The Wilodge Production Sale held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday 6th June 2003 certainly drew the breeders from both the pedigree Belgian Blue and Limousin breeds together.

Christine Williams and Richard Bartle from Shropshire offered some of their top bloodlines from both herds which included many Royal Show winning stock.

Wilodge Ritzy

The 2002 Royal Show Limousin Champion produced the top price at 20,000gns. Wilodge Ritzy, a Manoir daughter, and out of the Lolly line which has produced many high priced bulls and quality females sold with her Malibu sired heifer calf, Wilodge Tizzy. Signing the cheque was Harry Emslie of the Coynach herd, based near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
“I mainly bought her not only for her looks but the real quality, and depth of her back breeding, both on her sire and dam lines. The Malibu daughter is a real bonus too. The whole outfit oozes quality” said Harry who runs a small herd of 25 pedigrees at Brae of Coynach.

A fifth calver Epatant daughter, Wilodge Littlegem, lived up to her name by selling for 11,000gns to Paul Dawes of Kipperknowle Barn, Herefordshire. He currently runs a suckler herd with about 330 cattle and after buying his first pedigree Limousin just over 18 months since, he is gradually building up numbers. Littlegem is full sister to Wilodge Lanette who was reserve supreme champion at the Royal Show in 1997, and to continue with the Royal appearance Littlegem’s 2002 heifer calf is entered for this years Royal show.

Mr Dawes also secured the next lot into the sale ring, Wilodge Ionette, an incalf cow carrying her seventh calf by Oxygene. Selling for 6,000gns, Ionette is a Fleethill Envoy sired daughter out of the noted brood cow at Wilodge, Boswells Danette. Paul Dawes also purchased Wilodge Lussy, a Brontemoor Ilkley daughter, for 4,500gns. Her bull calf sold separate for 3,500gns to E & N Phillips of Blackmeadows, Abergavenny.

Wilodge Nolly and her May 2003 born heifer calf by Bosworth Roger, were knocked down for 5,500gns. They are the start of a new herd for AJ Forsyth & Co at Mid Bishopton, Whithorn. Nolly is a Wilson Jupiter daughter and her dam, Balavil Dolly, is also granddam of the 20,000gn Wilodge Ritzy sold earlier.

Selling for 4,800gns was Bellisle Nijay, an in calf cow by Ronick Gains and out of the renowned show cow Broadmeadows Jiji, going back to the 26,000gn Broadmeadows Didi. Local breeder Alan Chapman bought the cow for his daughter and son in law, Julie and Arthur Brownrigg, for their Hesket herd at Howhill Farm, Hutton Roof.

Also selling for over the 4,000gn mark was Wilodge Ohblahdi, an in calf cow carrying her fourth. She sold for 4,200gns to Smiths of Bloxham, Newlands Farm, Banbury, and was one of 5 units purchased on the day.

The Belgian Blue section saw an excellent demand for all classes from ET calves right through to some outstanding brood cows.

One of the breeds well known show cows, Wilodge Ofleur, sold for the top price at 5,000gns. Sired by Savant de Pierrecome and out of Maybrock Fleur, she already has her stall booked for this years Royal Show. Successfully buying her from across the water was Crawford Bros, of Rathkeeland, Co.Fermanagh, N.Ireland.

An eight month heifer calf by Baron du Bois Bauloye and out of Bradwell Olivia sold for 3,800gns. Wilodge Unity an ET calf exhibiting tremendous size and power was sold to WG Forsyth for his Bishopton herd at Whithorn.

Lenborough Prunella, an in calf cow by Navire de Septon, sold for 3,300gns to AG Kirton & Sons of Severn Lodge Farm, Bewdley, Worcs.

Close behind at 3,100gns was Bradwell Olivia, mother of the 3,800gn heifer calf sold earlier. Out of Walnut Tree Judy and by Lawns Dominic, Olivia sold to local breeders Messrs Brough of Buckabank Farm, Dalston.

The sale opened with the Wilodge commercial cattle which met with a buoyant trade selling to a top of £1800 for a 7/8 Limousin cross cow with her Belgian Blue cross calf. She was knocked down to WJ MacGillvray of Nairn.

The sale included the herd dispersal from the Nashtarn herd for Mark Nash of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Lifting the top price at 2,600gns for the herd was Nashtarn Phoenix and her heifer calf Nashtarn Ulay. Phoenix is a grand daughter of the noted Brontemoor Ilkley bull and her breeding goes back to the Peasley herd on her dams pedigree. She sold to JC & SE Little of The Guards, Ireby, Carlisle.

Averages -
Wilodge Herd:
Limousins - 25 cows served and/or suckling £4,180.00, 4 served heifers £2,375.00, 5 maiden heifers £1,800.00; Belgian Blues - 4 cows £3,780.00, 4 served & yearling heifers £2,800.00, 1 young bull £1,890.00, 5 ET calves suckling recipients £2,089.50, Commercials- 14 head £983.08.
Nashtarn Herd:
7 cows served and/or suckling £1,221.43, 4 maiden heifers £1,150.00, 1 stock bull £1,050.00, 1 young bull £735.00.