Gascoines bull sells in 18,000gns private deal

 Nottinghamshire-based Limousin breeders Doug and Rachel Gascoine have sold their young Limousin bull Gascoines James in a private deal to Thor Atkinson for the Arradfoot herd, Ulverston, Cumbria, for £18,000.

James, a son of the 10,800gns sire Heathmount Trojan, who won overall champion at Balmoral in 2003, and is out of Cockleshell Dishy, a daughter of the noted sire Winnington Trumps bought for 5500gns in October 2013 at Newark.

James has a beef value of +38, placing him in the top 10% of the breed, alongside a 200-day growth figure of +44, inside the top 1% of the breed.

Commenting on the sale Alistair Smith, the Gascoine Group’s Farm Manager, said James had been a stand out bull from early in his life. “He’s been a great bull at every stage and carries some top breeding lines. His combination of performance, pedigree and visual appeal is a rare package and one we valued highly. Dishy’s calf the previous year Cockleshell Issit, who was at foot when we purchased her, was Interbreed Junior Champion at Newark in May 2014.”

He sells with a proven show record having been reserve male champion at Great Yorkshire Show in July, as well as being junior champion and reserve male champion at Nottinghamshire County Show in May.

Mr Atkinson said he was looking forward to putting James to work. “He’s a really exciting young bull, with great locomotion, shape and outstanding breed character. He will be a great fit for our cows and I’m really looking forward to seeing his first progeny.