RECORD BREAKING LIMOUSIN RED LADIES
SEES WESTSIDE AND GLENROCK HEIFERS MAKE 20,000GNS
Friday 7th December 2007

Record maiden heifer average of £3195 – Four animals over 10,000gns - nine over 6,000gns – 78% clearance – sale grosses £195,089

Two heifers at 20,000gns each capped another record breaking day at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s premier female sale, the Red Ladies Derby, held at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart on Friday 7th December. This annual fixture, held just over four weeks later than its originally scheduled slot, had drawn a much anticipated catalogue of entries. Featuring a depth of quality young females with a mixture of visual appeal, performance figures and bloodlines, many of the entered animals also carried national and county summer show records of distinction.

A packed ringside on what was a busy sale day at Carlisle saw breeders and commercial producers bid with confidence for the quality on offer. Four animals made over 10,000gns, with nine in all making over 6,000gns. Records at a Collective Official Sale tumbled once again as 48 maiden heifers averaged an all-breeds centre record high mark of £3195, up by £1094 on the corresponding 2006 sale. In all, from a smaller Derby catalogue on the year, 58 animals sold representing a healthy 78% clearance, to a total gross of £195,089. This final official pedigree sale fixture in the year pushed total gross sales for pedigree Limousin cattle in 2007 to over £5,250,000.

Westside Avril - 20,000gns

Leading the sale at 20,000gns was the classy Westside Avril, an October 2005 born maiden heifer from the 18 cow Westside pedigree herd of Messrs S & GA Potter, Westside, Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire. This stylish and powerful heifer offered a tremendous pedigree being out of Broadmeadows Jiji a daughter of the 26,000gns Broadmeadows Didi and the famous Broadmeadows Cannon. Her sire is the French AI bull Imperial. In 2007, this heifer had caught the attention when winning her class at the Royal Show and being part of the winning Interbreed Limousin Team of Five. She was also crowned Limousin Female Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show and was again part of the winning Limousin Junior Interbreed Team.

In what was a significant theme of the day, the purchasers of Westside Avril were Smiths of Bloxham, Newlands Farm, Milton Road, Bloxham, Banbury for their Ironstone pedigree herd. On the day, Smiths of Bloxham spent a collective 70,000gns in purchasing five of the top six prices including the two animals at 20,000gns. Smiths of Bloxham have been prolific purchasers of high quality Limousin females as they continue to grow the Ironstone herd to their stated aim of approximately 200 breeding females. Owner Peter Smith’s continued philosophy is to buy selected, well bred cattle that both add to the herd’s existing bloodlines and introduce fresh breeding lines. Earlier this year, Smiths of Bloxham purchased Sarkley Arriana for 28,000gns at Carlisle, the year’s leading price for a Limousin female.

Glenrock Bianca - 20,000gns

Their second purchase at 20,000gns was for another maiden heifer in the shape of Glenrock Bianca from Mr SD Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. February 2006 born, this heifer again featured a bloodline that caught the attention. By the Broadmeadows Cannon sired Hafodlas Llion, Glenrock Bianca is out of Glenrock Spangle. This cow is one of only four registered females by Kype Interrogate, a bull renowned for consistently producing high quality show calves over the last ten years. Spangle’s first calf, Glenrock Victory, sold for 13,000gns at the May 2006 sale in Carlisle. At the pre-sale inspection, this animal had been declared as marginal in its teeth which had prevented it from being shown in the pre-sale show but allowed it to be sold through the ring. The package of visual appeal, depth of breeding and performance figures ensured fierce bidding on this animal.

A delighted BLCS Chief Executive, Iain Kerr, said, “This was a tremendous end of year sale and is a great statement of confidence in the quality and future of the breed. A record average for almost fifty maiden heifers given the industry climate is fantastic. Limousin females are all about easy calving, easy care, efficiency, and flexible marketing of quality calves. They consistently produce the goods for both pedigree breeders and commercial producers and it is this ability as an all round female, delivering performance, efficiencies and profit that continues to drive the demand.”

Northern Irish breeders have enjoyed considerable success at this year’s Limousin pedigree sales and so it was again on Friday when Mr D Kenwell, 44 Main Street, Dromore, Co Tyrone made 12,000gns when selling another maiden heifer, Kendrom Betty, to Smiths of Bloxham. Another outstanding animal, Kendrom Betty was the Junior Limousin Champion at this year’s Royal Ulster Show where she went on to win the prestigious Junior Interbreed Champion of Champions. An embryo calf, and February 2006 born, Kendrom Betty is by the noted Jockey and is out of the homebred Kendrom Utha whose pedigree features the equally noted Greensons Gigolo.

Welsh breeders Messrs CL & FE Jerman, Glangwden, Trefeglwys, Caersws, Powys had brought two much anticipated home bred served heifers, Glangwden Ainsi and Glangwden Asilex, to the sale and duly found their reward when selling them for 10,500gns and 7,500gns respectively to Smiths of Bloxham. In the pre-sale show, judged by Mrs Delana Davies, Tierson Farm, Steynton, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, these outstanding heifers followed each other all the way through to place Overall Champion and Reserve Overall. Getting the nod as Champion was Glangwden Ainsi, an August 2005 born daughter of Haltcliffe Ullswater, a bull purchased jointly at Carlisle in 2004 for 43,000gns by the Glangwden and Sarkley pedigree herds. Earlier this year, the Jermans had set a record pedigree price of 8,000gns for a bull at Brecon market by the same sire. Glangwden Ainsi, August 2005 born, is out of Glangwden Rosina who is a full sister to Glangwden Neil, the Junior Champion at Carlisle in February 1999. Superb performance figures saw Ainsi carry a Beef Value of LM+38. Of her Champion, show judge Mrs Davies said, “This heifer was just what I was looking for; she was very powerful, had tremendous character and was very feminine. The Champion and Reserve were very similar in type and so close.”

The Reserve Champion, Glangwden Asilex, from the Jerman’s 100 cow strong pedigree herd, was also by the Sympa son Haltcliffe Ullswater. Again, August 2005 born, this equally powerful heifer was a first prize winner at this year’s Royal Welsh Show where she was also a member of the Limousin Overall Reserve Interbreed Team of Five. Glangwden Asilex is out of Glangwden Silex one of the herd’s top breeding cows whose progeny have already sold up to 5,800gns. Asilex also carried excellent performance figures with a top 1% Beef Value of LM+42.

Brontemoor Bobbydazzler was presented by breeder Mr Steven M Priestley, Hill Top Farm, Denhome, Bradford, West Yorkshire and made the fifth joint top price of 7,500gns. This smart young June 2006 born heifer was the first calf presented at sale by Seaview Upstart, a bull the Priestleys had bought for 5,000gns at Carlisle in May 2005. She is out of Brontemoor Lisa, the mother of Brontemoor Razzledazzle, who was sold to the Haltcliffe herd and has bred calves up to 14,000gns. Brontemoor Bobbydazzler was purchased for the Aghadolgan pedigree herd of RA Savage, 50 Blakes Road, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry. Just four lots earlier, the same purchasers paid 5,400gns for Ringway Bluebell, one of two much admired heifers presented from the Ringway herd of Messrs PJ & E Henshall, Sarkshields, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. Ringway Bluebell is by the Cloughhead Jurassic son Cloughhead Rocket, the Ringway herd’s stock bull. A May 2006 calf she is out of Ringway Rosette whose pedigree features both Ronick Luke and Ronick Cosmos.

Earlier in the sale the stylish Ringway Biddy had made 7,000gns when selling to the Rosecroft pedigree herd of Mr DK Wheeler, Goodiford Mill, Kentisbeare, Nr. Cullompton, Devon. Ringway Biddy, April 2006 born and by Cloughhead Rocket, is out of Ringway Tomboy - another homebred female whose pedigree also features Ronick Cosmos. Cloughhead Rocket was purchased for 15,000gns in May 2002 and these two animals represent his first two females offered at sale. Ringway Biddy and Ringway Bluebell had both claimed first prize tickets in the pre sale show from classes six and seven respectively.

Cloughhead breeding was also evident in Kype Bracelet, the first prize winner from the last class of the show. From Mr R Cruickshank, Little Kype Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, this August 2006 born maiden heifer made 6,200gns when selling to H Annett & Son, Widdrington Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland for their Widdrington pedigree herd. A thick heifer with good figures, LM+37, Kype Bracelet is by the Heros son Cloughhead Lord and is out of Kype Jewel whose pedigree goes back to Rake Terence. Earlier in the day, Mr Annett had also purchased the first prize winning Bankdale Bash, sired by Sarkley Volt, for 4,500gns from Gordon Wilson, Bankdale Farm, Wreay, Carlisle.

Mr G Harvey, Harvey Brothers, 100 Buchanan Street, Balfron, Glasgow, had enjoyed a prolific show summer with his July 2005 born heifer Harveys Atique. A first prize ticket had been acquired at the Royal Highland Show followed by the Reserve Female Championship at the Great Yorkshire Show and membership of the winning Junior Interbreed Team. Sired by the prolific Cannon son, Ronick Hawk, this heifer was out of the homebred Harveys Tique. The dam bloodline is particularly strong and deep as it goes back to both Ronick Unique and Talent. Another quality heifer, she was purchased for 6,000gns by Yorkshire breeders AJ Mason, Oddacres Farm, Embsay, Skipton for their Oddacres herd.

Averages

Red Ladies Derby
1 Cow served and/or suckling   £3,465.00
9 Served Heifers                      £4,252.50
48 Maiden Heifers                    £3,194.84

HAFODLAS BULL CALF MAKES 6,200GNS AND LIMOUSIN WEANED HEIFER CALVES SET RECORD AVERAGE

Record weaned heifer calf average of £1795 – Heifer average up £782 –
11 more bulls sold on the year – 96% clearance – sale grosses £90,295

Following hot on the heels of the record breaking premier Limousin female sale at Carlisle on Friday 7th December, was the British Limousin Cattle Society’s annual sale of Weaned Calves. This annual fixture more than kept the record breaking momentum of the day up when setting a new mark for weaned heifer calves. In a fantastic day’s trading 26 weaned heifer calves averaged a remarkable new Limousin and centre record average of £1795, up £782 on the year. 41 bull calves averaged £1065 up £39 on the year for 11 more sold. Of the 70 weaned calves entered, 67 were sold representing a clearance rate of 96%. The sale grossed £90,295.

Leading the way was the 6,200gns top price paid for the 10-month-old bull calf Hafodlas Cymro from North Wales breeder Messrs AH & GW Roberts, Hafod Las, Ysbyty Ifan, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy. This stylish calf, got by AI, is a son of Cloughhead Umpire who was purchased for 42,000gns at Carlisle in February 2005 for the Haltcliffe herd of Messrs Ridley. His dam is Hafodlas Sali, a daughter of Hafodlas Llion the same sire who had produced the 20,000gns Glenrock Bianca at the Red Ladies sale earlier in the day. This calf was purchased for the pedigree Dinmore herd of Paul Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford.

Two lots later came Saunders Calzaghe from Messrs A & W Watson from Saunders Close, Slaggyford, Brampton, Carlisle. This muscly calf certainly packed a punch when selling for 4,500gns to JW Dent & Sons who run the Naby pedigree herd at Naby View, Lartington, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. A seven-month-old calf, Saunders Calzaghe is by the noted Heros whose progeny have sold for up to 24,000gns. He is out of the homebred Saunders Pimpernel who is by Saunders Nijinsky.

Commenting, Iain Kerr, British Limousin Cattle Society’s Chief Executive said, “This fixture for calves born in the year of the sale continues to go from strength to strength. The calves are full of quality, breeding, and obvious potential. As such buyers, both pedigree and commercial, know that they are getting real value for their money.”

The heifer section trade was as remarkable as it was consistent. Seven heifer calves in all made over 2,500gns with three at over 3,000gns. The top price was the 3,800gns paid for the six-month-old Barrons Cansy from Mr W Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhop, Co. Durham. Sired by the Ionesco son Sarkley Volvo, this calf is out of the homebred Barrons Tansy, a daughter of Waindale Prime.

Purchasing the top price was RA Savage, 50 Blakes Road, Castlerock, Co Londonderry for his Aghadolgan pedigree herd. Mr Savage had earlier in the day purchased two heifers from the Red Ladies Derby Sale at 7,500gns and 5,400gns respectively. Just four lots earlier he had also purchased Trigwr Cara for 3,400gns from Mr GD Roberts, Braich Tirgwr Mawe, Carmel, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. A heifer’s calf, and born in April 2007, Trigwr Cara is by the Saphir son Hafodlas Vedw and is out of Hafodlas Unol.

Hafodlas breeding was again to the fore for Messrs AH & GW Roberts, when Hafodlas Cerys sold for 3,200gns to the Argyllshire based Garraron herd of Mr JS Adam, Garraron Farm, Ardfern, Lochgilphead. This January 2007 heifer was again by Saphir, a son of Jacot and a half brother to Requin the sire of the 50,000gns heifer Bailea Umandy. She is out of Hafodlas Urwen, an ET sister to Hafodlas Vance the Reserve Overall Champion at Carlisle in May 2005.

A cracking day’s trading continued for the Hafodlas prefix when their very next lot into the ring, Hafodlas Ceirios, went under the hammer for the fourth top heifer calf price of 2,800gns. A Cloughhead Umpire daughter and out of the homebred dam, the very consistent breeder, Hafodlas Oona, new owner is M Burns, Craignell Farm, New Galloway, Castle Douglas.

At the 2,600gns mark was Hafodlas Ceira, a Garnedd Vance daughter and out of Hafodlas Sara, the dam who had bred the sale topper, Hafodlas Beti, at the corresponding 2006 fixture. Purchasers were WA & M Watson, West Newlands, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.

ML Thomas’ Nebo Carol, from their Bryn Farm, Nebo, Llanrwst, Conwy holding was another at 2,600gns. Sired by Sarkley Upmost and out of College Varity, a Broadmeadows VIP grand-daughter, this January 2007 born heifer calf was snapped up by JE Jack, Carriston Farm, Star, Glenrothes, Fife for their Kingdom herd of pedigree Lims.

Averages:
41 Bull Calves £1064
26 Heifer Calves £1795