Exeter Limousin sale tops at 3,500gns

The British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ sale held on behalf of members of the South Western Limousin Breeders’ Club, Exeter, saw a top price of 3,500gns last Friday (27 June).

The highest bid was for 10-year-old cow Rosecroft Versace, from David & Anne Wheeler, Kentisbeare, Devon. Sired by the French Lino and out of Irish-bred Ferry daughter Elite S-152, she was sold with her October-born heifer calf Rosecroft Irresistible at foot, sired by Grahams Unbeatable. In-calf again to the same sire, due in January, she was purchased by Steve Edmunds, Chacewater, Truro.

The same vendors sold the next highest priced outfit at 2,500gns.  This was for Rosecroft Ginnie, another by Grahams Unbeatable, who was sold with her month-old bull calf Rosecroft Jamie at foot, sired by the Ulm son Rosecroft Greg.  Purchasing this outfit was Carolyn Runnalls, Liverton, Newton Abbot for her Leveton Herd.

From the small show of bulls forward, the highest price of 3,000gns also came for the Wheelers, this time with Rosecroft Imperial.  This February 2013-born bull is sired by the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus and out of the Grahams Unbeatable daughter Rosecroft Diamond. Purchasers were DH and SM Churchill, South Chard for their Shellstock prefix.

Leading the in-calf heifers at 2,350gns was two-year-old Nealford Hummingbird, from Messrs JH Neale & Son, Boyton, Launceston. By Haymount Dacre and out of Marydowne Babe, she is due in November to Ampertaine Foreman and was sold to Simon Curtis, Cadeleigh, Tiverton. Mr Curtis also snapped up the pick of the maiden heifers from Patrick Greed, Rewe, Exeter, with the 1,520gns Loosebeare Exmoor-sired Killerton Hart who is out of the Grange Nawak daughter Killerton Tart.

Messrs Neale also sold Marydowne Beauty, a 2006-born cow sired by Loosebeare Trigger and out of Marydowne Urchin with her May-born heifer calf, Nealford Jemima, by the Objat son Nealford Falcon at 2,250gns. This outfit heads to Guy French, Staplehay, Trull, Taunton.

Females were in strong demand with 28 out of the 32 forward selling to represent a healthy clearance rate of 87% and to average £1,765.

Averages:  Two bulls, £2,625.00; 28 females £1,765.88.

Kivells with McCartneys