LUMBYLAW LIMOUSIN HERD’S WEALTH AND DEPTH OF BREEDING PAYS

Pedigree Limousin buyers came from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to buy into the bloodlines of Richard Oates’ Lumbylaw herd, one of the longest established in the country, at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday (June 7).

The major production sale for the Lumbylaw herd involved the majority of the remaining cattle from the Lumbylaw herd which was formed at Lumbylaw, near Alnwick, Northumberland, by breed enthusiast Richard Oates. Lumbylaw grew to be the biggest herd of pedigree Limousins in the country, numbering 350 breeding cows, with the emphasis on good breeding performance records.

Sixteen lots sold for 3,400gns and more to make an overall average of £2,459.42 for the 26 bulls sold and £1,974.92 for 115 females.

Mr Oates, of Hawick, was delighted with the sale. “There was a good crowd and everything went through the ring very well. Heifers in particular met a good, consistent trade.”

Auctioneer David Thomlinson described the trade as buoyant throughout the sale, reflecting the Lumbylaw herd’s wealth and depth of breeding.

Included in the sale were well-known proven stock sires and it was the bull Kype Orkney, sire of many animals in the catalogue which made the top price of 6,000gns selling to McKinney Bros, of Heathmount, Maghera, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Orkney, now four years old, bred by Ron Cruickshank, of Strathaven, Lanarkshire, was bought at the Carlisle autumn 1999 sale. Orkney is by Cloughhead Lord, a Broadmeadows Cannon son.

The top priced female and second top price of the sale was Lumbylaw Nailbridge, with her first heifer calf at foot, the heifer Lumbylaw Sparrow, which sold for 5,000gns to Johnny Thompson and son John, for their Hartsideanew herd at Townfoot, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria.

The cow by Brockhurst Liskeard has a beef value of LM27. The Thompsons were keen to buy from Lumbylaw bloodlines and Johnny Thompson said the heifer was also in memory of former Lumbylaw stockman, the late Colin Alderson, who had been a good friend. The Thompsons also bought the heifer Lumbylaw Perfume for 3,600gns. She is by Eden Luther, bred by Andy Holliday, of Langwathby, Penrith, from whom the Thompsons have previously bought cattle to re-stock their herd.

Haltcliffe Hercules, bought at Carlisle at the sale in the autumn of 1993, and still working well at 10 years old, made the third top price of 4,500gns, to Alan Fotheringham, of Craighall Farm, Forgandenny, Perth. Hercules is a national breed trait leader for calving ease, uniquely combining an ability for fleshing and muscle score, both of which are in the top one per cent of breed ratings.

Also making 4,500gns was Lumbylaw Mercy, a five year old cow by Woodhouse Iron, with her April-born heifer calf Lumbylaw Tarragon at foot. Purchasers were I Renton and Sons, High Highlaws, Morpeth, Northumberland.

With the leading prices shared between bulls and females, it was a 13 month old Haltcliffe Hercules son, Lumbylaw Simeon which sold for the next price at 4,400gns to borders breeders F Hickson and Sons, of Woodhouse Farm, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.

Two more female lots and a young bull sold for 4,200gns. The four year old cow Lumbylaw Olivia with her Hercules-sired bull calf sold to H Annett and Son, of Widdrington Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland. The Kype Orkney-sired maiden heifer Lumbylaw Redwine was knocked down to RD and EM Howe, Dufton Hall, Dufton, Appleby, Cumbria, while the 19 month old bull Lumbylaw Roughandtumble, by Fedneyhouse Nelson, sold to JF Stott and Sons, Elilaw, Thropton, Morpeth, Northumberland.

Averages: 53 cows and heifers with calves, £2,321.89; 25 served heifers, £1,852.20; 23 maiden heifers, £1,680.00; 14 yearling heifers, £1,365.00; 115 females, £1,974.92; 26 bulls, £2,459.42;

Leading prices:
Kype Orkney, 6,000gns, to McKinney Bros, Heathmount, 91 Craigadick Road, Maghera, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Lumbylaw Nailbridge, 5,000gns, to J Thompson, Townfoot, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria. Haltcliffe Hercules, 4,500gns, to A Fotheringham, Craighall Farm, Forgandenny, Perth. Lumbylaw Mercy, 4,500gns, to I Renton & Son, High Highlaws, Morpeth, Northumberland. Lumbylaw Simeon, 4,400gns, to F Hickson & Sons, Woodhouse Farm, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire. Lumbylaw Ovoline, 4,200gns, to H Annett & Son, Widdrington Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland. Lymbylaw Redwine, 4,200gns, to RD & EM Howe, Dufton Hall, Dufton, Appleby, Cumbria. Lumbylaw Roughandtumble, 4,200gns, to JF Stott & Sons, Elilaw, Thropton, Morpeth, Northumberland. Lumbylaw Primula, 3,700gns, to Glenturk Pedigree Herds, Glenturk, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. Easington Lipstick, 3,600gns, to G Armstrong, Gill Head, Scotby, Carlisle, Cumbria. Lumbylaw Naafi, 3,600gns, to WF Cruickshank & Sons, Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown on Spey, Morayshire. Lumbylaw Perfume, 3,600gns, to J Thompson. Lumbylaw Folio, 3,600gns, to L McEldowney, 39 Slaughtneil Road, Maghera, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Lumbylaw Rosewood, 3,500gns, to SM Priestley, Hill Top Farm, Denholme, Bradford, W.Yorkshire. Lumbylaw Lulubell, 3,400gns, to A & L Warin, The Lawns, Harden Grange, Harden, Bingley, W.Yorkshire. Lumbylaw Poppyseed, 3,400gns, to A Chapman, Howhill Farm, Lane End, Hutton Roof, Penrith, Cumbria.