Ballymena Limousins peak at £7350 for female champion
Neither the good weather nor the escalating prices in fuel, fertiliser and feed affected the large attendance and the demand for quality
A solid trade resulted in 44 bulls and 33 heifers being sold at an 83% clearance rate. The average for bulls levelled at £2131, up £195 on May 2007, while the heifers averaged £1717, £59 better than 2007.
Prior to the sale Rob Kirton from the Ashledge Herd at Severn Lodge Farm, Kinlet, Bewdley, Worcestershire, ably judged the twelve classes.
Topping the sale were two stylish heifers from the Fedneyhouse Herd of John and Margery Adams, Banbridge. Firstly was the Female Champion and Overall Reserve Champion – Fedneyhouse Crystal at £7350 – a record price for a Limousin at Ballymena, followed by £4300 for a second prize winner Fedneyhouse Colleen.
Both these heifers were no strangers to the limelight as
This sweet heifer is by the ‘Elite’ French bull
Colleen, also by
Next at £3990 came Carmorn Cannonball, a Grahams Unbeatable son from Francis McAuley and ably shown by his young son Frank. Cannonball had been previously awarded Intermediate Male Champion and Overall Supreme Champion by Mr Kirton.
As with the Fedneyhouse heifers, Cannonball was also no stranger to the show ring as he had won his class at the Annual Calf Spectacular in September 2007. With a Beef Value of LM+38 and a milk figure of +2, putting him in the top 10% of the breed, he was purchased by J McGeehan, Fivemiletown.
Two bulls sold for £3675 each. David Kenwell was first with his third prize winning bull Kendrom Bounty. Bounty is the first son of his new stock bull Homebyres Vista to be offered for sale.
Sporting a Beef Value of LM+28 and in the top 10% of the breed for muscle and growth, he now joins the herd of T McMaster, Larne. Next was the Reserve Intermediate Champion Carntogher Bruno from Lawrence McEldowney. Bruno is sired by Carmorn Rocky and out of Lumbylaw Tammy and was purchased by Sam Chesney for his suckler herd in Kircubbin, Co Down.
At £3570 was a showy heifer Ashhollow Blusher from James and Alison Callion, Dromore, Co Tyrone. Blusher is by Omar and out of Ashhollow Twinkle whose previous heifer calf sold for £3200 at 2007 Carlisle Red Ladies Day. She now joins the Madden herd of Alistair Graham.
Bidding remained brisk and £3045 was easily reached for two Sympa sons, the first being the red rosette winner Ampertaine Brutus from showman Barney O’Kane and then J Cunningham for his fourth prize winner Crandale Commander.
This was followed by the Reserve Junior Champion, a classy Hafodlas Volcano son Cwm Celt from Victor Keys, Dromore, Co Tyrone, at £2940 and now moves counties to Dromore, Co Down, for
The Northern Ireland Limousin Cattle Club wish to thank Neil Scott from Norbrook Laboratories for their generous sponsorship and all the staff at Ballymena Livestock Mart for helping to make the show and sale a success.
Other leading prices – bulls
£2887.50 – Heathmount Beggar from
£2730.00 – Glarryford Bourbon from Michael McKenna, Maghera to
£2625.00 – Millgate Cupid from Michael Loughran, Cookstown to Gary Stewart, Ballyclare
£2520.00 – Newhillfarm Conor from Mick McPolin, Hilltown to
Other leading prices – heifers
£2835.00 – Artnagullion Corny from William McAllister, Kells to
£2310.00 – Carrick Chubbers from P Foster, Cookstown to
£2257.00 – Carmorn Brenda from Bryan McElroy, Dromara to Ian Harvey, Lisburn
£2100.00 – Dunnamona Cookie from Ivan Jobb, Fintona to Alistair Graham, Tandragee
Averages
44 Bulls £2131 (+£195)
33 Heifers £1717 (+£59)