TERRIFIC STRENGTH IN DEPTH FOR LIMOUSIN FEMALES

An impressive show of pedigree Limousin females met with a terrific demand at the production sale from Montgomery Limousins for Rich and Sarah Jones, Llwynobin Farm, Montgomery, Powys, at Borderway Market, Carlisle on Friday 25th July 2003.

In all, a total clearance of 45 cows and heifers served and/or suckling averaged a very healthy £2387. The one stock bull sold was the day’s leading price at 5300gns. With the highest female price paid for an outfit being 3,800 there was strength in depth in the trade all the way through the catalogue.

A total of 11 lots made 2,000gns and more with six topping 3,000gns. The Montgomery herd was established in 1979 and today it comprises 130 pedigree cows with followers. Built upon a wide base of bloodlines including cattle from the Glenrock, Hartside and Huxley herds, the Jones’ have pursued a rigorous selection policy to keep improving their level of quality. “Consistency of type is what we have aimed at – cattle that are extremely quiet to handle whilst making sure they have milkiness,” said Mr. Jones.

Mynach Pilot

The top price of the day, at 5300gns, went to the one stock bull on offer from the herd, Mynach Pilot. Bred by Eddie Griffiths, Cilgryman-Fawr, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Hen-Dy-Gwyn, Dyfed, this bull is a half-brother to Mynach Nissan, a Champion at Carlisle in May 1999. Sired by Mynach Igor he is out of Mynach Iona. Mynach Pilot was purchased by the noted commercial breeder S Ewart & Sons, Belridding, Torthorwald, Dumfries.

The pedigree females averaged £2,387 with the top price for a unit being 3,800gns. Sold as separate lots, Montgomery Rosalie a first calved heifer by French stock bull Lasso, sold for 1800gns to the Reddial herd of JG & M Little, Greenhill Farm, Wigton, Cumbria. Her bull calf at foot then promptly sold for 2000gns to RW Lightfoot, Moorhouse Mill, Wigton, Cumbria.

Montgomery Opera, a February 1998 cow sold with her bull calf at foot for 3,600gns. This cow is by Jinola a stock bull sired by Festival and purchased from France as a six-month-old calf. Opera’s bull calf at foot was Montgomery Ulster, a March 2003 born calf by Lasso. In selling to WE Parsons, Ballamilghyn, Laxey, this outfit added to the growing contingent of Limousin cattle going to the Isle of Man.

A further Jinola daughter, Montgomery Petal, sold with another Lasso sired bull calf at foot, Montgomery Umbro, for 3200gns. This April 1999 born cow had her third calf at foot and the outfit was bought by Roy Fisher for the Marlepark Herd, Castlewigg Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart. Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor Farm, Clifton, Penrith who run the Whinfellpark Limousin Herd paid 3000gns when purchasing Montgomery Lisette. Columbjohn Fantastic, a son of Umar, sired this 8-year-old cow. Sold with her seventh calf-at-foot, again a bull calf sired by Lasso, Montgomery Utah, this cow was one of the biggest females on offer in the sale. Lisette is a granddaughter to Ruelle, purchased at the noted Uplands herd sale for 6000gns.

Finally at 3000gns was the coming thirteen-year-old Huxley Fleur bred by Mr H Prince, Green Farm, Huxley Chester. This good doing cow was sold with her tenth calf at foot, the March 2003 born bull calf Montgomery Umzil by Mynach Pilot. Fleur was sired by MMB Avergny and is out of Huxley April. Paying the price was Mr S Suffern, Homra House, 87 Comber Road, Hillsborough, Co. Down who runs the Homra pedigree herd.

The production sale from the Gallowshieldrigg Herd on behalf of Mr Ali Afsari, Blackhamilton, Blackford, Carlisle more than carried on the good trade. Again there was a total clearance with seventeen maiden and yearling heifers averaging £1260. These heifers offered buyers good pedigree breeding cattle, with a depth of noted AI sires and attractive figures.

Top price was the 2000gns paid for the first animal offered, Gallowshieldrigg Sudabeh. This July 2001 born heifer is sired by Genus Hidalgo and is out of the Djerk sired daughter Gallowshieldrigg Natalia. Her Beef Value of LM+31 put her in the top 1% of Limousin recorded animals. Purchaser was JT Nixon and Sons who run the Stotsfold pedigree herd at Stotsfold Farm, Steel, Hexham, Northumberland. Carrying on the momentum was the next lot in the ring Gallowshieldrigg Susan who also sold for 2000gns. This Ronick Luke daughter, again July 2001 born, is out of Dedswell Melanie a Carthorpe Fido daughter. She was purchased by JG & SE Little, The Guards, Ireby, Carlisle for their Guards pedigree herd.

Opening the day’s sale had been a reduction offering from the noted Crownhead Herd of Bob and Jean Burnell, Crownhead, Keith Hall, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. It featured the entire crop of heifers for the years 2001 and 2002 together with the senior stock bull, Libertin. In all, 20 maiden and served heifers averaged just under £1200.

It was the stock bull however, the French bred Libertin, who took the leading price when selling for 300gns to Andrew Ewing, Drumbretton, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Libertin is coming eight years old. He is a son of Heros and is out of Ulla who is also the dam of the noted Gugus.

The top Crownhead female price was the 2100gns paid for Crownhead Trietta. This April 2002 born heifer is by Crownhead Hydro and is out of the Bailea Mexico sired Crownhead Pride. Trietta was another animal heading for the Isle of Man when she was purchased by JH Harvey, Ballamenagh Farm, Abbey Lands, Onchan who run the Harvmenagh pedigree herd.

Averages
Montgomery Herd
45 cows and heifers served and/or suckling - £2387.00
1 Stock bull - £5,565.00

Gallowshieldrigg Herd
17 maiden & yearling heifers £1260.00

Crownhead Herd
1 cow served and/or suckling £1050.00
8 Served heifers £1174.69
12 maiden heifers £1211.88
1 bull £3150.00