to Foxhillfarm Louisvuitton who was the Champion at the February 2017 Carlisle Sale and sold for 20,000gns. The Foxhillfarm herd has been prolific at recent Society sales including two Champions and a Reserve Champion at the last three Carlisle sale fixtures and multiple top prices. Purchasing Foxhillfarm Manhattan was Colin Lewis for his Garyvaughan pedigree herd at Buttington New Hall, Buttington, Welshpool, Powys. The fifth top price of 24,000gns came in the shape of Procters Legacy from the aforementioned Procters Farm Ltd. Another bull full of performance and breeding this November 2015 born bull is by Ampertaine Gigolo, the sire of the

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CARLISLE | MAY 2017

world record priced Trueman Jagger, and is out of Glenrock Diamante who was purchased for the herd at 15,000gns. With solid performance figures including a Beef Value of LM+44, this bull was purchased by RM Adam & Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, Angus for their Newhouse pedigree herd. James McKay was back in the prices when selling the entirely homebred Ampertaine Lawson for 18,000gns to the Killerton herd of PW & SM Greed, Columbjohn Farm Ltd, Columbjohn Farm, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. Earlier this December 2015 born calf had placed first in the final class in the Intermediate section. Got by AI Ampertaine Lawson is a son of Ampertaine Elgin and is out of Ampertaine Fantasia. The Reserve Intermediate Champion, and first prize in Class 11, was Ballinloan Lush from SL Fotheringham, Ballinloan, Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross. This November 2015 born bull was sold for 14,000gns to the Stocksbridge herd of John Cardwell, Church Farm, Haywood, Askern, Doncaster. Ballinloan Lush is sired by the herd’s prolific stock sire, Ampertaine Foreman, and is out of the Nebo Dynamite daughter Ballinloan Inyourdreams. Three bulls in all sold at the 14,000gns mark. The second of these was Gunnerfleet Landmark from J Handley, Gunnerfleet Farm, Ingleton, Lancashire. Out of the strong junior section which saw 43 bulls average just under £9500, Gunnerfleet Landmark had stood second in his class. A December 2015 embryo calf Landmark is by the famous breed sire Broadmeadows Cannon and is out of Gunnerfleet Ilocks. Ilocks whose first calf was the 22,000gns Gunnerfleet Lion, is out of the herd’s noted Una female line which has earned some £500,000 in sales. This calf was bought by McKinney Bros, 85-91 Craigadick Road, Maghera, Co. Londonderry, N.Ireland, for their Heathmount herd. Late in the sale and from the last class came Fieldson Mahrez from JW & MC Fieldson, Poplar Farm, Corringham, Lincolnshire. This bull is the first son of the 12,500gns Trueman Iglesias and is out of the Goldies Uppercrust daughter Fieldson Florence. A bull with extreme shape, the January 2016 born Fieldson Mahrez was sold for 14,000gns to JW Dent & Sons, Naby View Farm, Lartington, Barnard Castle, Co.Durham who run the Naby pedigree herd. Continuing their strong day Wilodge Livenletdie from Wilodge Limousins, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire placed first in Class 9 and went on to sell for 13,000gns to the Firm of J Shennan & Sons, Knockgerran Farm,

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Ampertaine Lawson - 18,000gns

Ballinloan Lush - Res Intermediate Champion - 14,000gns

Girvan, Ayrshire. Another embryo calf, this November 2015 born calf is by Powerful Irish and is also out of Wilodge Diamante (the dam of the sale’s 60,000gns Supreme Champion Wilodge Lookout). Wilodge Diamante is also the mother of the noted bulls Wilodge FM and Wilodge Formulaone with the only daughter sold being the 27,000gns Wilodge Flawless. Later in the sale Wilodge Livinitup, another embryo calf and the same way bred as Livenletdie, made 10,000gns when selling to JS & LD Adam & Son,

Garraron Farm, Ardfern, Lochgilphead, Argyll. This bull, who was second in class 9, was November 2015 born and sold with a Beef Value of LM+58. A good pen of bulls from JM & SM Priestley, Cracrop Farm, Brampton, Cumbria, was led by the 11,000gns Brontemoor Laidlaw. Got by the AI sire Loosebeare Fantastic, and out of Brontemoor Fudge, this September 2015 born bull was another to sell with good performance figures and this time carrying a Beef Value of LM+40.

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Sales Fieldson Mahrez - 14,000gns

Wilodge Livenletdie - 13,000gns

Brontemoor Laidlaw - 11,000gns

Gunnerfleet Landmark - 14,000gns

Goldies Legend - 11,000gns

Foxhillfarm Montreal - 10,000gns

Purchasing this bull was the Everpark herd of H Waring, Park Farm, Everingham, York, N.Yorkshire. Continuing a prolific run of sales both in the auction mart and from home, for both bulls and females, Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries made 11,000gns when selling the first prize-winner in class 10, Goldies Legend. Another that is entirely homebred this November 2015 embryo calf is by Goldies Fantastic and out of Goldies Dove making him a full brother to the Stirling February 2017 Champion and sale top price Goldies Lordoftherings. Purchasing Goldies Legend was DA Laing, Honeyburn, Hawick, Roxburghshire. Continuing their busy and successful day, Procters Farm Ltd sold Procters Ledzepplin for 10,500gns. An embryo calf sired by the noted Sympa, Ledzepplin is out of another Glenrock female this time Glenrock Campari who was purchased for 16,000gns and goes back to the noted Glenrock Spangle. Purchasing this October 2015 born calf, who stood second in class 8 was T Common, Low Ardley, Hexham, Northumberland. In all the Procters herd sold eight bulls on the day to gross £66,885. Back in the Juniors Foxhillfarm Montreal from the Alfords, who had stood second in his class to his stablemate, and Reserve Supreme Overall, made 10,000gns when being another purchased for the Killerton herd of PW & SM Greed, Columbjohn Farm Ltd, Columbjohn Farm, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. Foxhillfarm Montreal is an embryo calf and is the same way bred as the 35,000gns Foxhillfarm Manhattan being by Guards Boomer and out of Foxhillfarm Gracie.

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OTHER LEADING PRICES: 343 9000gns Loosebeare Likeabull to CG Simpson & Sons, Square House Farm, Quebec, Durham, Co.Durham 2nd prize class 4 355 9000gns Goldies Laser to ER Thompson, High Corn Park, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle, Co.Durham 3rd prize class 5 386 9000gns Roxburgh Black Logan to AG Howie, West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire 3rd prize class 8 417 9000gns Ronick Legal to James Drennan Ltd, Balgracie Farm, Leswalt, Stranraer, Wigtownshire 4th prize class 10 493 9000gns Foxhillfarm Magregor to Half Share Barlure Farmers Ltd, Barlure, New Luce, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire James Mitchell & Son, Little Larg, New Luce, Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway 1st prize class 16 and Reserve Junior Champion 515 9000gns Ampertaine Monarch to JF Teague, Temple House, Buteland Farm, Balerno, Mid Lothian 1st prize class 18 301 8500gns Foxhillfarm Justthejob to Ballechin Farms, Ballinluig, Pitlochry, Perthshire

330 8500gns Trueman Led to TE & H Price, Pencraig, Trelach, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire 2nd prize class 3 340 7500gns Mereside Longbow to N Iveson, Low Blackburn, Hawes, N.Yorkshire. 1st prize class 4 and Reserve Senior Champion 377 7500gns Procters Livingstone to AE Iceton & Sons, High Birk Hatt, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle, Co.Durham 389 7500gns Ballinloan Lambourghini to SF MacKay, Knockaneorn, Clunas, Nairn 1st prize class 8 395 7500gns Wilodge Lancelot to RS Howard, Whittaker Hall Farm, Guide, Blackburn, Lancs. 5th prize class 9 402 7500gns Ronick Laddie to B Baillie, Sebay Cottage, Tankerness, Orkney 4th prize class 9 AVERAGES 28 Senior Bulls £5763.75 57 Intermediate Bulls £7333.42 43 Junior Bulls £9484.53 128 Bulls Overall £7712.70 (+ £1294.25) Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington Ltd Sale Sponsors: www.semenstore.co.uk

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BRECON | MAY 2017

BRECON

MAY

2017

6,000GNS FOXHILLFARM MIAMI HEADS UP A TOTAL CLEARANCE OF BULLS AT BRECON LIMOUSIN SALE • 100% clearance of the bulls forward for sale

Foxhillfarm Miami 6000gns

• 24 bulls sell to an increased average of £4215, (+£487) • Ten bulls make 4000gns and more

ichael and Melanie Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon, kept up their prolific show and sale form when taking the 6000gns top price with Foxhillfarm Miami at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s May Sale held at Brecon Market on Saturday 13th May. For good measure their January 2016 born bull had also picked up the Supreme Championship in the pre-sale show under the judge John Mason of the noted Oddacres herd at Oddacres Farm, Embsay, Skipton, North Yorkshire. Foxhillfarm Miami is an embryo calf by the noted Sympa and is out of the record breaking 125,000gns Glenrock Illusion. Purchasing the Champion and the top priced animal was KJ & LJ Jones, Sunnyside Farm, Narberth, Pembrokeshire. Commenting on his

90 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

Champion the judge John Mason said: “This bull just stood out on the day. He was very correct, well grown, and had plenty of length. It was a good level show of mainly commercial type bulls, and the trade reflected this in what was a very solid sale”.

The Championship and top price at Brecon followed on from Carlisle the previous week where the Alfords sold the two top prices of 42,000gns and 35,000gns for maiden heifers, both out of Glenrock Illusion, and averaged over £11,000 for seventeen heifers in all. At the

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Sales Killerton Larkspur 5,700gns

Twemlows Laurence 5,700gns

Twemlows Lowry 5,600gns

Cowin Lxcell 5,100gns

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bull sale the herd also sold Foxhillfarm Manhattan for 35,000gns. The sale at Brecon brought to conclusion a highly successful ‘fantastic fortnight’ of Limousin sales at markets across the UK that have witnessed a strong demand for bulls and females, fantastic clearances, and increased averages. Brecon very much continued this trend with a total clearance of the 24 bulls forward seeing an average of £4215 which was up by just short of £500 on the year. Two bulls made 5700gns. The first of these was Killerton Larkspur from Mr & Mrs P W & S M Greed, Columbjohn Farm Ltd, Columbjohn Farm, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. August 2015 born and sporting excellent performance figures, including a Beef Value of LM+51, Larkspur is by the noted Wilodge Cerberus son Rosecroft Hero and is out of the second calver Killerton Heron. Purchasing this bull was WTL Walters, Lower Pontgwilym, Brecon, Powys. Also at 5700gns, and highlighting a strong sale day for the herd, was Twemlows Laurence from W L & J A Forrester, Twemlows Farm, Higher Heath, Whitchurch, Shropshire. September 2015 born, Twemlows Laurence is by the AI sire Wilodge Goldcard and is out of Twemlows Foxtrot, a Sympa daughter. This bull with a Beef Value of LM+41 was bought by Shire Leasing, Amington, Tamworth. In the pre-sale show another from the Forresters, this time Twemlows Lowry, had stood as the Reserve Supreme Champion. With plenty of breeding and performance figures behind him the September

2015 born bull is by the shapy AI sire Swarland Eddie and is out of the Haltcliffe Vermount sired Twemlows Finegem. With another strong Beef Value of LM+42, Twemlows Lowry was knocked down for 5600gns to M&JE Jones & Davies, Cwm Farm, Newtown, Powys. Early in the catalogue Cowin Lxcell from Messrs W D D & C James, Blaencowin Bryn Iwan, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, made 5100gns when selling to Gelliwern Association, Gelli Wern Ganol, Felindre, Swansea. This July 2015 bull, which carried muscle with easy calving figures, is by the AI sire Ampertaine Foreman and is out of the thirteen year old Cowin Val, a Mas Du Clo daughter. Later in the sale Cowin Lenboyr, a Cowin Benboyr son, made 4200gns when selling to A Evans, Bugeilus Fawr, Pwllheli, Gwynedd. Mr GM Jenkins of Tynewydd Farm, Groesfaen, Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taff, sold the January 2016 born Tynewydd McCaw for 4750gns. This bull is by the AI sire Ampertaine Commander and is out of Tynewydd Holly, a Vagabond daughter. Another bull with solid performance figures Tynewydd McCaw was bought by GB Jones, Fron Bella, Betws Y Coed, Conwy. At 4400gns was Dyfri Lewis from Messrs D G & M J Edwards, Home Farm, Cilycwm, Llandovery. This September 2015 born bull is the first son to be offered at sale by the herd’s stock Bull Fenomen. With excellent performance figures including a Beef Value of LM+43 and a Calving Value of LM+3, Dyfri Lewis was bought by Morgan Brothers, Builth Wells, Powys. The well-bred Dinmore Leonardo made 4200gns when selling for P Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford. An embryo calf, Leonardo is by the prolific Wilodge Tonka and is out of Carmorn Voney who has bred the Reserve Champion at the Royal Welsh Show. Purchasing this December 2015 born calf was IS Booth, Clapgates Farm, Haslington, Crewe, Cheshire. Leading the sale of maiden heifers at 2150gns was another from was Twemlows Lulu, another from Will & Jackie Forrester. Entirely homebred Lulu is by Twemlows Dynamite and out of Twemlows Ulrika. Purchasing the top price female was PD&IV Pritchard, Wenllan Farm, Llagattock, Crickhowell, Powys.

AVERAGES: 24 Bulls

£4215 (+£487)

27 Maiden Heifers

£1576

Auctioneers: McCartneys

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Netherhall JACKPOT

Sire: Requin Dam: Cloughhead Ainsi

Mereside LORENZO

Wilodge GOLDCARD

Sire: Jacot Dam: Mereside Dawnmarie

Sire: Wilodge Cerberus Dam: Sarkley Bellola

Our continually strengthening Limousin portfolio features breed-leading bulls including these three that all feature in the top 5% for Beef Value and top 5% for Muscle Depth. A globally respected line-up with show-stopping phenotypes and figures to match.

Freephone: 0800 783 7258 www.cogentuk.com