There was something for everyone with commercial producers out in force and the trade added to with a sprinkling of breeder’s bulls.

Sixteen bulls made five figures and over with 53 in all making 5000gns and more. Underlining the strong demand, averages on the year were up by £1058 to a mighty £6668 for the 114 bulls sold. The clearance rate was an exceptional 91% with the 114 bulls sold being out of the 125 forward.

Swalesmoor Liam – 30,000gns

Leading the day’s trade at 30,000gns was the stylish Swalesmoor Liam from the Swalesmoor Partnership, Kedzlie Farm Ltd, Kedzlie Farm, Lauderdale. This October 2015 born bull is an embryo calf by the noted Cloughhead Umpire and out of Nebo Favourite, a cow with a strong show record behind her and purchased for the herd at 9000gns. In the summer of 2016 Swalesmoor Liam had stood as a first prize winner at the National Limousin Show and in Friday’s pre-sale show he stood second in a strong class to the Reserve Junior Champion. Purchasing the top price in a two way split was Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Wigton, along with Richard Harker for his 60-cow Honeymoor herd at Grayrigg Hall, Kendal.

Speaking at the close of the sale Richard Harker said:
“This bull is a very modern Limousin. He has tremendous length, is clean, and good on his legs. He carries a lot of style and has plenty of depth and quality in his pedigree.” Echoing these sentiments Craig Ridley commented:
“I saw Swalesmoor Liam at the National Limousin Show at the end of July. At the time I thought he was the outstanding young bull there and I tried to buy him at the time but Danny (Sawrij) wouldn’t sell. Again this weekend he is just absolute sheer class, and just what a Limousin bull should look like. He’s a super colour, has a beautiful head, is long, clean, has great flesh and style, and is still just a very young bull, I am delighted to get a share of him.” For the Swalesmoor herd, established in 2010, this was their highest sale price to date.

Two bulls made 22,000gns. The first of these was the first prize winner in class 11 and the Junior Male Champion in the shape of Swarland Likelylad from A&D Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth. September 2015 born this calf is by the 23,000gns Fairywater Haig and is out of Swarland Fanciful a daughter of the noted female breeder in the herd Brontemoor Apache. Purchasing this bull was the Harestone pedigree herd of Neil Barclay, South Road, Insch, Aberdeenshire. The purchase of Fairywater Haig at Carlisle back in February 2014 was looked at as a considerable investment by the Proctor family but that investment is now reaping its reward in the 40 cow pedigree herd (run alongside 80 commercial cows) with his first three sons at sale having averaged 16,000gns. The 22,000gns was the best sale price to date for a herd that has recently won the 2016 Most Improved Limousin Herd award. Commenting Andrew Proctor said:
“Fairywater Haig calves are small when they are born and then just take off at six to eight months. Likelylad has always been a good calf and he’s got a tremendous top line, is very good over his plates, and has great balance.”

The strength of the sale saw 36 Junior bulls average over £7250 and this included the Reserve Junior Male Champion Gunnerfleet Lion (and first prize in class 14) who also made 22,000gns for vendors J Handley, Gunnerfleet Farm, Ingleton, Lancs. An embryo calf, Gunnerfleet Lion is by Gunnerfleet Hicks and is out of Gunnerfleet Ilocks whose dam line is quoted as having grossed the herd over £500,000. Speaking prior to the sale Ian Handley had noted that Gunnerfleet Lion was “one of the best bulls bred at Gunnerfleet for many years”. Weighing in with an opening bid of 20,000gns, Gunnerfleet Lion was purchased by the 120 cow pedigree Whinfellpark herd of Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Clifton, Penrith, Cumbria. Whinfellpark stockman Craig Douglas commented,
“We are very pleased to have secured Gunnerfleet Lion as we think his width, shape and overall power will complement the females in the Whinfellpark herd.”

Judging the pre-sale show of bulls was Rob Kirton of the noted Ashledge herd at Severn Lodge Farm, Buttonbridge Lane, Kinlet, Bewdley. After fifteen keenly contested classes Rob tapped up Foxhillfarm Louisvuitton, from Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill Farm, Cullompton, Devon as his Intermediate and Overall Supreme Champion. This bull arrived at Carlisle with an impressive show record behind it having stood as Reserve Overall Senior Male at the 2016 Stars of the Future Show; Reserve Overall Champion at the 2016 English National Calf Show; and a first prize winner at the 2016 National Limousin Show. An embryo calf, Louisvuitton is by the 22,000gns Guards Boomer and is out of the multi-title winning show heifer Foxhillfarm Gracie. This is the second Overall Supreme Champion at Carlisle in a row (and the fourth overall for the five-year-old herd) for the Alfords and following on from the 35,000gns Foxhillfarm Lordofthering in October 2016 who was also sired by Guards Boomer and out of Gracie’s mother Bankdale Alice. Purchasing this August 2015 born bull was John Penny & Sons, Leeds Road, Rawden, Leeds, W.Yorkshire. Speaking after the sale John Penny said:
“Myself and my uncle came to Carlisle on Saturday looking for a bull. The Foxhillfarm bull we thought was just terrific and his length and width along with his pedigree breeding lines was just what we were looking for. From here we plan to put Louisvitton with some of our selected heifers that we have pulled out of our fattening cattle. Thereafter we are looking to buy some pedigree heifers this year to put to him also for the production of top quality pedigree calves to both show and sell.” The Pennys also have an abattoir and an EU meat packing plant that requires top quality meat 52 weeks a year.

Commenting on his Champion and the show of bulls generally the judge Rob Kirton said:
“Having been invited to judge I went into Friday’s show with the mind to look for a bull that I would have liked to have bred myself, or that I would personally like to buy for myself. All of the class winners, section Champions and the Supreme Champion fitted the bill of what I consider to be a modern Limousin bull and what I would like to see in a bull. The Champion was a very stylish bull, had tremendous width, was clean and had good length. He was an eye catching bull that I couldn’t walk past.”

Following hard on the heels of the Champion was the Reserve Overall Supreme and Reserve Intermediate Champion, Maraiscote Lothario, from the 150 cow herd of Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. This bull made 19,000gns when selling to the noted commercial producer, G Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharrade, Argyll. July 2015 born, Maraiscote Lothario is a son of the herd’s prolific stock sire Goldies Comet (who has sold sons in the herd up to 30,000gns) and is out of the Virginia Andy daughter, and second calver, Maraiscote Genie. In July 2016 Maraiscote Lothario had stood second in his class to Foxhillfarm Luisvuitton at the National Limousin Show also in Carlisle.

Having secured the fourth top price the Nimmos then invested 18,000gns when buying Westpit Lowry from Andrew Gammie, Drumforber, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire. A first prize winner in Class 10, Westpit Lowry is by Ardglasson Highlander a bull that has previously been Supreme Champion at the Scottish Limousin Grandprix. He is out of Brockhurst Holy whose granddam Brockhurst Bolshoi was a prolific show winner having claimed Supreme Titles at both the Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire Shows respectively. Andrew Gammie purchased Brockhurst Holy, in calf to Ardglasson Highlander, for 5800gns at a sale at Newark Market, Notts. The 18,000gns top price eclipsed the 17,000gns figure the herd had received at the October 2016 BLCS Sale in Carlisle.

Commercial producers readily willing to go to five figures was a feature of the sale and this was again highlighted when JC & J White, Rigg Farm, Lunedale, Middleton-In-Teesdale, Barnard Castle paid 18,000gns for Hightown Leon from John Smith-Jackson, Hightown, Melkridge, Haltwhistle. Another out of the junior section, this muscly bull is by the noted show calf sire Waindale UFO and is out of the Hartside Jacko daughter College Unice. John Smith-Jackson has a prolific reputation in show calf circles but this was the highest price he had attained at a pedigree sale to date. The purchasers, JC&J White, are also familiar names in the show calf world and bred the 2016 Commercial Supreme Champion, Black Beauty, at the National Limousin Show. Breeder John Smith-Jackson commented:
“I’m over the moon with the sale price and the fact that the calf is sired by the well-known bull Waindale UFO who bred the 2016 Smithfield Champion, along with numerous top prices and championships over the last 10 years.” Purchaser of the bull John White said,
“it was the best crossing type of bull in the market in my opinion and exactly the type I go for. I really liked his father Waindale UFO and this bull displays the shape and style that is required to breed show calves.”

Selling at 17,000gns was the upstanding Culnagechan Lazio from the herd of Derek Hume, Randalstown, Co Antrim. June 2015 born this calf was got by the AI sire Ampertaine Elgin and is out of Culnagechan Celine who had previously bred the 48,000gns Culnagechan Falcon. This bull was knocked down to an undisclosed buyer in the north of England.

Taking the Reserve Senior Championship, and selling for 16,000gns, was the April 2015 born Haneve Luigi from John Murray, Glebe Farm, West Butsfield, Tow Law, Bishops Auckland. First in class three Haneve Luigi was described as “a quiet, well-muscled bull with very good legs and feet”. In 2016 this bull had won the Best Young Bull award in the North East Limousin Region Herd Competition. Sired by Powerhouse Elite and out of Haneve Geraldine, a Haltcliffe Doctor daughter, Haneve Luigi was bought by commercial producer Alistair Ward, Rogerley Hall, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. The Haneve herd had previously sold bulls to 6200gns at the inaugural pedigree Limousin bull sale held at Hexham in 2016. This was however by far their top rice to date in what was only the herd’s second BLCS Bull Sale at Carlisle. In 2016 the herd calved fourteen pedigree cows which are run alongside 60-65 commercial cows. Selling store calves at 12-14 months of age with shape and growth the Murrays are also looking to produce ‘bulls that you would use yourself’ for the suckler market. Commenting, John Murray said: “the sale price has far exceeded our expectations and we are very glad that he’s gone to such a good home.”

Following on from a strong sale at the Stirling Limousin Sale a fortnight ago, the Homebyres herd of Messrs John Logan, Humebyres, Kelso, made 14,500gns when selling their first prize winner in class seven to the Rhiwllech pedigree herd of Messrs Howells, Gelli Farm, Cymmer, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan. The July 2015 born Homebyres Lockett is by the 30,000gns AI sire Lowerffrydd Empire and is out of the Kaprico Davelle daughter Homebyres Freesia.

Mereside Leo from RM Hazard & Sons secured a price of 13,000gns for their third prize winner Mereside Leo. August 2015 born Mereside Leo is got by AI and is by Mereside Godolphin who the Hazards bred and sold for 40,000gns in May 2013 at Carlisle. Out of the Haltcliffe Dancer sired Mereside Hougie, Mereside Leo was purchased by James Cooper for the Tomschoice pedigree herd at Hilltop Farm, Dacre, North Yorkshire.

A&D Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, Swarland, Morpeth were back in the prices when another Fairywater Haig son, this time Swarland Leon, made 12,000gns. A heifer’s calf, Leon is out of Swarland Helen who is a half-sister to Swarland Hansy who has produced bulls at 14,000gns. Picking up this bull for their pedigree Hudscales herd was WR & JM Cowx & Son, Hudscales, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton, Cumbria.

Senior bulls sold very well and set the tone for the day. Included in these was the first prize winner from class five, Loosebeare Lunar from EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. Entirely homebred this June 2015 born bull is by the Wilodge Vantastic son Loosebeare Fantastic and is out of Loosebeare Samanna, a Greenwell Manager daughter. Heading to Ayrshire, South West of Scotland, this bull was bought by the commercial producer R Dunlop, Pinvalley Farm, Barr, Girvan for 11,000gns.

Local breeders Eric & Elaine Norman, Little Orton Farm, Carlisle, enjoyed another terrific day’s trading when selling seven bulls to average £7590. Leading their prices was the 10,500gns Norman Levi who had stood second in his class to the Overall Reserve Supreme Champion. This July 2015 born bull is by the herd’s prolific stock bull Claragh Franco who has produced many five figure prices for the Norman herd and was also the sire of the 32,000gns Grahams Lilly at the 2016 Red Ladies Sale. Out of Norman Clover this bull, a full brother to the 15,500gns Norman Hawk, again went commercially when being purchased by J Pritchard, Evistones Farm, Rochester, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Three lots later Norman Lloyd, also a Claragh Franco son, made 9000gns when selling to H Rutherford, Low Eshells, Hexham, Northumberland. Further Norman bulls sold for 8000gns, 6500gns (x2), 6200, and 3900gns respectively.

The second bull in the ring and the winner of the first class, Withersdale Levi, made 10,000gns for DC Wharton, Willow Farm, Mendham, Horleston, Norfolk. With plenty of breeding behind him this March 2015 born bull is by the 35,000gns AI sire Plumtree Deus and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Withersdale Finesse. Noticeably a number of bulls sold into the north east of England and this was another when heading to the noted commercial enterprise of J Leiper & Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

The final bull at the five figure price of 10,000gns was another from the Loosebeare herd of EW Quick & Sons and in the shape of Loosebeare Lord. Also by Loosebeare Fantastic this June 2015 born bull is out of the Haltcliffe Anzac sired Loosebeare Dewdrop. Yet another to go into the north east Loosebeare Lord, who had stood second in his class to the 11,000gns Loosebeare Lunar, was purchased by W Robson Farm Limited, High West House Farm, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland. From class six Loosebeare Lampard, an Aghadolgan Emperor son, made 8500gns and was another to go to J Leiper & Sons, Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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