Top price of 6,100gns achieved at Ballymena Limousin sale
The British Limousin Cattle Society’s Show and Sale at Ballymena this week saw trade hit 6,100gns.
In total 83% of bulls (47) found new homes – four more than last year’s corresponding sale, to average £2,778.
A smaller offering of females saw nine sell to an average of £1,516.
Top price on the day was the 6,100gns bid for Scotchtown Golddigger bred by Messrs L and R Allison, Limavady, Co Derry. This October 2011 bull is out of the homebred dam, Scotchtown Diola, and is an AI son of Virginia Andy. He now heads for export to Scotland after being purchased by G Yarr, who runs the Portmore pedigree herd at Witton Farm, Glenlethnot, Edzell, Angus.
Top priced bull Scotchtown Golddiger sold for 6,100gns
Second top price went to Culnagechan Gambler bred by D Hume, Randalstown, who had been placed as male champion and supreme overall by Judge John Green, Donegal of the Greenhill Herd in the pre-sale show. This September 2011-born bull is sired by Carmorn Copilot and is out of the Kype Spartacus daughter, Carmorn Velvet. Carrying a Beef Value of LM+32, he sold at 4,500gns to local commercial breeder W Gabbie, Ballywillin Road, Crossgar. Mr Hume sold further bulls, all over 2,500gns.
Culnagechan Gambler bred by D Hume, Randalstown, was awarded male champion and supreme overall titles
Realising 4,300gns was the Senior Reserve Champion Ballyrobin Gifted bred by Miss J Gilliland, Ballyrobin Road, Antrim. This June 2011-born bull is sired by the French bull Marquis and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Keeltown Dairy. With a Beef Value of LM+25, he how heads to S Moore, Crumlin.
Senior Reserve Champion Ballyrobin Gifted
The fourth top price of 4,200gns went to Senior Champion Lynderg Governor brought out by Mr JA Quail, Tullyear, Banbridge, Co. Down. May 2011-born, he is entirely French-bred being sired by Ocean and out of Anita. He was purchased by B Casey, Newry.
Senior Champion Lynderg Governor sold at 4,200gns
Mr Quail also realised 3,100gns for Lynderg Hercules, a Lynderg Dimitri son, later on in the sale, when snapped up by WJ Dick, Saintfield.
Next was the junior reserve champion Millgate Hugh at 3,950gns bred by M Loughran, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. This February 2012-born bull held a Beef Value of LM+37, is sired by Carmorn Copilot, and is out of the homebred dam Millgate Teresa.
Mr Loughran also received the intermediate reserve champion award with another Carmorn Copilot son, Millgate General, which went on to fetch 3,000gns when bid by S and B Jamieson, Ballycastle.
Other bulls sold for 3,000gns were Annadale Goldfinger bred by Mr C Murray, Cullyhanna; Spage Grant bred by Mr W Campbell, Carnlough; and Slieve Henrik bred by Mr JI McGeehan, Fivemiletown.
Females
Top female price of the day of 2,050gns came in the shape of class winner Artnagullion Helena, bred by Mr W McAllister, Kells. This young April 2012-born heifer is sired by Virginia Andy and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic daughter, Teeshan Eva. She now heads home with F Quinn, Coleraine.
Second best price of 1,850gns went to the youngest heifer in the show, Larkhill Hope, bred by Mr B McAuley, Antrim. Holding a Beef Value of LM+35, she is sired by Ampertaine Commander and is out of the homebred dam Larkhill Fay, another Wilodge Vantastic daughter. She was purchased by Cowporation, Ablasserdam, Netherlands.
Averages: 47 Bulls, £2,778.03; nine females, £1,516.67; sale gross, £144,218.
(JA McLelland and Son)