CRACKING GRANGE LIMOUSIN SALE TOPS AT 18,500GNS

A first calved heifer selling to 18,500gns was the feature price of a cracking day’s trade for Mr. George Smith at the on-farm production sale of his well-respected Grange Limousin herd held at Brookfield Farm, London Road, Daventry, Northants.

The depth of the sale and trade went right through the length of the catalogue with a total clearance of the 72 head forward. Eight animals sold for over 4,000gns and the 34 cows offered served or with calf-at-foot averaged a tremendous £3,341.62.

Mr. Smith has very much concentrated on importing sires with some of the very best bloodlines from France and this was a feature of the day’s sale.

Grange Rialto

Grange Rialto, a March 2000 born heifer, took the headline price when selling with her heifer calf at foot, Grange Ursina by Pompier, to the pedigree herd of Mr. Harry Emslie, Brae of Coynach, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. It was a combination of visual appeal and proven bloodlines that lead Mr.Emslie to pay 18,500 gns. “I came to view the herd prior to the sale and this quality heifer just stood out”, said Mr. Emslie, “her bloodlines are very strong on both sides of her pedigree. In particular on the dam side, Rialto through Grange Gondola goes back to Imbattable, a French bred cow that has been a cornerstone of the Grange herd and whose family lines are so well proven,” he continued. Grange Rialto is sired by the noted Gabarit, a French bred son of As De Pic. This bull’s breeding was a feature of the day accounting for the top three prices of the sale.

18,500gns is the second big price Mr. Emslie has paid this year for a Limousin female having previously purchased Wilodge Ritzy at 20,000gns from DA Williams at their Carlisle herd sale in June. Commenting on his two purchases, Mr. Emslie said, “Both of these animals have been of the very highest quality and breeding and have appeared at sale within a short time of each other. Females of this calibre don’t come along every day and they are the foundation upon which a successful pedigree herd can be built.”

Grange Roxana who made the day’s second top price of 8000gns preceded Grange Rialto into the ring. Like the lead price, Roxana is out of a 12-year-old cow, this time Grange Gene, and again is sired by Gabarit. Again a March 2000 born first calver, she sold with her March 2003-born heifer calf Grange Ursuline, again by Pompier, to new breeder, George Mitchell Grassknop Farm, Hutton Roof, Penrith, Cumbria.

Selling at 6,200gns was Grange Panache, a 1999 born cow, sold with her February 2003 born bull calf at foot, Grange Ursus by Nabil. Grange Panache is out of yet another 12-year-old cow Grange Gentiana and was again sired by Gabarit. The well-known Ironstone pedigree herd of Smiths of Bloxham, Newlands Farm, Milton Road, Bloxham, Banbury purchased this cow.

The same herd also purchased Grange Okayama at 4800gns. This March 1998 born cow is sired by another French bull Irlandais, a son of Bandit, and is out of Grange Juniata, a Gabarit daughter. Grange Juniata was sold with her third calf-at-foot, Grange Unilateral sired by Perit B.

Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Clifton, Penrith, continued to build their Whinfellpark pedigree herd with the purchase of Grange Orleans at 4,500gns. By yet another French sire, Leplusjoli, a son of Bandit, this February 1998 born cow was out of the Gabarit sired Grange Loire. She was sold with her March 2003 born bull calf-at-foot, Grange Ultimo, sired by Marquis who himself later came under the sale hammer.

Early in the catalogue, Grange Napiana, a 1997 born cow, sired by Gabarit and out of the 12-year-old Grange Gironella was sold with her heifer calf at foot for 4100gns. The calf, Grange Ubiquite was by Perit B and was Napiana’s third calf. The purchaser was a new breeder, William Hopes, 199 Whitechurch Road, Ballywalter, Co. Down.

Purchasers had come from all parts of the country and Lot 10, Grange Nicolette was sold to WJ Coltman & Sons, Pencefn Sunny Hill, Tregarn, Ceredigion, who run the Pencefn pedigree herd for 4,000gns. This Janauary 1997 born cow was sired by Gabarit and is out of the Favori daughter Grange Aphrodite. She was sold with her fourth calf-at-foot Grange Upaya, a, April 2003 bull calf sired by Perit B.

Marquis

The one stock bull for sale on the day was the French-bred Marquis. In a feature of the sale cattle offered, he was again very well bred being sired by Cesar who himself was the sire of Haricot, the Champion bull at the French National Limousin show in 1995. Out of the French dam Flamme, this coming seven-year-old bull was sold locally to R&A Williams, Rickstead Farm, East Norton, Leicestershire.

Averages
34 cows served and/or suckling £3,341.62
9 served heifers £1,785.00
19 Maiden heifers £1,505.92
1 Stock Bull £4,200.00
9 Young Bulls £2,100.00