Limousin bulls met a strong trade at the breed’s early spring show and sale at Carlisle.
An 87% clearance rate was achieved by auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington when 104 bulls sold to average £7,539.81 – up £871.39 on last year’s event.
The sale topper at 65,000gn was an entry from north-east breeder Garry Patterson, who runs the Aultside herd at Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith.
August-2016 born Aultside Meanmachine, which stood overall champion in the pre-sale show, is an AI son of Wilodge Cerberus, out of Spittalton Flush. A full brother to the 55,000gn Aultside Hulk and the 18,000gn Aultside Mystique, he sold in a two-way split to Haltcliffe, Hesket Market, Wigton, Cumbria, and Procters Farms Ltd, Woodhouse Lane, Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Other leading prices included 15,000gn for the reserve supreme champion, 15-month-old Westpit Macgregor from the Gammie family at Drumforber, Laurencekirk. An AI son of Ampertaine Gigolo, out of Westpit Florence, he sold to T.W. Oliver, Cawfields Haltwhistle, Northumberland.
Aberdeenshire breeder Aileen Ritchie then paid 14,500gn for August-2016 born Carnew Millreef – an AI son of Lynderg Hero – from J. and J. Aiken, Carnew, Dromore, Co Down.
The Irvine family, which runs the Anside herd at Braehead Farm, Drummuir, by Keith, sold to a top of 13,000gn for the senior champion. This was May-2016 born Anside Mexican, by Powerful Irish, selling to W. and T. Nelson, High Kilphin Farm, Ballantrae, Girvan, Ayrshire.
Perthshire breeder Stuart Fotheringham, who runs the Ballinloan herd near Dunkeld, sold to a top of 12,000gn for the intermediate champion. This was 19-month-old Ballinloan Messi, by Foxhillfarm Jupiter, which sold to R. B. Jones and Son, Llwynobin, Montgomery, Powys.
Ballinloan also achieved 10,000gn for Ballinloan Mickle, also by Foxhillfarm Jupiter, selling to John Galbraith and Son, Upper Kinneil, Linlithgow.
Other leading prices included: 11,000gn for Esmors Black Mellor from Welsh breeder Esmor Evans, selling to W.G. Beattie and Son, Tullywhanland Farm, Forfar; 9,000gn for Garyvaughan Moral from C.V. Lewis, Buttington New Hall, Welshpool, Powys, selling to Stephen and Co, Meikle Geddes Farm, Nairn; and 9,000gn for Scotchtown Master from Northern Irish breeder Leslie Allison, selling to Doldy Farms, Eastmill Farm, Glenisla, Blairgowrie.
Females sold to 7,000gn for 20-month-old heifer Trueman Miranda from Northern Irish breeder Henry Savage. She goes to the Goulds at Grange Farm, Shrewsbury.
