Limousins peak at 17,000gns at Carlisle autumn sale

Prices peaked at 17,000gns at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s annual autumn show and sale of bulls at Carlisle on Saturday 20 October where 118 bulls sold to a clearance rate of 83%, ahead of last year’s 77%.

Unsurprisingly, in what has been a challenging year for suckler producers and with uncertainties ahead, top prices and averages were back on the year.

The overall average levelled at £5,611.36, down from the £7,018.27 average at the 2017 autumn sale.

However, commercial trade was strong with almost half of the bulls knocked down between 4,000 and 10,000gns and 13 bulls made five figures or more.

See also: The latest ringside news in our Taking Stock pages

Trade topper at 17,000gns

All the way from Anglesey, it was junior bull Pabo Niro from Peredur and Llyr Hughes that made the top money of the day.

By Netherhall Jackpot out of Pabo Icemaden, the July 2017 born bull had been placed as reserve junior and reserve overall champion in the pre-sale show on Friday 19 October.

Taking Niro back to Haas Side Farms, Lockerbie, it was winning bidder Gary Bell who made it his second purchase from the herd. The Hughes family also sold Niro’s full brother Pabo Netherhall to Messrs Williams, Holyhead, Gwynedd for 8,000gns.

16,000gns

Limousin bull Huntershall Nutcracker

Huntershall Nutcracker

Second in the money, at 16,000gns, was the Plumtree Fantastic son Huntershall Nutcracker from Stephen Nixon, Wigton, Cumbria. Nutcracker, born in April 2017 and out of the home-bred Rossignol daughter Huntershall Josie, found a new home not too far away with the Harryman family from Keswick, Cumbria.

14,000gns

Limousin bull Goldies Northstar

Goldies Northstar

Another junior bull took the third spot in the bidding rankings when he was knocked down at 14,000gns. The May 2017 born Goldies Northstar from Bruce Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries and Galloway was bought in a half share agreement by Messrs Patterson and Messrs Morrison, both Aberdeenshire breeders.

13,000gns

Limousin bull Dinmore Jollygood

Dinmore Jollygood

Selling at 13,000gns was Dinmore Jollygood from Redpath Farms, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

Jollygood, sired by Wilodge Tonka and out of Dinmore Gaiety, is a four-year-old easy calver bred by Paul Dawes at Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford. He was knocked down to the Booth family who run the Sevengun Limousin herd at Hardwick Hall Farm, Aston, Sheffield.

Commenting on the sale, BLCS chief executive Iain Kerr said: “There has been strong demand for Limousin bulls throughout 2018, and it was great to see it continue at Carlisle, with increased numbers sold and a stronger clearance rate than last year.

“A feature of the day was the emphasis commercial buyers were putting on bulls that had strong calving figures and good health statuses.”

Others topping five figures 

12,500gns – Gunnerfleet Noble from Ian Handley, Ingleton, Lancashire

12,000gns – Aultside Nirvana from Garry Patterson, Aultmore, Keith

11,500gns – Haltcliffe Newton from Craig Ridley, Wigton

11,000gns – Ampertaine Norseman from Messrs W J and James McKay, Maghera, Co Derry

11,000gns – Kinniside Novel from G and A E Marrs and Son, Cleator, Cumbria

10,000gns – Homebyres Newtown from John Logan at Kelso

10,000gns – Homebyres Newman from John Logan at Kelso

10,000gns – Goldies Nugget from Bruce Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries and Galloway

10,000gns – Aultside Notorious from Garry Patterson, Aultmore, Keith

Averages

  • 34 Senior bulls: £4,782.36
  • 46 Intermediate bulls: £5,141.63
  • 38 Junior bulls: £6,921.71
  • Overall average: £5,611.36