Greenbank Osirus pays
Greenbank Osirus pays
back an auction promise
By Jeremy Hunt
THE Struthers family from Lanarkshire only brought one bull to the British Limousin Cattle Societys show and sale at Carlisle, but it was good enough to the win the supreme championship and make the joint top price of 8000gns.
Greenbank Osirus was bred by John and Margaret Struthers, and sons Robert and Andrew, who run a herd of 40 pedigree cows at Carluke.
This was the best price achieved by the herd which was established 20 years ago, and fulfilled a promise made to Borderway Mart auctioneer David Thomlinson.
"We paid 7000gns for Griseburn Legend, the sire of Osirus, at Carlisle two years ago and promised to come back with a good son. And you cant get much better than this," said John Struthers.
The June 1998-bred Osirus weighed 790kg on the day and is double-bred to the good producer Rake Terence.
He heads for Honiton, Devon with Vicky Maynard who runs 12 cows in her Columbpark herd.
"Ive been using various AI sires but havent been making the progress I wanted so I decided to invest in a top-rate stock bull.
Osirus has tremendous fleshing and great width behind as well as a very laid-back temperament," commented Mrs Maynard.
Judge Andy Holliday of Penrith favoured David and Aled Edwards Dyfri Orator to take the reserve supreme ticket – a win which sparked off a memorable sale for this south-Wales partnership.
Orator, by the French sire Jockey and out of a cow by the good 1980s bull Talent, made 5500gns to A J Hazard and Sons, Grantham, Lincs. But the Edwards also shared the top price with an 8000gns call for Dyfri Omar, also by Jockey.
Omar, who returns to Wales with buyers J and * Phillips of Whitland, Carms, has a Beef Value of 30 putting him in the breeds top 1% for this trait. And his calving value of +4C takes him into the top 10%. Hes an interesting combination of Rake Terence and Talent on the dams side.
Also from the Dyfri consignment came Oasis, a March 1998-bred imported son of Jockey. He realised 5000gns to T and P Cheshire, Buckingham.
And outstanding figures – Beef Value 38, 400 day-weight 709kg and calving value +6C – put a 4000gns price tag on Dyfri Omega. This Jockey son also goes back to south Wales with buyers F Hormann and Co, Llandovery.
The packed ring produced a trade described as "electric" by society chief executive Iain Kerr: "In the space of 10 days 230 Limousin bulls have been sold at Perth and Carlisle to average £2700."
There were 19 bulls at 4000gns and over at Borderway Mart. The average of £2666 for 124 bulls sold was up £17 on the year. Pre-sale inspection had been rigorous passing only 161 bulls from a catalogued entry of 224.
Other high prices included 6500gns for Fieldson Officer, the reserve senior champion.
Shown by Lincs breeder J W Fieldson, this stretchy son of Carthorpe Lotus (by Broadmeadows Cannon) went to J Handley, Ingleton, Yorks. And fellow Yorks buyer Andrew Haggas, Otterburn, Skipton topped Jim Goldies selection with a 5800gns call to take a Lascard son out of an Epatant cow. (Harrison and Hetherington). *
Greenbank Osirus fetched 8000gns for the Struthers family, Lanark.