Demand for Limousin bulls reached new limits on Saturday 14 February at Borderway Mart in Carlisle, as 71 Limousin bulls sold for an average of £13,132 (€15,061), a new all-breeds record average in the UK and up by a whopping £4,343 on last year's sale.
Auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington described the trade as scintillating, as 71 bulls found new homes, resulting in a 92% clearance.
Bulls sold from 4,000gns (€4,817) up to as high as 60,000gns (€72,255) for the senior and overall champion Goldies Volcano.
Goldies
Having been awarded the senior and supreme champion titles in Friday's pre-sale show, Goldies Volcano went on to top the trade on Saturday selling to Charlie Boden's Sportsmans herd in Stockport.
A son of Goldies Juggler and out of the Ampertaine Opportunity daughter Goldies Red Lady, this April 2024-born bull went to auction with a nice balance of figures, along with one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes.
Irish judge Karol Connell described his champion as "a real breeder's bull, with tremendous style and power".
It was a special day for Karol, who runs the Carrickmore Limousin herd in Co Meath, as he presided over some mammoth classes in Friday's show.
Goldies Vista, junior champion and reserve supreme champion, which sold for 55,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
As well as taking the overall championship and top price with Volcano, Team Goldies would go on and do the unthinkable, as they claimed the junior champion and reserve overall champion titles with Goldies Vista, a July 2024-born son of Burnbank Sergeant out of another daughter of the highly acclaimed stock bull Ampertaine Opportunity.
Although below average on calving, this powerhouse of a young bull offered some impressive terminal indices, as well as carrying copies of the F94L and Q204X genes.
Securing him at 55,000gns (€66,234) after some spirited bidding was the Pabo pedigree herd in Anglesey.
Grahams
Also enjoying a brilliant day's trading was the Graham family from Stirling.
Leading their consignment was the reserve junior champion Grahams Virgil, who went under the hammer at 35,000gns (€42,149).
Born in August 2024, he is a son of Ampertaine Elgin and out of prolific donor cow Scotchtown Esther.
Virgil is the result of an embryo purchased from the Castlebrock herd of Martin Davis in Co Longford.
Grahams Virgil, reserve junior champion, which sold for 35,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Acquiring this promising young bull was Messrs Baillie and Messrs Dick in a two-way partnership.
He was quickly followed by another full ET brother Grahams Vito at 28,000gns (€33,719).
Again the result of an embryo purchased from the Irish-based Castlebrock herd, Vito carries two copies of the Q gene and will now join Rebecca Dobson's Lowhouse herd in Bishop Auckland.
Grahams Vito sold for 28,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Selling at 32,000gns (€38,536) was Overthwaite Volt, a second-prizewinner from the herd of R S Harker in Lancashire.
Coming two years old in June, this stylish bull is a son of Hartsideanew Shearer and the Haltcliffe Fencer-bred cow Overthwaite Ling.
Like many of the high sellers, Volt was below average for a number of traits, but the single NT419 and F94L carrier was a hit in the sale ring, with the Haltcliffe herd in Cumbria adding him to their pedigree establishment.
Overthwaite Volt sold for 32,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Bruce Goldie was back in the hot seat once again when he realised 25,000gns (€30,106) for the reserve senior champion Goldies Viaduct.
Sired by Ampertaine Opportunity and out of the Ampertaine Foreman daughter Goldies Littlegem, the rising two-year-old ranks above average on a range of terminal traits and was the pick of Messrs Lewis in Powys, Wales, for their Garyvaughan herd.
Females
Prices for Limousin heifers peaked at 6,000gns (€7,225) on two occasions.
Retailing at that price was Mereside Ucinda, a 26-month-old daughter of the impressive Ampertaine Opportunity from the fold of R M Hazard and Sons.
Hitting the same price tag was Garrowby Vale, the property of Garrowby Farms in York. This June 2024-born heifer is a daughter of Grahams Rooney and sold to Messrs Crocker in Cumbria.
Pick up a copy of this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about the record-breaking sale in Carlisle.
Demand for Limousin bulls reached new limits on Saturday 14 February at Borderway Mart in Carlisle, as 71 Limousin bulls sold for an average of £13,132 (€15,061), a new all-breeds record average in the UK and up by a whopping £4,343 on last year's sale.
Auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington described the trade as scintillating, as 71 bulls found new homes, resulting in a 92% clearance.
Bulls sold from 4,000gns (€4,817) up to as high as 60,000gns (€72,255) for the senior and overall champion Goldies Volcano.
Goldies
Having been awarded the senior and supreme champion titles in Friday's pre-sale show, Goldies Volcano went on to top the trade on Saturday selling to Charlie Boden's Sportsmans herd in Stockport.
A son of Goldies Juggler and out of the Ampertaine Opportunity daughter Goldies Red Lady, this April 2024-born bull went to auction with a nice balance of figures, along with one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes.
Irish judge Karol Connell described his champion as "a real breeder's bull, with tremendous style and power".
It was a special day for Karol, who runs the Carrickmore Limousin herd in Co Meath, as he presided over some mammoth classes in Friday's show.
Goldies Vista, junior champion and reserve supreme champion, which sold for 55,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
As well as taking the overall championship and top price with Volcano, Team Goldies would go on and do the unthinkable, as they claimed the junior champion and reserve overall champion titles with Goldies Vista, a July 2024-born son of Burnbank Sergeant out of another daughter of the highly acclaimed stock bull Ampertaine Opportunity.
Although below average on calving, this powerhouse of a young bull offered some impressive terminal indices, as well as carrying copies of the F94L and Q204X genes.
Securing him at 55,000gns (€66,234) after some spirited bidding was the Pabo pedigree herd in Anglesey.
Grahams
Also enjoying a brilliant day's trading was the Graham family from Stirling.
Leading their consignment was the reserve junior champion Grahams Virgil, who went under the hammer at 35,000gns (€42,149).
Born in August 2024, he is a son of Ampertaine Elgin and out of prolific donor cow Scotchtown Esther.
Virgil is the result of an embryo purchased from the Castlebrock herd of Martin Davis in Co Longford.
Grahams Virgil, reserve junior champion, which sold for 35,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Acquiring this promising young bull was Messrs Baillie and Messrs Dick in a two-way partnership.
He was quickly followed by another full ET brother Grahams Vito at 28,000gns (€33,719).
Again the result of an embryo purchased from the Irish-based Castlebrock herd, Vito carries two copies of the Q gene and will now join Rebecca Dobson's Lowhouse herd in Bishop Auckland.
Grahams Vito sold for 28,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Selling at 32,000gns (€38,536) was Overthwaite Volt, a second-prizewinner from the herd of R S Harker in Lancashire.
Coming two years old in June, this stylish bull is a son of Hartsideanew Shearer and the Haltcliffe Fencer-bred cow Overthwaite Ling.
Like many of the high sellers, Volt was below average for a number of traits, but the single NT419 and F94L carrier was a hit in the sale ring, with the Haltcliffe herd in Cumbria adding him to their pedigree establishment.
Overthwaite Volt sold for 32,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Bruce Goldie was back in the hot seat once again when he realised 25,000gns (€30,106) for the reserve senior champion Goldies Viaduct.
Sired by Ampertaine Opportunity and out of the Ampertaine Foreman daughter Goldies Littlegem, the rising two-year-old ranks above average on a range of terminal traits and was the pick of Messrs Lewis in Powys, Wales, for their Garyvaughan herd.
Females
Prices for Limousin heifers peaked at 6,000gns (€7,225) on two occasions.
Retailing at that price was Mereside Ucinda, a 26-month-old daughter of the impressive Ampertaine Opportunity from the fold of R M Hazard and Sons.
Hitting the same price tag was Garrowby Vale, the property of Garrowby Farms in York. This June 2024-born heifer is a daughter of Grahams Rooney and sold to Messrs Crocker in Cumbria.
Pick up a copy of this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about the record-breaking sale in Carlisle.
SHARING OPTIONS