20,000gns Ballyrobin Joop leads strong Limousin trade at Carlisle

With little single farm payment having been received by farmers and understandable concerns over a shortage of money being a hot topic, the sale bucked the trend with more bulls being sold on the year and at an increased average.

It was another terrific day for Northern Irish breeders with bulls from the province taking the top two prices and featuring throughout the leading sale figures on the day.

The top price bull, Ballyrobin Joop is by the AI sire Lowerffrydd Empire and is out of Ballyrobin Frenchy, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter.  Frenchy is out of Ballyrobin Anastacia who is “leaving some tremendous females in the Ballyrobin herd”. Anastacia breeding is also in Ballyrobin Gazza whose sons have topped BLCS Sales at Brecon market. Purchasing the top price for their noted 120 cow Haltcliffe pedigree herd was Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton. 

Commenting afterwards, Craig Ridley said: “He’s a very long, clean, modern Limousin bull. He moves extremely well and will bring some new bloodlines to the Haltcliffe herd.”

For a “thrilled” Joan Gilliland it was the first time that she had topped a sale at Carlisle and with what was her highest sale price to date, surpassing a 10,000gns figure achieved in 1997 at Perth. Across the three days at Carlisle it was very much a team affair working with her niece Kim Steele-Nicholson.

Coming in with the second top price of 19,000gns was Millgate Jukebox from Michael and Jack Loughran, Dunamore, Cookstown, Co Tyrone. October 2014 born this young bull had won the youngest class of the day and been placed as reserve junior champion by the pre-sale show judge James Cooper of the noted Tomschoice herd, Hill Top Farm, Dacre, North Yorkshire. He is by the homebred Millgate Derry, who himself was sold for 20,000gns at Carlisle in May 2010, and is out of Millgate Hopeful. Hopeful is by Norman Ely who was the sire of the 7500gns Millgate Lucy sold in December 2015. Millgate Hopeful’s breeding also features Millgate Caesar who was a previous supreme champion at Carlisle and is out of the noted Ballyline Udolf. Purchasing the second top price was Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, Lanarkshire for his 150 cow pedigree Maraiscote herd.

Speaking after the sale Ian Nimmo said: “This bull will bring different bloodlines to the herd. He has lots of style, will be easy calving with good figures, and I think as a bull he has got a lot left in him.”

At the close of the sale 97 bulls had sold, up by six on the year, to average £5610 up by £71 on the corresponding sale. The clearance rate was a very healthy 74% of the bulls forward with eleven at 10,000gns or more and 35 in all at 5,000gns or more.

The upward trend of the sale was something that was picked up on by Iain Kerr, the BLCS chief executive who said: “There continues to be a shortage of money amongst farmers and fat cattle prices are broadly back on the year by 30p. Given these circumstances to see an increase in both averages and numbers sold is I think a really positive statement of confidence in the breed by both commercial producers and pedigree breeders. At Carlisle and Stirling sales that’s over 160 bulls sold to average in excess of £5000. It was great also to see a number of new buyers very much to the fore and from different parts of the UK. The breed is ticking the boxes in terms of efficiently producing the quality calves at the weights required by the market. That that sits very well with its carcase advantages in killing out percentage and meat yield and the flexibility producers have in marketing Limousin cattle.”

Selling at 18,000gns was the first prize winner in Class Five in the shape of Cloughhead Jerry from George Hutton, Setmabanning, Threlkeld, Keswick, Cumbria. Again offering up some different bloodlines, Cloughhead Jerry is by a French bred bull Gultime and is out of Cloughhead Gemini whose pedigree on the dam line goes back to Heros. Another of the top bulls to go to a pedigree breeder, Cloughhead Jerry was purchased by RM Adam and Son for their Newhouse herd at Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, Angus.

Commenting after the sale Kay Adam said: “This bull has good square plates and a round backside which caught our eye immediately he came into the ring. We liked the French breeding in him which will of course introduce different blood lines.”

The aim now is to use the bull across both cows and heifers in the herd which numbers around 60 cows split fairly evenly between black and red Limousins.

Larkhill Julius from Brian McAuley, Larkhill Farm, Seven Mile Straight, Co Antrim made 17,000gns when selling to the pedigree herd of Messrs J Logan, Humebyres Farm, Kelso, Roxburghshire. September 2014 born, Julius arrived at Carlisle having won the Senior Calf Championship at the Balmoral Beef Expo in November 2015. Bringing an outstanding cross pedigree, Larkhill Julius is by Hightown Dalglish whose pedigree features both Shire Apollo and Igolo. He is out of Larkhill Grace whose pedigree is also full of breeding and includes Bailea Umandy, Carmorn Penny, and the herd’s flagship cow Larkhill Countess.

Delighted with the purchase John Logan Jnr said: “He’s a long bull with great conformation that moved well. He’s got a good pedigree, strong female bloodlines, and brings different genetics. All round he has good figures, and ticked the boxes of what we were looking for in a new stock bull.”

The supreme champion animal at the pre-sale show was Gunnerfleet Jacob from Ian Handley, Gunnerfleet Farm, Chapel Le Dale, Ingleton, Lancashire. Having stood first in Class Six he went on to lift the intermediate championship before being given the tap as the overall champion. Despite being long-time supporters of the Carlisle Limousin Sales, being prolific sellers, and having won a number of awards, this was the herd’s first supreme champion, after some 27 years, at Carlisle. Gunnerfleet Jacob is by the herd’s £40,000 stock bull Plumtree Fantastic and is out of Gunnerfleet Gunas who goes back to Ballyburton Una the ‘best cow line’ in the herd.

Commenting after the sale championship had been awarded, Ian Handley said: “It’s terrific to win the championship at Carlisle and within what is always such a good standard. As a herd we are always trying to improve by using the best genetics that we can.

“Just yesterday we sold a Plumtree Fantastic heifer privately for £10,000 and we have had one of our best years at home selling 26 bulls privately to average over £5000. This is a great reward on top of that.”

The 50 pedigree female herd, with 30 odd recipients, plans to have a sale of heifers at Carlisle in May. Come sale time and the champion animal was purchased for 14,000gns by H Annett and Son for their Widdrington pedigree herd at Widdrington Farm, Widdrington, Morpeth, Northumberland.

The judge on the day James Cooper was quick to praise his champion and said: “The champion bull moved extremely well. He had a good head, tremendous top line, and had width over his backend without being too extreme. There was plenty of class and style in him and he really was a worthy champion.”

Capping a fine day Ian Handley also sold his second prize winner Gunnerfleet Jimmy for 11,000gns to the Gatesgarth herd of M and W Richardson, Gatesgarth Farm, Buttermere, Cockermouth, Cumbria. Gunnerfleet Jimmy, August 2014 born, is by the 24,000gns Gunnerfleet Eros and is out of the consistent breeding dam Gunnerfleet Opion.

Standing reserve intermediate champion to the champion and also making 14,000gns was Dinmore Jumbo from Paul Dawes, Dinmore Manor, Hereford. A first prize winner in Class 8, the June 2014 born Jumbo was the first calf offered at sale by the herd’s senior stock bull Diamant a previous interbreed supreme champion at the Royal Welsh Show. Dinmore Jumbo is out of Dinmore Caprice whose progeny have sold at 22,000 and 14,000gns and has a pedigree that goes back to Wilodge Priceless the mother of the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus. Purchasing this bull was Gary Howells for his Shadog pedigree herd at Shadog, Pentrecwrt, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire.

Another bull to sell at 14,000gns was Goldies Jazz from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries. This July 2014 calf had stood second in his class to the junior champion and was snapped up by Michael Fieldson for the Fieldsons pedigree herd at Poplar Farm, Corringham, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. From another strong pen of bulls Goldies Jazz is by the Rossignol sired Haltcliffe Doctor and is out of the Goldies Terence daughter Goldies Bertha whose progeny have previously sold for 28,000gns.

From the same pen the first prize winning junior bull in class 14, Goldies Joker, also made 14,000gns. Goldies Joker is by Ampertaine Gigolo the sire of the world record bull Trueman Jagger. September 2014 born he is out of the Wilodge Cerberus daughter Goldies Flair. Carrying some terrific performance figures for growth he was sold with a mighty beef value of LM+62 to Messrs Morris Bros, Whitcott Evan Farm, Clun, Craven Arms, Shropshire, for their Whitcott pedigree herd. In Class 14 the Goldies herd had placed a remarkable first, second, third and fifth. Overall in the sale they sold six bulls to gross 43,000gns.

The run of bulls from Northern Irish breeders making five figures and more continued when the upstanding Killydun JR from Quinn Brothers, Kilrea, made 12,000gns. A second prize winner in class 9 this July 2014 born bull is by the prolific 42,000gns AI sire Cloughhead Umpire and is out of another Wilodge Cerberus daughter Craigatoke Hayley. Purchasing this bull was Simon Stephen for his Cantray pedigree herd at Meikle Geddes Farm, Nairn in the north of Scotland.

Eleven bulls in all made 10,000gns and over. Selling at the 10,000gns mark was Coachhouse Justus from Messrs Heald & Co, Home Farm, Retford, Notts. The highest priced bull to sell out of the senior section, this May 2014 born bull is by the herd’s 15,000gns Rachels Ferrari, a Mas Du Clo son. Justus is out of Coachhouse Brittany who is a daughter of the herd’s noted Haltcliffe Picasso. The purchaser of this bull, one of a number to go to South West Scotland, was R Dunlop, Pinvalley Farm, Barr, Girvan, Ayrshire.

Three lots later another son from the Healds, Coachhouse Johnboy made 8000gns when selling to AT Dixon, Chirdon, Tarset, Hexham, Northumberland. Similarly bred to their top price, the May 2014 born Johnboy is by Rachels Ferrari and is out of another Haltcliffe Picasso daughter this time Coachhouse Ubelle.

The largest pen of bulls in the market, a mighty fourteen in all, came from Eric and Elaine Norman, Little Orton Farm, Carlisle. Making their top price on the day of 9500gns was the June 2014 born Norman Jaguar. Entirely homebred this bull is by Norman Goldmine, a Coachhouse Duke son, and is out of Norman Clover. This bull was another to go to Ayrshire when selling to J W Kay and Co, Gass Farm, Straiton, Maybole, Ayrshire.

The first prize winner in Class 7 was Maraiscote Junior from Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, Lanark. Another by the herd’s prolific stock bull Goldies Comet, Maraiscote Junior is out of the Virgina Andy daughter Maraiscote Gazelle. He was sold for 8200gns to WI Suddes and Sons, South Farm, Cornsay, Durham, Co Durham for their Cornsay pedigree herd.

Other leading prices:

* Culnagechan Jeronamo, Lot 203, 8000gns, W Robson Farm Ltd, High West House Farm, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland.

* Ampertaine Jackpot, Lot 218, 8000gns, R A Cadzow, Inland Pastures Farm, Scremerston, Berwick upon Tweed. First in class 11, junior and reserve supreme champion

* Longhirst Jerome, Lot 128, 7500gns, W and R Lawson, Stubsgill Farm, Distington, Workington, Cumbria. First in class 3 and reserve senior champion

* Eniver Jazzman, Lot 222, 7500gns, PW Greed, Columbjohn Farm, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. 3rd in class 11

* Culnagechan Jurassic, Lot 191, 7000gns J Leiper and Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland, Newcastle on Tyne.

* Romford Jura, Lot 267, 7000gns, Robert McNee Ltd, Overfinlarg, Tealing, Dundee. Second in class 15

* Knock Black Jerry, Lot 138, 6500gns, John Moir, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

* Ballinloan Jukebox, Lot 167, 6500gns, M Cameron, Strone Farm, Banavie, Fort William, Inverness-shire. Second in class 6

* Ballinloan Jumbo, Lot 234, 6500gns, M/s Fleming, Mosstower Farm, Kelso, Roxburghshire. Second in class 12

* Homebyres Jamie, Lot 119, 6000gns, W Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Burnhope, Durham, Co Durham. Fifth in class 2

* Knock Black Jeronimo, Lot 205, 6000gns, WHM and W Sloan, Mull of Galloway Farm, Drummore, Stranraer.

* Craigatoke Johnny, Lot 254, 6000gns, J Leiper and Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland, Newcastle on Tyne.

AVERAGES:

28 seniors - £4170.16

37 intermediates - £5726.70

32 juniors - £6736.40

97 bulls averaged - £5610.44