Limousin joins greats and sells for 8000gns
Limousin joins greats and sells for 8000gns
By Jeremy Hunt
FROM the moment he came into the ring, Goldies Macbeth looked every inch the champion.
This outstanding junior bull defied his youthfulness with a mature quality which set him apart and elevated him to supreme champion at the Limousin Cattle Societys spring show and sale at Carlisle.
Macbeth, a son of the French import Hulerbulu, put Jim Goldie back in the breed spotlight and went on to sell for the joint top price of 8000gns.
He won ringside acclaim for his muscling, conformation and fleshing and combined these qualities with great ring presence and breed character. In different times he might have doubled his price tag.
Like so many "greats", he has Broadmeadows Cannon influence behind him – this time as maternal grand-sire. The bottom line, through Sapin, traces back to a heifer that Jim Goldie sold to the USA in a private deal worth £38,000.
Judge Stephen Priestley (Bradford), was lyrical about the bull. "Hes an impressive bull from any angle and hes got style to go with it." Macbeth heads for Shropshire with brothers Victor and Brian Morris, Clun, near Craven Arms.
The bull will be used on commercial sucklers and on the Morriss eight pedigree cows.
The final tally saw 118 bulls change hands (154 forward) to level at £2727. The leading average was £3032 achieved by the 43 junior bulls.
And walking away with the biggest cheque was mid-Wales breeder Matthew Jones who netted 35,400gns for six bulls from his Bailea herd.
Bull Greensons Gigolo
His consignment was dominated by sons of Canadian-bred stock bull Greensons Gigolo. This sires consistency in producing quality progeny in such quantity, sale after sale, was the talk of the show. All the Bailea bulls were prize winners, but it was the thick and well-fleshed Bailea Moray that finished up reserve senior champion.
He made the joint top price of 8000gns and will work on suckler cows for Laurie Raine and Sons, Barnard Castle. Mr Jones also sold Bailea Marvel at 6400gns (F A Jones, Oswestry), Bailea Master at 5800gns (R G Benson and Sons, Ulverston), Bailea Mystic at 4200gns (P R and A W Sowerby, Penrith) and Bailea Maxwell at 4000gns (R Templeton and Co, Newton Stewart). Maxwell is by the French sire Imposant, the rest were all Gigolo sons.
Welsh breeders had a day to remember. Among those celebrating was Neville Owen, Corwen who runs just nine cows but intends to concentrate on pedigree stock since ceasing milk production.
His Tyddyn Mei, by Cannon, was remarkable by any standards for his massive hindquarters and stretch, qualities which put him alongside Macbeth for both the junior and supreme titles. Buyer was J Nimmo, Lanarkshire at 7600gns.
More Welsh wizardry produced the intermediate champion for retiring society chairman David Edwards and son Aled, Llan-dovery. Their Dyfri Maestro, by Normande Jack made 7000gns to W Wood, Sheffield.
A real quality bull that headed a big class was the single entry from local breeders Isaac and Anne Williamson. Their Waverbank Maelstrom, by Oakfield Graham, deservedly stood reserve intermediate champion and made 6200gns to T W Roberts and Son, Cardiff.
Another local entry, the first prize winning Ferry son Haltcliffe Midas from Messrs Ridley, impressed for his shape, scale and fleshing. At 5800gns, he heads for Newcastle-on-Tyne with R A White.
AVERAGES: 35 senior bulls £2232; 40 intermediate bulls £2824 and 43 junior bulls £3032. (Harrison and Hetherington)