Recently in Limousin Category

The e-commerce company Semenstore has announced the export sale to France of semen from the British-bred Limousin bull Carmorn Copilot.

The sale is thought to be the first semen sold, from a UK-bred Limousin bull, back to France - the home of the Limousin breed.  Details of the semen sale have followed hard on the heels of the first export sale to France of a British-bred Limousin bull, Grange Gervaise, just under a fortnight ago.

A quantity of 150 straws of Carmorn Copilot has been sold on behalf of the bull's owner, Derek Hume, Maghereagh Road, Randalstown, Northern Ireland to KBS Genetic, Beauvalet, France. KBS now plans to market this semen to pedigree and commercial Limousin breeders within France.

Commenting on this export first, Jean-Luc Kress of KBS Genetic said: "I first saw Carmorn Copilot together with his calves and his dam in April 2011 and took the decision there and then to import semen. I like the shape of UK Limousin genetics and think they will work well on French cows. I'm delighted to be importing the first semen straws from a UK-bred Limousin bull back to France."

KBS Genetic was set up in 1998 and sells semen throughout Europe and Australia. It also exports livestock Europe-wide, having recently been responsible for the export of 700 head of pedigree cattle to Russia in 2011 with another shipment of 1,000 head planned to Kazakhstan in 2012.

The four-year-old Carmorn Copilot was bred by Francis McAuley, Toomebridge, N Ireland and has a wealth of breeding behind him.  He is sired by the prolific 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the dam Carmorn Penny, whose sire is Pelletstown Ken. Penny has been a consistent breeding cow and has sold calves up to 10,500gns at auction.

Carmorn Copilot is owned by Derek Hume who farms in Randalstown, Co Antrim alongside his wife, Heather, and sons Graham, Gary, Ian and Ryan who all share an interest in the farm. Heather also works part-time as Secretary of the Northern Ireland Limousin Cattle Club. The Humes' Culnagechan pedigree herd has expanded to between 50 and 60 pedigree Limousin breeding cows over the last 9 years since its establishment in 2003.

A sample of bulls on offer from the Newhouse herd of Messrs R M Adam and Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, saw the big bids in the Limousin ring with their entry of nine bulls seeing an average of £8,377.

Topping the trade at 16,000gns was black bull, Newhouse Black Fullback (Lot 580) with 95% black genetics black coat. The fact he was homozygous for black and polled genetics was the main attraction for purchaser, Keith Redpath, Redpath Farms, Spylaw Farm, Kelso.

"It's hard to find a good black bull with these features. I was needing new genetics and this bull had everything that I haven't got in my cattle. I have a lot of black heifers needing something to go on them."

Fullback, which is a son of Tamarvalley Boscastle and out of Newhouse Bess, will join the herd of 10 cows and will possibly have semen collected from him to be sold through Mr Redpath's AI stud. He has a beef value of +33 and a calving ease EBV in the top 25% of the breed.

Next best at 15,000gns was another offering from the Newhouse herd, this time (lot 579 below) Newhouse Black Frisky - a Tamarvalley Boscastle son with a beef value of +55.

 Overall champion Elrick Falcon (lot 508 below) from Mr M J Massie, Mains of Elrick, Ellon, was secured for a 12,000gns bid from Murray Alexander, Mains of Mause, Perthshire.

This one is by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Elrick Caroline and sold with a beef value of +34.

Then at 11,000gns was the reserve senior champion (lot 518) Dyke Fugitive from Messrs J R MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie.

Dyke Fugitive has a beef value of +18 and an above average figure for calving ease. This Drumduff Champ son sold to C Coubrough and Co, Whelphill, Crawford.

Snapped up for 10,500gns was Stephick Flashi (lot 574) from local bidder Stephanie J Dick, Westerton of Cowie, Cowie.

This is the first bull to be sold from the Stephick herd and has come from a run of show successes last summer, including reserve breed champion at Kinross Show and third place at the national Limousin show. He has a beef value of +40 and sold to Drunhilla Farm, NI.

At 9,000gns it was lot 589, Newhouse Fabain from the Newhouse herd. This Hudscales Bigboy son sold to A and R Paton, Easter Greenhill, Falkirk. He has a beef value of +34.

At 8,000gns was another black bull from the Newhouses, this time lot 581 Newhouse Black Freelander. He is by Hudscales Bigboy and out of Newhouse Vivian and has a beef value of +51. He sold to Macmillan, Ballimartin Farm, Isle of Islay.

Averages: 75 bulls forward, £5,202 (88% clearance) United Auctions

The overall championship title has been awarded to the senior champion (lot 508), Erick Falcon MNU10-008 from Mr M J Massie.

This March 2010 born Wilodge Vantastic son is out of Elrick Caroline and has a beef value of +34.

Judge Eric Norman also favoured the senior class for his reserve overall spot, placing Dyke Fugitive from Messrs J R MacGregor (lot 518) in the second spot. He has a beef value of +18 and an above average calving ease EBV.

Speaking about his champion, Mr Norman said Falcon was a "fine example of what a Limousin bull should look like with plenty of length, good shape and real style."

I've just had a wander around the ringside at the start of the Limousin showing this morning - quite a sparse crowd compared to the last two days. The mood seems to suggest the fireworks will be seen next week at Carlisle, rather than at today's fixture. The February Perth sales seem to becoming less and less a major event for the breed according to many.

A lot of bulls are still yet to be seen in the show ring, but as yet, there doesn't appear to  be a specific favourite ringside.There's 86 animals forward, after a number were rejected at the inspection last night.

We'll keep an ear to the ground to see if the mood changes as more bulls make it out into the ring....

After the females, we're now on to the bull classes here at the show ring in Stirling.

The Limousin showing is well underway at United Auctions here in Stirling where judge Eric Norman has awarded the title of female champion to Mr M Burns' Shaws Florence (lot 623). This one is by Ronick Gains and out of Lowbarn Baccia.

Fashion and figures are on offer in plenty at next week's sale of Limousin bulls at Stirling.

A strong catalogue of 103 bulls by leading sires - combined with top-ranking performance figures - presents some interesting genetic packages for both pedigree and commercial buyers.

Progeny of many of the breed's big-money bulls such as Cloughhead Umpire (42,000gns), Wilodge Cerberus (50,000gns) and Wilodge Vantastic (42,000gns) are up for grabs with some of the highest EBV scoring sires being sons of the Vantastic son Goldies Comet (23,000gns).

David Baillie is no stranger to this fixture and his stalls have three Comet sons with some of the highest performance records at the sale - Calla Floyd (Lim+48), Calla Fergus (Lim+47) and Calla Finlay (Lim+40). But Stephanie Dick has chosen Stirling to sell the first bull from her Stephick herd. She looks likely to have plenty of interest in Stephick Flashi. By Vantastic and out of a Ronick Astique cow, Flashi stood third at the National Limousin Show and adds to his appeal with an EBV Lim+40.

Bruce Goldie brings an interesting string. Goldies Frank is by the big winning - and now very successful sire- Ampertaine Bravo (24,000gns) and out of the Lascard dam Goldies Treasure - who has already bred Goldies Andres at 11,000gns. Frank boasts a Beef Value of Lim+40. Goldies Forecast - also by Bravo and out of a Ramses cow - has attained Lim+46.

Black Limousin genetics are certainly no longer a "colour fad" and there are leading bloodlines from the USA on offer. While the Rawburn herd will no doubt have plenty to interest Limousin stalwarts in the future, John Elliot whets buyers' appetites this time with Elliot Black Firestarter, a black-coated bull (91% black genetics) boasting some of the USA's most sought after maternal genetics and sired by the intriguingly named Wulfs Shop Talk.

R M Adam and Son bring black genetics from their Newhouse herd including Newhouse Black Freelander - a Hudscales Bigboy son - with an impressive Beef Value of Lim+51 while Harry Emslie brings Emslies Black Fandango who is by Bailea BMW and has a Beef Value of Lim+37. (United Auctions) 

A UK bred Limousin bull has been sold to French breeders and exported in what it widely believed to be the first time a bull of the breed has been sold back to France.

Homebred, 11 month old Grange Gervaise from George and Steven Smith and Family, Brookfield Farm, Daventry, sold him for an undisclosed sum to InterLim Service Genetique on behalf of three breeders; Earl Lasternas, Earl Geraud and Earl Bonnet.

The bull is by French sire Chaval, which the Smiths bought from Lanaud Bull Station in 2008. Gervaise is out of homebred cow, Grange Cascade and was sold weighing 660kg at 33 days old, meaning he had gained an impressive 1.86kg a day since birth.

His great grandmother, Grange Juniata was champion pedigree female at Smithfield in 1994 and his grandfather on his father's side is Recis - one of the leading bulls in France.

The bull is believed to be currently with Earl Lasternas where semen will be taken from him before he is moved around the three herds. Lasternas is one of the top show people in France having had the champion bull at the French national Limousin show for two consecutive years.

A top price of 10,000gns and a £3612 average for 26 maiden heifers marked the Red Ladies Derby show and sale at Carlisle on Friday - but as always at this sale there were plenty of bidders keen to invest in the younger portion of weaned calves on offer which produced an average of £2315 for 38 heifer calves and a leading bid of 6000gns.

Heading the maiden heifers and taking the championship was Grahams Ethel from Robert and Jean Graham. By Millgate Clinker and out of Agate she was sold AI'd to Grahams Alexander and had stood second in her class to the champion at the breed's 40^th Anniversary sale this year. She heads for Kelso with S Elliot.

Making a worthwhile trip all the way from Truro, Cornwall was R Withers who paid 9500gns for the reserve champion, Millington Faberge consigned by Millington Grange Estate. A winner at this year's Lincoln Show she was also maiden heifer champion at the Carlisle fixture. Faberge is by Millington Vascular.

The Callion family's Melbreak Fairylight - an ET-bred calf by Wilodge Vantastic and out of a Geant dam from the Lyvennet herd - won her class and made 9000gns to J B Browne, Longford, Eire.

G Lee and C Lloyd, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire paid 8800gns for Henry Savage and Sons' Trueman Florence. She is half-sister to the champion at the breed's Anniversary show - Trueman Euphonium. Florence is also by Wilodge Vantastic.

The seven-year-old imported cow Valentine from John McKeen - offered with her July-born heifer calf at foot by Haltcliffe Vermount - made 5000gns to C and N White, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos. She was AI'd in October to Attirant. Matching the bid was the maiden heifer Titchburn Flower from Donal Murray. She is by top producer Cloughhead Umpire and out of an Annandale cow by Lino. Buyers were J Tennant Ltd., Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

Mynach Foxy, a maiden heifer from E D Griffiths and Co made 4700gns to S E Field, Burnley, Lancashire. She is by Kype Bomber and out of a dam by Sable. The Mas Du Clo sired heifer Cresswell Fannieannie from Anthony Sayer sold for 4400gns to S Irvine, Banffshire while a 4300gns call from J Alexander, Co Antrim secured E and E Norman's Heathmount Trojan sired Norman Flower.

Alun and Glenys Roberts offered the last consignment from their Hafodlas herd and topped the weaned calf section selling Hafodlas Glesni at 6000gns to C Edwards, Anglesey. This March-born calf is by Hafodlas Domino and out of a Saphire cow.

Whinfellpark Gateaux - a January-born heifer by Wilodge Cerberus from Messrs Jenkinson - heads for Newcastle, Staffs with P Walker at 5500gns. Exeter buyers M and V Smith also gave 5500gns for Hafodlas Gwen - a daughter of the 16,000gns Anside Diageo.

Bound for County Derry with buyer D McMullan at 5200gns was R Cruickshank's Kype Gorgeous - a February calf by Jodel Clayton. Hafodlas Gwenda - by Domino - made 5000gns to W and M Mash, Chesham, Bucks.

Averages: 2 Served heifers £7350; 26 maiden heifers £3612; one cow and calf £5250. Weaned calves - 14 bull calves £1785 and 36 heifer calves £2315. (Harrison and Hetherington).

Four of the first ten lots at the British Limousin Cattle Society's Red Ladies Derby fixture at Borderway Mart today left the ring unsold but the champion, the served heifer Grahams Ethel from Robert and Jean Graham, made 10,000gns. Buyer was J Elliott, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. Millington Faberge, the reserve champion from Millington Grange Estate, made 9500gns. A full report follows shortly.

Grahams Ethel stood champion at today's Red Ladies Derby show and sale at Carlisle judged by Paul Byas from east Yorkshire. Consigned by Robert and Jean Graham, she is by Millgate Clinker - the Nenuphar son - and out of the imported cow Agate. Ethel stood second in her class at the breed's 40^thAnniversary Show behind the eventual champion and has been AI'd to Grahams Alexander.

Millington Grange Estate claimed the reserve ticket and the maiden heifer title with Millington Faberge, a daughter of Millington Vascular (by Ideal) and out of a dam by Riquet who goes back to Cannon.

Limousin lovers won't have far to look if they fancy and early Christmas treat this week. This Friday's Red Ladies Derby at Borderway Mart has some top notch females on offer while the show and sale of weaned calves is a great opportunity to "back a hunch" and invest in potential.

One of the most fancied lots in the Derby section comes within minutes of the sale's opening when John McKeen puts the imported cow Valentine into the ring. A successful breeding and flushing cow, she's out of one of the best females in the Broussaud herd - and to put some extra tinsel on to the package she's suckling a heifer calf by Haltcliffe Vermount.

Robert and Jean Graham are selling Grahams Ethel, the Millgate Clinker heifer that stood second to the champion, Trueman Euphonium at the 40^th Anniversary Show. And a half-sister to Euphonium - Trueman Florence - has been entered by the Savage family.

Their wagon will also have Trueman Fantasia on board, a maiden heifer out of Trueman Acoustics, dam of the 38,000gns Truman Duet that was champion at this fixture in 2009.

The supreme beef champion, Allanfauld Fizz from Ewan MacPherson and Sons, Mill Farm House, Oban, Argyll sold for a top call of 9,000gns at the East of England Smithfield Festival on Saturday.

Weighing in at 604kg, the heifer was the first pure bred to have won at Smithfield since 1979 and was snapped up by F Murray, Northumberland.

Next best among the pedigree cattle on offer was Shorthorn bull Glenariff Cincinnati, an entry from N J and A M Barrett. This one is by Glenariff Washington and out of Glenariff Tulula Gina and has a SRI and TSI of +11.

He was champion beef shorthorn bull and reserve native interbreed champion at the Royal Norfolk Show this year and was the best owner bred bull at the East of England Show. He found a new home with J Cherry, Hertfordshire.

Then at 3,500gns was Shorthorn Podehole Tess Diana from Mr H Horrell. This light roan Podehole Yeti daughter is out of Podehole Tess Zabrina and has a TSI and SRI of +11. She went to Morrison Farms, Dumfries.

I and S Clough from North Yorkshire then spend 2,500gns to secure another Shorthorn female, this time Podehole Rothes Delice. She is by Trojan of Craigeassie and out of Wavendon Rothes Peach. Again with a TSI and SRI of +11.

2,200gns was the next best call from Morrisons Farms, securing Podehole Rose Damask, a Podehole Yeti daughter, out of Podehole Scarlet.

Among the fat cattle on sale, the top price went to Mr and Mrs M J  Alford's I'm Your Man - the reserve supreme beef champion. This one is a Goldies Oswald son, out of a Limousin x cow and went for £2,383.80 to L Brown and Son, Lincoln.

At £2,280 was Apricot, a Limousin sire heifer from B E Williams. She went to W Own, Gwynedd. Next was heifer Roundshill Funny, a Charolais from Brailes Livestock. She went for £2,149 to local buyer, J Andrew, Stamford.

Topping the baby beef was Limousin x steer, Drogba, put forward by Dermot Small. He went for £2,200 to Victoria Bowring, Warsop. Next best at £1,600 was Jim Bob, another Limousin x, this time from P and S Sellers. M Loveday from Norfolk took the steer home.

The continentals reigned supreme in the overall baby beef championship with the continental champion taking the top spot. This one was Limousin x steer, Golden Eye.

May-2011 born Golden Eye weighed in at 314kg and was homebred by exhibitor John Smith- Jackson, High Town Farm, Holtwhistle, Northumberland.

In reserve was the continental reserve, homebred Limousin x heifer Daisy from Kevin W Ludgate, 84 Wingfield Road, Tebworth, Leighton Buzzard. Weighing 417kg, this one if out of Limousin x British Blue cow, Uptown Girl and by Wilodge Vantastic. She's one of 50 cattle kept by Mr Ludgate and will be kept and shown next year.

Judge Tecwyn Jones said his champions were the two animals he would like to take home. "Both are stylish - the champion is good on top, beautiful in the head with good legs and very good presentation." In fact Mr Jones was disappointed to hear his number one beast would not be sold at the Festival.

John Smith- Jackson said the steer would be kept until the Spring when he may be sold in the March calf sales. This one is by Limousin, Shire Apollo and is one of 100 cows kept by Mr Smith Jackson. Golden Eye was placed reserve baby beef at October's AgriExpo to Pokermon from the Alford which was placed first in his category (331-400kg steer) at Smithfield.