Pedigree cattle and sheep breeders, Archie and John MacGregor from Allanfauld, secured a personal best at the Limousin Society’s bull sale at Carlisle.
The father and son duo were celebrating when their intermediate bull sold for the top price of 27,000gn to north-east breeders, Albert and George Howie of the Knock herd, Peterhead.
An 80% clearance rate was achieved when 102 bulls cashed in to average £6,381, with 14 bulls selling at or above 10,000gn.
Sale topper was Allanfauld Nemesis, an 18-month-old bull which stood first in its class for the MacGregors who keep just two Limousin cows after reducing the well-known herd in 2016.
He is an AI son of Loosebeare Fantastic, and bred out of the Allanfauld Cracker daughter, Allanfauld Elegance.
Bruce Goldie’s Goldies herd from Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries, secured the next two lead prices at 25,000gn and 16,000gn.
Dearest was the reserve intermediate champion, Goldies Neymar – a November, 2017-born AI son of the 45,000gn Ampertaine Jamboree, out of the Wilodge Vantastic-sired dam, Goldies Fragrance. He heads to work in Wales with BS Owens, Red House Farm, Aberhafesp, Newtown, Powys.
Selling for 16,000gn to pedigree breeders, the Neale family from Wilkey Down Farm, Werrington, Cornwall, was Goldies Ohboy. Born in January, 2018, this ET-bred son of Wilodge Vantastic, is bred out of Millington Gorgeous, which is a former junior female champion at the Royal Welsh Show.
Next best at 15,000gn was the pen leader from Matt and Craig Ridley’s Haltcliffe herd at Hesket New Market, Wigton, Cumbria.
This was Haltcliffe Navigator, a 17-month-old AI son of Sympa, bred out of Haltcliffe Isla. He sold to H Harvey and Son, Waxham Hall, Norwich.
William Moir of Moir Livestock, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh, paid 14,000gn for Wilodge Ninja from Paul and Christine Tippetts, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire. Reserve overall and intermediate champion, this 18-month-old bull is by the 40,000gn Grahams Lorenzo, out of Wilodge Goclaire.
Also selling for 14,000gn was Dyfri Nomad from the Edwards family, Home Farm, Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire, Wales. By Fenomen and out of the heifer, Dyfri Lleucu, he sold to RB Jones and Son, Llwynobin, Montgomery, Powys.
On the other side of the coin, Albert and George Howie, received 13,000gn for their black bull, Knock Neo, when purchased by Messrs Graham, Miller Hill, Brampton. Brought out by William Moir, he is by the 21,000gn Goldies Goldfinger, out of Knock JayJay.
At 11,000gn was the second prize, Slieve Nando from Irish breeders, Shane and Sean McGeehan, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone. Snapped up by DA Thomas, Ffynnondafolog, Penybont, Dyfed, this 17-month-old bull is by Trueman Idol, out of the Wilodge Cerberus-sired, Slieve Jen.
Meanwhile four others sold at 10,000gn from the Wilodge, Tweeddale, Haltcliffe and Ampertaine herds.
Keith-based breeder, Garry Patterson sold two bulls for 10,000gn and 9,000gn.
Dearest was his senior champion, Aultside Nickelback, a July, 2017-born Lodge Hamlet son, out of Aultside Jazz. He heads to work with B Lloyd, Garthiaen, Llandrillo, Corwen, Clwyd.
Banffshire Texel and Limousin breeder, Graeme Morrison from Inchbruich, Cornhill, forked out 14,000gn for the heifer, Goldies Norma. She is a June, 2017-born heifer by Goldies Fortress, out of Goldies Freestyle.