Taking Stock

Now I know Limmie's and Blonde's have built a bit of a reputation for being somewhat flighty, but this is actually a little scary....

A man is left fighting for his life last after a cow ran wild at a railway station having managed to escape from an market!

Following on from the dizzy heights of trading at Perth and Carlisle recently, demand for Limousin bulls and females continued with a sound trade at Dungannon.

The sale was topped by Francis McAuley's senior champion, Carmorn Axle (see below), a Kype Spartacus son out of a Pelletstown Ken cow, which sold for 5000gns to J Redmond, Loughgall.

With pedigree bulls selling to a top price of 6000gns, trade was brisk at Aberdeen & Northern Marts' multibreed show and sale today at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

Following his spring show record price in 2006, John Wilson of Kinclune, Glenkindie, again led the way in the sale ring with his first prize-winning Charolais Kinclune Ace selling for the top price of 6000gns to W and N Milne, Milton of Edinglassie, Strathdon.

A full brother of last year's record breaking animal, this year's sale leader was a home-bred June 2005-born son of the 14000gns Caylers Solomon.

A quick tour of SIMA reveals the presence of more UK stock in the form of impressive Limousin bull Sauvignon from the Crawford brothers. Admittedly bringing a Limousin bull to Paris is a little bit like taking coal to Newcastle, but its good to see UK cattle back in Europe again.

Sauvignon takes on the might of the French Limousins tomorrow and it'll be interesting to see how he measures up.

As predicted the Holstein lines here are full to bursting with a highly impressive line up of cows to be judged later in the week.

The interest in Savignon, the Crawford brothers' Limousin bull is gradually building, with many French breeders stopping by for a look at the impressive beast.

With judging now underway it won't be too long before he comes under the judges gaze. The Crawfords' expect to the be in the ring at about 12 noon, so I'll report back later with the results.

History was made 20 minutes ago, when Sauvignon, the Limousin bull from the Crawford Brothers walked into the showring at Paris' SIMA show.

But that was nothing compared to the historic moment which occurred some 10 minutes later when Sauvignon clinched first place in a tremendously strong class of 15 senior bulls.

Sauvignon continues to dominate the Limousin cattle classes here at SIMA, having clinched the senior and overall male championships.

Owner Raymond Crawford told Taking Stock the win was a monumental achievement and was more than he could have ever hoped for when he left for Paris.

Now all they need to do is convince DEFRA to let Sauvignon back into the UK and they'll have the job sussed - however, the chances of that happening are about as slim as landing a bull on the moon. But then again according to the nursery rhyme a cow did jump over the moon, so maybe DEFRA will come up trumps after all!!

What a suprise - for the 11th consecutive year, BCMS figures have confirmed British Limousin as the leading beef breed sire in Britain as well as the largest numerical cattle breed.

Recently released figures show that 687,382 Limousin sired cattle were issued with passports in 2006. This represents a massive 35% of available market share, a figure that is exactly in line with the previous year's figures.

Just week's after British Limousin breeders dominated SIMA show, the status of British Limousin breeders among their European counterparts has once again been confirmed, with Aled Edwards, British Limousin chairman, elected President of the EUROLIM group.

This is the first time a British breeder has been elected president of the group since its foundation in 1989. Mr Edwards believes the group has an ever growing role to play in promoting the breed into new markets in new EU member states.

Well the west country grass has obviously started growing because the store buyers and more importantly their cheque books were out in force at Exeter last week.

Topping the trade were a pair of Charolais cross steers at £650 apiece, while heifers of the same breed made up to £645. And I thought show cattle were making daft money this spring.

With finished prices little more than £50 above these store prices someone's got to be losing money on the steers and unless the heifers are being bought as breeders then it's futile trying to do the sums on them!

The store cattle trade continues unabated, with Aberdeen and Northern Marts' first spring show and sale meeting a lively trade for all classes.

Leading the way was W Forbes, Dalrachie Farm, Ballindalloch with a 428kg Limousin cross steer which stood champion in the show classes and sold for £1000 to Messrs Cameron, Grange, Keith.

Reserve spot was clinched by J Stuart, Belnoe, Chapeltown with a 540kg Limousin cross bullock. This one realised £800 to show judge David Henderson.

Top spot among the heifers was Blair Duffton of Bogie Street, Huntly. This one tipped the scales at 580kg and sold to Woodhead Brothers, Turriff.

The final silverware of the day for the best beast from the Islands went to A G Flaws, Ringesta, Quendale, Shetland with their 345kg Blonde which fetched £570, selling to Thirsk Auction Mart.

Northern Limousin breeders are going to showing their finest pure anc crossbred youngsters at Skipton Market on May 9, giving everyone a chance to assess their chances ahead of the main show season.

With £2300 in prize money up for grabs the event looks sure to draw in some top quality entries of young cattle. Classes are for pedigree Limousin heifers and bulls born in 2006 and crossbred Limousin sired steers and heifers.

Judge for the show will be William Smith of Millbrook Limousins, Ireland, one of the best known Limousin breeders in Eire.

On the same day up to 1500 pedigree and crossbred Limmys will be penned for the annual Craven Limousin Day which will feature the annual show and sale of pedigree Limousin breeding cattle.

The annual April sale of Limousin bulls organised by the NI Limousin Club held last week saw two bulls topping trade at Dungannon at 3200gns.

The first of these was the December 2005-born show champion, Stonecircle Anthony, a bull showing great promise, by Uchon, a Duphin son out of a Baronne daughter shown by J and A Mallon of Cookstown. Purchaser at 3200gns was E Tohill of Kilrea.

Well that's Cheshire Show having a right old knees up this year.....well the Limmie breeders will be at any rate!!

Having reached the grand old age of 25, the North West Midlands and North Wales Limousin Breeders Club plan to stage their 25th anniversary celebrations with an exclusive show for members at this year's Cheshire Show.

The club hopes that as many past and present members as possible will go along and take part in the competitions at the show.

Graham Simms, a founding member of the club and current president, says is important to remember how far the club has come. "Unfortunately, some of our original members are no longer with us but they deserve to be remembered for the enormous contribution they made."

It was a day for the ladies at Newark last weekend when a sizzling trade for Limousin females pushed prices to 4100gns and lifted the average to £1320 for 112 lots.

And earning the two biggest cheques at this special Limousin day were noted breeders Peter and Ian Pitcher who consigned Cockleshell Annie and Cockleshell Amanda - both daughters of last year's Lincolnshire Show inter-breed champion Winnington Trumps.

Annie, boasting a pedigree combining Talent and Selina, and in-calf to Cockleshell Va Va Voom, made 4100gns to John and Michael Fieldson, Gainsborough.

Amanda, out of a Broadmeadows Cannon dam with Talent and Selina on the bottom line, realised 3100gns to D Walshaw, York. She had a Beef Value of 34 and was also in-calf to Va Va Voom.

The correctness and style of Daim came through in his smart grand-daughter Carlton Aimee from R A Wilson and Son. By Corridan Superman, this maiden heifer sold at 2300gns to Derbyshire breeders M and L Harris.

Messrs D A Williams' Wilodge Shera, a 2001-bred Hartside Generous daughter and heavily in-calf to Toubib, realised 2200gns to K Baxter, Nuneaton.

Having recovered from the lengthy journey from Kent to Carlisle for the Limousin sale at the weekend, I can now grace you with some of the pics of the money makers from the sale.

Overall, enthusiasm wasn't as manic as I have seen it, but trade was steady with plenty of interest in bulls with good breeding values and health status. Readers of this blog will be aware how "health status" is proving to be my two buzz words of the year, and the Limousin society's step to promoting breeders' health declerations in the front of the catalogue is a huge progressive step in my book.

I would, however, like to see the Northern Irish breeders follow suit, as most of theirs simply stated TB testing intervals.

Now down to business............topping the day's trade was the intermediate and reserve overall champion from Martin Conway, who sold Craigatoke Apache for 30,000gns to Paul Dawes, Dinmore Manor Estate, with Richard Bartle doing the bidding.

Having taken Paris' SIMA show by storm earlier this year, Limousin bull Sauvignon, owned by the Crawford Brothers is set to have a star role at this year's Beef Expo, Skipton on 17 May.

Sauvignon will take pride of place on a stand booked by the Crawfords to promote semen from their stock bulls to the export market.

Earlier this year Sauvignon and herdmate Vigot became the first Limousin bulls in the UK to have sexed semen available. Later this year Sauvignon will appear at the Royal Highland, Royal and Royal Welsh shows.

The only other breeder taking space at is Phil Hallhead of Norbreck Genetics who will be exhibiting pedigree Belgian Blue cattle by sires from which he has semen available.

A first-ever visit to Skipton Auction Mart by Nottinghamshire-based Limousin cattle breeders Barry and Jill Heald and their son Matthew paid rich dividends when the family landed championship spoils at Skipton's annual "Red Pedigree Event."

The Healds, from Home Farm, Grove, Retford, saw their 20-month-old home-bred bull Coachhouse Agreeable awarded the title by show judge Stephen Wilde, of Bradfield, Sheffield, who runs the Ewden Vale herd of pedigree Limousins.

Agreeable is by Fedneyhouse Nelson, out of Coachhouse Sillhouette, herself a product of Haltcliffe Picasso, the Heald's main stock bull, who won the East Midlands Limousin Breeders Best Stock Bull and Progeny 2006. Agreeable went on to sell for 2400gns to a North Yorkshire purchaser.

Beef Expo may be the technical event of the beef industry, but once again it was the show of suckled calves which drew the crowds.

Judge for the day was Hugh Dunlop and it was no surprise his task took him a little longer than expected, with a wealth of quality calves before him.

Having caught the eye of noted Smithfield champion exhibitor Mr Dunlop the minute she walked in the ring, the Belgian Blue x Limousin heifer Black Beauty from Tecwyn Jones sparkled in the lightweight heifer class, to go on and take the Continental heifer championship and overall title.

Described as being in just the right condition for this time of the show season, Mr Dunlop told Taking Stock he had no hesitation in selecting the animal as his champion. "I came here not knowing whether I would place a suckled calf or a well fleshed animal, but she had my attention right from the start, oozing great style, ring presence and fantastic locomotion."

The 402kg, nine month old heifer from Carmarthenshire-based Mr Jones, who also runs 45 pedigree Welsh Black's under the Seisiog prefix, was bought privately for an undisclosed figure from noted show cattle producer Trefor Jones. Black Beauty next heads for the Royal Welsh and will ultimately end up at the Welsh Winter Fair.

And he's done it again.........west Yorkshire Limousin cattleman Steven Priestley landed an unprecedented third successive championship success - and saw his victor sell for a new mart record price - at the annual multi-breeds show and sale of pedigree beef breeding cattle at Skipton Auction Mart.

Steven, of J M and S M Priestley, Hill Top Farm, Denholme, Bradford, notched his first championship win in 2005, following up by sending out both the champion and reserve champion last year. This time around, it was another excellent young bull from the Priestley's Brontemoor herd that stole the show on his debut in the exhibition arena.

The September, 2005, bull - Brontemoor Apenzeller - by the AI sire Sarkley Panther, out of the home-bred Brontemoor Romance, also made a lasting impression in the ring, selling for the day's top price of 3100gns, a new mart record for a pedigree bull, to E & M A Procter & Son, of Kirkby Stephen.

Of the offering forward as part of the annual youngstock Limouisn sale at Carlisle, Andrew Roberts' May 2006 heifer Hafodlas Beren topped the sale, selling for 4200gns to an undisclosed buyer.

By Saphir, a bull in joint ownership with Harry Emslie, and out of a homebred cow Seren, Beren sells with a breeding value of LM+31. The Hafodlas herd also had the third highest price on the day selling a Ryedale Paragon son, Balnacraig Buzzbee, a May 2006 bull bought last June at the Balncraig dispersal as a young calf at foot. Buzzbee, with another breeding value of LM+31, changed hands at 2600gns to Northern Ireland breeders J and S Allen.

Hexham and Northern marts had forward an entry of 105 beef breeding cattle at their second special May sale.

Althogh heifers with calves at foot were a mixed selection with quality outfits short of requirements, the sale was topped at £1500 for an outstanding Limousin x Friesian heifer with a three quarter bred Limousin bull calf from Morrow Edge.

Cows with calves sold to £1150 for a Limousin cross 5th calver with a three quarter bred Limousin bull calf from Warden Law.

Bulling heifers were a useful selection selling to £790 for Limousin x Friesian heifers from Oaktree Farm, Bedale.

As always a blustery day was had by all at Fife Show, but through the wind and rain came a Limouisn bull from David Orr, Crossgates to take most of the silverware home.

The five-year-old stock bull Dyfri Target, bred by Aled Edwards, is by the French-bred bull Jockey and out of Dyfri Nadia and is no stranger to the Fife showground having picked up an interbreed title in 2005 and the champion of champions at Central and West Fife last year.

Standing reserve in the beef section was Jim Muirhead with a Charolais cow. The three-year-old, with calf at foot, was breed champion at Fife last year and also at Kirriemuir and Perth. she is by Moyness Statesman and out of a Firhills dam.

Mosston Muir's Tom Rennie headed a strong Aberdeen Angus team to take the beef groups title, consisting of stock bull Emperor, reserve breed champion Mosston Muir Jennifer and a heifer, Mosston Muir Etta.

In the sheep lines brothers Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell, Drimsynie, Argyll, took their first ever overall championship at Fife with a Texel gimmer from their Cowal flock.

The reserve champion sheep came from Ainslie Smith, Ladybank, who won with a Half Bred ewe shown with a tup lamb at foot.

Suffolk show as always proved its worth as a true farming show this week, with strong livestock entries in all sections and large farming crowds thronging the judging rings.

Continentals ruled the championship rings as a Charollais ram took top honours in the sheep rings and a Charolais cow rearing twins scooped the beef interbreed silverware.

The sheep leader cam from Jonathan and Carol Barber's Crogham flock of 120 ewes and was bought two years ago for 600gns in conjuction with Stuart Dudley of the Hyde flock.

Bred in Northern Ireland, the tup is by noted sire Southam Bob the Builder and out of a Mawhinney ewe, he previously stood interbreed at last year's Royal Norfolk Show and has been used extensively in both the Crogham and Hyde flocks.

Reserve spot in the sheep lines was taken by the Suffolk champion, a ram lamb from Gordon and Elizabeth Beddie's flock from Swaffham, Norfolk. This January-born lamb had stood first in a strong class under breed judge Helen Goldie before beating off stiff competition to clinch male and breed championship.

In the beef rings the leader was seven year old Charolais cow Moathall Roney from the Wicks family's 80-cow Moathall herd from Mellis, Eye, Suffolk. Roney who was shown with her twin calves at foot was described by judge John White, of Midlock, Biggar, as having an exceptional head and superb topline.

Standing second to Roney was the Limousin leader, Segala from Doug Mash's Brockhurst herd. Five year old Segala was imported from France last year and now heads on to Rutland, East of England, the Royal and the Royal Welsh.

And the Charolais also triumphed in the interbreed pairs competition, beating off stiff opposition from the Belgian Blue pairing to lift the title.


But the Blues did one better taking the group of three title - from the Barwood and Padfield team came Ridge Dean Sherry, Ridge Dean Wren (both with their two heifer calves) and the homebred bull Piggots Artful Dodger.

In the Native championship it was a win for the Aberdeen Angus heifer of Andrew Brown, Hawstead Lodge Pamela.

Meanwhile, the dairy championship was dominated by traditional breeds, with the Jersey leader standing champion ahead of the top British Friesian.

Bolderston and Partners' 2002-born cow Tetfor Hall Danni lead the way having calved in April and given 40kgs a day at the peak of her last lactation. Danni runs as part of the partnership's 80 cow mixed herd alongside Ayrshires and Holsteins.

Following closely behind was 2000-born British Friesian cow Oakalby Breadwinner S Ruth 34 from the Burroughs family's Beccles-based herd.

Taking the Dexter title for the fourth year running was Roseamry and Stuart Creasey with their February 2005 born heifer Langley End Alison, a heifer that had taken the title the year before.

Among the pigs it was another interbreed success for Guy Kiddy's Withersfield herd of Large Whites. Taking the honours for Mr Kiddy this time was his July 2006 born gilt Withersfield Blackberry 151, shown by Shuttleworth college student Stuart Warby.

Reserve pig champion was Carol Knights' Gloucester Old Sow boar Also Sambo from Mrs Knights 12 sow herd.

Among the commercial pigs it was another win for Peter Reeder with a homebred gilt. His winner was a Maximus x Large White x Landrace.

Last week's South of England show was a particularly good one for Taking Stock with both regular contributors invoved in bringing forward champions.

For my part I managed to clinch the interbreed sheep title for the second year in a row with a Southdown shearling ram, while Chrissie helped Thorndean Farms to the Limousin breed title with a two year old heifer, Thorndean At Last, sired by Sheelin Nato.

Elsewhere in the beef lines it was the turn of Mortimers Farms' stockman Charlie Maclean to lead out the winner, Charolais cow Mortimers Racey. By Gretnahouse Napoleon and out of homebred cow Mortimers Madonna, Racey was shown with a Mortimers Upstart sired calf at foot and just the week before had stood interbreed champion at the Royal Bath and West.

Unshown since 2002 when she lifted the breed championship at the Highland as a heifer, Racey beat the Angus champion, Andrew Brown's heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela into reserve.

Pamela, who stood native champion at last week's Suffolk Show, is by Blelack Black Beret and was led out by Kevin Byford.

Colin Hutchings was back on top at the Royal Cornwall Show last week, sweeping the board with his Limousin and Aberdeen Angus cattle.

After last year's tremendous successes - he won 15 interbreed championships - Colin returned to the top with his Limousin bull Goldies Trophy. By Leo and out of Giroflee, this six-year old bull now heads to the Three Counties Show.

Colin also scooped the Aberdeen Angus champion and reserve spots, with the familiar pairing that is Logie Daredevil and Kingsbrompton Miss Ethel. as well as the interbreed pairs. "I'm chuffed to bits and am very excited to be judging the Angus classes at the Highland Show later this month."

Reserve interbreed champion was Boddington Estates' Simmental bull Sterling Rochester. Shown by stockman Jimmy McMillan, this three year-old heads to the Highland, Royal, Yorkshire and Royal Welsh Shows later in the year.

Good quality beef cows and calved continue to meet a strong trade, with last Wednesday's sale at Newport Market topping at £1160 for a Belgian Blue cross cow and her March born Limousin sired heifer calf.

Meanwhile, native crosses traded at a top off just under £1000, with a smart 2003-born Hereford cross cow and her April-born Limousin cross steer calf making £910.

A flying trade was also seen for in-calf cows and they topped at £780 for a Belgian Blue cross, while Hereford cows peaked at £770.

A pedigree Limousin bull had drawn a large number of admirers and was finally knocked down at £2050 after some fierce bidding.

Averages: 29 cows and calves - £825; 2 in-calf cows - £720; 1 stock bull - £2,050.

Females dominated proceedings at last weekend's East of England Show, clinching the overall interbreed beef title, the commercial beef championship, the interbreed sheep championship and the interbreed pig silverware.

Leading the way was Doug Mash's French bred Limousin cow Segala from his family's Brockhurst herd. Imported just over a year a go and shown with her November 2006-born calf at foot, Segala now heads to the Royal and Royal Welsh.

Standing reserve here was the Aberdeen Angus champion, Briston Echo, from Duncan Jeary's 60-cow herd. By Tegnose Pensboy and out of Briston Briarthorn, Echo was also shown with her March-born calf at foot.

Heading up the commercial classes was the Limousin cross heifer Miss Moneypenny from Sennybridge-based Elfed Williams. Brought out by Neil and Sally Lloyd of Black and Blue Show Team, Miss Moneypenny was bred by Andrew Davies and cost Mr Williams £7100.

Among the juniors it was the turn of another Limousin, Ironstone Brandy, from Smtihs of Bloxham's Ironstone herd which led the way. By Unesco, Brandy is out of record price Limousin female Bailea Umandy.

Narrowly pipped into reserve spot was Mike and Jean Dickens' Limousin cross heifer Splash, this one was bred by the Skidmore family.

Charolais cattle captured both the individual and pairs interbreed championships at the rain affected Three Counties Show.

Conditions were so bad that interbreed cattle judging was moved inside, where judge Jim Goldie found himself assessing a Limousin bull he bred.

Having made Shamleys Victoria, an outstandingly well grown Charolais heifer from Mrs Jamilla Robinson's herd at nearby Tenbury Wells, his champion, he called on independent referee Martin Jones to decide whether Goldies Trophy should be reserve champion. The bull he sold to Somerset breeder Colin Hutchings three years ago for 6000gns, was given the nod.

The senior bull class in this year's Limousin section at this year's Royal Highland Show was an eagerly awaited contest, pitting two of the breed's heavyweights against it other for the first time.

Having followed the success of the Crawford Brothers' bull Sauvignon earlier this year at Paris' SIMA Show, this was a result I was keen to find out on arrival in Edinburgh. Had he managed to uphold his reputation as the finest Limousin bull in Europe, or had Scotland's own giant, Robert Graham's Samy, pipped him to the post.

Sadly and, some may say mistakenly, the French-bred Samy beat his fellow countryman to top spot in the class, but it must have been a close run thing which would have left Co Down-based judge Jim Quail scratching his head for a good few minutes.

Samy though couldn't hold his own in the breed championship when faced with competition from his own daughter, Grahams Butterfly.

Out of Grahams Trendy, Butterfly is a January 2006-born heifer who must have a fair chance in tomorrow's interbreed contest.

The statement in the front of the Sarkley production sale catalogue certainly rang true last week when yearling and two-year old Limousin heifers from Glyn, Chris and Nigel Pennie met a roaring trade at Carlisle.

And it was usual big spender Peter Smith of Banbury-based Smiths of Bloxham who got proceedings going, securing the top priced heifer Sarkley Arriana for 28,000gns. Sired by noted sire and Talent sire Ronick Gains and out of Sarkley Narriane, one of the herds top brood cows, this June 2005-born heifer sold with some impressive bloodlines behind her.

Castlewellan Show saw the Northern Ireland Limousin Cattle Club and the Irish Limousin Society join together to stage a unique event – a Show of Young Limousin heifers and bulls made up of animals pre-qualified and drawn from both the North and South of Ireland.

A keenly-fought competition in the judging ring resulted in shared honours, as the North took home the bull championship with the South gaining the heifer title, while the Challenge Shield for the overall highest points gained went to the NI Cattle Club.

Some 13 heifers and 12 bulls had pre-qualified and, despite some fairly stringent rules imposed by the animal health authorities, the parades in front of Scottish judge Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow were sensational and much appreciated by the huge crowd.

The overall heifer champion was the November 2005 born Milbrook Ainsi II, a Mas du Clo daughter and out of Milbrook Monique, exhibited by William Smith, Millbrook, Oldcastle, Co Meath.

The champion bull title went to James McKay of 88 Kilrea RD, Upperlands, Maghera, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland with the March 2006 born Ampertaine Bravo, sired by Sympa and out of the dam Ultra.

Although not quite as expensive as last week's Sarkely Limousin sale at Carlisle, the South West Limousin Cattle Breeders Club put forward a good line up for their show and sale, which topped at 6600gns with an "almost" clearance.

The sale topper went to Matt Brunton's two year old heifer he has been showing this summer, Sheelin Anne. The Grahams Unbeatable-sired heifer out of one of the herd's most prolific breeders Sheelin Jan, sold to Carolyn Runnalls, Newton Abbott.

Second top came from Nick and Lisa Hill, with a call of 5400gns for their show cow Sloughpool Tasmine, a Strathallan Diplomat daughter born in 2002. She now joins the herd of Paul Cairns and Helen Burton, Notts.