Haltcliffe Limousin cows hit 2600gns at Carlisle
Haltcliffe Limousin cows hit 2600gns at Carlisle
By Jeremy Hunt
A SALE of over 100 unhaltered Limousin females saw prices reach 2600gns at Carlisle for local breeders Matt & Craig Ridley from Hesket Newmarket at Wigton.
The Ridleys Haltcliffe females accounted for five out of the sales seven highest prices including the front running call for Haltcliffe Lady. She is a January 1995-bred daughter of Ferry – the well known successful French sire – and out of a cow by the herds high-priced Haltcliffe Aristocrat exported to South Africa several years ago.
Lady was suckling her third calf, a seven-month-old bull by Newhouse Lordship, whose progeny have included sons at 9000gns and 5000gns. She was bought by Andrew Ewing of Annan acting on behalf of Sean McGuckin, Magherafelt, Co Derry, who is setting up a small pedigree Limousin herd.
As in recent sales of Limousins at this venue, age was no barrier to bidders. When the June 1992-bred Haltcliffe Hannah came into the ring there was a steady stream of bids taking this Rake Denver daughter to 2000gns.
A well-bred cow combining Rake Terence and Broadmeadows Cannon, this fifth calver had her March-born bull calf at foot by the Newhouse sire. She had a Beef Value of 17 and was bought by Stephen Priestley for his Brontemoor herd at Bradford, West Yorks.
Same money
Minutes later another senior cow from the Ridleys made the same money to W F Cruickshank and Sons, Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire. The seven-year-old Haltcliffe Hester, by the Broadmeadows Cannon son Haltcliffe Fieldmarshall, was also suckling a spring-born bull calf by Newhouse Lordship.
Other notable prices for Haltcliffe included the 1993-bred Rake Denver cow Haltcliffe Iona (suckling) at 1900gns and a 1994-bred Heros-sired cow (suckling) at 1700gns. Auctioneer David Thomlinson said: "This was a lively sale with both pedigree and commercial buyers in the market looking for good quality cow and calf outfits."
Selling two of the days highest prices was Beryl Haslam of Fairyknowe, Lockerbie who was offering all last years heifer crop through a lack of in-wintering accommodation. Her Redstone Olivia, a March 1998-bred heifer, realised 2100gns and is by the Grange herds imported French bull Lutteur.
Olivia sold to Northern Ireland breeder R Henderson, Magherafelt, Co Derry.
Several volume buyers were in action including Henry Griffies, Biggar, Lanarkshire who took six head as did the Bedell family from Bishops Castle. Shrewsbury-based J A Wood and Sons, Ratlinghope loaded seven lots.
Averages 33 cows served and/or suckling £1011; 17 heifers served and/or suckling £885 and 27 maiden heifers £805. (Harrison and Hetherington.) *