LIMESTONE HERD DISPERSAL WEDNESDAY 7th AUGUST 2002
Report

Charolais females sold to a top of 3,900gns at Borderway, Carlisle on August 7th 2002 when the entire Limestone herd owned by Graham Rowles Nicholson together with a consignment of females and calves from JSR Farms' Givendale herd came under the hammer.

Limestone leader: Topping the Charolais female sale at 3,900gns was Limestone Onyx with her heifer calf Topaz

Leading the bidding at 3,900gns was Limestone Onyx CH28, a Friarton Ensign daughter with her second calf at foot, Limestone Topaz by Balthayock Marius. The mother and daughter pair went to Richard Waring, based at Rand, near Lincoln.

Mr Waring is establishing a second pedigree Charolais herd, this time for his eight year old son, Joshua and the April born Topaz is set to be its first registered animal.

Balthayock Marius, who is owned by Beef Improvement Group and accompanied with a Beef Value within the breed's top 1% at CH43, sired a number of catalogued entries which met a ready demand including Limestone Revelation CH34, the second top lot at 3,600gns. Revelation went to John and Nora Jefferson, of Abbeytown, Wigton, and she is scheduled to be the foundation female in the family's pedigree Charolais herd which they're starting to rebuild after being culled out last spring. Revelation was a February 2000 born heifer who was AI'ed in June to Harvieston Marseille.

Another two Marius daughters from Limestone sold for 1,700gns apiece. First to go was Limestone Passion (March 1999), with her April born calf at foot by Seawell Offshore CH31. She sold to Will Oates' Ouston Farms, Chester-le-Street.

Donald MacPherson, of Baldersbury Hill, Berwick on Tweed made the second 1,700gns bid this time for Limestone Ruffle, a January 2000 born heifer. Shortly afterwards the same buyers went to 2,800gns for Limestone Roxette CH46, another two year old heifer by Brampton Chopper CH33.

Topping JSR Farms' trade at 2,600gns was Givendale Pussycat CH21, a heifer by Givendale Gascon with her January born bull at foot by Baggrave Minstrel. The pair went to D Ferguson and Sons, Fawcettlees, Bewcastle, Carlisle.

Marius daughters also featured among the Givendale lots including the three year old Givendale Petunia CH34, and her January born heifer by Givendale Frederick. The pair went for 2,400gns to the McKinney Brothers, Maghera, County Londonderry. Another three year old heifer with her January born bull calf, this time Givendale Pawn CH25 by the homebred Givendale Laurence made 2,200gns to Worcestershire breeder, RH Baines, Alvechurch.

Next to go at 2,000gns to Ross Farms, Gorebridge, Midlothian was the Birdsall Floyd sired Givendale Oasis CH22, with her second calf at foot, a six month old bull by Marius.

Averages:
Limestone: 29 cows and heifers served and or suckling £1,160.44; eight served heifers £1,778.44; eight maidens £633.94; six young bulls £1,050.00.
Givendale: 20 cows and heifers served and or suckling £1,215.38; 22 maidens and yearling heifers £704.73.