blcs winter 2014 magazine issuu

the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk 1Limousin

L i m o u s i n N e w s

Limousinthe official magazine of the british limousin cattle society Winter 2014

www.limousin.co.uk

JOHN PHILLIPS ELECTED BLCS CHAIRMAN

8000GNS FOXHILLFARM HEIFER LEADS THE RED LADIES

JAMES GRAHAM WINS YOUNG HANDLERS

27,000GNS LOOSEBEARE BULL TOPS AUTUMN LIMOUSIN SALE TRADE

‘FIVE STAR’ CARCASE BREED ON FORM AT 2014 WINTER FAIRS

SEMENSTORE SALES TO USA, NEW ZEALAND AND HOLLAND

2014 LIMOUSIN SALES INCREASE TO £6,644,543MAJOR FEED EFFICIENCY PROJECT ANNOUNCED

2Limousin

the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk


Semenstore is a practical one-stop Limousin semen shop for vendors and buyers. The Semenstore features:

• On-line semen purchasing

• Automated service

• Payment collection

• Professional marketing• Semen for all markets

• Export and domestic

• Competitive pricing and costs

• Unique offers & packages

• One-stop Limousin semen shop

www.semenstore.co.uk



www.limousin.co.uk

British Limousin Cattle Society Ltd, Concorde House, 24 Warwick New Road, Royal Leamington Spa, Warks CV32 5JG

Tel: 02476 696500Fax: 02476 696716Email: [email protected]

Designed by GHOST Leamington Spa

NEXT ISSUE:

Reports and pictures from

the Spring 2015 Sales

Technical round-up

and reports on Breed

Improvement Plan; Carcase

Traits Project; Feed

Efficiency Project; and the

latest BLUP run

Features, herd profiles and

‘news and views’ from

British Limousin

Cover Picture: Courtesy of Alfie ShawImage of: Culnagechan Exceptional from Derek Hume

Editor: Iain Kerr

It’s the business

Easy calvingLimousin

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Length& WIDTH



Limousinthe official magazine of the british limousin cattle society Winter 2014

www.limousin.co.uk

JOHN PHILLIPS ELECTED BLCS CHAIRMAN

8000GNS FOXHILLFARM HEIFER LEADS THE RED LADIES

JAMES GRAHAM WINS YOUNG HANDLERS

27,000GNS LOOSEBEARE BULL TOPS AUTUMN LIMOUSIN SALE TRADE

‘FIVE STAR’ CARCASE BREED ON FORM AT 2014 WINTER FAIRS

SEMENSTORE SALES TO USA, NEW ZEALAND AND HOLLAND

2014 LIMOUSIN SALES INCREASE TO £6,644,543MAJOR FEED EFFICIENCY PROJECT ANNOUNCED

4Limousin


ContentsWinter 2014

06 News round-upAnother bumper issue includes

announcement of major feed efficiency project; Limousin sales up by £1 Million; ‘Super Six’ Carcase Breed at 2014 Winter Fairs; John Phillips elected as BLCS Chairman; Semenstore exports to USA, NZ, and Holland; new BLCS collective sale at Newark;

27-37 Technical Corner

A ten page technical section looks at performance recording at sales; a Q&A with ABP’s Stuart Roberts; improving maternal performance; and the latest results from the November BLUP run.

19-22 ILC in Argentina a hit with UK delegates

UK delegates led the way with the largest representation from the 17 countries in attendance at the 21st International Limousin Congress held in Argentina in November 2014. Check out the overview of Limousins in Argentina and a full pictorial report.

42-56 Limousins dominate Winter Fairs

Limousin crossbred and purebred animals win a raft of titles at the major UK Primestock Shows to include a “Super Six” of Supreme Championships at Countryside Live, Borderway Agri-Expo, English Winter Fair, Welsh Winter Fair, Allams & Smithfield.


salesCarlisleOctober 14 p70

StirlingOctober 14 p74

BreconNovember 14 p78

DungannonNlovember 14 p79

Red LadiesDecember 14 p80

70-82 Loosebeare Bull Leads Autumn Sales

The Limousin trade at Carlisle and Stirling saw an increase of 17 bulls more sold on the year. Leading the way at Carlisle was Loosebeare Iain who made 27,000gns. Check out the full reports and pictures section featuring sales from Carlisle; Stirling; Brecon; and Dungannon.

58-64 Features on DR Owen & Ian Wildgoose

The first feature in this edition focuses on the 400-cow suckler herd of DR Owen & Son, Sandilands, Tywyn, Aberystwyth whose store cattle are much sought after by finishers up and down the country. Next we turn to the suckler herd and finishing enterprise of Ian Wildgoose, Scarcliffe Hall Farm, Scarcliffe, Chesterfield, Derbyshire and Springwood Farm, Sutton Scarsdale, Chesterfield.

66-68 Features on EBLEX Improved Herd Award Winners

Each year, EBLEX reveal the two pedigree Limousin Herds that have made the most genetic progress in terms of Performance Recording in the past year. This takes us to John & Guy Green and their Greensons Herd and then to Gill, Barry & Matthew Heald and their Coachhouse Herd.

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DEFRA FUNDING FOR FEED EFFICIENCY EBV PROJECT ANNOUNCEDThe Society is delighted to report that in November DEFRA confirmed Limousin as the main breed in a £1.5 million project to establish a means of data collection and development of EBVs for traits relating to Feed Efficiency. Its stipulated partners in the project are AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) and SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College (formerly SAC)). Their commitment to securing the project was considerable and they will be supported by a consortium of industry representatives from across the sector. It should be noted, however, that until contracts are signed it is not possible to release a statement publically and all discussions, including this notice, are on a ‘subject to contract’ basis. It is

very good news for the breed and Society and directly addresses one of the key goals within the Breed Improvement Plan. DEFRA specifically noted in their response to the project proposal that BLCS’s commitment to the work and the fact that we identify it in a Breed Improvement Plan had significant influence on their decision.

The tender process for the project was carried out in an extremely tight time-frame. As such the first four months of the project have been set aside to fully scope it, establish a project plan & identify all partners and key personnel. Meetings have already been agreed in January to start this process. The project is to last four years and will commence as soon as contracts are signed.

The main elements of the project will be:

• Agreeing industry-wide protocols for > Measuring feed efficiency > Taking and storing tissue samples for potential future genomic analysis • Defining a ‘blueprint’ for feed efficiency recording facilities on

commercial farms• Installation of facilities for measuring feed efficiency on commercial

finishing units• Collection of data on around 1800 animals• Determination of genetic parameters for efficiency traits in one breed

(Limousin). • Establishing a network for national feed intake recording• Developing a set of possible business models for the continued

recording of feed efficiency after the project period

Feed costs are one of the main costs in any beef enterprise. Significant genetic variation exists within all breeds for the characteristics that relate to being feed efficient. Taking aim at delivering feed efficient cattle to the sector is a landmark piece of work for the breed and the industry as a whole and is eagerly welcomed. Updates on progress will be released as this exciting area of new work develops.



Gross sales of pedigree Limousin cattle, sold at official British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) auction sales in 2014, have increased by almost £1 Million in the year to over £6.5 Million

The figures released by the BLCS show that total pedigree Limousin sales in the year realised over £6,644,543 up by almost £1 Million (£943,813) on the 2013 figure.

In the course of the 2014, seventeen collective sales were held at Carlisle, Stirling, Brecon, Dungannon, Ballymena and Aberdeen respectively to gross

£3,733,364. Official BLCS Breeders’ Sales, which comprise of Production, Reduction & Dispersal Sales, grossed a further £2,911,179 on behalf of 29 individual herds. Just under 1,900 animals were sold in all at pedigree Limousin sales in the year.

Commenting, BLCS Chairman John Phillips, Whitland, Carmarthenshire said: “These are terrific figures and reflective of the ongoing demand for the breed and the quality of the cattle being brought forward. The suckler men and the feeders are looking for

performance and efficiency. They want easy calving, cheap to keep, easy managed cattle that are feed efficient, do well and hit the target weights and grades consistently. Limousins are fitting that bill.”

The seemingly year-on-year demand for Limousin females also showed no signs of slowing with the breeders’ sales in the year themselves grossing just shy of £3 Million and up by over £900,000.

In the last ten years, Limousin pedigree sales have grossed over £58 Million (£58,946,181). Whilst the high-end of the trade in 2014

saw 56 animals in the year make 10,000gns or more, the highest proportion of bulls at the sales made between 2,000gns and 5,000gns.

Highlights of the Limousin sale year included the maiden heifer Glenrock Illusion from Stephen & Helen Illingworth, Lockerbie, Dumfries selling for a Limousin world record, and UK & European all-breeds record of 125,000gns.

The highest price bull came in the form of the 55,000gns Aultside Hulk from Garry Patterson, Aultmore, Keith, Banffshire.

• Official Society Sales gross £6,644,543• Limousin heifer sets 125,000gns new world mark in 2014• 55,000gns Aultside Hulk tops bull trade

BRITISH LIMOUSIN SALES INCREASE BY £1 MILLION ON THE YEAR TO £6,644,543

Glenrock Illusion 125,000gns Aultside Hulk - top-priced bull - 55,000gns

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‘SUPER SIX’ CARCASE BREED ON FORM AT 2014 WINTER FAIRS• Limousin-sired cattle win six out of the seven ‘major’ primestocks• Pedigree Limousins win at English & Royal Welsh Winter Fairs

JOHN PHILLIPS ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

The amazing level of performance and consistency of Limousin cattle at the year-ending Winter Primestock events was again in evidence with the breed winning six of the seven ‘major’ championships on offer across the United Kingdom. Championship wins were secured at the English Winter Fair, Royal Welsh Winter Fair, Royal Smithfield and Allams (N.Ireland). A grand slam for the third year in a row was narrowly missed out on at the Scottish Winter Fair (Livescot). Other titles secured included the Countryside Live and Borderway Agri Expo events respectively.

Pedigree Limousin cattle again stood the equal and better of their crossbred counterparts with registered animals winning

both the English and Royal Welsh Winter Fair titles. Sarkley Ilomena’s win at the Welsh was the second year in succession that a pedigree Limousin heifer had taken this title and following on from Powerhouse Hella in 2013.

The 2014 Welsh Winter Fair was the 25th year of the event and the 24th Championship to be contested (none held in 2001). Remarkably, Limousin cattle have won this title no fewer than 21 times. Added to a 38% market share of cattle registered with BCMS each year, claim can be made to Limousin having truly become Wales’ national breed!

Once again the catalogued entries at these events were overwhelmingly Limousin sired

calves and in many instances were out of Limousin sired or influenced dams. Over and above these national wins Limousin sired calves again dominated the Christmas Fatstock shows in markets up and down the UK. The Winter Fair wins came hard on the heels of another impressive summer show season that saw pedigree and commercial Limousin cattle win 14 interbreed titles at the Royal Ulster, Highland, Welsh and Great Yorkshire Shows respectively.

Commenting, John Phillips the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Chairman said: “Limousin has built its reputation over 40 odd years as being the UK’s Carcase Breed and the breed’s dominance at these winter primestock

events is an ongoing testament to that. My congratulations to all exhibitors involved.” Mr Phillips continued: “Commercially beef producers are looking for easy fleshing, shape, length of loin, and conformation. This is what the Limousin breed is all about. Calves consistently hit the weight and grades the market requires and the cattle just have that good bit extra in killing out, yield of meat, and across the most expensive cuts. The beef product itself is high quality and consistent and these attributes are why the high street butcher and the wholesaler is so willing to pay a premium price.”

See the Winter Fairs report round up later in this issue pages 42-56.

Carmarthenshire-based breeder John Phillips has been elected as Chairman of the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) following the Society’s Annual General Meeting held in Leamington Spa in September 2014.

Having served as a Council Member since 2008, he takes over from Peter Kirton who had served as Chairman for a three year term of office. John Phillips, who had been the Society’s Vice Chairman during the previous twelve months, becomes the 15th Chairman of the BLCS in its 43 year history, and the third from Wales.

John, together with his wife Heather, joined the BLCS in 1990. Their Gronw Herd based at Esgerddeugoed, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Whitland

was established following the private purchase of a Limousin cow and calf from the Drysgold herd of Leslie Thomas, the first importer of Limousins into Wales. Other breeding outfits followed, bought both privately and at Society Sales, and the herd of Hereford x Friesian commercial sucklers were gradually replaced by the 50-strong pedigree Limousin enterprise run currently. The breeding ewe flock was sold around 6-7 years ago so today the pure Limousins have the run of the 200-acre farm. The herd is run on a working commercial basis, with the top-end bulls sold for breeding predominantly through Carlisle, Brecon and Whitland markets and the rest ‘on the hook’ before they reach 15 months.

Limousin line-up at English Winter Fair

Nigel & Chris Pennie with the Welsh Winter Fair Champion, Sarkley Ilomena

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A Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society as well as a Past Chairman of Wales YFC, John Phillips has keenly followed the development of the Limousin breed at home and throughout the world having attended the International Limousin Congress (ILC) in Zimbabwe and Canada respectively. One of his fi rst duties as Chairman was to lead a thirty-strong UK delegation to the ILC in Argentina in November.

However, John’s main concentration is the United Kingdom and taking the Limousin breed forward from its already strong industry position. Commenting he said, “The Limousin breed has offi cially been the UK’s number one beef breed for some eighteen years. It is the dominant terminal sire and the benchmark suckler cow within the industry.”

“This sustained success is due to the breed hitting market requirements through its calving ease, feed effi ciency, growth and carcase yield, longevity and marketability. There is a pressure on the beef industry and suckler cow numbers in the UK but producers know that they can rely on Limousin breeding for consistency, performance, and profi tability.”

At the AGM, the Society announced a major seven-fi gure investment in the breed’s future with a ten-year Limousin Breed Improvement Plan. Aims of the plan include the accelerated improvement of the breed’s easy calving capabilities; improving rates of gain in growth and carcase traits; and the introduction of measures to identify and further improve feed effi ciency. In a further comment, Mr. Phillips said:

“I am very honoured to have been elected as Chairman of the UK’s leading beef breed Society. As with my predecessors I will be working hard with the BLCS Council and members, to develop the breed and add value through new breeding technologies as they become available. The Breed Improvement Plan is indicative of this and is an ambitious body of work aimed at fi nancially benefi ting pedigree and commercial producers and the industry at large.”

Stephen Illingworth who runs the Glenrock pedigree herd at Howgillside, Eaglesfi eld, Lockerbie was elected at the same meeting as the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Vice Chairman.

John Phillips BLCS Chairman

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The autumn 2014 sales saw a solid demand across the Carlisle and Stirling Sales with the highlight being more bulls sold on the year. In all, 140 Limousin bulls sold at the two sales, held within 72 hours of each other, with 17 more bulls selling on the year. Averages unsurprisingly slipped a little on the year but producers took advantage of the value on offer and averages still came out at over £5500. The majority of bulls across both sales sold at between £2000-£5000. Commenting, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “Across these sales buyers have had the choice of a good show of commercially relevant bulls and the trade has been entirely realistic for the autumn. To sell

more bulls on the year and in the industry climate is a real positive. The market place is looking for efficiency in costs, easy calving, growth, optimum weights, tops and length, and carcase yield and quality. These are blue print attributes of the Limousin breed and what continues to deliver value and profit.”

Loosebeare Iain, the pre-sale show Supreme Champion from Messrs EW Quick & Son, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon sold for 27,000gns and led the trade at the BLCS Sale at Carlisle where 84 bulls sold to over £5550. A heifer’s calf, Loosebeare Iain is the first animal offered at sale by the homebred sire Loosebeare Fantastic, a Wilodge Vantastic

son, and is out of Loosebeare Elite a Haltcliffe Anzac daughter. At Stirling, Elrick Inferno from Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire lit up the Limousin trade when securing the day’s top price of 14,000gns. 55 bulls sold in all to average £4,717. Inferno is by the AI sire Hartlaw Excaliber, a Wilodge Tonka son, and is out

of the dam Elrick Centrefold, a Ryedale Paragon daughter. He was sold with a Beef Value of LM+58.

For a full round-up of reports and pictures from all the autumn Sales, including Carlisle, Stirling, Brecon, and Dungannon please see sales section at the back of this issue.

QUALITY AND VALUE ON OFFER AT LIMOUSIN SALES• 62% of sale bulls sold at between £2000 - £5000 Can you afford not to buy a Limousin bull at the Limousin sales! That’s the sentiment behind looking at Limousin bull sales at Carlisle in 2014. Over 62% of all of the bulls sold at official Society sales held at Carlisle in the year sold between £2000 - £5000. The bread and butter of these sales remains taking dead aim at selling bulls to the commercial beef producer. Year-on-year the overall quality of bull at the point of sale continues to rise with a depth of choice in type, breeding and performance to suit every job and requirement. Hand-in-hand with this is the value on offer with bulls available to suit all budgets. Limousin is the long-term UK market leader not through fad or fashion but because it delivers in efficiency, performance and profitability. In what other industry can you purchase the market leader at such value prices!

LOOSEBEARE IAIN TOPS AUTUMN LIMOUSIN TRADE AT 27,000GNS• More bulls sold on the year at October Carlisle and Stirling Sales

Loosebeare Iain 27,000gns

LIMOUSIN SALE FACTS2011 Limousin heifer Bankdale Erin sells for 65,000gns at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, at dispersal sale for the Bankdale herd, to set a World record at auction for a pedigree beef heifer.

2011 UK all breeds and all centre record average of £6232 set at Carlisle in May for the 121 bulls sold.

2012 A UK all breeds and all centre record average of £8242 set at Carlisle in February for the 131 bulls sold.

2012 Dolcorsllwyn Fabio, from Glyn & Nia Vaughan, sells for £126,000 setting a new Limousin world record and a UK & European bovine record.

2012 Pedigree Limousin cattle sold at official BLCS sales break through the £8 Million mark in the year to set a new all-breeds record sales gross mark of £8,184,303.

2014 The maiden heifer Glenrock Illusion sells for £131,250 and sets a new UK & European all-breeds record for a bovine animal and a new world record for a Limousin animal.



ON-LINE BIDDING AVAILABLE AT BLCS LIMOUSIN SALESBuyers can now bid for the Limousin cattle of their choice from the comfort of their own home or anywhere that offers access to the internet. Harrison and Hetherington, based at Carlisle, announced this progressive step forward in livestock selling in early December.

Outlining the new facility, H&H’s David Pritchard said that ‘the system would be a shop window for customers wherever they are in the world, allowing them to watch the auction from their smart phones, tablets and

computers and bid in real time.’To ensure bidders don’t miss

out, wherever they are and whatever they are doing they can also download the AuctionEar app for iPhone – the world’s fi rst smartphone app for live online livestock bidding.

In a Limousin ring, the system was used for the fi rst time at the 2014 Red Ladies and Weaned Calf Sale held at Borderway Mart on Friday 12th December.

“The new online live bidding system really creates a mart fi t for the 21st Century, where bidders anywhere in the world can see

livestock in the ring and compete in real time with bidders at the mart,” said Mr Pritchard.

“The new system really puts us at the cutting edge of the industry and will be immensely valuable at our major commercial and pedigree sales throughout the year, which regularly attract UK buyers and on occasions international as well. We are expecting the technology to benefi t not just buyers, but also

for vendors, by creating a wider customer base interest.”

Bidders musts fi rst register at Harrison and Hetherington’s website at www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk and once verifi ed, they will be given a unique log-on that allows them to see, hear and bid in real time.

From January 1st 2015, new National Beef Association (NBA) Terms and Conditions of Sale came into force. They replace the old NBA ‘Warranties’ and will be in use at all pedigree Breed Society bull and female sales, both collective sales and breeders sales, from 2015 onwards.

Furthermore, they will be provided free of charge to all Breed Societies who are members of the NBA and therefore, by extension, to all British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) Members selling at offi cial BLCS Collective or Breeders Sales (Production, Reduction & Dispersal sales). Previously costing £6 for bulls and £4 for females, this will represent an £8,800 annual saving for vendors and commercial buyers at Society sales - based on 2014 fi gures where almost 1,900 head went under the hammer at BLCS sales.

The new wording sets out the National Beef Association’s Terms and Conditions under

which Purchasers and Vendors enter into contracts at Breed Society Auctions and provides the framework under which any fertility disputes arising subsequently may be resolved.

Some new Inclusions in the NBA Terms & Conditions• The word ‘warranty’ has

been removed as it implied some form of guarantee or

insurance, and has been replaced this with ‘Terms & Conditions of Sale’

• Previously unlimited, purchasers will be able to defer using the bull they have bought for a maximum of 3 months. This means purchasers will still have up to 9 months to see if a bull is working

• Greater guidance has been given to purchasers in respect of how a bull should be looked after post-sale

• Greater defi nition has been given of what ‘capable’ or ‘incapable’ means in relation to a bull

• A new NBA-approved Bull Fertility Report Form is aimed at standardising and improving the claims procedure

The revised NBA T&Cs and Bull Fertility Report Form can be found on www.limousin.co.uk on the Society Sales section by clicking on NBA Terms & Conditions of Sale.

NBA INTRODUCE NEW TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR 2015• Free of charge to all NBA Members• Saving of approx £9000 per annum to breeders and buyers

H&H’s David Pritchard

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LIMOUSIN REGISTRATIONS BREAK THE 19,000 MARK At the close of December, registrations of pedigree Limousin cattle with the BLCS had reached 19,125 for 2014. This is the fifth year in a row that the 19,000 mark has been passed and the 2014 figure is above the very solid average registration figure for the last ten years of 19,090.

Bulls registered in the year totalled 8,487, with female registrations being 10,708. In a regional breakdown, the most calves were registered in Scotland (3389), followed by the North West Midlands & North Wales (3168) with South Wales & Mid West in third place (2599).

Commenting, BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “These are terrific figures and very consistent over a sustained number of years. There are pressures on the pedigree sector and over this same ten-year period the number of suckler cows in the country has dropped significantly. That fact makes these Limousin figures all the more remarkable. Commercially the breed is meeting the requirements of the market place in terms of efficiency, management, and carcase quality and yield.”

John Temple of Chase Farm, Roughley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands has been appointed as the British Limousin Cattle Society’s (BLCS) Honorary President. Serving a two-year term of office, and becoming the Society’s twelfth Hon President in all, he takes over the reins from Michael Priestley, Kirkcambreck, Cumbria who stepped down at the Society’s AGM in September.

In a long association with the BLCS and the Limousin breed, John Temple was a founding member of the North West Midlands & North Wales Limousin Club, and currently serves as their President. In 1987 he was elected to the BLCS Council when he served a three-year term under Chairmen Richard Oates and David Dick and was himself Chairman of the Marketing Committee. He has been married to Shirley for 48 years and has a son, Adam, and a daughter, Nina.

Other positions held have seen Mr. Temple serve as a Council Member of the Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society for many years. As Chairman he managed the amalgamation of the Birmingham and Stafford Agricultural Societies who now run the English Winter Fair.

Having spent all his working life in the meat trade, John says that the principles upon which the success of Limousins have been built, are as true today as those that attracted him to the breed more than thirty years ago. “Limousin is fundamentally a butcher’s animal, has very

good meat yield and meets the demands of the market.”

A Director of Walter Smith Farms Ltd, a private family firm which has traded for over 100 years, the company used to have 40 shops and a large manufacturing unit based in the Midlands until the Fresh Foods side was sold some 15 years ago.

The Roughley pedigree herd, which currently numbers 25 breeding cows, was established with the purchase of their first pedigree Limousin cattle at the Burton Dispersal in 1980 followed by selected purchases from

Carlisle. These included Harvest Orchid who bred Roughley Ultrabright, whose semen was exported to South Africa, Australia and to the noted Wulf family in North America.

Speaking of his appointment John Temple said: “I am both delighted and honoured to take on the role of BLCS President. I will work hard to continue to highlight the commercial attributes of the Limousin breed to all those I meet. The Society has always been very forward thinking, and has been prepared to take the lead in cross-industry technical

initiatives. As such I am delighted with the recently outlined ten-year Limousin Breed Improvement Plan (BIP).

Within the BIP the ongoing and planned work in such areas as carcase traits, feed conversion efficiency, and maternal traits will add huge forward value and profitability for breeders and commercial beef producers.”

Having already attended the Autumn Bull Sales, Borderway Agri Expo, English Winter Fair, and Welsh Winter Fair in his new role, John already has the February 2015 sales firmly in his sights.

JOHN TEMPLE APPOINTED AS BLCS HON PRESIDENT

John Temple BLCS Hon President



AMPERTAINE WIN CARLISLE THREE COMP!James McKay, Upperlands, Maghera, Co Derry took the honours this year at the prestigious Carlisle Three Award held at the October BLCS Bull Sale at Carlisle. A long-established competition, the Carlisle Three aims to encourage exhibitor-bred bulls that are performance recorded. Some terrific prizes saw £300 in cash awarded to the winning stockman, whilst the owner receives engraved whisky glasses, and a magnum of Champagne. Leading the way in the team was Ampertaine Interest, an Ampertaine Elgin son with a Beef Value of LM+31 who sold for 13,000gns. The Reserve Junior Champion was the Loosebeare Fantastic son Ampertaine Invader (LM+33) who sold for 8000gns, whilst another bull by the same sire, Ampertaine Interrogate, sold for 6000gns. A nice little gross of 27,000gns constituted a good day for the Carlisle Three winners.

Taking the Reserve position was Procters Farm Ltd, Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Nr Clitheroe with a team comprising of three Haltcliffe DJ sons. These were Procters Island (LM+47); Procters Irvin (LM+30); and Procters Illusion (LM+49). Come sale time, Procters Illusion led the three when selling for 7000gns. The Reserve position saw the Procters Farm herd pick up £150.

DYFRI IDRIS SOLD IN FIVE-FIGURE PRIVATE DEALThe Royal Welsh Male Junior Champion sells to Elgan Jones

Dyfri Idris, the Junior Male Champion Limousin at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, has been sold by his breeders, DG & MJ Edwards & Son of Home Farm, Cilycwm, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, in a significant five-figure private sale.

January 2013-born, this young bull attracted the attention of many at the show, including the Supreme Interbreed Champion judge, Mr Elgan Jones, of Coedmore Hall, who together with his wife, Nesta, and daughter, Emily, are the new owners of Idris.

Dyfri Idris’ sire is the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus, and his dam is the homebred Nectar daughter, Dyfri Elle. His maternal grand dam is one of the great Jockey daughters in the Dyfri Herd, Undeg, who is full sister to Neutron, the top-priced Limousin sold in the UK in 1998 for 14,000gns.

Idris will go to work on the Coedmore Hall herd of exceptional commercial cows, and was purchased by the Jones family on the strength of his outstanding carcase qualities, coupled with a strong background of calving ease and good maternal traits.

These traits are backed up by his high Beef Value of LM+44 which puts him well in the top 1% of the breed for growth and muscle, coupled with a calving value of LM2C, which is significantly higher than the breed average.

Over the last 20 years or more Elgan, Nesta and Emily Jones have invested consistently in the best Limousin bulls that are available, and their calves have featured heavily in the commercial markets and showrings of the UK.

The Dyfri Limousin herd was established in 1984 and presently consists of 70 breeding females. As well as private sales, the herd is a regular consignor of bulls to Society Sales at both Brecon and Carlisle markets respectively.

SOCIETY THANKS MICHAEL PRIESTLEYLimousin breeders and bull buyers joined together to congratulate Michael Priestley in completing his two-year term of office as BLCS Hon President. His successor, John Temple, along with the Chairman John Phillips and Immediate Past Chairman, Peter Kirton, presented Michael with a Border Fine Art as a ‘big thank you’ for an outstanding job as an ambassador for both the breed and the Society.

Presentation to Michael Priestley

Champion Group of Three

Dyfri Idris

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BREEDERS’ SALES ROUND-UP

WILODGE INFORM LEADS WELSHPOOL LIMOUSIN SALE AT 7,500GNS

6,200GNS MILLSTONE COW & CALF LEAD NEWARK CLUB SALE

7,500GNS COW & CALF OUTFIT TOPS CARLISLE LIMOUSIN FEMALE SALE

The March 2013-born Wilodge Inform from Christine Williams, T/A DA Williams, Lodge Hill Farm, Shifnal, Shropshire made 7,500gns and led the British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ Sale on behalf of Members of the North West Midlands & North Wales Limousin Club held at Welshpool Livestock Market on Saturday 22nd November 2014.

An embryo calf by the 50,000gns sire Wilodge Cerberus, Wilodge Inform is out of the Irish-bred dam Brookmill Catherine. Wilodge Inform, who had a top

1% Beef Value of LM+48, had been awarded the pre-sale show Championship by the judge, Llyr Hughes who runs the Pabo Limousin herd at Fferam Uchaf, Llandeusant, Caergybi, Holyhead. Purchasing the top price was Tynbryn Farms, Tynbryn, Tregynon, Newtown, Powys.

A V E R A G E S

17 Bulls £3,57063 Females £1,950Auctioneers: H&H with Welshpool Market

A 7,500gns top price headed the British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ Sale of Females held on Friday 17th October on the evening prior to the Limousin Bull Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Overall, the sale grossed £152,460 for 75 head.

The 7,500gns was paid for a cow and calf outfit sold on behalf of Paul Brown, Loughgilly, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland who was dispersing his Rathconville herd. At 4,000gns was the 2005-

born fifth calver, Ballinahinch Alexandria, which was bred by Mr S Cullen, Newtown, Co Wicklow, Republic of Ireland being by the Ideal 23 son, Ardnacrusha Philip, and out of Sevensprings Margo when going under the hammer to Andrew Ewing, Dumbretton Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. With proven breeding behind her, Alexandria is the dam of the 17,000gns Rathconville Eugene whose first daughter, Ronick Honey, stood Supreme Champion

at the 2013 Red Ladies Derby later selling for 20,000gns. Her heifer calf, Rathconville Jugenie, made 3,500gns. Sired by Rocky, the January-born Jugenie

was purchased by GJ Kent, Croft View, Withersdale Road, Mendham, Harleston, Norfolk for the Mendham herd.

A V E R A G E S

12 Bulls £2,432.0018 Cows & Calves £2,336.251 Young Bull £997.5014 in-calf Heifers £2,231.2539 Maiden Heifers £1,347.50

• Bulls sell to a top of 3,000gnsIt was Ladies Day at the Autumn Limousin Club Sale held at Newark on Saturday 11th October on behalf of the East Midlands and N Wales & Mid-West Limousin Clubs, with the 2010-born cow Millstone Fragrance from John Oakes, Stone Trough Farm, Harrisahead, Stoke topping the trade at 6,200gns. This Wilodge Vantastic daughter, out of Millstone Bonique (a Nelombo daughter), sold with her Rocky-sired bull calf at foot, Millstone Jaffa. Purchasing this second calver with a Beef Value of LM+35 was DS Townend, Malton, North Yorks.



NEWARK TO STAGE BLCS COLLECTIVE BULL SALE IN APRIL 2015Newark Livestock Market will stage an official British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) Collective Bull Sale for the first time in April 2015. For the past 10 years Newark has held some very successful Limousin sales having started out as an East Midlands Limousin Club Sale in 2005. The sale has subsequently grown to now having one of the largest Limousin offerings in the UK, in terms of pedigree and commercial cattle numbers, at its noted Spring ‘Limousin Day’. In April 2014, 47 bulls went under the hammer to average £3,595 with a top price of 7,000gns twice. An additional 196 pedigree females found homes on the same day.

BLCS Development Manager, Richard Saunders, comments: “The Collective Sale status recognises the tremendous work that has been put in by both Newark Market and the East Midlands Limousin Club over the past 10 years. Newark has already been an approved BLCS Auctioneer since 2011 and has conducted notable Breeders Sales including the Bailgate, Pennys, Pyebrook, Lowerffrydd, Janos, Miscombe & Birdies Dispersals. Staging a Collective BLCS Bull Sale in April is the next step to keep building this sale on behalf of Limousin breeders.”

Other noted Breeders Sales since 2005 have included consignments from the Grange, Tunnelby, Winnington, Harrison, Glangwden, Scorboro, Rachels, Brockhurst and Ironstone Herds respectively.

Newark Auctioneer Paul Gentry added: “Upgrading the April Sale to becoming a BLCS Collective Sale is a natural progression and reflects ten years of year-on-year growth and interest in the sale which has grown to a point where 2014 saw some 635 head of pedigree and commercial Limousin cattle catalogued. Whilst this sale has grown from a regional sale to generate interest from much further afield, it will still retain its user-friendly ethos.”

The April 2015 Newark Sale will see bulls sold under BLCS Collective Sale rules subject to the National Beef Association’s Conditions of Sale, and will include a pre-sale veterinary inspection. Females are to be sold under BLCS Breeders Sale Rules, again under the NBA Conditions of Sale, which means they will subject to an identity inspection (tag check) only. Schedules & Entry Forms will be available early February either by contacting Newark Livestock Market direct on 01636-676741 or by visiting the www.limousin.co.uk website.

Stop Press: Saturday 4th July BLCS Breeders Sale at Newark from the Coachhouse Herd of Messrs Heald, Retford, plus other consignments

Tuesday 3rd February Stirling Sale

Monday 9th February Dungannon Sale

Friday 13th FebruaryBreeders Sale Carlisle: Breconside, Cloughead, Fieldson, Gunnerfleet,

Roxborgh

Saturday 14th FebruaryCarlisle Sale

Saturday 21st FebruaryBrecon Sale

Wednesday 25th FebruaryThainstone Sale (Aberdeen)

Saturday 11th AprilNewark Sale

Wednesday 29th April Holsworthy Sale

Saturday 2nd MayCarlisle Sale

Monday 4th May Stirling Sale

Monday 4th May Ballymena Sale

Saturday 9th MayBrecon Sale

Tuesday 12th May Northern Limousin Extravaganza,

Skipton

Wednesday 13th MaySkipton Red Sale*

Wednesday 13th - Friday 15th May

Balmoral Show

Thursday 21st May NBA Beef Expo, York

Wednesday 27th MaySBCA Open Day, Mains of Mause,

Blairgowrie

Saturday 30th MayBreeders Sale Carlisle: Haltcliffe,

Ampertaine & Goldies

Friday 12th JuneCarlisle Sale

Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st June

Royal Highland Show

Friday 26th JuneExeter Sale

Saturday 4th JulyNewark Sale on behalf of the Coachhouse Herd plus guest

consignments

Tuesday 14th – Thursday 16th July

Great Yorkshire Show

Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd July

Royal Welsh Show including YLBC National Stockjudging

*Not an official BLCS Sale.NB Dates correct at time of going

to press

FORTHCOMING SHOWS, SALES & EVENTS UP TO JULY 2015

All Sales are Official BLCS Sales unless stated otherwise

16Limousin




TOP SELLERS ON

IN 2014The on-line website www.semenstore.co.uk has enjoyed a strong year of sales in 2014, up by some 17%, with buyers selecting readily from the wide choice on offer of approaching 100 Limousin bulls. Here we take a look at the top fi ve bulls selling on the site in 2014.

Sired by Wilodge Cerberus and out of Ampertaine Bathsheba, a Sympa daughter, who is full sister to the mother of Ampertaine Commander. Foreman has a Beef Value in the top 1% of recorded Limousins as are his 400 day growth and muscle depth fi gures. He is in the top 10% for calving value and above average for milk. Sold for 38,000gns and described as the ‘best bull he has ever bred’ by James McKay.

Sired by Hartsideanew Boumsong and out of Swarland Valance. Described as heavily muscled with wide, square plates, nice bone with natural power and full wide loin. Sire of Khaleesi, the multi-title winning heifer who has the 2014 Smithfi eld Supreme Championship under her belt. One of his fi rst pedigree sons was Jalex Itsallgood who was Overall Limousin Junior Champion at Balmoral in 2014 and Reserve Junior Male Championship at the Royal Highland. His commercial calves are simply amongst the best ever bred at Jalex. They include Eddie Rocket and Steady Eddie who had an amazing show season in 2013 culminating in the heifer selling for £5,000 after winning Allams Christmas Show.

A fast-growing bull, Ampertaine Gigolo weighed 765kgs at 400days. Carrying tremendous performance fi gures he is in the top 1% of recorded animals for 200 and 400 day weight, and has a top 1% Beef Value. Combining performance and pedigree, Gigolo is by the prolifi c Ampertaine Commander and is out of the powerful Ronick Gains cow, Ampertaine Crystal. Ampertaine Crystal is maternal sister to Ampertaine Bravo who was Supreme Champion Carlisle Nov 2007 for 24,000gns.

A prolifi c seller on Semenstore, Wilodge Cerberus is by Wilodge Tonka and is out of Wilodge Priceless. Described as ‘a true show stopper and one of the best examples of the breed to go through the ring at Carlisle’, he was purchased for 50,000gns in October 2008. Exceptional shape and breeding is backed by fi gures in the Top 1% for: 200 & 400 Day Growth, Muscle Depth & Beef Value.

Reserve Supreme Champion & 23,000gns top price at Carlisle February 2009. Sired by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Goldies Vitality whose dam is full sister to Goldies Terence. A rare combination of growth, muscle and milk. A prolifi c bull at the point of bull & female sales, Goldies Comet is the sire of the 125,000gns world record breaking heifer Glenrock Illusion.

Quick Info: £35 per straw; £40 royalty; available EU, N. America, S America, Africa.

Ampertaine GigoloQuick Info: £45 per straw; no royalty; available worldwide.

Wilodge CerberusQuick Info: £40 per straw; £50 royalty; available UK mainland.

Goldies Comet

Quick Info: £30 per straw; £40 royalty; available worldwide.

Ampertaine Foreman

Quick Info: £30 per straw; no royalty; available EU.

Swarland Eddie



the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society

SEMENSTORE.IE COMPLETES ITS FIRST YEAR OF TRADING With its fi rst full year of trading now under its belt the www.semenstore.ie website is progressing well. Purchasers in the Republic of Ireland are able to buy with confi dence online to access the best of UK and European Limousin genetics with the service backed up by Semenstore’s partner Dovea Genetics based in Thurles, Co Tipperary. Interestingly the top selling bull on the site through the year has been Swarland Eddie who sells for 22 Euro per straw.

Semenstore is delighted to report on an export of semen from two Limousin bulls to David Goss and his son Anthony who farm in Vidor, Texas, USA. The bulls Wilodge Cerberus, and Dolcorsllwyn Fabio, were selected after some extensive online searching of the British Limousin website and then the www.semenstore.co.uk site by Anthony.

Working with Limousin cattle for some fi fteen years, David Goss said that the UK Limousin cattle were different to those in the USA with him never having ‘seen such muscling, size, width, and defi nition before on Limousin cattle’! After looking at birth weights from some of the UK bulls, and reading where most of the UK heifers are having calves naturally with no issues, David and Anthony thought that it would be worthwhile to cross some of their larger frame heifers with UK bulls such as Fabio and Cerberus. The goal is, fi rst and foremost, to have smaller calves at birth weight, better muscling with faster growth rates, good milk production from the heifers and with the aim of producing heavier longer Limousins at younger ages.

With a stated focus on quality over quantity David and Anthony say that they already have other breeders interested in the progeny if the cross up goes as planned. The full blood herd presently numbers 20 head but with a view to expansion and a new barn on the way.

Anthony had purchased the semen as a Christmas present for dad. Initially sceptical about dealing with a company overseas he had never had contact before, but desperately wanting the blood lines selected, he pressed on with the order. “The whole experience was amazing”, says Anthony, “the communication from the Semenstore team was great, both timely and responsive, and the shipment itself was fast and with excellent delivery”.

Commenting on the Limousin breed generally, David Goss said, “In all my years of dealing with cattle, the Limousin is a breed in their own league. Having two copies of the F94L gene is a huge plus in this breed and I’m looking forward to help innovate a more muscled up, heavier Limousin bloodline here in the US. With beef prices soaring today, I believe the Limousin world is poised to lead in a market that can maximize growth effi ciency as well as profi ts.” We look forward to some updates in due course!

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Pedigree Limousin heifer waiting to be AI’d to Fabio

18Limousin




FURTHER SEMENSTORE EXPORTS TO HOLLAND AND NEW ZEALAND

As well as realising new export customers, Semenstore has also been very happy to fulfi l further orders to satisfi ed repeat customers! In the period further exports were made to both Holland and New Zealand for semen from seven Limousin bulls in all.

Leading the way was New Zealand breeders Danny and Bethley O’Shea for their Snake Gulley pedigree Limousin herd in Maungakaramea, Whangarei.

from the polled bull Greensons Howlett, and quantities from both Ampertaine Foreman and Bahut.

Fabio and Cerberus semen were also part of a good export order to regular customer Mr Teus Dekker, Cowporation BV, Alblasserdam, Netherlands. Four bulls in all were selected with semen also going from Swarland Eddie and the Derriaghy Enfi eld son Anside Gigolo.

Commenting on these exports Semenstore Director Iain Kerr said,

Following their fi rst order back in 2011, the O’Sheas have been regular importers since then and have reported previously that progeny to date from UK bulls has consistently shown strong growth and conformation qualities along with good docility. Indeed the Summer 2014 magazine reported on Snake Gully sale progeny from UK bulls selling at £4,440.

Dolcorsllwyn Fabio and Wilodge Cerberus again feature in this order along with semen

“The quality and performance of pedigree British Limousin cattle is becoming increasingly recognised internationally and this is driving the demand for semen and genetics from new and repeat customers. The power of website communication is so strong and the Semenstore site along with the BASCO database, and BLCS website, make it very easy for international buyers to search and select the bulls suited for their markets.”

• Semen from seven Limousin bulls exported in all

AND NEW ZEALAND

Wilodge Cerberus

Greensons HowlettDolcorsllwyn Fabio



21ST ILC IN ARGENTINA

FOR UK DELEGATES!

A ‘PLEASURE AND A PRIVILEGE’

For all who were there, the 21st International Limousin Congress held

in Argentina from November 2nd to November 9th will live long in the memory. Some terrifi c farms and Limousin cattle, a country with a beautiful landscape, rich history, diverse culture, and some amazing Limousin beef and Malbec red wine (!) is a very quick snapshot of highlights that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story of a country of contrasts. What was very evident to the 150 delegates, from 17 countries in all, was the warmth of the welcome, friendship, and hospitality extended by the Limousin breeders, and people of Argentina, across the nine or so days.

The UK had the largest international delegation with 27 attendees in from England, Scotland, & Wales. Ireland, the ILC hosts in 2016, had a further 12 delegates.

The UK delegates arrived in Buenos Aries to some incredible rainfall that had seen large parts of Greater Buenos Aries, sitting almost at sea level, being underwater. As a country, Argentina has around 900mm of rain per annum. Approaching half of that had fallen in

six weeks! The population of Buenos Aries is just under 3 Million with Greater Buenos Aries having a further ten million people.

Argentina itself is some 2,750,000 square kms and is the eighth largest country in the world. Its total population is around 42 million with the three largest cities being Buenos Aries, Cordoba and Rosario (Santa Fe), all of which we were lucky enough to visit. The Argentinian Limousin breeders certainly packed everything in with early mornings and late nights and daily bus journeys of several hours from the host ranches to the hotels. All character building stuff but hugely enjoyable and well worth it!

Founded in 1966, the Argentine Limousin

herdbook is the second oldest in the world after France. Today the breed is the largest continental breed in the country but sits behind the number one breed in the country which is Angus. As we made our way around Argentina, talked to breeders, and saw with our own eyes, the same Limousin attributes apply that drive the breed in the UK. Feed effi ciency, longevity, hardiness, calving ease, good fertility, high growth rates, maternal qualities and milk are all recognised Limousin traits. Carcase yields of around 63% are a unique Limousin advantage and all cattle are marketed as 100% natural beef with no implants or hormones.

Beef and beef production in Argentina is

UK delegates in Argentina

20Limousin



huge and a very important part of the national economy. Argentina has 320,000 ranch owners, approximately 52 million stock, with around 2,800,000 tons of beef produced annually. 12,500,000 animals were slaughtered in 2014, and over 500,000 people are employed in the beef industry. Some 27 million hectares are now available for agriculture in the country and this compares with 11.5 million in 1994.

Beef consumption in Argentina is a massive 55kgs per person per annum and unsurprisingly therefore beef is a major part of the staple diet of the country. Beef revenues per annum equate to around US$5 Billion. A ‘country of contrasts’ as noted, successive Governments have wrestled with major national economic challenges (40% inflation at present) and feeding the large, and in areas poor, population. This has led to the beef price being kept artificially low for producers and exports not being as big a part of the economy as might have been expected. However it was evident that the focus on exports and the associated revenue potential is increasing quite dramatically. Both government and breeders are embracing breeding and genetic tools and technologies as well as grassland management systems to optimise efficient beef production.

The majority of beef production is situated in the natural grass pastures of the Pampas (La Pampa). The scale and quality of the arable land available is hard to comprehend. For five or so days we travelled by bus, never saw a hill in sight (until reaching Cordoba) and marvelled at vast field after field of high quality grass pasture and maize, wheat and soya crops. On the whole in the area there is no drought or severe storms, the climate is temperate and the soil is of the highest quality. It is ideally suited to raising cattle.

The use of feedlots is evident and we saw an example of this at Las Esmerelda owned

by Dalmiro Martinez. The farm also produces maize, soya and wheat which is fed to the livestock in the outdoors feedlot, on the soil and with no sheds, and holds around 2,000 head. Given the quality of the pasture, the acreage, and that all animals are out wintered, there is no doubt that Argentina has every possibility of having a very low cost, high quality, high output, grass based beef production system.

There was some expectation that the Limousin cattle in Argentina would be heavily influenced by North American genetics. This was not the case and many of the cattle we saw were very ‘European’ in type both commercially and pedigree. There was even a bull or two that some had their eye on for semen! British genetics were also evident in the first farm visited with the Schmale Luchessi family pedigree enterprise (300 plus pure cows) having originally been established with the help of genetics from the Beauchamp and Broadmeadows herds and the noted Harvest Olympus.

A highlight visit was to Mercado De Liniers (Livestock Market) in Buenos Aires city. The market was set up in 1901 and is the oldest in Argentina. Incredibly around 140,000 head of cattle are sold weekly. The market covers 34 hectares, has 2,200 pens, and provides employment for 2,500 families. Very clean, all cattle pens are made from timber with the drovers all being on horseback. The auctioneers are driven between the pens on a buggy with the buyers moving overhead. All

“Given the quality of the pasture, the acreage, and that all animals are out wintered, there is no doubt that Argentina has every possibility of having a very low cost, high quality,

high output, grass based beef production system.”



cattle go from the market to be slaughtered and Liniers market provides 50% of the beef eaten in Greater Buenos Aries. The market trades four days per week.

On our visit pens of well fleshed Limousin steers were selling at 18 months of age weighing 400-450kgs and making around £1.25 per kilo.

The Technical Day was extremely well attended by UK delegates, across the various countries, and with a weighty representation of

Argentinian breeders. As well as outlining the breed’s position in Argentina the home papers included a comparative analysis of Limousin and Angus steers in a breeding and finishing programme; and a twenty year evaluation looking at reproductive efficiencies in Limousin cattle. Internationally Joe Epperley presented on work in the US, similar to the UK, to develop and incorporate molecular breeding values in Limousin selection tools. Sebastien Stamane from France presented a paper on the across country work of Interbeef, supported by the BLCS, and looking to provide a single genetic evaluation across European Limousin herd books.

There was room also for a National show and sale in Jesus Marie, 30 miles north of Cordoba city, and featuring 300 plus pedigree animals. Many of the breeders we had visited were competing against their fellow breeders. The passion for the cattle, and the emotion that we had seen amongst many of the breeders, was once again evident. The cattle were judged in effect in a sale ring with many of the younger animals being

unhaltered. A terrific spectacle was made all the more enjoyable by a very easy to follow judge, Carlos Ojea, who gave some excellent reasons in English. The judge was looking for functional cattle with ‘lots of meat in the right places’. Due to the size and make-up of ranches the cattle have to walk a lot and therefore need to be very structurally sound. As well as feet and legs, emphasis was placed in the females on good udders and good top lines. In the bulls the judge was looking for length, width, again good tops, and muscling. A lot of emphasis was placed on scrotal size with the judge noting that due to the large numbers of cows being worked with even a small percentage of ‘non-pregnancies’ had a big financial impact in a herd. Post the show the sale took place in the afternoon with the top price being £2,700 for the cattle offered.

From the opening ceremony at the French Embassy in Buenos Aries to the closing ceremony in Cordoba, and the many miles in between, the hospitality of our Argentinian hosts was beyond generous. This was Limousin beef heaven. A daily diet of the

22Limousin



ALED EDWARDS RE-ELECTED ILC PRESIDENTAt the 21st AGM of the International Limousin Council, the UK’s Aled Edwards, Home Farm, Llandovery was re-elected to continue as ILC President for a further two years. Aled was fi rst elected to this position back in 2008 when the Congress visited Italy. Iain Kerr, the BLCS’s CEO was also re-elected to continue on the ILC’s Executive Committee. Sebastien Stamane from France was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer, with the other elected members to the committee comprising of Anne Burgess from Canada, Joe Epperley from USA, and Paul Sykes from 2016 host country Ireland.

very best Limousin beef, quite often grilled/barbecued as whole sirloins and fi llets, became the norm and washed down by the fi nest Malbec red wine. You just had to be a good converter! Sitting alongside the lavish hospitality was the vivid entertainment provided including tango dancing, Rio style carnival dancers, music and singers. We even got watch Scotland beating Argentina at rugby on the big screen! Argentine Tango dancing is such a big thing culturally with many of the workers (and their families) at the ranches we visited being quite expert.

On top of all of this is of course the ‘bon homie’ amongst the delegates and the chance to network, talk about Limousin cattle and agriculture generally, catch up with friends, and to learn what is happening in other countries around the world. It is a heady mix all packed into seven days. On the closing night Kevin Bohan, the Irish Limousin President, played a fantastic promotional video advertising the 2016 ILC due to be held in Ireland. Once again that looks like one

seriously not to be missed!In closing a sincere thank you is extended to

the Argentinian Limousin Breeders Association for their hard work, friendship, overwhelming

hospitality, and of course for presenting their Limousin cattle to the widespread international audience. To be there was not just a pleasure, it was a privilege!

International delegates with the Argentinian hosts

L to R: Joe Epperley (USA); Iain Kerr (UK); Paul Sykes (Ire); Sebastien Stamane (Fra); Aled Edwards (UK); & Anne Burgess (Can)



JOHNNIE THOMPSONIt is with great sadness that the BLCS has to report on the passing of Johnnie Thompson, 85, of the noted Hartside Herd, Town Foot, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria on November 20th. A tremendous supporter and highly influential figure within the Limousin breed and the Society, Johnny served as both the Hon President (1997-2000) and Vice Chairman of the BLCS. A huge turnout at Johnnie’s funeral, including many Limousin friends and breeders, reflected on the respect and regard in which he was held.

On behalf of all Limousin breeders and members, the Society’s sincere condolences are offered to Johnnie’s family. Johnnie was the beloved husband of the late Mina, much loved dad of Margaret, Katherine, Ruth and John, proud granddad of Tracy, David, Michael, Michael, Thomas, Mark, Katie and James, devoted great-grandad to Sam, Lucas, Erin, Mia, Charlie, Evie, Stephanie and Leanne.

ESTONIAN BREEDERS VISIT BRITISH LIMOUSINA visit to Limousin HQ in Leamington Spa was followed by a tour of Will & Jackie Forresters’ Twemlows Herd based near Whitchurch, Shrops in October when two Estonian farmers travelled to the UK. Jaanus Vessart, a Limousin breeder who farms the Karitsa Ranch comprising 400 head of Limousin cattle on an 800 acre holding, was accompanied by Charolais breeder Targo Pikkmets.

Beef cattle farming, and with it Limousin breeding, only goes back a couple of decades in Estonia, and Mr Vessart was one of the first to import pure-bred animals from Finland in 1994. Estonia’s Limousin herds are mostly based on genetics from the Nordic countries, especially Denmark. In 2004 there were only around 10,000 head of beef cattle in the country but ten years later this figure has grown to almost 70,000. Limousin is the third most numerical breed with 19% market share. Hereford equates to 26% and Angus 24%. Next come Simmental (10%), Charolais (8%), Highland (6%) and Blonde (4%). The total number of beef cattle is increasing by around 15% per year.

Hosting the Estonian guests was BLCS Development Manager, Richard Saunders, who said: “Whilst relatively small in terms of numbers, the beef industry in Estonia is growing rapidly. Its farmers are looking to harness ‘technical’ breeds

like the British Limousin which is investing in online herdbook and performance recording services, projects like Feed Efficiency and Carcase Traits, all of which are targeted at breed improvement and future profitability.”

Mr. Vessart added: “It was a great opportunity for us to visit the British Limousin Cattle Society. We saw a strong and well-run organisation with good marketing activities. We would especially like to thank Jackie & Will Forrester from Twemlows Farm, who gave us a very interesting tour of their farm and where we saw lots of good Limousins. Back home, we are

you can make more money and not lose calving ability, then what can be more important.”

not used to seeing so much good muscling and well-developed hindquarters of breeding bulls. If

Limousin cattle in Estonia

Jaanus Vessart at the Twemlows Herd

24Limousin



• Trueman Grazia Overall Champion• Male Champion Gorrycam Hunter

BRITISH BREEDING DOMINATES DUTCH NATIONAL LIMOUSIN SHOW

The National Limousin Championships held in The Netherlands on 1st November saw British Limousin breeding dominate the prize tickets. Five titles went to breeders Claeys & Cowporation, most of them with cattle of British origin, and included Gorrycam Hunter a Cloughhead Umpire son bred by Stephen Reel which won the Overall Male Championship. Hunter was purchased by Cowporation for 28,000gns at the BLCS’s October 2013 sale at Carlisle. Trueman Incredible, a Dauphin son bred by Henry Savage & Sons in N Ireland, won the beef class and only had to give way during the main championships in his class to the young bull Ampertaine Inspector,

again a British-bred animal, and another Umpire son imported from N Ireland by Jaap van Dijk.

In the female classes Claeys & Cowporation were also to the fore with their animals, mostly

bred from British bloodlines, which included the Junior Heifer Champion in the shape of Cowporation Inca (by Carmorn Copilot). Their Female & Overall Champion was Trueman Grazia,

a daughter of Haltcliffe Vermount, again bred by Henry Savage. Grazia was the Red Ladies Champion at Carlisle in 2012 when she was sold to Holland for 14,000gns.

Dutch Limousin Show Claeys & Cowporation Championship Line-up



PERFORMANCE RECORDED BULLS AT SALE IN 2014THE MOST ACCURATE WAY OF ASSESSING BREEDING POTENTIAL!Using performance recording information – in the form of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) - gives breeders and bull buyers an objective way of assessing the genetic merit of potential stock animals. Whether you are a pedigree or commercial producer, it is the most accurate way of assessing breeding potential.

The use of EBVs is well established in commercial and pedigree herds in the UK. More animals than ever before are now evaluated – in excess of half a million animals are included every time the EBVs are updated – and more producers fi nd value in their use every year.

Sale results from 2014 below (February, May and October sales at Stirling and Carlisle) illustrate these effects. As buyers have experienced success from purchasing high performance genetics, they are willing to invest in them again, which increases demand and raises clearance rates.

This information tells us that at these sales in 2014:• 96% of all bulls sold were performance recorded (compare with 82%

two years ago in 2012)• 76% of all bulls sold had Beef Values within the Top 25% of the

breed (compare with 64% in 2012)• The higher the Beef Value, the higher the average price, this

indicating buyers’ willingness to source animals of superior genetic merit. Bulls with Beef Values in the Top 1% were, on average, worth 2864 guineas more than bulls with average Beef Values.

• Non recorded bulls attracted similar values to bulls with Beef Values around Breed Average, this indicating the nervousness that surrounds buying a bull of unknown genetic merit

• Clearance rates amongst recorded bulls throughout the year were typically greater than the non-recorded entry at each sale.

This is a solid indicator of the value of the information that performance recording yields and the returns to be gained from using EBVs. The information is easily available for all producers in sale catalogues and online at all times (go to www.basco.org then click on ‘Quick Search’ to fi nd a specifi c animal, ‘Breeder Search’ to look at all animals bred and owned by Limousin breeders and ’EBV Search’ to set your own EBV criterion and fi nd the list of animals that meets it).

Commercial Producers Commercial fi nished and suckled calf producers are enhancing

herd productivity from between £40 and £80/calf through:

• High Growth EBVs -Increased slaughter/sale weights and reduced days to slaughter/sale

• Superior Carcase EBVs - Improved carcase conformation• Superior Maternal EBVs – Breeding productive cows, that

produce more calves during their working lifetime

Pedigree BreedersDue to the commercial benefi ts associated with recorded cattle, bull buyers seek out recorded bulls:

• Clearance rates for recorded bulls are higher than bulls that are unrecorded

• Premiums are being paid for recorded bulls with superior EBVs• Supports and validates value for animals sold ex-farm

Beef Value No. Bulls SoldNo. Bulls Sold as

% of TotalAverage Sale

Value (gns/head)

Top 1% 61 15% 6924

Top 10% 152 36% 5894

Top 25% 105 25% 5666

Average 57 14% 4060

Below Average 24 5% 3625

Non Recorded 18 4% 4301

For more general EBV information, go to www.limousin.co.uk then click on ‘Performance Programmes’. Also contact Alison Glasgow, Technical Manager on email [email protected] or telephone 01721 730664.

Limousinthe br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk26


GUY GREEN ELECTED AS BASCO CHAIRMANCambridgeshire based Limousin breeder, Guy Green, has been elected as Chairman of BASCO Data Ltd following the company’s AGM held on 10th October, 2014. He takes over from Tim Healy, who served as Chairman for a period of 6 years and was the longest serving Chairman BASCO has had during its 8 year history. Farming 2000 acres in Cambridgeshire, Guy along with his father and brother, runs the Greensons herd of 25 Pedigree Limousin cows alongside a substantial arable business. As well as his new position, Guy is also a Council member of the British Limousin Cattle Society.

BASCO Data Ltd (Beef & Sheep Company), initiated and owned jointly by the British Limousin Cattle Society, Texel Sheep Society, and Suffolk Sheep Society, is the company through which the BASCO livestock database has been developed. This unique collaboration has resulted in the database now hosting the pedigree and performance information of some 30 plus breeds of beef and sheep (through its major client Signet

Breeding Services). BASCO is also the platform through which Egenes conduct and provide genetic evaluations.

At a practical Limousin level the BASCO database has proven to be very popular through its farmer friendly ease of use and has proven to be an invaluable management and promotional tool for pedigree and livestock farmers. Pedigree breeders are able to register their calves on-line, manage their herd census and status, and transfer animals to buyers. Following the BLCS taking performance recording in-house in 2012, breeders are also able to input their calf weights and performance data. Ongoing development will see the ability in the near future for pedigree sale entries to be taken on-line.

Both breeders and customers continue to make extensive use of the fully flexible BASCO database web searches. These searches have provided the ability to browse the Limousin herdbook on-line and look up animals, bloodlines, breeding, progeny

and performance records. In the run up to pedigree Limousin sales, these web tools have been used particularly heavily throughout the UK and internationally.

Commenting, Guy Green said, “I’m delighted to be elected BASCO Chairman, I am a real advocate of the database, what it is delivering, and its potential for the future. Farming is continuously moving into the digital world, data is key, and I feel that BASCO is perfectly placed to develop with this and become an even more valuable tool for herd and flock management.”

Visit the BASCO site at www.basco.org or through the BASCO icon at www.limousin.co.uk



THE FORWARD BEEF INDUSTRY AND THE ROLE FOR

THE LIMOUSIN BREED! BLCS MEETING WITH STUART ROBERTS, ABP UK.

The Carcase Traits Project

A four-year research project ending later this year. It will deliver breeding values for the seven new primal cut traits using Visual Image Analysis (VIA) as well as animal DNA to all users of Limousin bred stock.

In business for over 60 years and processing up to 20% of the national annual beef

kill, ABP is one of the largest abattoirs in the UK. The company is also one of three partners in the £1.5 million Carcase Traits Project with the British Limousin Cattle Society and Scotlands Rural College (SRUC). Stuart Roberts, ABP’s Group Livestock Strategy Manager, joined a recent meeting of the BLCS Council of Management to discuss current and future issues surrounding beef production and the roles of Limousin, the Society, breeders and commercial producers within that.

What are main opportunities & challenges currently facing processors?

“A growing world population has increased, and will continue to increase, the demand for beef. Projections tell us that the global population will be over 9 billion by 2050. This means in the next 36 years we need to produce 60% more food with less water, land, fertiliser and pesticides.

This would seem a tall order, but history tells us it is possible. When the resource used to produce a bushel of corn in the UK is compared between 1980 and 2011, 2011 was achieved with 40% less land, 60% less erosion, 50% less water and 40% less energy. So any argument that it can’t be done is not particularly valid.

Over recent years, trends show that, as relative disposable income has increased, the Asian/Pacific region is replacing plant based products with animals based products. Whilst the internal supply chains are expanding to meet this increased demand, imports will also increase and the future is optimistic.

ABP’s China office opened

May 2012 in Shanghai. Currently there are an estimated 1.8 billion middle class people there and with a seven fold increase in the number of graduates in the last 6 years, this is anticipated to rise to around 5 billion by 2050. The current Chinese beef consumption is 5kgs per annum and in 2012 virtually none of that was imported. China now imports 200,000 tonnes annually, of which 100,000 comes from Australia and the remainder from Uruguay, NZ, Canada, Argentina and Costa Rica. We see significant opportunity here over a long period of time.

So the market is expanding and we are not seeing a world where there is a massively growing supply. All countries – with the exception of Australia and Brazil (though not significantly so) are producing less beef than they did five years ago. The reality is we are not in a world where there is massively growing supply to meet the rising demand, and this will

ultimately have a positive knock-on effect on price.

But we have to deal with markets that are more volatile than we have never seen before. EU beef is most expensive in the world and consequently more sensitive to fluctuation in currency. There is a significant difference between EU beef and Australian beef prices but the gap is closing between other countries and we are likely to see further convergence yet. When demand for EU beef increases and the price differential widens, it puts processors and retailers under considerable pressure. Having said that, however, UK beef has fantastic provenance which does buffer this to a degree. But there is a tipping point where consumers will not pay a premium and if price differentials get too big, it has to be redressed.

There are also domestic reasons for price volatility. For example, price this autumn as largely been a result of the

Stuart Roberts from ABP UK

28Limousin



“Beef production cannot compete with chicken and that should never be the industry’s focus. We need to drive dem and by producing beef that consumers want, by putting in place all posible measures required to achieve that, at as low a cost as possible. Low cost production needs to be achieved in a way thats is sustainable, through clever use of all the knowledge, technology and genetic resource that is available to us. We are currently only scratching the surface!”

mild weather last winter. This discouraged eating of beef and domestic and industrial freezers remain full with little demand for stocking up for this winter. Price has picked up very recently largely as a result of price promotions and some tightening of supply. A cold winter this year will help drive beef sales next year! Demand will also be driven next year by the ongoing reduced supply from the suckler herd. It is a simple relationship that, if it happens, bodes reasonably well for the coming 12 months.

The new abattoir in Poland is probably best addressed at this point. Contrary to common belief, only small amounts of Polish beef are entering the UK market and only for particular customers. The primary purpose of this plant is to serve southern Europe; mainly Italy, Portugal and Germany”.

What factors have the biggest influence on these challenges and opportunities?

“In the coming years, input from all sectors of the supply chain will be essential and will need to address:

Risk: All sectors will need to adapt their businesses to deal with price volatility. Typically this is achieved by the tightest possible control of cost and production efficiencies and will apply throughout all stages, from farm to shop floor. Herds that have strong control of cost are typically the last to go in to a loss-making situation and the first to come out of it when price recovers.

Technical advances – Health, Efficiency (feed efficiency in particular), Genetic Improvement

Health – Beef as a product is healthy. It’s diets that are unhealthy. We are not good at getting this message across and also at standing up for ourselves against vegetarian and environmental arguments.

Feed Efficiency – the main cost associated with beef production in the UK is feed. Breeds and producers ignore this trait at their peril. The news that Limousin are about to be heavily involved in DEFRA work that will produce EBVs for feed efficiency is very welcome.

Genetics – It is improvement within breed that will count, not the differences between our breeds. Planning for changing

markets and production environments is the thing that will set breeds apart in the medium to long term.

Facility InvestmentVIA – Visual Image Analysis –

where carcase grading is carried out by automated means rather than a decision made by a person - has been our most recent and significant investment. It has been introduced in to two of our abattoirs under the Carcase Traits Project and will be rolled out to more. Further mention of it is made below.

In the future, our investment will look at meat quality indicators such marbling, tenderness, omega3 content etc. This direction is governed by consumer need and demand since at the end of the day, it is only the consumer that injects new money in to the chain. This is a complex area and we need to accept that consumers will not change overnight; that over a long period of time we need to move them.

Premiums for UK beef and/or specific breeds

Whilst the thought that a premium for UK beef or for beef identified by breed is a nice one, the danger is that it clouds genetic improvement and hides inefficiency. This can shift focus from driving sector and/or breed development, the effect of which is critical when the premium creates a situation of over-supply and essentially disappears. The reality is that premiums come and go – breeding merit is permanent.

Competition from other, much cheaper, protein sources

We have a production system that works with an animal designed to do a certain thing which is convert cellulose in to protein. The efficiency and costs of production of chicken and other white meats cannot be compared – and are not in direct competition – since

they are converters of cereals. Feeding cereals that can be digested by humans is arguably less sustainable long-term than feeding cellulose that converts to protein. The chicken is the wrong enemy! Failure to exploit resource, develop markets and control cost within our sector is our true enemy.

We are lax in the UK on rumen research and industry bodies have been slow to recognise this. Its obvious link to issues surrounding methane emissions are speeding it up, however, and this is welcomed.

Membership of the EU & the effect on beef price:

For agriculture it is easy to construct some very positive arguments for leaving the EU but personally I believe it is important that we don’t allow that to happen. We know what staying in means and whilst there are some elements of EU membership we fundamentally disagree with, we know what it is. The problem when considering leaving the EU is we don’t know what the alternative is; it could be better but it could be worse. It is possibly likely to be worse, but this isn’t meant directly in relation to the price of beef. Supply and demand will still dominate in this respect. The greater effect is likely to be the effect on the wider structure of farms and this is very difficult to predict. If we lose CAP or its equivalent, what happens to beef price will be completely irrelevant.

Change in supply of beef from Suckler herds to Dairy herds:

If suckler herds continue to reduce in number, it is inevitable that there will be a greater proportion of beef coming from the dairy sector. But I’ve seen some shifts in that sector and its approach to breeding; better selection of sires, use of sexed semen etc and better quality beef will come from it than in the past.

The suckler herds of the future are likely to be those that occupy more marginal land, but the background will be rising demand for beef and they will have their chance within that”.

What impact will the Carcase Traits Project have?

“The Carcse Traits Project will be one of the turning points in changing how we grade carcases. EUROP was designed as an intervention measure, so the wrong carcases are being incentivised. We can see from the work done by the project so far that the retail values of carcases at the same weights and conformation score can vary by over £300/animal. This is value that can be better captured at the production and processing levels, and used to produce the required product consistently. Some of the beef produced in this country is done so incredibly inefficiently – deadweight gains range from



as little as 0.4kg/day to 1.5kg/day and the current pricing structure hides the difference between the two.

I am often asked whether we should be concerned that higher proportions of beef are now sold as mince, begging the question whether the investment to measure and reward yield are relevant. It should be remembered that the premium cuts on an animal are not the majority of that animal. There are times we are mincing too much, however, and an area of our development is to continually turn some cuts in to higher value cuts and not mince them.

I hope that this project is the first of a few projects between ABP and Limousin breeders as partners. I am very confident about future of the industry in the medium to long term. We have a product the rest of the world wants, though we will need to make sure our ship is as tight as possible if we are to serve it well”.

How does the Limousin breed fit in to this?

“Increasing use of technology – such as VIA – will result in payment systems down the line that will favour breeds that win on yield, such as Limousin. And the wider genetic improvement that the breed is involved in, such as the feed efficiency work, will compound the benefits of this breed for producers. All said, a large part of the success in reaping these benefits will be governed by the variation that exists within all breeds and the

smart producers will be those that breed higher proportions of desirable animals first.

In the medium to long term carcase weights are likely to come down, rather than go up, as consumer demand for smaller cuts and joints dictates. Carcase weight is currently used as a proxy measure for striploin size, but as VIA establishes itself, dependence on it will reduce and it is likely that there will be move towards meat yield by cut. If and when the specification for carcase weight

reduces, Limousin is in a better place to respond to this than other breeds to produce lighter carcases, whilst maintaining yield.

Limousin breeders operate a fantastic Society; there is no other breed having these discussions and laying its foundations in quite the same way. The Limousin breed is unlikely ever to be the flag waver at the consumer end of the sector - changing perception of native breeds and their provenance would be more than a lifetime’s work – but within the sector it will be”.

“Limousin is at the forefront of producing meat yield efficiently. As the rewards for this become more transparent, through better pricing structures, producer demand for

the breed will increase.”

30Limousin



HOW THE LIMOUSIN BREED HAS CHANGEDANNUAL UPDATE ON GENETIC TRENDSOne of the advantages of a national genetic analysis is that it enables genetic change for each trait to be monitored over time. This is provided by a ‘genetic trend’ graph, plotting the average for each Limousin EBV over time.

Herd Production Traits: 200 Day Milk and Longevity

The Production Traits: Growth and Carcase Since 1990 the average EBVs for the Growth traits (200 Day Growth and 400 Day Growth) have increased substantially without generating a

corresponding increase in Birthweight. A consequence of the increase in early weights will inevitably have meant a proportional increase in the weight of mature cows. While heavier cows may eat a little more to maintain their body, the Limousin cow is typically considered ideal for the UK market, and the heavier weight of any individuals will imply a higher end-of-life cull value.

As regards the Carcase Traits, the Limousin breed is of course well known for its quality carcase characteristics. The ongoing and significant gain in Muscle Depth whilst maintaining a fairly constant Fat Depth indicates that breeders are not resting on their laurels however, and careful selection of breeding stock is driving continual change without detrimental affect on associated traits.

As with many trends, there are peaks and troughs as time goes on, but overall the trend for 200 Day Milk is remaining relatively steady. 200 Day Milk is the maternal component of 200 Day Growth, or the weaning weight. In other words, it predicts how much of a calf’s performance at 200 days (weaning) is down to the maternal influence of the dam. This obviously includes her ability to milk, and the quality of her milk, but it is also influenced by aspects of her behaviour, particularly in relation to how she suckles her calf. 200 Day Milk has a slight negative correlation with Growth ie animals that are faster growing are typically not as good for 200 Day Milk.

Despite this, again through careful animal selection, Limousin breeders are successfully driving growth whilst protecting the maternal milking quality of the breed.

The Longevity EBV predicts the length of an animal’s breeding life in the herd. It is positively correlated with the growth and carcase traits ie animals of high genetic merit for

these traits typically live longer. The improvements that are being made in these traits are pulling through an added benefit of

increased longevity. On average, animals now live more than half a year longer in herds as a result of their genetic merit.



The genetic trend graphs for these Indexes illustrate the combined effect of the associated traits on the breed over time…

Breeding IndexesLimousin breeders and buyers are now offered fourteen different EBVs which describe the genetic merit of each animal for a range of growth,

carcase and maternal qualities.A Breeding Index combines groups of these EBVs in to single values to help rank animals for their merit across more than one trait at a time.

Three Breeding Indexes are currently published for Limousin as follows:

The Beef Value is largely mirroring the increasing gains in growth and carcase traits the breed is achieving. The combined effect of the breed’s maternal traits is to improve the Maternal Value and this is largely being driven by a reduction in the Age at 1st Calving, an increase in cow Longevity and the stability of the 200 Day Milk EBV. Although there has been a decrease in the Calving Value it is relatively slight, in control, and not in direct proportion with the rapid and successful gain in the growth and carcase traits. It is recognised within any breed that the ideal animal is the ‘curve bender’; high growth and carcase qualities combined with moderate birth weight and short gestation lengths and within the Limousin breed there are many of these to be found.

Genetic change is at the core of the Breed Improvement Plan published by the Limousin Society in 2014. Breed’s that are adapting to the changing needs of producers and their trading environments are those that will continue to serve the industry in the future. The gains made to date for the production traits by UK Limousin are world-leading and provide the backdrop against which the breed of the future is being modelled. For further information on the Breed Improvement Plan, see our website at www.limousin.co.uk, click on ‘The Breed’ and then ‘Breed Improvement Plan 2014-2024’.

Beef Value incorporating Calving Value incorporating Maternal Value incorporating

200 & 400 Day Growth EBVs Calving Interval & Age at 1st Calving EBVs

Muscle Depth and Fat Depth EBVs Longevity & Maternal Calving Ease EBVs

Birthweight, Gestation Lenght and Calving Ease EBVs 200 Day Milk EBV

Gestation Length EBV

Calving Ease EBVs

Khaleesi – SWARLAND EDDIE daughter.

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32Limousin



SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE – IMPROVING MATERNAL PERFORMANCEWHAT IT MEANS IN ALL HERDSThe Limousin breed is regarded as unique in its ability to produce high quality, fast growing carcases as well as high quality female replacements for suckler herds. Much investment has been made in recent years in developing the breed’s production traits – primarily growth and carcase traits – but this has not meant that an eye has been taken off safeguarding and improving its maternal qualities.

In addressing one particular areas of maternal performance Limousin breeders have routinely been recording Scrotal Circumference as part of the breed’s performance recording scheme since 2009, and an Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for the trait has been available since 2011.

In addition, all bulls sold at Society sales are subject to a veterinary inspection; they must meet a minimum Scrotal Circumference threshold before they are sold through the ring

and the measurement taken is displayed in the sale pen.

These measures support one another well but both beg the question….

What does it all mean for me?

The answer is a straightforward one. Scrotal circumference is directly related to two key areas of herd performance…• It is an indicator of a bull’s

serving capacity. Bulls with smaller testicles tend to reach puberty later, have poorer semen quality and have lower total sperm production.

• It has a moderate correlation with early puberty in females, where the daughters of bulls with large testicles tend to reach puberty earlier. This is particularly relevant to the success of the increasing proportion of herds that are choosing to calve heifers at two years of age.

It is therefore a characteristic affecting all types of producer and will impact on any type of breeding enterprise, particularly if the wrong selection decisions are made.

How large does ‘large’ need to be?

For a bull to be fertile the “rule of thumb” is that he should have a minimum scrotal circumference of 32cm at 15 months of age. This is based on research that shows that the incidence of poor semen in bulls that fall below this threshold is significantly higher than those that sit above it.

How is Scrotal Circumference measured?

Scrotal circumference is measured with a tape at the widest part of the scrotum when the bull is standing in a relaxed position. Whilst measuring, the testicles should also be checked for puffiness or abnormalities;

they should be of an even size, feel firm and springy (like a new tennis ball) and move freely.

The effect of shape on the measurement:

Testicles do vary in shape and it is possible to have testicles with the same amount of tissue but a difference scrotal circumference. However, it is the circumference that has been shown to be the best indicator of semen quality

Highlights

• Scrotal Circumference is relevant to all types of breeding herd

• Actual measurements are valuable when assessing serving capacity. A rule of thumb is a minimum of 32cm at 15 months The Scrotal Circumference EBV is the best guide to use when selecting a bull to breed heifer

• BLCS and breeders are committed to producing quality breeding stock that is relevant to markets now and in the future. Review of thresholds used at Society sales and development of genomic breeding values will help drive genetic improvement.



and volume. Testicle shape should therefore not be used as an excuse for keeping a bull with a small scrotal circumference.

Can bulls with small testicles at a young age have large testicles at an older age?

With very few exceptions bulls with below average scrotal circumference at a young age will have below average testicles at older ages and at maturity.

The effect of nutritionNutrition can have a major

effect on scrotal circumference. Under good nutrition, scrotal circumference increases by about 1cm per month between 10 and 14 months of age. Under poor nutrition the growth may be very slow. This means that the bulls simply take longer to reach their maximum scrotal circumference. When using actual scrotal measurements as a guide (rather than an EBV), the animal’s general condition should be noted and taken in to account. The measurements of animals carrying large amounts of fat will be greater than those that are leaner.

How heritable is scrotal circumference?

Scrotal circumference is a moderately heritable trait with a heritability of 21%. This means that with a concerted effort by breeders, the average scrotal

circumference of the breed can be changed reasonably quickly. Based on this heritability, simply using a sire with an extra 2cm of scrotal circumference (ie an EBV 2cm higher) will increase the scrotal circumference of his progeny by 1cm.

How accurate is measurement of Scrotal Circumference?

The measurement of scrotal circumference is not a perfect measure. Two people may get slightly different measurements on the same bull because of a difference in technique. In general, measurements by two different people should not differ by more than 1 cm which is accurate enough to achieve our objective of increasing scrotal circumference in the breed. It does tell us though, that bulls measuring close to the threshold should be considered ‘borderline’ for breeding purposes.

Do we really need an EBV for Scrotal Circumference?

The advantage of an EBV is that it takes out the effect of nutrition and allows direct comparison of animals in different herds. It indicates the genetic potential of the animal for any given trait and this is the only part of that trait that can be passed on to its calves.

However, some recent research in the USA has shown that • the actual measurement of

scrotal circumference is more useful in selecting bulls for serving capacity than the EBV

• Selection on the EBV for scrotal circumference was more effective than selection for actual scrotal circumference in reducing the age at puberty of the daughters.

EBVsEBVs for scrotal circumference

for all Limousin animals are published at all Society sales and at all times on the BASCO database (go to www.basco.org and click on ‘Quick Search’ to look at a particular animal, or ‘EBV Search’ to find animals that meet your criteria, or ‘Breeder Search’ to view the EBVs of animals in particular herds). EBVs for the female fertility traits Age at First Calving and Calving Interval (the time between first and second calves) are also published.

As a general rule animals with positive EBVs for scrotal circumference (ie genetically larger) breed daughters with negative (favourable) EBVs for Age at First Calving.

How Will Scrotal Circumference Measures and EBVs

Continue to be Developed?

As new evaluation techniques become available – such as Genomic Breeding Values (GBVs; breeding values that use information from DNA as well as records taken on-farm) – new ways are being found to increase the accuracy at younger ages of all EBVs and Scrotal Circumference will be amongst this.

Addressing measures of female fertility are highlighted as a Breeding Goal in the BLCS’s recently-announced 10-year Breeding Improvement Plan and the Society and breeders are committed in targeting improvement in this key area of commercial performance.

In support of this, the minimum qualifying thresholds used at Breed Society sales (and recommended for other sale purposes) will be reviewed in 2015. The purpose of this is to ensure they remain current as the breed develops and, more so, that they help drive genetic change so the breed continues to produce the highest quality breeding stock to the commercial market.

For enquiries, please contact Alison Glasgow, Technical Manager on email [email protected] or telephone 01721 730664.

34Limousin



RESULTS FROM THE NOVEMBER 2014

EBV UPDATEThe most recent Limousin EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) update was carried out on 11th November 2014. The following tables identify the Top 10 Sires, Dams, Young Bulls & Heifers in the breed according to Beef Value and Calving Ease EBVs. Accuracy percentages are shown in brackets below each breeding value

November 2014 Top 10 Sires

The table below identifi es the current Top 10 Limousin sires according to the following criteria:• All bulls are born before 11th November 2011 (ie older than 3

years of age at time of update)• All bulls have a calf registered in 2012, 2013 and/or 2014• All bulls have the highest Beef Value recorded in the November

2014 EBV Update• All bulls have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the

2014 breed average of -2.4%

Bull Name Bred Owned Calv. Ease EBV (%) Beef Value

1

Bailea BMWUK 720297/101149

DoB: 09.06.2006 Calves: 160Sire: Requin

Mr M T JonesBailea herd

Powys

Mr H EmslieEmslies herd

Aberdeenshire

-2.2(90%)

LM76(96%)

2

Emslies ColossusUK520779400668

DoB: 13.09.2007 Calves: 73Sire: Objat


Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-0.5(86%)

LM67(94%)

3

Kaprico GermanderUK106173400067

DoB: 04.07.2011 Calves: 12Sire: 6272 Sympa

AK & C StaffordKaprico herdSunderland

Mr B T GoldieGoldies herd

Dumfriesshire

-2.4(72%)

LM61(82%)

4

Scorboro AramisUK142543100214

DoB: 7.11.2005 Calves: 136Sire: Ronick Upshot

JCG Bloom & SonScorboro herd

E. Yorks

Messrs Ellis & GottschalkBowtells herd

Essex

0.0(92%)

LM59(96%)

5

Rachels DynamiteUK142189500280

DoB: 13.4.2008 Calves: 68Sire: Scorboro Aramis

Messrs D & MLP WoolhouseRachels herd

Yorks


Yorks

-1.8(86%)

LM57(92%)

6

Ampertaine DominoUK9564385/532-7

DoB: 1.10.2008 Calves: 101Sire: Ampertaine Abracadabra

Messrs WJ & J McKay

Ampertaine herdCo Derry

Messrs WJ & J McKay

Ampertaine herdCo Derry

-0.8(86%)

LM56(89%)

7

Orrisdale DemandUK 010575/101907

DoB: 16.6.2008 Calves: 9Sire: Lowabbey Valuation

Mr & Mrs PA KermodeOrrisdale herd

Isle of Man

Mr & Mrs PA KermodeOrrisdale herd

Isle of Man

-1.7(62%)

LM54(76%)

8

Turville GuinessUK280393604599

DoB: 2.5.11 Calves: 35Sire: Cole Sudden Impact

Messrs HB & LJ LearTurville Herd

Buckinghamshire

Messrs HB & LJ LearTurville Herd

Buckinghamshire

-2.3(69%)

LM54(84%)

9

Millington FiatUK143223301793

DoB: 23.3.2010 Calves: 34Sire: Objat

Millington Limousins LtdMillington herd

Yorks


Yorks

-0.2(83%)

LM52(89%)

10

Marlepark EdwardUK 583471/301276

DoB: 28.03.2009 Calves: 18Sire: Ampertaine Bravo

R K Fisher & CoMarlepark herd

Fife

Mr J ThomsonBeath herd

Fife

-0.9(75%)

LM51(85%)

NEW

NEW



Dam Name Bred Owned Calv. Ease EBV (%) Beef Value

1

Goldies ClaraUK 581575/200962

DoB: 19.11.2007Sire: Goldies Terence


Dumfriesshire


Dumfriesshire

-1.8(74%)

LM63 (83%)

2

Emslies HeleddUK520779101204

DoB: 10.4.2012Sire: Emslies Colossus


Aberdeenshire

Mr J ElliotRoxburgh herdRoxburghshire

-1.2(58%)

LM61(73%)

3

Whinfellpark EnaUK 103847/200747

DoB: 2.3.2009Sire: Goldies Terence

Messrs JenkinsonWhinfellpark herd

Cumbria


Aberdeenshire

-1.8(69%)

LM59(79%)

4

Emslies GlossyUK 520779/701035

DoB: 28.01.2011Sire: Bailea BMW


Aberdeenshire

Messrs Boyling & WhiteCrabwell herd

Chester

-2.1(60%)

LM59(75%)

5

Greensons FathomUK 220156/100166

DoB: 17.3.2010 Sire: Newhouse Cupbearer

Greensons LimousinsGreensons herdCambridgeshire

Greensons LimousinsGreensons herdCambridgeshire

-1.7(56%)

LM57(80%)

6

Scorboro EquityUK142543600366

DoB: 3.5.2009Sire: Scorboro Aramis


E. Yorks

Gascoines Grp LtdGascoines herdNottinghamshire

-1.8(63%)

LM57(78%)

7

Elmtree FlowerUK 103049/500589

DoB: 29.3.2010Sire: Goldies Apollo

Mr R A WalkerElmtree herd

Cumbria

Mr R A WalkerElmtree herd

Cumbria

-2.0(51%)

LM57(72%)

8

Goldies VelvetUK 581575/700575

DoB: 28.3.2004Sire: SLVL Beef


Cumbria


Cumbria

-1.9(72%)

LM56(82%)

9

Scorboro EliteUK 142543/400364

DoB: 23.4.2009Sire: Scorboro Aramis


E. Yorks


E. Yorks

-0.7(66%)

LM55(78%)

10

Rachels HermioneUK 142189/400405

DoB: 30.05.2012Sire: Rachels Dynamite


Yorks

Mr C H CameronGreenferns herdAberdeenshire

-2.3(63%)

LM55(74%)

NEW

NEW

NEW

November 2014 Top 10 Dams

The table below identifies the current Top 10 Limousin dams according to the following criteria:

• All dams are live and have produced at least one registered calf since 22 November 2011 (ie in the three years prior to this update)• All dams have the highest Beef Value recorded in the November 2014 EBV update• All dams have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4%


Limousin36 the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk

Bull Name Bred Owned Calv. Ease EBV (%) Beef Value

1

Knock IlliadUK 520759700883

DoB: 11.6.2013Sire: Goldies Florida

Mr A G HowieKnock herd

Aberdeenshire

Mr A G HowieKnock herd

Aberdeenshire

-2.3(59%)

LM69(73%)

2

Emslies HerodUK520779301213



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.5(59%)

LM66(76%)

3

Emslies HunterUK 520779501201

DoB: 6.4.2012Sire: Emslies Colossus


Aberdeenshire

Messrs R&J JohnstonHewan herd

Orkney

-0.9(55%)

LM65(75%)

4

Emslies HbossUK 520779/601216



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.9(60%)

LM64(76%)

5

Turville JaguarUK 280393/505305


Messrs HB & LJ LearTurville herd

Buckinghamshire

Messrs HB & LJ LearTurville herd

Buckinghamshire

-2.3(56%)

LM62(64%)

6

Greenhaugh IllustriousUK 521765/502326


K Stewart & SonsGreenhaugh herd

Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.3(62%)

LM60(73%)

7

Greenhaugh IslanderUK 521765/302282



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.7(61%)

LM60(73%)

8

Ewdenvale HarlequinUK 120412300313

DoB: 20.3.2012Sire: Ampertaine Bravo

Mr S WildeEwdenvale herd

Sheffi eld

Mr J R HildrethRufforth herd

York

-0.8(62%)

LM59(73%)

9

Goldies IssueUK 581575/701394

DoB: 12.09.2013Sire: Kaprico Germander


Cumbria


Cumbria

-1.3(57%)

LM59(73%)

10

Greenhaugh IndianaUK 521765/602292



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.5(62%)

LM58(73%)

NEW

NEW

NEW

November 2014 Top 10 Young Performance Recorded Bulls

The table below identifi es the current Top 10 young Limousin bulls according to the following criteria:• All bulls born since 11th November 2011 (ie less than 3 years of age)• All bulls are identifi ed as ‘live’ on the Basco database and have been performance recorded• All bulls have the highest Beef Value recorded in the November 2014 EBV update• All bulls have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4%


the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.ukLimousin37

Heifer Name Bred Owned Calv. Ease EBV (%) Beef Value

1

McLarens HelenUK54030200545


Messrs McLarenMcLarens herd

Angus

Messrs McLarenMcLarens herd

Angus

-2.0(53%)

LM59 (66%)

2

Emslies IceskaterUK 520779/401375



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-2.2(61%)

LM59(74%)

3

Emslies ImageUK 520779/201387



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-2.3(58%)

LM59(72%)

4

Greenhaugh IndigoUK521765202330



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-2.1(62%)

LM58(68%)

5

Greenhaugh IvoryUK521765502333



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-2.2(61%)

LM58(68%)

6

Emslies GwawrUK520779201170DoB: 24.11.2011

Sire: Emslies Colossus


Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.4(56%)

LM57(73%)

7

Emslies GroovyUK 520779401172DoB: 25.11.2011



Aberdeenshire

Miss L PidsleyUptonley herd

Devon

-1.7(57%)

LM57(74%)

8

Greenhaugh JuliaUK 521765/602383



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-2.1(61%)

LM57(63%)

9

Emslies GigglesUK520779401165DoB: 23.11.2011



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.2(57%)

LM56(74%)

10

Emslies GlamorousUK520779701182DoB: 29.11.2011



Aberdeenshire


Aberdeenshire

-1.5(55%)

LM56(74%)

NEW

NEW

NEW

November 2014 Top 10 Young Performance Recorded Heifers

The table below identifi es the current Top 10 Limousin heifers according to the following criteria:• All heifers are born since 11th November 2011 (ie less than three years of age) and have not yet had a calf registered to them• All heifers are identifi ed as ‘live’ on the Basco database and have been performance recorded• All heifers have the highest Beef Value recorded in the November 2014 EBV update• All heifers have Calving Ease EBVs greater than or equal to the 2014 breed average of -2.4%

To view pedigree and performance information for all registered Limousins go to www.limousin.co.uk and click on the ‘Basco Online Herdbook’ button.

You can then search by animal, by breeder and by EBVs.

38Limousin


L i m o u s i n Yo u n g L i m o u s i n

Annabelle Wint

[email protected]

T: 07909 - 254565

Check out the YLBC Facebook page or www.limousin.co.uk for reports and future events. YOUNG LIMOUSIN BREEDERS http://www.facebook.com/groups/311318061854/?fref=ts

D A T E S F O R Y O U R D I A R Y

1-2 April National Young Show Stars, Three Counties, Malvern

May tbc YLBC Training Day, Twemlows Herd, Shropshire

20-23 July National Stockjudging, Royal Welsh Show

18-19 or 25-26 September tbc Anglo-Irish Stockjudging

10 December YLBC AGM & Young Handlers Competition

Current YLBC Officials

Chairman Kirree Kermode, Isle of Man 07624-435560

Vice Chairman Stephanie Dick, Stirling 01786-812422

Secretary Tom Illingworth, Lockerbie 07784-323988

Sponsorship & Promo Sophie Harvey, Glasgow 01360-440504

President Kay Adam 01307-840234

YOUNG LIMOUSIN BREEDERS CLUB (YLBC) CO-ORDINATOR ANNABELLE WINT ROUNDS UP A BUSY PERIOD FOR THE YLBC AND LOOKS AHEAD TO FUTURE PLANS

It has been a couple of busy months with the YLBC and with the New Year upon us,

let’s get the ball rolling for 2015 which is going to be a great year for YLBC!

Looking back since the last magazine, a lot has taken place. November saw one of our young breeders, Millie Hendy, attend the Canadian Western Agribition Show and compete in their stock judging competition. Millie won this trip in the summer at the YLBN National Stock Judging competition, and the same prize is up for grabs in 2015, where it is being held at the Royal Welsh Show - so don’t miss out! Please find below Millie’s report on her time at Agribition.

The YLBC held its AGM at Carlisle on Thursday 11th December which saw Chairman Willie McElroy step down after three successful years in position. Willie dedicated a lot of his time organising the events for the young breeders so on behalf of all at the YLBC, I would like to thank Willie for all his help, hard work and creativity that he dedicated to the Club.

Elected at the AGM was new Chairman Kirree Kermode, Orrisdale Farm, Ballasalla, Isle of Man. With her wealth of knowledge and love for the Club, 2015 is set to be a great year for the YLBC! Vice Chairman is now Stephanie Dick, Secretary is Thomas Illingworth and Sponsorship Promoter is Sophie Harvey with Kay Adam continuing her second year in post as President. With an incredibly strong committee on board, all keen to be involved, please find contact details of all the committee below. Please do get in touch.

Thursday 11th December also saw the National Young Handlers Championships held, with presentations from Cogent along with mince pies, refreshments, and prizes for all competitors. It was a delightful evening with 17 competing and a strong crowd in support.

2015 is now here with many of the same competitions being held throughout the year.

The Young Show Stars Challenge which previously held at Beef Expo is now becoming an event in its own right. During the Easter holidays (1st and 2nd April), the National Young Show Stars will take place as a stand-alone event at the Three Counties Showground, Great Malvern, Worcs. Limousin teams will be required, so please contact me if you would like help organising a team. Competitions will

be available for Young Sheep, Beef, Dairy and Pigs, as well as Young Butchers and Young Auctioneers.

The National Stockjudging Competition is be held this year in July at the Royal Welsh Show, with dates and times to be confirmed, with the grand prize being a trip to Canadian Western Agribition Show, the

same trip which Millie has reported on in this edition.The Anglo Irish Stockjudging competition is to take place after the

National Stockjudging Competition, with dates still to be confirmed – UK Mainland is the host this year.

EDUCATIONIn the coming year, YLBC would like to set up an educational

programme available to all of our Members. This programme will offer you support and development on all cattle preparation, handling and showing skills as well as it being plenty of fun. Further information on this will follow in the near future.SPONSORSHIP

To be able to grow the Club and make our events as attractive as possible, YLBC needs to raise sponsorship and gain support from larger agricultural businesses within our industry in order to help you (the younger generation!) to develop your skills for the future good of the beef industry. Sophie Harvey is our new Sponsorship & Promotions Officer so please do help and encourage her to gain the sponsorship and support needed.COLLEGES

We are currently in talks with one of the main agricultural colleges to develop links with YLBC. We hope we can start with one college, establish a useful programme to mutual benefit, and then hopefully roll this out at other colleges around the country in future.

I would like to thank all committee members, stewards, sponsors and everyone else who has helped the YLBC over the past few months and wish everybody a very Happy New Year.

Best wishes,Annabelle T: 07909-254565



NEW YLBC CHAIRMAN KIRREE KERMODE

MILLIE REPRESENTS YLBC AT CANADIAN AGRIBITION

At the recent YLBC AGM held at Carlisle in December, Kirree Kermode

of Orrisdale Farm, Ballasalla, Isle of Man was elected as Club Chairman. Alongside parents Pip and Carol, Kirree runs the 1,200acre family farm on the Isle of Man. Mostly lowland, they have 600 beef cattle including pedigree Limousins under the Orrisdale prefix together with Angus and Charolais. There is also a flock of 1,200 breeding ewes including pedigree Texel, Suffolk and Charollais sheep.

Commenting on her election, Kirree said: “I am delighted to have the privilege of taking on the Chairperson’s role in the YLBC and look forward to my time in office. I feel that the YLBC has a vital role to play as a stepping stone in the younger generation’s progression through their chosen breed. Being a Member of a Club like YLBC helps forge links which can last an entire life - both professionally and socially.”

A Member of YLBC for many years, Kirree has competed in the Anglo-Irish Stockjudging Competition on three occasions with the highlight being winning both the individual and team competitions when held at Moira, Northern Ireland in 2012 alongside her brother Thomas Kermode and

Here, YLBC Member Millie Hendy, Woodlands Farm, Watery Lane,

Doynton, Bristol reports on her trip to the Canadian Agribition Show in November where she represented the Limousin Breed as part of a UK all-breeds delegation. She gained this trip by winning the 2014 YLBC Stockjudgiing held at the Three Counties in June.

Firstly, I would like to thank the British Limousin Cattle Society and the YLBC for sponsoring me to represent the UK and the Limousin breed in the 4H Judging Competition at the Canadian Western Agribition!! Also a big thank you goes to our chaperone Jim Barber and fellow team mates Stephanie Dick and Richard Evans.

The 4H Judging Competition is the equivalent to Young Farmers in the UK however it was the most challenging stock judging competition I have participated in! The judging started on the Sunday evening where we had to place a class of forage and a class of grain! The next morning we were faced with the second part of the competition which was to judge the remaining 10 classes including milking heifers, saddle horses, speckle park breeding heifers, Hereford breeding heifers, Charolais bull calves, prospect steers, feeder heifers, feeder steers, market hogs and breeding gilts. We were also to give oral reasons on 8 classes without the use of notes!!

I found that the Canadian breeders produce stock that are more easy-caring, with sound legs and feet and less muscle development when compared to UK breeders. The judging took place for the majority of the day and when we finished we were able to have free time and watch a rodeo before the breakfast presentation in the morning.

Breakfast was followed with speeches from sponsors and then the presentation where I was placed 22nd out of 50 which I was very pleased with considering I was heavily deducted for using brief notes for my reasons!

After the competition, we were left to look round the show where

fellow young breeder Jess Simms.Kirree continues: “I will continue

to encourage young people to get involved through varied events and fun activities such as Open Days, social events and barbecues held with the co-operation from established breeders, and develop practical skills through the stockjudging competitions and show preparation workshops. Youngsters can then take these skills not only into the show ring but also back to their farms. I’d encourage all interested young people to join YLBC as it gives them a great opportunity to travel both to compete and socialize in Britain and Ireland and also overseas.”

Kirree Kermode - YLBC Chairman

YLBC LAUNCHES NEW LOGO2015 will see the roll-out of the new YLBC logo. This is going to be the new brand and the face of the Club. The new logo was presented to Members at the YLBC AGM and has proved a popular choice. We want to make YLBC a brand to be noticed and recognised up-and-down the country at all the various agricultural events. The logo was chosen because it will look great on the new merchandise we are planning including coats, fleeces and caps. It also really stands out on our leaflets and all other advertising materials and will hopefully provide a focal point with a link through to YLBC from the front page of the www.limousin.co.uk website.

we watched breed classes, breed sales (the top price for a Limousin heifer calf being CAN$ 16,000 and different types of demonstrations (including a fitting demonstration from Kurt Steirwalt - he even tweeted us!)

We were also lucky enough to attend the International Dinner at Regina Casino where we sampled a range of food and after we hit a cowboy bar!

Towards the end of the week we went to a feed lot which consisted of 12,000 head of cattle. All the cattle were kept outside in pens of 200. The cattle were sent by different farmers to feed through the winter due to them not having enough space.

To end the week we watched the Supreme Championships - all of us having little bets on who was going to take top spot! The Championship was extremely different to the UK having 31 females in one class and 34 males in the other - all in which had qualified from different shows to compete at the Canadian Western Agribition – as well as being joined by the champions from the day. The top spot went to a black Simmental cow and calf in the female section and to the Angus in the male section.

The Canadian Agribition, despite being -23C with a wind-chill of -39C was an amazing experience and I feel privileged to have been able to represent the YLBC and the UK in such a major international competition.

Millie Hendy

Agribition

YLBC Agribition L-R Richard Evans, Millie Hendy, Stephanie Dick, Jim Barber

40Limousin



JAMES GRAHAM TAKES OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE YLBC YOUNG HANDLERS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014Sophie Harvey Reserve Champion Isla Soutter Junior Winner

Thursday 11th December 2014 saw the Young Limousin Breeders Club

(YLBC) hold its Young Handlers Championships 2014 which took place at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on the eve of the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Red Ladies Day Sale. There was a tremendous turnout of 17 young breeders competing, and a great crowd to go with it.

Judges were Avril Murray and Robert Aitken of the Lourie Herd, Methven, Perth who had the hard task of judging the young breeders on both their handling and preparation skills. The competition was split into three sections: Junior, Intermediate & Senior.

Competitors had 20 minutes to prepare their animal before showing off their handling skills in the ring. Robert Aitken judged

the preparation, where the young breeders showed off their grooming skills and knowledge before taking the cattle into the show ring. With some brilliant performances, it was really hard to judge as competitors were of such a high standard.

The competitors then took their animals into the ring where Avril Murray judged on the handling skills of the young breeders. Commenting, the Judge said: “I rreally enjoyed judging the Limousin Young Handlers Championship, the standard was fantastic and it was a tough job to judge. It was also nice to share judging the Overall Champion Young Handler with my Dad – making good use of a Father & Daughter team!”

With refreshments and mince pies flowing and great prizes to be won on the raffle everybody got involved and it was a great evening. The raffle raised £170 for YLBC funds.

Intermediate and Overall Champion was James Graham, 16, with Sophie Harvey (19) standing as Senior Champion

and Reserve Overall, and Isla Soutter (13) winning the Junior Championship. Finlay Soutter received the Highly Commended award.

Second Reserve Champion Isla Soutter

Finlay Soutter receiving the Highly Commended award

Young Handlers Champion James Graham with the Daranside Trophy presented by Winifred Smith

YH Judges: L-R, Avril Murry & Robert Aitken

Reserve Champion Sophie Harvey

Junior Class:1st Isla Soutter

2nd Christopher Ewing2nd James Adam3rd Alan Lindsay4th Finlay Soutter5th Jane Lindsay

Intermediate Class:1st James Graham2nd Beth Harvey

3rd Charlotte Alford4th Andrew Adam5th Mollie Bowe

6th Craig Pattinson

Senior Class:1st Sophie Harvey2nd John Graham3rd Andrew Ewing4th Andrew Weir

5th Danny Escolme

The Young Limousin Breeders Club would like to thank our sponsors Cogent, Animal Signs, TL Bio Labs Limited, Natural Stockcare, British Limousin Cattle Society and Harrison & Hetherington; the Judges Avril Murray and Robert Aitken; all stewards, spectators and cattle exhibitors.

YOUNG HANDLERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2014



GOOD TURNOUT AT YOUNG LIMOUSIN BREEDERS WORKSHOP

90 YOUNGSTERS ATTEND RAHONEY WORKSHOP

The Melbreak Limousin Herd of James & Allison Callion, Skreen Road,

Shaneragh, Dromore, Co Tyrone held a Young Limousin Breeders Northern Ireland (YLBNI) workshop on Saturday 30th August attended by 30 mainly new young breeders.

Aimed at teaching young people how to breed, manage, prepare and present quality Limousin cattle for show or sale, this workshop was primarily targeted at beginners with an introduction to the various skills involved which were demonstrated at a series of ‘stations’.

These included the art of halter making where James McComb taught the youngsters to make their own halter that they could then take home and use, being tutored on how to put a halter on and how tie a quick release knot.

Trevor Shortt in association with Taylors of Fyfi n shared a very informative talk on what to feed cattle and why. Trevor brought with him a large selection of raw materials used in the production of beef rations and explained how they varied in nutritional values. It made for a very interesting display and inspiring presentation.

Another aspect of the workshop was teaching young

The Northern Ireland Limousin Young Breeders held an on-farm workshop

courtesy of the McFarland Family’s Rahoney Herd, Tonnagh Road, Trillick, Co Tyrone on Tuesday 30th December which attracted a large crowd of all ages.

One of a number of similar events held throughout the year, the purpose of this evening was to teach children the basics of showmanship. A clipping demonstration was carried out by Alan Burleigh who explained differences between clipping a commercial animal and a pedigree beast for the show ring. James Callion talked about the whole showing process from planning to the end-product,

A competitive challenge devised to further the skills of young stock, butcher and auctioneer enthusiasts and to enable them to display

their abilities in a range of skills and presentation techniques.Classes for

Other Features IncludeTrade Stands & Educational Exhibits

Further information, schedules and entry forms are available fromwww.nationalyoungshowstars.com

OrNeil Lloyd, Chairman, Organising Committee. Tel: 07970 061796

Euan Emslie, Tel: 07718 908523 Email: [email protected] Smillie, Three Counties Agricultural Society.

Tel: 01684 584915 Email: [email protected]

National Young Show StarsIn partnership with The Three Counties Agricultural Show Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW

National Young Show Stars Challenge 2015

Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd April 2015

Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW

Beef (team of three)Dairy (team of three)Pigs (team of three)Sheep (team of three)Butchers (Individuals)Auctioneers (Individuals)

Young Show Sires.indd 1 27/11/2014 09:30

highlighting the importance of presentation not only of the animal but also the handler. James was able to pass on his experiences ‘from both sides of

the ring’ having shown at leading shows and sales as well as having taken on the role of Judge. David Hamill then talked the young ones through grooming products and how to use them to present an animal so it looks the best it possibly can do in the show ring.

The NI Young Breeders would like to say a big thank-you to the McFarland Family for hosting such a successful night. Their enthusiasm and interest in the Limousin breed was evident in the quality of cattle on display - not to mention the extra mile they went to in setting up TV screens for parents to watch their children at all the stations, as well as hiring in heaters and spotlights.

Sponsors also have a big part to play in the running of these events, their generosity making it all possible. On this occasion, the workshop was sponsored by Norbrook Laboratories and Noel Gill was there to present Howard McFarland with some of their products as a token of their appreciation.

people the anatomy of a beef animal and how to assess its conformation. Taking on the role was William Haire who has a wide range of experience coaching young beef breeders; his passion was infectious and helped instil a good level of knowledge to all. His wife, Sarah, then expanded on this at the next station by showing them how to estimate the weight of live cattle. Finally, the cattle were weighed and an eager crowd gathered around the scales to see how close their estimates were, and focused on the clock as the calves mounted the weighbridge!

YLBNI would like to thank all who helped: Trevor Shortt, William & Sarah Haire, James McComb, and the hosts, the Callions, along with their extended Family. They would also like to thank the sponsors, Norbrook, Merial and MSD. The YLB would love to see everyone again at the next workshop so please look out for regular updates on Facebook Young Limousin Breeders NI.

Melbreak Workshop

Rahoney Workshop

Rahoney Geoffrey 23,000gns

42Limousin


L i m o u s i n W i n t e r F a i r s

• Limousin Crossbred Champion stands Reserve Overall• Supreme Champion sells for £5,700 • Steer Champion & Reserve both Limousin-sired• Crossbred Heifer Champion & Reserve• Pedigree Championship one-two• Foxhillfarm Bull wins inaugural Pedigree Calf Show• Champion & Reserve Beef Carcase• Baby Beef Reserve Overall Champion• Baby Beef Steer & Reserve Steer Champion

A tremendous show of purebred and crossbred Limousin primestock swept the boards and dominated the prize

tickets at the English Winter Fair held at the County Showground, Staffordshire 15-16 November. Limousin stock secured the Overall Supreme, Overall Reserve, Overall Heifer & Reserve, Overall Steer & Reserve, Carcase Supreme & Reserve, Overall Pedigree and Reserve, and Baby Beef Reserve titles as well as the Interbreed Championship in the first running of the National Pedigree Calf Show.

The Overall Cattle Championship was won by father and son Trevor & Jonathan Lyon, Lintre House, Water Lane, Thurlby, Bourne, Lincs with their pedigree Limousin heifer, Garnedd Ira who later went on to sell for £5,700 to butchers Messrs B & T Kitson, Northallerton, N Yorks in the post-show auction. This was the third year running that Anthony Kitson had purchased the Champion AT Bingley Hall. Ira was bred by KI & E & HI Jones, who runs the Garnedd herd at Bryn Ddraenen, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed. Weighing in at 655kg, she is by the 10,000gns Overthwaite Ben (by Sympa) and is out of the Attirant daughter Garnedd Fame. The same bull had sired the Lyons’ 2010 English Winter Fair Supreme Champion, the Limousin crossbred steer Meat Loaf, also bred by Ken Jones, so it was only natural that they return to the Garnedd herd to purchase another with

similar breeding. Previous show outings for this January

2013-born heifer had been rewarded with the Heifer Championship at both the Royal Norfolk and Newark County Shows respectively, in addition to first-prize tickets at the Great Yorkshire, Royal Welsh, Beef Expo and Countryside Live.

Ira had earlier secured the Limousin and Overall pedigree Championships before going

head-to-head with the crossbred Champion to be crowned Supreme Champion Animal under joint judges Chris Wright and Richard Taylor. Standing Reserve Supreme was Phil & Sharon Sellers’ Fieldson Alfy-sired heifer, More of That, who this season secured the same accolade at Borderway Agri Expo as well as placing Supreme Champion at Countryside Live. Out of a Limousin-cross cow, this 610kg July-born heifer was bred by Andrew Harrison

LYONS’ PEDIGREE HEIFER WINS ENGLISH WINTER FAIR SUPREME CHAMPIONSHIP AS LIMOUSINS SWEEP THE BOARD!

Jonathan Lyon with Supreme Champion Garnedd Ira

Supreme Champion Garnedd Ira TC Lyon



and purchased from Carlisle in March.The Lincolnshire-based Sellers also took

the Reserve Pedigree and Reserve Overall Pedigree Championship titles with the Limousin heifer, Powerhouse Iadora, bred by C & W Phillips, Weobley, Hereford. July-born, she is by Powerhouse Fusion (by Ulm) and is out of Marden Btpiadora, a Marron daughter, and was purchased at this year’s Brecon Show Potentials for £1,500.

Reserve Overall Crossbred Animal was the Reserve Heifer Champion, Black Beauty, from the Harryman & Warriner Partnership comprising Mark Harryman and his fiancee Sarah Warriner from Swainsea Barn Farm, Swainsea Lane, Pickering, N Yorks. Born in May 2013, Black Beauty was sired by the 10-year-old Hudscales Vladimer (by Muirhouse Lagonda) and was bred by AE Iceton & Sons, High Birkhatt, Baldersdale, Barnard Castle. She was purchased at the Middleton-In-Teesdale Suckled Calf Sale. Scaling 600kg she went on to sell for £3,000 to the same buyer as the Champion.

Crossbred Steer Champion was Stevie Gee, a Fieldson Alfy-sired Limousin bullock and out of a Limousin x British Blue dam, from Neil Slack, Plum Tree House, Newby, Penrith. This one tipped the scales at 640kg and also won the Reserve Champion Homebred-and-Fed award. Standing Reserve to him were BJ & LA Pritchard, Olchon Mill, Longtwon, Hereford family with their 770kg Limousin cross bullock

Tickety Boo by Rhonllywn Duke, an Objat son and out of a Blue cross dam. Homebred-and-Fed Champions were A & B Hughes, Cwmhendryd, Lampeter with their Limousin-cross heifer Cariad.

The inaugural English Winter Fair National Pedigree Calf Show saw the Limousin bull Foxhillfarm Justthejob win the Interbreed title and £1,000 prize money under Judge and H&H Auctioneer James Little, Mayfield, Church Lane, Thursby, Carlisle. By Loosebeare Fantastic and out of Bankdale Alice, this was one of 12 embryo calves born in January 2014 for exhibitors Mike & Melanie Alford, Blackborough, Devon. James Little commented: “With great show ring presence, this bull is still very sweet being January-born. He is clean through his body and has tremendous conformation.”

On the Saturday evening, under Limousin Calf Show Judge Colin Soutter, Brougham, Penrith, there was a one-two for the Alford Family with the sameway-bred heifer calf Foxhillfarm Justtheone taking the Overall Reserve. Taking the Reserve Male Championship was Foxhillfarm Jupiter, another ET brother to the Champion. Reserve Female Champion was Trisant Jini from G & E Jones, Ty Gwyn, Llantrisant, Holyhead with this one being by Wilodge Fastrac and out of Trisant Ffiffi.

Baby Beef Judge Paul Tippetts, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shrops placed

the Reserve Baby Heifer, Pokerlicious, again from the Alfords, as his Reserve Overall. Born in February 2014, she was bred by John McAllister, Wester Thomaston, Bonnybridge, Stirling and is by Easegillhead Exterminate. This Winter season she had won the Baby Beef at Borderway Agri-Expo and had stood Reserve at Countryside Live. Champion Baby Steer was Neil Slack’s Spartacus bred by W Richardson & Son, with the Reserve being Jason Wareham’s Kung Fu Panda bred by Smallburn Farms.

In the Carcase Competition, both Supreme and Reserve Championships went to Limousin animals. Frank Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington, Northants took his sixth EWF carcase crown with a Pembridge Delboy-sired 333.8kg deadweight carcase grading E3 which was described by judge Mr D Prince, Stonedge, Chesterfield as ‘an excellent, small-boned heifer.’ Reserve were B & C Wilson, Haughton, Staffs with another E3 heifer scaling 346.5kg deadweight. This one was sired by the Objat son Keltic Freelander.

Other awards:• Pedigree Limousin Steer BE Williams

Gelliwion Ivor bred by PJ & S Edwards• Reserve Pedigree Limousin Steer GR

Fountaine Knoakescourt Injection bred by E & S Layton

• Staffordshire Rose Bowl B & C Wilson Haughton Itunes

Champion Carcase from Frank Page Limousin line-up at English Winter Fair

Reserve Crossbred Champion Black Beauty Harryman & Warriner

Reserve Overall Supreme & Champion Crossbred More of That P&S Sellers

Foxhillfarm Justthejob National Calf Show Champion

44Limousin



SARKLEY PEDIGREE LIMOUSIN HEIFER TAKES 2014 WELSH WINTER FAIR CROWN• Pedigree Limousin Heifer secures Supreme Cattle Championship• Champion Sells for £5,100• Heifer Champion & Reserve• Baby Beef Champion & Reserve• Baby Champion makes £6,000

For the second year running a pedigree Limousin heifer took the Supreme Championship title at the Royal Welsh

Winter Fair held Monday 1st to Tuesday 2nd December 2014 at Builth Wells. Coming through from the pedigree Limousin classes to win the heifer section then overall award was Sarkley Ilomena bred and exhibited by EH Pennie & Sons, Gwern-Yr-Ychain, Montgomery, Powys. Brought out by Chris & Nigel Pennie, she went on to sell in the post-show auction for £5,100 to Judge and butcher Jimmy Mulholland, Midtown Farm, Great Orton, Carlisle of the Liscon Limousin herd. Two judges finalised the Championships and Jimmy Mulholland in tandem with David Plested were quick to agree on their Overall Supreme who they described as ‘a heifer with everything and an out and winner. She is full of meat, thick right through and with tremendous hindquarters.’ Following on from the English Winter Fair this was the second ‘primestock major’ where a pedigree Limousin had prevailed. A huge crowd attended over the two days of the Welsh Winter Fair and were treated to a terrific show of predominantly pedigree and crossbred Limousin cattle.

A twin born in May 2013, the 622kg Champion, Sarkley Ilomena, was got by AI and is sired by the Wilodge Vantastic son, Plumtree Fantastic, and is out of Sarkley Vilomena who is by Gunnerfleet Supremisy, a son of Goldies Oswald. On the dam side, she

carries Heros bloodlines and also goes back to the 1985-born cow Uplands Arriane who was purchased by the Pennies for 2,700gns at the Haak Dispersal Sale also held at Builth Wells.

Reserve Heifer Champion and Limousin Heifer Champion was Annie Power from Bob Kingston, Crown Inn, Nydon Lane, Catcott, Bridgwater, Somerset. Brought out by son Mike, this 558kg female was bred by John Richardson of Ghyll House and was purchased at Penrith in the spring for £3,800. Sired by the Limousin bull Volcano, she is out of the Limousin-cross dam Wishful Thinking who had bred the Welsh Winter Fair Supreme Champion for Phil Sellers in 2009. Previous outings had included a second prize ticket at the Royal Welsh in July. Come sale time she went on to sell to Mr Roberts, Anglesey at 365ppkg or £2,037. Reserve Limousin heifer, standing behind Annie Power, was Andrew Bishop’s Honeysuckle another who was Limousin sired and out of a Lim x Blue cow

being exhibitor-bred at home in Pitfield Farm, Eldersfield, Glocs.

Earlier the Limousin breed had secured a Baby Beef Championship One-Two. Champion was Sky Walker from Father-and-son Philip & Luke Bowen, Penthryn, Brooks, Welshpool making it their second consecutive title here. Exhibitor-bred, this 386kg baby steer is once again sired by their stock bull Liscon Bigshow, a Cloughhead Titanic son, and later went under the hammer for a sale leading £6,000. The judge in this section, Gilbert Brooke, said that his champion was: “A very correct steer with terrific cover. He had both the conformation and the style that I’m looking for in a Champion animal.” The Bowens run a 170-cow suckler herd and this steer had won a second prize at Agri Expo in October.

Reserve Overall and Baby Heifer Champion was the Limousin-sired She’s A Peach from local breeders PJ & TA Jones, Tyisaf Farm, Erwood, Builth Wells. This 382kg heifer is by Brutus Cracker and out of a Limousin cross

Pedigree Limousin Steer winner Gelliwion Ivor

Sarkley Ilomena Championship Presentation HRH Princess Anne presents Luke Bowen with the Baby Beef Championship award

Supreme Champion Sarkley Ilomena



Baby Beef Championship Judging under Gilbert Brooke

Limousin Reserve Crossbred Steer Champion Gwylliad Coch

Baby Beef Reserve She’s a Peach

Crossbred Heifer Champion Annie Power

Baby Beef Champion Sky Walker

Limousin Crosbred Steer Champion Willnant Firecracker

British Blue dam. Reserve Baby Heifer was the Limousin sired Candy Lady from Emily Jones, Coedmore Hall, Cellan, Lampeter.

The Reserve Steer in the Baby Beef section came in the form of Pabo Jacob from Llyr Hughes, Fferam Uchaf, Llanddeusant, Caergybi, Anglesey. Only halter-broken on the previous Friday according to Mr Hughes, this bullock is by Hafodlas Dicko, a Bailea Spunkie son.

Back in the ‘main’ sections, Lin Pidsley, Upton Ley Farm, Upton Payhembury, Honiton, Devon emerged as winner from the three hotly-contested Limousin crossbred steer classes. This was the 580kg Willnant Frecracker named in tribute to its breeders TM & EE Williams. Purchased at the Ruthin Show Potentials Sale for £3,350, he is by a French-bred Limousin sire and had stood second at both the English Winter Fair and Beef South West respectively. Reserve Lim steer was Gwylliad Coch from Mr Gwanwyn Rowlands, Tyn Y Fedw, Bethel, Llandderfel, Bala – another bred by Bowen & Bowen.

The Champion purebred Limousin steer came in the shape of the prolifi c Gelliwion Ivor, from Elfed Williams, Sennybridge. Ivor is sired by Glangwden Charlie and is out of the Glangwden Valid sired Church Daisy and was bought privately in September at Sennybridge Show. Gelliwion Ivor had also won Champion Pure Limousin Steer at the English Winter Fair.

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46Limousin



• Supreme Champion sells for £9,000• Reserve Supreme Champion• Steer Champion• Reserve Steer Champion• Pedigree Champion• Reserve Exhibitor-bred Champion• Reserve Baby Beef Champion• Reserve Duke of Norfolk Trophy• Ribs Championship

Limousin cattle led the way once again in the Championships at the East of England Smithfi eld Festival,

Peterborough held Thursday 4th – Friday 5th December 2014, lifting the Supreme Championship and the Reserve Supreme Championship as well as the Steer Championship, Reserve Steer Championship, and the Purebred Championship title.

Heading up the roll call of honours was Dermot & Gareth Small’s Limousin-cross heifer Khaleesi, representing a historic fi rst Smithfi eld Overall Championship win for a Northern Irish exhibitor. She later sold back to Northern Ireland for £9,000 to continue her showing career there. Brought out by Stephanie Dick, this heifer is a daughter of the noted sire Swarland Eddie and was bred by fellow Northern Irishman James Alexander, Randalstown. With an impressive show record behind her Khaleesi had previously secured the Supreme Championship at Agri-Expo and the Reserve Heifer Championship at LiveScot. Back in May she had also placed as Reserve Commercial Champion at the Royal Ulster Show.

Khaleesi weighed 622kg on show day and was praised by Judge Wendy Morgan for her evenness of fl eshing as well as her show ring style and sparkle. “She’s an exceptionally well-put-together heifer with a balance of fl eshing throughout and a great cover across her loin and her plates.”

Following this exceptional heifer through from her class to take the Reserve Crossbred Heifer title, the Reserve Overall Heifer Championship and the Reserve Supreme Championship was Guy Edwards at the halter of the Edwards Family’s heifer Miss Halfpenny.

This one is again Limousin-sired, being by a Penygelly bull bred by Bryan Griffi ths, Kerry, Newtown, and weighed in at 542kg. She was Reserve Commercial Champion

at the Royal Welsh in July as well as being a fi rst prize winner at Agri-Expo and at the 2014 Welsh Winter Fair.

Taking the Overall Steer Championship was Ayrshire’s James Nisbet with his Carmorn Cantona-sired bullock Maybe This Time. Bred by William McAllister, Ballymena, Northern Ireland this one was Steer Champion at Agri-Expo in October as well as being Reserve Champion at the Royal Highland this summer. He was shown weighing 612kg.

Another Limousin-sired bullock then took the Reserve Overall Steer Championship, with this being the purebred Limousin steer Gelliwion Ivor, from Elfed Williams, Sennybridge. Ivor came through from the show’s purebred classes, having been tapped out fi rst as Purebred Steer Champion and then as Overall Purebred Champion before collecting the Reserve Steer title. He is sired by Glangwden Charlie and is out of the Glangwden Valid sired Church Daisy. In a nice hat-trick of wins Gelliwion Ivor was also Champion Pure Limousin Steer at the English Winter Fair and the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Also faring well for the Limousin breed was Tecwyn Jones’ Millgate Fame-sired heifer Candy Crush when she took the Reserve Exhibitor-bred Championship.

Another with a strong show record, she was fi rst at Beef Expo in May and having won a number of red tickets at local shows. She is a maternal sister to Tecwyn’s successful show heifer Tequila.

Milton Keynes-based Mike Dickens &

£9,000 LIMOUSIN HEIFER KHALEESI WINS SMITHFIELD SUPREME AT PETERBOROUGH

Ribs Champion Michael Read with his Limousin-cross heifer

Supreme Smithfi eld Champion Khaleesi



Family had a good day too, taking the Reserve Purebred Continental title with their 626kg Limousin heifer Dinmore Istria, a Hafodlas Cymro daughter and out of the noted dam Fleethill Sal.

Baby BeefIn the event’s Baby Beef classes another

of the primestock show season’s prolific winners scooped the Reserve Championship honours when Pokerlicious from Devon-based Michael & Melanie Alford took the tickets. This one is by Easegillhead Exterminate and was Reserve Champion at the English Winter Fair, Champion at Agri-Expo and Reserve at Countryside Live.

Pedigree Calf ShowThe Alfords also took top spot in the

Limousin classes in the show’s pedigree calf classes with their bull calf Foxhillfarm Just the Job scooping the Championship. This Loosebeare Fantastic son is out of the noted Bankdale Alice and had been Reserve Champion at Beef South West and Overall Interbreed Champion at the English National Calf Show.

Standing reserve was his full sister Foxhillfarm Just the One, who had been Champion at Beef South West and Reserve Limousin at the English National Calf Show. In the bull calf class, Just the Job’s full brothers Jupiter and Jasper stood second and third to him.

The first of the heifer classes was won by Judy Fountaine’s Forestside Imogen, a Forestside Freddie daughter. Second here was Mallaber Partners’ Newroddige Ice Queen, a Haltcliffe Underwriter-sired heifer.

Second to Just the One was Newroddige Jubilee also from Mallaber Partners and who is another by Haltcliffe Underwrite. Messrs Dent won the final class of heifers with Beamwham Jo Jo.

The Alfords then went on to stand Reserve in the Duke of Norfolk Interbreed Group of Three with Foxhillfarm Jasper, a Loosebeare Fantastic son and out of Bankdale Alice. He was joined by his full sister Foxhillfarm Just the One and Foxhillfarm Josie, an Objat daughter and out of Bankdale Elizabeth.

Overall Reserve Champion Steer Champion Pure Champion

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Declan McKenna, Clogher, romped to success at Allams, Northern Ireland’s premier Christmas Show,

held at Balmoral, Belfast on Tuesday 25th November 2014 with his outstanding baby Limousin heifer, Black to the Future.

This stylish homebred daughter of Lynderg Dimitri tipped the scales at 580 kilos and sold for a cracking £6,000 to McDowell Family Butchers, Farmview Meats, Catlereagh, Belfast.

Master Judge for the day was well-known show man Donald MacPherson, Berwick

on Tweed, who described his champion as a “well balanced heifer that simply oozed style and correctness.” Speaking of the show of cattle generally Mr MacPherson went on to say that from the entry of 130 cattle the overall standard had been ‘the equal to any of the UK mainland Winter Fairs’.

The Supreme Champion had earlier in the day stood top of the line in what was considered to be one of the strongest classes of the day with an outstanding entry of Limousin heifers forward.

Giving her a run for her money was the

second placed heifer from Alan Farlow, Garvagh, who followed the Champion the whole way through to secure the Reserve Supreme spot. Hillview Sparky crossed the bridge at 600 kilos and is by a homebred bull sired by Nenuphar. A quality 13 month old heifer, Hillview Sparky sold for £4,000 to Country Meats, Craigavon. The same buyer also paid £2,800 for the Reserve Champion in the Housewives Championship. This was to Crawford & Beattie, Newtonstewart for their 660kgs Limousin heifer.

LIMOUSIN ‘ONE-TWO’ AT ALLAMS AS CHAMPION MAKES £6,000

Housewife’s Choice Award to Keith Williamson

Declan McKenna with Black to the Future Overall Show Champion Alan Farlow with Hillview Sparky Reserve Show Champion

Declan McKenna Overall Show Champion Alan Farlow Reserve McKenna Family who won Show Champion

Visit us at

www.limousin.co.uk



Frogmore LimousinsESTABLISHED IN 2011

VISITORS WELCOME

CHRIS & NICKY WHITEFrogmore Farmhouse

Moreton-in-MarshGloucestershire, GL56 9AA

07885-746877 | 01608 650230 [email protected]

BULLS FOR SALEIncluding Frogmore Helen’s

promising half-brother Frogmore Isaac by BranceilleSAC Johne’s Level 1, Accredited

IBR, BVD, Vaccinated Lepto

Way

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ings

on 2

014

ROYAL

W

ELSH SHOW

2014

RESERVE JUNIOR INTERBREED HEIFER

Our second home-bred heifer | Born 31/10/2012

FROGMORE HELENBeef Value 44 - 500 day weight 751 kg

Sire Wilodge Cerberus | Dam Ironstone Frangelica

South Western Limousin Breeders’ Sales 2015Spring Show & Sale of Pedigree Limousin Bulls & Females

Summer Sale of Pedigree Limousin Cattle Also Limousin sired Cattle......Breeding Females, Show

Potential & Commercial Steers & Heifers

Holsworthy Livestock Market, New Market Road, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7FAShow Classes: Pedigree Bull, Pedigree Cow served and/or suckling, Pedigree Heifer served and/or suckling, Pedigree Heifer unserved, Commercial Calf with show potential.For Sale only: Pedigree or Limousin cross female.

We are delighted to welcome the South Western Limousin Cattle Breeders Club to our new Livestock Market at Holsworthy for their annual Spring Sale. This sale is held under the auspices of the BLCS Breeder Sales and all cattle are veterinary inspected and sold under BLCS and NBA rules. In addition to the show classes we would welcome entries from herd dispersal or reduction sales and welcome commercial Limousin cattle for our weekly store market to make this a real “Limousin Day”.

We are delighted to welcome the South Western Limousin Cattle Breeders

Friday 26th June 2015

For further details please contact: 01392 251261

Exeter Livestock Centre, Matford Park Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8FD

Wednesday 29th April 2015

50Limousin



LIMOUSINS SHINE AT LIVESCOT WITH FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP WINS

• Baby Beef Champion• Reserve Heifer champion• Reserve Steer Champion• Butchers Champion• Housewives Choice Champion• Champion Young Breeders Animal

Limousin sired cattle were once again to the fore at the inaugural LiveScot, the new name for the Scottish Fatstock

Club’s annual winter show.Held in a new venue at Lanark Auction

Mart, on Saturday 29th November, the event attracted a top quality entry of cattle and a strong turnout of spectators in its first year.

Leading the way for the Limousin breed was the winner of the Baby Beef Championship, Co Durham-based Gordon and Julie Sedgewick’s homebred heifer Priceless. This 348kg Confluence Faddel sired heifer is out of a Limousin cross dam and had a hard start in life, losing her mother shortly after birth and being reared on a foster dam. Taking the Reserve was Stirling’s Dougie McBeath & Sarah Jane Jessop with their 410kgs Limousin sired heifer calf Munchkin. Bred by the Robertson family at Logierait she was pre-sale champion at the Caledonian Mart’s Calf Sale. This heifer is by a Limousin cross British Blue sire and out of a British Blue cross Limousin dam bred by Andy Woodburn.

In the prime cattle classes Limousin sired heifer Khaleesi from Northern Irish exhibitor Gareth Small stood Reserve Heifer Champion.

Bred by James Alexander this one is a daughter of the noted sire Swarland Eddie and weighed in at 610kg. She headed to Lanark with a strong show record, having been Reserve Overall Commercial Champion at Balmoral, Baby Beef Champion at Beef Expo, Overall Champion at the Northern Ireland Commercial Cattle Exhibitor’s Club summer show and most recently Supreme

Champion at Borderway Agri-Expo. It was a Limousin sired beast which took

the Reserve Championship in the steers too, with Donald MacPherson and Jock Currie’s Sixteen Drops taking the tickets.

This Michael Durno-bred beast weighed 512kg and is by the 25,000gns Bailea Black BMW and is out of a Charolais cross dam. He was purchased at the Thainstone Spectacular in September for £3000 and was on his first show outing.

Securing the Butchers’ championship, and the award for Heaviest Butchers’ Animal, was Grant Cook with another Swarland Eddie son, The Gambler. This 732kg steer was bred at Balluskie Farm, Girvan, and was purchased last October at Ayr.

Meanwhile, the pick of Craig and Hugh Black in the Housewives championship was Jean McKay’s 626kg Lumbylaw Talent sired heifer out of a Limousin cross dam.

Winning the Champion Young Breeders Animal was Jennifer Hyslop, Balluskie Farm, Barrhill, Girvan with Mini Me, a March born calf by Ampertaine Commander and out of the noted Mamma Mia. Taking Reserve was the Chytodden Conan sired heifer My Girl bred and shown by Alister Meikle, Newhous Farm, East Kilbride.

Following Sixteen Drops in the first of the Limousin sired steer classes was Jock and Leslie Craik with their 570kg Ivan, by Chytodden Conan. Third place went to Dopey Dick, a 562kg Bailea Spunkie sired steer from Richard Wright.

James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, Mauchline stood top of the heavier class with Maybe

This Time, weighing 622kg he is by Conmorn Cantona. Standing second was Neil Slack’s Stevie Gee, a 650kg steer by Fieldsons Alfy, taking third spot was Aileen Ritchie’s 698kg Dennis.

In the first of the heifer classes sired by a Limousin, Liz Vance, Bridgehouse Farm, Newton Stewart took first place with the April born Havin a Hoolie, bred by M&G Barr, Dumfries, which, weighed 492kg. Standing second was the Keskadale Apollo sired heifer Pixie from Mr Grieve, Carlhurlie Farm, Leven, Fife. Blair Duffton’s Lady Moo Moo, a 502kg Haltcliffe Downy daughter stood third.

Standing second to Khaleesi in the middle class of heifers was Flaming Star, a 592kg Bailea Spunkie sired heifer from Somerste’s Richard Wright, whilst in third place was Neil Slack’s 620kg Rossignol sired Philomena.

Liz Vance was again at the top of the line with Bonnie Betty in the final Limousin sired heifer class. This heifer weighing 646kgs is by Wilodge Azur. Second place went to Jean MacKay, Harelaw Farm, Glasgow with the 626kg Lumbylaw Talent daughter Selfie.

Baby Beef Champion Priceless

Reserve Steer Sixteen Drops

Reserve Heifer Khaleesi

Pictures courtesy of Scottish Farmer.



LIMOUSIN SIRED HEIFER ‘KHALEESI’ TAKES BORDERWAY AGRI-EXPO TITLE

• Limousins Dominate Eighth Borderway Agri Expo• Overall Champion from Gareth Small• Reserve Overall P&S Sellers ‘More of That’• Champion & Reserve Champion Steer both Limousin sired• Baby Beef Champion Pokerlicious (M&M Alford)

There was a clean sweep of titles for the Limousin breed at the eighth Borderway Agri-Expo held on

Friday 31st October 2014 at Harrison & Hetherington’s Carlisle Mart. Limousin sired cattle took the Overall Supreme & Reserve, Heifer Supreme & Reserve, Steer Supreme & Reserve plus the Baby Beef Championship.

It was very much a Ladies’ Day with the two top-placed heifers going on to take the Supreme & Reserve Overall titles. Standing at the top of the line was Khaleesi, an August 2013-born heifer weighing in at 570kg from Gareth Small, Irvington Close, Kilkeel, Co Down, N Ireland. She was bred by James Alexander, Randalstown and is sired by the noted pedigree and commercial calf producer Swarland Eddie, and out of a Limousin-cross dam. Previous show titles to Khaleesi’s name have included the Baby Beef Championship at the May 2014 Beef Expo and Reserve Overall Commercial Champion at the 2014 Balmoral Show. With Stephanie Dick at the halter, Khaleesi was headed towards LiveScot & Smithfield where she went on to pick up Reserve and Overall Supreme titles respectively.

Standing Reserve Overall at the Agri-Expo was the 605kg More of That from Phil & Sharon Sellers, Thorpe Tilney, Lincs. This heifer had also been in the prizes having stood as Supreme Champion at Countryside Live earlier in October. Sired by Fieldson Alfy, she is out of a Limousin-cross cow and

was bred by Andrew Harrison and purchased from Carlisle in March.

Judges for the day was noted showman Colin Phillips, The Batch, Sarnesfield, Weobley, Hereford, with Anita Padfield, Brambles, Green Lane, Potter Heigham, Great Yarmouth doing the honours in the Baby Beef section.

Steer Champion was the July 2013-born bullock Maybe This Time from James Nisbet, Sorn Mains Farm, Sorn, Mauchline. Bred by Willie McAllister, Parkgate Road, Ballymena in Northern Ireland and purchased privately in the spring, this red-coated steer is an AI son of the Limousin bull Carmorn Cantona and is out of a Limousin-cross cow. He previously picked up the Reserve Championship at the Highland Show. Standing Reserve was Neil Slack’s Stevie Gee, a home-bred bullock born in June last year, by the AI sire Fieldson Alfy and out of a Limousin-cross mother.

In the Baby Beef classes, taking the Championship sash were Mr & Mrs M&M Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon with their 316kg Limousin-bred baby heifer Pokerlicious born in February 2014. She was bred by John McAllister, Wester Thomaston, Bonnybridge, Stirling. This Limousin cross is by Easegillhead Exterminate and had stood Reserve Baby Beef Champion at Countryside Live. She is out of a Limousin x British Blue dam and was purchased at Caledonian Marts for £3,200 from Brian Harper.

Steer Champion Maybe This Time (James Nisbet)

Reserve Supreme Champion More Of That (P&S Sellers)

Supreme Champion Khaleesi (Dermot Small)

Baby Beef Champion Pokerlicious M&M Alford

Reserve Champion Steer Stevie Gee (Neil Slack) & Champion Steer Maybe This Time (James Nisbet)

Steer Championship Presentation Maybe This Time (James Nisbet)

Championship Presentation Supreme Champion Reserve Supreme Champion

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Limousins ruled the roost in the championships at Countryside Live, Harrogate on 18th-19th October 2014,

taking the Supreme Beef Championship as well as the Baby Beef title, the Reserve Baby Beef championship and the Reserve Overall Steer Championship. On top of this, the breed also claimed the best exhibitor-bred award and also the title for the best beast bred, owned and exhibited by a Yorkshire resident.

Taking the Supreme Championship at the season-opening primestock event was the 604kg Limousin-cross heifer More Of That from Phil & Sharon Sellers, Thorpe Tilney Farm, Lincs. This one, which clinched the Sellers’ fi fth championship title at Harrogate, is sired by Fieldson Alfy and is out of a Limousin-cross cow.

Bred by Andrew Harrison and purchased from Carlisle in March she had previously been Champion at Lincoln Show and second in her class at the Royal Welsh, as well as being Reserve Overall champion at Pateley Bridge Show earlier in the summer. Here, she had earlier been Limousin Heifer and Overall Limousin Champion before going on to clinch the top ticket.

Judge James Alexander, Randalstown, N Ireland said his champion was an exceptional heifer with great length and end, commenting:

“She’s tremendous through her top and has very little waste on her.”

Taking the Reserve Championship Steer title were the Stephenson Family with their winner from the homebred class, Bordley Pot Black. Sired by a homebred Limousin bull, he is out of a Blue-cross cow and was a regular winner this summer, being champion on four outings. He was also the winner of the best exhibitor-bred title and the best bred and owned in Yorkshire award.

Reserve Champion Yorkshire-bred, owned and exhibited beast was the Stoney Family’s Red Magic, a 624kg December 2012-born heifer. Meanwhile, the Reserve Limousin-cross beast was the Reserve Limousin Heifer Champion from Trevor Lyons & Family. This was Ira, a January 2013-born heifer weighing in at 632kg.

In the Limousin steers, the Champion was Elfed Williams’ Red Alert. This privately-bought bullock was bred by Simon Blandford at Malvern and weighed in at 564kg. He is by Ampertaine Commander and is out of the Limousin-cross cow, Bambi, which was Reserve Supreme at Smithfi eld in 2000.

Reserve Overall Limousin Steer Champion was Poker Prince from the Alford Family,

Devon. This one is by the French sire, Attila, and was bred by the John Robertson, Newton of Logerait, and bought at Caledonian Marts in September for £3,200.

Leading the way for the breed in the Baby Beef section to secure the overall title was the March-born heifer Miss Chief – being another from Lincolnshire-based exhibitors Mr & Mrs Sellers.

Sired by the 25,000gns Bailea BMW, this one is out of a British Blue-cross dam and was bred by the Robertson Family, Fodderletter. She was bought from the Thainstone Spectacular earlier in the autumn for £3,300 and was on her fi rst outing for Phil & Sharon Sellers having enjoyed a successful summer show season with championships at Echt, New Deer, Grantown and Turriff shows respectively.

Standing Reserve Overall were Mike & Melanie Alford with their Limousin-cross heifer Pokerlicious. This one was bought from the Caledonian Marts sale for £3,200 and was bred by Brian Harper, Falkirk. She is by Easegillhead Exterminate and out of a Limousin x Blue dam.

‘FIVE STAR PHIL’ AS LIMOUSINS WIN SUPREME CHAMPION AT COUNTRYSIDE LIVE• Fifth Countryside Live title for Phil Sellers• Limousins take Overall Championship, Baby Beef Champion & Reserve, Reserve Steer title, Exhibitor-bred Championship & Reserve,• Best bred in Yorkshire Champion

Baby Beef Champion Miss Chief P&S Sellers

Limousin Steer Champion Red Alert Elfed Williams

Supreme Champion More of That P&S Sellers



LODGE LIMOUSIN HEIFERS SPARKLE AT STARS OF THE FUTURE• Lodge Indie Wins Senior Continental champion• Lodge Jalise Wins Junior Continental champion

Limousins proved the dominant force at the 2014 Stars of the Future Calf Show with the breed picking up both

the Senior and Junior Continental interbreed titles. The event was held on Saturday 15th November at United Auctions’ Livestock Mart, Stirling.

For the first time in the event’s history both Championships were claimed by heifers from the same herd, with Ian and Wendy Callion’s Lodge herd, Bolfornought Farm, Stirling doing the double.

Leading the way in the Continental senior championship was the Callions’ September 2013-born heifer Lodge Indie. This heifer is by Loosebeare Fantastic and out of Lodge Evita, a Ronick Luke daughter.

Indie came to Stars of the Future off the back of a successful summer show season, having stood first at Perth Show, as well as winning the best 2013 born heifer in the Scottish Limousin Herd competition. Adding his thoughts interbreed judge Brian Wills said Lodge Indie ‘was a long, clean, balanced heifer with a lot of style’.

Carrying on the success for the Callions was their junior heifer Lodge Jalise. This March 2014-born Ronick Gains daughter is out of the imported Jacot daughter Balise. Jalise won best calf in the Scottish Limousin Herd Competition 2014 and was breed champion at Doune and Dunblane show this summer at four months old.

Standing Reserve in the junior classes was Michael and Fiona Burns’ Shaws Josie from their herd at Glenside Farm, Kirkmichael, Maybole, Ayrshire

This January 2014-born heifer is by the AI sire Powerhouse Elite and is out of Shaws Elegance. This was the first outing for this heifer which went on to sell at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Red Ladies Derby in December at Carlisle for 6000gns.

Reserve Overall Senior Champion was the Male Champion Whinfellpark Impressive from Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton, Penrith. By Lowerfrydd Empire he is out of Whinfellpark Eileen, a Dinmore Bandit daughter.

Second to the Reserve Senior Champion was Ronick IQ from R Dick, Mains of

Throsk, Stirling. July 2013 born this bull is by Rathconville Eugene and is out of Ronick Utwo, a Bailea Olympia daughter.

Anside Informer from Anside Pedigree Livestock Ltd, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, By Keith won the final class of bulls and also stood Reserve Male Champion. By Derriaghy Enfield and out of Anside Florence, a Frewstown Breakdance daughter, Informer is December 2013 born.

Second to the Overall Champion was Lodge Indigo, an October 2013 Attirant daughter out of the Ronick Gains sired Lodge Shirley.

In the first of the junior classes Ian Nimmo’s Maraiscote Jamie stood top of the line before standing Junior Male Champion. His sire is the prolific Goldies Comet who has had sons sell up to 30,000gns at auction, while his dam is the Tyddn Mei sired Maraiscote Unette.

The first of the heifer classes was won by the Reserve Overall Champion Shaws Josie, second to her was Whinfellpark Julie, a Dolcorsllwyn Fabio daughter from Messrs Jenkinson.

Whinfellpark Impressive, Messrs Jenkinsons Shaws Josie, Michael and Fiona Burns

Lodge Jalise, Ian and Wendy Callion Lodge Indie, Ian and Wendy Callion

54Limousin



LIMOUSINS STAR AT THAINSTONE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC• Donald Morrison takes Champion & Reserve• Champion sells for £5800• Limmys win Young Farmers’ Prime Cattle titles

Limousin sired cattle helped themselves to a festive haul of prizes at the prestigious Christmas Classic held at Thainstone

in early December. Donald Morrison, Cairn Nulla, Kinlochbervie was the star of the show as he picked up both the Champion and Reserve tickets from within an outstanding show of cattle.

The Champion animal was Bervie’s Bonnie Babe by Breconside Darkness, a Kaprico Atlas son. Bought originally for £2000 at Dingwall from breeder John Pirie, Chapelpark, Kingussie, the 648kgs heifer went on to sell for £5800 to Davidsons, Inverurie. John Davidson, of John Davidsons Butchers, had been judge for the day along with James Allan of Malcolm Allan and Sons Butchers, Falkirk.

In Reserve Overall was the Bullock Champion from Mr Morrison, the 650kgs You Can’t Take It Without You. July 2013 born this bullock is by the noted sire Volcano and was bought from breeder John Richardson, Ghyll House, Cumbria at Penrith Mart. He went on to sell for £2000 to Malcom Allan Butchers.

At £2800, the second top price, was the Butchers Champion from Murray Rainnie Loanhead, Aboyne. Pixie Lott, bred by C McMillan, Ardbeg, Islay, weighed in at 614kgs and is by an Allanfauld Limousin sire. It was purchased by Balfour Baillie, Orkney. In all seven Limousin sired animals sold for over £2000 in a sale that saw heifers average £2033 and bullocks average £1884.

£3,200 TOPS AT CALLY MARTS PREMIER SALE

Classic Beef Champion Bervies Bonnie Babe

Classic Beef Champion Can’t Take It Without You

Butchers Champion Pixie Lott

Reserve Champion Calf was a bullock from J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry weighing in at

430kgs and realising £3,200 to Stillmans Butchers, Somerset Ltd. This red Limousin-cross steer is by Attila and is out of Blue-cross-Limousin dam that also bred Jack Black, Champion Steer at the Scottish Winter

Fair in 2012. Heading to the same home also at £3,200

was the Spring-born Reserve Champion Calf from Brian Harper, Greenwells, Maddiston, a heifer scaling 260kgs.

Overall Champion Calf, having picked up the Champion Limousin award on the way sponsored by the British Limousin Cattle

Society, was another from the Robertsons, this time a black Limousin-cross heifer weighing in at 325kgs when selling for £2,200 to the Judge Dougie McBeath, Lower Greenyards, Bannockburn. Shona Laird from Sunnyside sold another Limousin heifer at £2,700 being purchased by Messrs Grieve, Lundin Links.

“The Premier” Show & Sale of Suckled Calves held on Friday 5th September at Caledonian Marts (Stirling) Ltd saw a top price of £3,200 paid twice for Limousin-sired calves.

Spring-born Reserve Champion Calf £3,200Overall Champion & Spring - born £2,200 Overall Reserve & Senior Champion £3,200



HEXHAM LIMOUSIN DAY CHAMPION MAKES £1,500Hexham & Northern Marts held their

special annual prize Show & Sale for Limousin-cross sucklers on 17th

October 2014 with a catalogue of 1,224 top-quality calves drawing a crowd of buyers from all over the UK with averages up around £20 per head on last year’s fixture.

Main sponsors included the British Limousin Cattle Society with the show of over forty Limousin crossbred cattle judged by well-known Cumbrian cattleman Peter Dent of Appleby.

Mr Dent placed his first prize heifer, a smart roan-coloured beast at 14 months of age as Overall Champion on behalf of Messrs WM Reed & Sons, West Biggens,

Weardale, County Durham. The judge later backed his decision by bidding to £1,500. The Champion heifer was by the Limousin bull Keskadale Fixer (by Linarn Unique), purchased privately from Keith Harryman.

CORNWALL PEDIGREE CALF SHOWThe Cornwall Pedigree Calf Show held

on Sunday 26th October saw Ross Withers, Higher Tresawle, Probus, Truro

win the Limousin section with his homebred heifer Mileyrose Izzybella under Judge Nick Hill of the Quaish Herd. Izzabella is by the 5,000gns herd sire Barrons Gunner and is out of the dam Homebyres Floraley purchased at Red Ladies for 1,500gns in December 2011. Subsequently, Mileyrose Izybella went on to be crowned Wadebridge Fatstock Show Supreme Champion under Judge Richard Dorrell and had previously won the Baby Beef class at Royal the Cornwall Show in June.

Cornwall Calf Champ Mileyrose Izzybella

Also at the Classic, Reece and Lucy Simmers, Backmuir, Keith, took the Championship with their Limousin sired

calves in both the haltered and unhaltered sections. The May 2013 born 642kg Aftershock, a Frewstown Breakdance son bought from James McConachie, Lethendry, for £1500, took the Championship ticket before selling for £2900 to C&G Raeburn, of Forbes Raeburn butchers in Huntly. In the unhaltered section the Simmers winning animal was Jager, an April 2013 born calf, bred by G Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow. Weighing in at 724kgs this bullock was sold to Scotbeef for £1908.

Classic Young Farmers Champ Aftershock

Hexham Limousin Champion £1,500

SIMMERS LIMMYS WIN THE CLASSIC YOUNGFARMERS

KETLEYS LIMS DOMINATE COLCHESTER

WA Ketley & Sons, Fingringhoe took the Overall Cattle Championship at Colchester’s Christmas Show.

Their champion animal was a Limousin sired heifer that tipped the scales at 539kg. It was purchased by John Coleman, Boxted, a wholesale and retail butcher, for £2,102, or 390p per kg. The Reserve Champion, also Limousin sired, went to Bruce and Julie Woodward, Needham, Norfolk. This 601kg home-bred Limousin steer sold to Swanton Morley butchers, Norfolk, for 400p per kg or £2404.

56Limousin



LIMOUSIN CHAMPION AT KNIGHTON WEANED CALVES

Breaking Bad, a home-bred Limousin cross bullock from young handler Jack Forsyth, Mid Bishopton, took the

Champinship at the Christmas Primestock Show & Sale at Dumfries. Judged by Evan Hall, Scotbeef, the Champion sold for 350p per kg to Bryce Taylor, Border Meats, Lockerbie.

For only the second time in the event’s history, the live champion was also judged to be the top carcase at the prestigious Scottish Premier Meat Exhibition. Held in November at Scotbeef’s Bridge of Allan plant, the event was sponsored by Marks and Spencer and held

under the auspices of the the Scottish National Fatstock Club.Doing the live dead Championship double was a heavy heifer from John, Allan and George

McGregor, The Binn, Glenfarg. Homebred, this heifer was by the privately bought Clydeside Foxy, bred by Archie Lindsay, Kepscaith Farm , and was out of a Limousin cross dam.

Put up by the live judge, George McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer, Perth, the winning heifer hung up at 419kg deadweight. Doing the double, Alan Healy, a buyer with the well-known Warwickshire based meat business, Aubrey Allen, judged the carcase as Champion in the deadweight section also. The winning heifer graded as an U+4L and killed out at 62.4%.

Fred Murray and his son, Ian, from East Horton, Wooler, Northumberland, took the Reserve in the deadweight section with a Limousin cross steer which had placed third live.

McCartneys reported an entry of 541 head at Knighton Market sale of weaned calves, young store cattle

and young bulls, incorporating the Brecon & Radnor Suckled Calf Rearers Society Sale on Tuesday 11th November 2014. Judged by Mr Mike Wills of Upper Coton Farms, Northamptonshire Overall Champion Animal was a Limousin-cross steer from M G Wozencraft, Glanalders. Scaling 375 kg he later sold for £890. Winning the Best Pair award were 2 black Limousin-cross steers from A Rowlands & Son, Noyadd Fach which weighed 270 kg and sold at £770 apiece. The same vendor won the Best Group of 4 or more Cattle Sired by a Limousin Bull with a pen of 4 black Limousin-cross steers scaling 307 kg and selling for £855 per head.

LIMS TAKE CHAMPION & RESERVE AT DUMFRIES

The Champion at the December Bakewell Christmas Primestock show was a 20-month-old 664kg Limousin sired

heifer from Katy Allen, Castleton. Come sale time it made 375p per kg or £2490. Show cattle averaged on the day 257.7p per kg.

BAKEWELL LIMOUSIN CHAMPION MAKES £2,490

LIMS CHAMPION & RESERVE AT THAME PRIMESTOCKThe Annual Thame Christmas Primestock

Show sponsored by the British Limousin Cattle Society held at Thame Market on

26th November saw a Limousin One-Two.Champion was a Limousin Heifer shown

by Mr P Bodily, weighing 550kg which went on to make 365p/kg or £2,007.50. Reserve Champion was a Limousin Steer shown by Mr D Plested, weighing 580kg and later realising 307p/kg or £1,780.60. Both animals also won their classes of Best Butcher’s Steer and Best Butcher’s Heifer.

Thame Supreme Champion Thame Reserve Champion

LIMOUSIN DOES THE LIVE-DEAD DOUBLE AT SCOTTISH PREMIER

LIM CHAMPION TOPS RUGBY PRIMESTOCK AT £2,634

Rugby Primestock Supreme Champion

Knighton ChampionThe 41st Rugby Primestock Society Show & Sale was held on Monday 1st December 2014 with Robert Leach

taking charge of the cattle judging. Matt Morris claimed the Supreme Championship trophy with his Limousin-cross heifer weighing in at 592kg which later sold for £4.45ppkg or £2,634 to Joseph Morris Butchers of South Kilworth, Leicestershire. Matt had bought the heifer, bred by Bowen & Bowen, in February 2014 out of Ruthin Market.



Both sired byRathconville Eugene

A “Rocky” son out of the 2008 all-Ireland Irish Beef Expo Junior Cow Champion “Ballinahinch Alexandria”.

First eight sons sold have averaged £5000. Semen available £50.00 UK Mainland

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QUALITY BULLS & FEMALES AVAILABLE FOR SALE

RONICK LIMOUSIN“ESTABLISHED 1980”

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Ronick HoneyBest heifer born in 2012

Scottish Herd Competition 2013

Ronick IdaBest heifer calf born in 2013

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Gourneix Limousin Farm and Herd for Sale - Central France - 145 ha (land partly rented)

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High quality established young pedigree limousin herd. Excellent geneticbase and calm temperaments. High Health Status Herd and Region

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Limousin

L i m o u s i n F e a t u r e

58 the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk

A pastel shade of green might well be the preferred colour choice for most

of the 700-plus luxury static caravans on the four sites a Meirionnydd-based farming family runs along the West Wales coast.

But when it comes to their cattle the fi rst choice is most defi nitely rich gold – Limousin gold to be precise.

Quick-maturing, premium stores

As far as the caravans go, the colour helps to blend them better with the surrounding environment, but for the 500 or so cattle based around the Vaenol herd what matters more is meeting the demands of commercial buyers looking for quality stores that are quick to mature and command a premium on the hook.

The Owen Family has been at Sandilands Farm, overlooking the sea on the edge of Tywyn, since 1938 with some of the land being requisitioned for military purposes during the Second World War.

While many of the wartime huts are still there today a great deal has changed in the way

the largely sandy, free-draining, quick-to-burn ground - some of it lying below sea level - is farmed.

When Bryn Owen took over from his father, the system revolved around buying in store cattle from farms across Wales and beyond and fi nishing them. Now, just into his 80s, he still oversees the operation but with

Feature on DR Owen & Son, Sandilands, Tywyn, Aberystwyth

WEST WALES SUCKLER HERD EXTRACTS LIMOUSIN

‘GOLD’‘GOLD’‘GOLD’‘GOLD’‘GOLD’‘GOLD’



his two sons and two daughters all playing key roles in the partnership.

While Sian and Bethan look after the leisure side of the business, Geraint and Hugh are in charge of the farming activities - producing fi nished lambs from around 3,000 breeding ewes, as well as pedigree beef cattle and commercial stores.

“When I fi nished school and joined Dad on the farm we decided that we needed to take the cattle side of the business in a different direction,” says Geraint.

Quality carcases quick to fi nish

“Because of the strong Holstein infl uence in the calves coming on to the market we were just not getting the type we wanted – those capable of producing a quality carcase and quick to fi nish.

“We came to the conclusion that the only solution was to breed our own calves and having taken a good look at what breeds were available in the early 1980s - and more importantly what they had to offer by way of performance - plumped for the Limousin.

Ease of calving and mothering ability

“Our main criteria was the ease of calving, a good mothering ability and a breed capable of

producing well bodied store cattle that would command a premium in the market. The Limousin ticked all the boxes and we have not looked back ever since.”

Indeed, the family certainly has not. Farming as DR Owen & Son, as well as two farms at Tywyn there are two others further south and across the Dyfi Estuary, near Borth, in the neighbouring county of Ceredigion.

A little over 12 months ago, a fi fth farm was also purchased around 40 miles away at Aberhafesp, near Newtown, in Powys.

“In all, with the additional 190ha (470 acres) in Mid-Wales, we are now farming some 635ha (1,570 acres) together with 80ha (200 acres) of rented ground as

a family business which also involves the four caravan sites with up to 800 static holiday units and chalets, all of which are fi xed on site with the owners paying ground rent and having access for 10 months of the year.

“We provide the site maintenance and it is a diversifi cation enterprise which fi ts in very neatly with our farming activities,” says Geraint.

“Sandilands is our main farming centre and having decided to start breeding our own cattle we began by buying Limousin x Friesian bulling heifers, before taking the plunge in 1986 to buy our fi rst pedigree Limousin bull - Hengrave Vicar - bred by Abington Farms Ltd, a 1984 son of Favori and out of Fervente.

“We bought him in Carlisle for 1,800gns and used him on the crossbred heifers. The resulting calves were absolutely tremendous with fantastic hindquarters; and that decision has turned out to be one of our best ever moves.

“Hooked on the breed, we then bought a bunch of pedigree Limousin heifers at a breed sale in Shrewsbury and those fi rst six purchases from a variety of herds marked the start of the Vaenol herd, named after our other farm near Tywyn.

“Other female purchases soon took our pedigree numbers up to

the 20 or so mark and gradually by today we are up to 180 pure Limousin breeding cows and 20 commercials.

“Some 60 of the purebred cows are now forming the basis of a new herd being established with my brother at the Aberhafesp Farm.

“While that was previously a dairy unit, the milking parlour has since been sold off and we will be concentrating solely on cattle and sheep rearing.

“There are 2,000 Texel cross and Welsh Mule ewes at Sandilands and a further 1,000 ewes at Aberhafesp, all going to Beltex or Texel tups for lambing indoors in March, with the lambs being fi nished and sold live weight through Welshpool Market.

400 purebreds run commercially

“Taking the cows with the heifers and calves, our overall cattle numbers stand at around the 400 mark, with many of the purebreds tracing back to our original female purchases and Vicar.

“I really cannot stress enough just what an excellent job he did for us. In fact, it was purely down to the strength of his calves that we have concentrated on the Limousin breed. He was still fathering calves at nine years old and lived until he was 11.”

Other bulls used since have

Hengrave Vicar, the Owens’ fi rst Limousin bull

purchased for 1,800gns at Carlisle in 1986.

60Limousin



been Wilodge Jester, a son of Uplands Batman; Bailea Nobel, who was by Greensons Gigolo; and Brontemoor Stan the Man, sired by Haltcliffe Olympus.

Currently being used is the 13,000gns Procters Drogba, a Greenwell Ronick son, and other purchases have included Craigatoke Highandmighty, bought for 9,000gns at Carlisle in May 2013, and Millgate Derry at 20,000gns in May 2010.

Half of the cows calve in the spring and the other half in the autumn, with the spring-born

ones being sold off grass in October and November the following year. The autumn-born calves will have two winters indoors before being sold in April and May.

While around 40 cows stay out over winter, the rest are either loose housed or kept in cubicles and while indoors get nothing but home-made clamp or big bale grass silage, while the calves have access to a bought-in creep feed until weaning.

Only around 60 selected females a year are registered,

championship successes - albeit in someone else’s hands.

“The competitive spirit among commercial exhibitors is so strong these days that in order to win an animal has to be really superb – and that is what we try to produce across all our calves,” says Geraint.

“When we buy a bull we look for size, growth rate, muscle and good hindquarters and, though we also look at the performance figures, shape and appearance are the key necessities for us. In other words, he has to have a well-developed body on him and look like a bull.

Width, growth and conformation

“In all our cattle we are looking for all-round good conformation, width and excellent growth potential. That after all is what commercial buyers want and what sells well in the market place.”

with all the other calves being reared on for the commercial market for selling as 16 to 17 month old stores weighing 500 to 550 kg and in keen demand through both Welshpool and Dolgellau live markets in batches of 30 to 40. A few are also finished.

Regular store cattle buyers

“We find that many of our buyers who come from as far afield as Scotland are regulars so we must be producing the type of store cattle finishers are looking for,” says Geraint.

Because there is also a strong demand for potential show cattle from dedicated commercial section exhibitors every year a small number of pure Limousins are put to a British Blue bull to produce the type of black Limousin-cross highly favoured by some judges and over the years there have been some notable



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Limousinthe br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk62


Ian Wildgoose says the reason behind his family’s unwavering commitment to the Limousin is

simple: “Most of my cattle go to private butchers and I have found they prefer the Limousin above all other breeds,” he says. “Pleasing my customers and achieving high sale prices are two of my main priorities. But from a farmer’s point of view, I need cattle which are fertile, milky, good converters of feed and easy-to-handle. The Limousin also fits the bill on all these counts.”

Limousin fits the bill as a suckler cow or a store beast

Ian Wildgoose and his wife, Andrea, farm the 500-acre Scarcliffe Hall and Springwood farms in partnership with their sons, Robert and Jonathan. Alongside the suckler herd of 40 pedigree cows under the Scarcliffe prefix, they also buy in more than 300 store cattle - mainly heifers - each year, as well as growing wheat, barley, oilseed rape, potatoes and maize. Mr Wildgoose says the profitability of the herd is largely dependent on the farm being virtually self sufficient in both cattle feed and straw for bedding, with rolled barley forming a major element of the finishing ration.

The family has farmed in the area for many years and Ian

LIMOUSIN VERY MUCH

Feature on the Wildgoose Family, Scarcliffe Hall Farm, Scarcliffe, Chesterfield, Derbyshire and Springwood Farm, Sutton Scarsdale, Chesterfield.

THE BUTCHER’S CHOICE



moved to Scarcliffe Hall when he was just a few months old. Originally a dairy farm, it has always supported a feeding cattle enterprise and nearby Springwood Farm has since been acquired, in order to expand. There are no employees on the family unit and contractors are

only brought in at silage time and when the maize is harvested.

Lim stores are bought in at 10-12 months

The Limousin was introduced almost as soon as the first imports became available, with the pedigree herd established in

1989 after the purchase of four cows with heifer calves. All the heifers from the suckler herd are retained for breeding or finishing and the bulls are left entire. The single-suckled, bought-in stores arrive at various times throughout the year, usually aged around 10-12 months old. They are occasionally obtained privately, but Mr Wildgoose likes the wider choice available at the mart.

While some heifers are sourced at the local sale in Newark, Mr Wildgoose is prepared to travel some distance to buy the right type of store cattle. He makes regular trips to markets in the North of England and is a familiar face at Hexham, Wigton, Barnard Castle, Skipton and Penrith.

Shape, length and a good top

“Finished cattle prices have come down, but the store trade is still buoyant,” he observes. “There are several good breeders whose stock I look out for when I’m bidding, as I know their cattle will perform well on our system. These people consistently produce animals with shape and a decent length of body. Butchers like cattle with a good top loin, as it has become more saleable in latter years, compared with rump.”

Mr Wildgoose has a great deal of experience in selecting finished cattle and relies on assessment by eye. He feels that paying too much attention to weight can be misleading; pointing out that one animal might be ready at 480kgs, while another can be taken to

620kgs, without laying down excess fat.

Only a small number of animals are sold each week, as a way of minimising the vulnerability of the business to the fluctuating prices which seem to have become a market standard in recent years. A high percentage of finished cattle are sold on a deadweight basis to a long-standing customer, who is a private local butcher with his own small slaughterhouse. The other main outlet is Newark Market.

A consignment of four Limousin heifers at a recent Newark sale saw the Wildgoose Family achieving a top price of 243.5p/kg (£1,400) at an average 236.5p/kg (£1,331). Meanwhile, cattle for sale deadweight are taken direct to the butcher’s slaughterhouse and a fair price is agreed on the spot. Presentation is perceived to be very important and every animal is clipped out on arrival and again when it leaves the farm, a process which also reduces sweating during transport.

“We did consider castrating our bull calves when market prices dipped, but the trade for bulls wasn’t much better, so we decided against it. Heifer prices seem to have been more stable,” comments Mr Wildgoose.

Bulls are finished at 13-15 months

“Another factor was that steers would need to be grazed and we need all the grass for the cows; as we are not prepared to take any land out of the arable rotation. The bulls are usually finished at between 13 and 15 months and the quick turnaround fit in well with our other enterprises.”

The breeding programme includes the homebred Scarcliffe Ferdinand, a Sympa son. Born in January 2010, he is out of Scarcliffe Vogue (by Malibu), who Mr Wildgoose says has been a great cow’, although unfortunately she has never produced a heifer. The sale of breeding bulls makes a significant contribution towards farm income, but the majority are sold privately, mainly due to lack of time.

One notable exception was a Limousin Breed Society Show & Sale at Newark in 2009, where the family took the 6,500gns top price for Scarcliffe Cracker. A two-year-old son of the French-bred AI bull, Objat, he was out of the Jockey daughter, Scarcliffe Victoria. The

64Limousin



bull went to Halifax-based David Bamforth, who is well-known for his success in the prime cattle show ring.

“The fi rst bull I ever sold at Carlisle was purchased by a Mr Gold,” says Mr Wildgoose. “Some 14 years later, he rang me and I remembered him instantly. He had called to tell me that the bull was about to go down the road. He wanted me to know that the animal had made a great contribution towards improving his herd. That made me very proud.”

AI is used on the ‘best’ females; among the Limousin bulls used recently are Sympa, Fieldson Alfy, Chytodden Conan and Talent. The females are not synchronised, but the success rate runs at a consistent 70%-80%.

“There are some fantastic AI sires out there to choose from,” says Mr Wildgoose. “When it comes to stock bulls, a lot depends on the way they are reared; if they are pushed too hard to look good for a sale, there is a risk they may not thrive when

they start working.”Showing is an activity which

the Wildgoose Family enjoy, but they are usually too busy on the farm to take part. However, in 2013, their efforts were rewarded when one of their Limousin-cross heifers was awarded reserve place in the National Festival of Meat’s Beef Ribs Competition held at the East of England Smithfi eld Festival.

The cows form two main groups, with calving mainly during the spring and autumn. Herd health is paramount and the cattle are vaccinated against BVD and leptospirosis, as well as being protected against respiratory disease at housing.

Creep feed is offered to calves from around nine-weeks-old and the growing cattle also receive a molasses meal, which has been used at Scarcliffe Hall for many years and which the family rates highly. The suckler cows are grazed and supplemented with maize silage at housing, with all the youngstock reared in the buildings. Weaning takes place at about 7-8 months.

Milky Females which calve consistently

Mr Wildgoose has a clear idea about the future direction of his herd.

“Our breeding policy is to keep the length and shape of our cattle, while selecting females which are milky and will give a

calf consistently every year; some of our cows are 13 or 14-years-old and still performing well.

“The Limousin has done a good job for us over the years and we will stick with the breed, for as long as we have buyers who are prepared to pay a decent price for our cattle,” he says.

FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER - ROBIN MAYCOCK, BUTCHER

Robin Maycock is an award-winning, independent butcher who is also well-known on the show circuit as a livestock judge. All of the beef he sells in his shop, which is situated in the village of Holloway near Matlock, is supplied by Ian Wildgoose. The relationship between the two businesses spans almost 30 years.

“My customers are looking for traceable beef which tastes very good and therefore these are qualities I look for when I’m buying cattle,” says Mr Maycock.

“The success of a village butcher lies in building relationships with customers and I like to get to know my suppliers in the same way, as it promotes trust. The Wildgoose Family know exactly what I’m looking for and it is an added bonus that they also grow feed and utilise their own straw.

Excellent conformation and meat in the right places

“For me, the Limousin has all the traits I require; it has excellent conformation, with meat in all the right places. I prefer heifer beef, as it tends to be closer-grained and has a little more marbling, compared with bulls and steers.”

Scarcliffe Cracker 6,500gns Newark 2009

Limousin65the br i t i sh l imous in catt le society www.l imousin.co.uk


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STOCK BULLS

FOXHILLFARM IMPECABULL



The Greensons herd, owned by Guy Green and his father John, from Bottisham,

near Cambridge, has again been recognised by EBLEX as the Most Improved Herd of British Limousin cattle.

The award is presented by the EBLEX Beef Better Returns Programme (BRP) to the performance recorded herd that shows the greatest genetic gain for commercial characteristics over a 12-month period. There is a separate award for each of 10 UK breeds. The Greensons herd

came top out of 299 recorded herds in England for 2014, having won this award for the fi rst time in 2011.

John Green, alongside his sons William and Guy, farms over 800 hectares of land around the city of Cambridge. Alongside their pedigree Limousin herd, the family runs an arable enterprise with winter wheat, spring barley and oilseed rape.

The Greensons herd was started in the early 1980s with the addition of three full-blood French heifers to the commercial

suckler herd of suckler. Impressed by their attributes, all of the cattle were soon replaced by Limousins.

Canadian genetics enhance breeding traits

By spending time in America and Canada, it became clear to John how a focused approach to fi gures could result in stock with impressive growth rates and muscle depth. John saw how recording such performance could inform breeding management decisions and was

GREENSONS HERD WINS

MOST IMPROVED HERD AWARD

Greensons Howlett



M� t Improved Herd

Winner

keen to adopt this practice in his own herd.

They made a bold decision, and imported the very fi rst black Limousins into the country, and the genetic advancements seen overseas are now refl ected in the EBVs for the Greensons Limousins.

This desire to look forward has seen the Greensons herd develop into a small, but well-respected producer of quality animals. They specialise in breeding black, polled Limousin cattle for both commercial and pedigree breeders. They have successfully incorporated genetics from Canada through importing embryos and semen for Artifi cial Insemination (AI). Guy has recently started to inseminate his own cattle which provides greater fl exibility.

Performance recording to inform breeding decisions

They started recording the Greensons herd in 1990, incorporating muscle depth scanning and more recently measuring scrotal circumference as an indication of bull and cow fertility.

“Recording weights is a good start, but scanning gives actual values for muscle and fat depth,” said Guy. “This improves accuracy of the estimated breeding values (EBVs) of our animals and infl uences future breeding plans.”

The black Limousins consistently have exceptional length, muscle depth and growth rates, combined with plenty of milk and a very quiet nature. “They grow fantastically well and are a joy to work with,” Guy

said. “It has taken time to get the quality of our black and polled

cattle to where we wanted; we now feel that the Greensons herd can offer top-end black Limousin stock bulls and cows.

“Since our previous win in 2011, we have adhered closely to our intended plan with breeding programmes,

focusing on individual traits rather than overall index. We

strive to improve overall quality, with a keen eye guiding the herd

in the right direction.” The majority of the

Greensons herd has Beef Values that put them in the

top 1 per cent of Limousin cattle in the UK and based on 2013-born calves, this herd has the highest average Beef Value in the country.

Marketing their Greensons Limousins

Over the past three years, there has been an increasing demand for the polled gene. Having polled animals means less work dehorning and black animals continue to attract buyers at sales. These criteria remain of paramount importance for the Greens.

Their large framed, milky cows calve easily and produce progeny with good muscle depth and growth rates off grass. “One thing we have noticed at sales more recently is that good fi gures might not sell a bull, but bad fi gures will stop a sale,” said Guy.

“That said, sometimes it is necessary to take a risk in order to get outcross genetics. Breeding is always a bit of gamble and can take years to perfect a match of cow to bull, but with careful monitoring, blending type with traits, we are pleased with the direction the herd is going.”

Surplus stock bulls sell well directly from the farm to both commercial and pedigree producers and occasionally heifers are sold to pedigree breeders. Over the years, they are building up good relationships and a reputation which inspires repeat business. Their own website, www.greensons.com, provides up-to-date information on their females, stock bulls and stock for sale.

In addition to livestock sales, they have semen available for sale from a number of animals and sent their fi rst consignment of black polled Limousin embryos to New Zealand in 2012.

The homozygous, polled, red bull Greensons Howlett has seen semen export orders to Germany and Norway . He is out of Greensons Tiske, a top ranked cow on calving fi gures and beef value within the national herd. The Greens used Howlett as a 14-month-old bull and fi rst progeny from him had birth weights of 39–42kg, they were easily calved and are shaping up well. Howlett, whose semen is now available, has a very strong EBV profi le and had a scrotal circumference of 42cm at 14 months.

Looking ahead Their long term objective is to

expand the herd and achieve as high a set of EBVs for as many traits as possible, with the focus to produce easy calving, milky dams that deliver fast-growing, well-muscled calves. Their base herd has style and frame, with strong family lines.

The Greensons herd is where they wanted it to be in order that they can now start to build up numbers from 25 cows, with the aim of achieving 40 to 50 pedigree cows, maintaining a spring calving herd with a high health status.

“We now feel that the Greensons herd can offer top-end black Limousin

stock bulls and cows.”



The Coachhouse herd, owned by Messrs Heald & Co of Retford,

Nottinghamshire, has been recognised by EBLEX as the runner up for the Most Improved Herd of Limousin cattle in England for 2014.

Home Farm has been farmed by the family since the 1940s. Barry and Gill Heald took over from Gill’s father in 1975 and manage it together with their son Matthew.

Coachhouse Limousins are the main enterprise on the 360-acre farm, with over 300 pedigree cattle including followers. Alongside the cattle there is 155 acres of arable land for wheat and barley production and 45 acres of grass leys in rotation which are cut for silage. They buy in additional straw and mix their own rations, ensuring the system is as economical as possible.

For them, the key attributes of the Limousin breed are ease of calving, longevity and overall appearance; being pleasing to the eye gives them a daily sense of satisfaction and pride as they have watched the herd develop over the years. Once calves are born they demonstrate vigour, and prove to be easy-fl eshing, achieving good killing-out percentages.

The Coachhouse herd has been performance recorded since the early 2000s, with the aim of providing a tool to monitor performance. The Healds recognise that breeding values behind a bull helps to sell an animal and this factor is becoming increasingly important at today’s society sales.

“A lot of buyers look at fi gures

when buying, some with great interest,”

Gill said. “It is becoming clear that

animals with good fi gures behind them are attracting better prices through the sales.”

Their main calving period is from February to June and, as they are on heavy soil, they house cattle over winter from October or November to reduce poaching. Calves are weaned at around nine to 10 months of age, after which female replacements are selected with good growth fi gures in mind.

Using top bulls to continue to develop the herd

The Healds use three stock bulls to work with their cattle: Mereside Daytona, Rachels

Ferrari, and Coachhouse Eebygum. All three bulls are mature, proven sires, maintaining EBVs in the top one per cent for the breed, with Terminal Sire Indices of 47, 42, and 47 respectively.

New bulls joining the team, or female herd replacements, must fi rstly have a correct breed type, offering both size and length. The focus is then on its fi gures, paying attention to the 200 and 400-Day Weight EBVs, as well as the dam’s family line and maternal EBVs.

This year, the Healds purchased two young bulls at the Carlisle May Sale. They bought Ronick Inspire having seen his sire sold a few years ago and having waited for something from him to come along ever since.

They also purchased Trueman Intensity, who for them was love at fi rst sight! They eagerly await progeny from both these young bulls next year.

The Coachhouse herd attend shows attached to sale days such as the Limousin day at Newark in April and at Skipton in May. They also attend the society sale at Carlisle in both October and again in February.

They enjoyed success at the Limousin Day at Newark in April this year, where they were awarded reserve intermediate champion for Coachhouse Hathaway, born June 2012, by Mereside Daytona out of Coachhouse Rouge. They took fi ve bulls, achieving an average price of £4560, four sired by Mereside Daytona, who scores 47 and is currently in the top one per cent of the breed.

Messrs Heald also led the pedigree heifer trade at this event with 5000gns for the reserve female champion, Coachhouse Incarnation. In total they sold nine heifers aged 12 to 14 months, the fi rst progeny of Rachels Ferrari to be sold, and averaging £3068.

Future ObjectivesTheir aim is to improve the herd

wherever possible, producing easy-fl eshing Limousin cattle, with good conformation and performance fi gures, that are desirable to both pedigree and commercial breeders.

COACHHOUSE HERD NAMED RUNNER-UP IN THE MOST

IMPROVED HERD AWARD FOR THE LIMOUSIN BREED

Home Farm has been farmed by the

together with their

Limousins are the

on the 360-acre farm, with

when buying, some with great interest,”

Gill said. “It is becoming clear that

M� t Improved Herd

Runner-up

Coachhouse Hathaway 7,000gns Newark April 2014 Coachhouse Incarnation Reserve Female Champion 5,000gns Newark April 2014



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70Limousin


L i m o u s i n S a l e s

LOOSEBEARE IAIN LEADS SOLID CARLISLE LIMOUSIN SALE AT 27,000GNS• 84 bulls sold, up by 9 on the year, to average £5,570• 11 bulls sell at 10,000gns or more• 33 bulls in all sell at 5,000gns or more• 61% clearance rate of bulls forward

Loosebeare Iain, the pre-sale show Supreme Champion from Messrs EW Quick & Son, Loosebeare Manor, Zeal

Monachorum, Crediton, Devon sold for 27,000gns and led a solid trade at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Autumn Sale of Bulls, held on Saturday 18th October 2014 at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

January 2013 born, Loosebeare Iain is the first animal offered at sale by the homebred sire Loosebeare Fantastic, a Wilodge Vantastic son, and is out of Loosebeare Elite a Haltcliffe Anzac daughter. A heifer’s calf, this bull arrived at Carlisle with a strong summer show record having stood as Breed and Interbreed

Champion at the Royal Cornwall, Mid-Devon, and Okehampton Shows respectively.

At the pre-sale show, the judge Joan Gilliland of the Ballyrobin Herd, Antrim, Northern Ireland placed Loosebeare Iain as first in the high-quality third class and Champion in the Senior section before tapping him out as the Overall Supreme. Commenting, the judge said: “This Loosebeare bull was just a stand-out Champion. He has everything you would look for in a modern Limousin being well grown, packed with muscle, having length and width, and being a great walker. He’s a real bull but is very showy. This is an outstanding breeder’s bull that could do a

Loosebeare Iain - Overall Champion - 27,000gns

CarlisleOCT 2014



great job for any market.”Combining visual appeal, top performance

figures, and depth of pedigree, the Supreme Champion was purchased by Tony Booth for his pedigree Sevengun Herd at Hardwick Hall Farm, Aston, Sheffield. The 27,000gns paid represented the top price that Messrs Quick have had to date at sale from their 90-cow herd with Mark Quick saying that Loosebeare Iain represented the ‘best bull that they had brought to sale to date.’ The Quicks’ team of five bulls here grossed an impressive 49,000gns with two further Fantastic-sired bulls making 6000gns, and 3500gns, and three Aghadolgan Emperor sons making 7000, 6000, and 5,500gns respectively.

At the close of the sale, 84 bulls in all had been sold, an increase of 9 on the year, to average a solid £5,570. The clearance rate for the sale was a respectable 61% of the bulls forward. The senior section led the way with 25 bulls averaging £5,838. 11 bulls made 10,000gns or more with 33 in all selling for 5,000gns and more. Commenting on the sale, British Limousin Cattle Society Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “There was a really good show of bulls forward full of quality and consistency, very commercially relevant, and offering a depth of choice in type and for every market. Selling 84 bulls, up by nine on the year, and to a good average of over £5,500 represents a very solid sale and is entirely

realistic for the number of bulls needed in the back-end and in the economic climate of the industry.”

Four bulls made 13,000gns. The first of these was the impressive Rahoney Isaac, a March 2013-born embryo calf from H & D MacFarland, Rahoney, Trillick, Co. Tyrone. Taking the red ticket in the opening class of the Intermediate section, this bull is by Haltcliffe Dancer and is out of the seven-year-old Tanat Mostyn-sired cow Rahoney Velma. Purchasing the bull was Harry Emslie for his Emslies prefix at Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire who noted that Rahoney Isaac was ‘clean-bred and a complete outcross to the Emslies herd.’ The 18-cow Rahoney herd also produced the day’s Reserve Intermediate Champion, Rahoney Isiah, the first-prize bull in the second intermediate class. Another sameway-bred embryo calf by Haltcliffe Dancer and out of Rahoney Velma, this bull who was in the top 1% for muscle depth also went north when selling for 10,000gns to WJ Jack & Sons, Woodend, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire.

Another herd to achieve their top price at sale to date was Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Clifton, Penrith, when selling Whinfellpark Iago for 13,000gns. The March 2013-born Iago, who placed third in the opening class of Intermediate bulls, is by the herd’s 30,000gns stock bull Lowerffrydd

Empire and is out of the Wilodge Cerberus-sired Whinfellpark Flair. Purchasing this bull with a Beef Value of LM+46, was the pedigree Norman herd of ES & E Norman, Little Orton Farm, Little Orton, Carlisle.

An impressive line-up of six bulls grossed 51,200gns for James McKay, Upperlands, Maghera, Co. Derry. Leading the way at 13,000gns was the May 2013-born Ampertaine Interest. This calf is by the Glenrock Ventura-sired Ampertaine Elgin and is out of Ampertaine Finesse, an Ampertaine Abracadabra daughter. This third-prize bull was purchased by EH Pennie & Son for their Sarkley pedigree herd at Gwern-Yr-Ychain, Llandyssil, Montgomery, Powys. Another Ampertaine Elgin son, Ampertaine Impact, also made 13,000gns when selling to the Turville herd of HB & LJ Lear, Creslow Manor, Whitchurch, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Impact, a maternal brother to the 20,000gns Ampertaine Commander, is out of the Sympa cow Ampertaine Annabella. June 2013-born, Ampertaine Impact stood second in the second last class of Juniors in the pre-sale show.

The sire of the Champion, Loosebeare Fantastic, was again to the fore as the AI sire of the 8,000gns Ampertaine Invader. This June 2013 bull, out of the Fieldson Alfy-sired Ampertaine Duchess, is a maternal brother to the 6,500gns Ampertaine Goldcard. Winner

For more informationscan this QR code

72Limousin



Ampertaine Impact 13,000gns

Rahoney Isiah - 10,000gns

Whilfellpark Iago - 13,000gns

of the second last class of bulls, Ampertaine Invader went on to place as Reserve Junior Champion. Purchaser of this bull was noted commercial producer DR Owen & Son, Sandilands Farm, Tywyn, Gwynedd. Further Ampertaine bulls sold for 6000, 3800, and 2400gns respectively.

Rounding off a successful couple of days, the Ampertaine herd also won the Carlisle Three Award for the best three homebred bulls that are performance recorded. These three bulls grossed 27,000gns.

DR Owen & Son was also the purchaser of the 10,000gns Parkwall Impossible from James McParland, Beleeks, Newry, Northern Ireland. Another bull from the strong Class

Three, Parkwall Impossible also arrived at the sale with a strong show record behind him featuring breed and interbreed awards at Lurgan, Newry, Castlewellan, Clogher, and Armagh Shows respectively. This January 2013 bull is an embryo calf by the noted Carmorn Copilot and is out of the 12,500gns Wilodge Navette a Broadmeadows Cannon daughter.

The second prize bull from the same class, and the Reserve Senior Champion, was Culnagechan Ibrox from Derek Hume, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Another calf by Carmorn Copilot, the herd’s stock sire, Culnagechan Ibrox had stood as the Reserve Supreme Champion at this year’s

Northern Ireland Limousin Championships at Antrim Show where he also won the Interbreed Beef Stakes Championship. Out

Rahoney Isaac - 13,000gns



O T H E R L E A D I N G P R I C E S

6,000gns Haltcliffe Iowa to JA Wood & Sons, Kinnerton Hall Farm, Ratlinghope, Shrewsbury

6,000gns Carmorn Eyecatcher to J Forsythe, 44 Cookstown Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt

6,000gns Twemlows Idol to DG & JA Bell, Low Blaithwaite Farm, Wigton, Cumbria

6,000gns Windsole Ivan to J Leiper & Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland, Newcastle on Tyne

6,000gns Roxburgh Icarus to J Sloan & Sons, Little Creoch Farm, New Cumnock, Ayrshire

6,000gns Loosebeare Italian to T Laird & Son, Sunnyside Farm, Cronberry, Cumnock, Ayrshire

6,000gns Ampertaine Interrogate to R & J Johnston, Hewan, Shapinsay, Orkney.

A V E R A G E S

25 Senior Bulls £5,838.4429 Intermediate Bulls £5,368.1030 Junior Bulls £5,551.00Overall 84 Bulls (+9) £5,570.21

Auctioneer: H&H

of the Ampertaine Abracadabra daughter Culnagechan Espana, the January 2013-born Culnagechan Ibrox sold to Gaich Farms, Lower Gaich Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown-On-Spey, Morayshire for 10,000gns. Later in the sale, the second prize Culnagechan Istanbull, an Ampertaine Commander son, sold for 6,000gns to J Leslie, Odinstone, Shapinsay, Orkney.

Emphasising the strength of Class Three in the senior section, the first five bulls in this class grossed a collective 60,800gns. The third prize bull in the class, Allanfauld Ibrox from A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow, contributed to this when selling for 10,000gns to the newly-established commercial beef herd of A Bunting & Son, Midtown Farm, New Abbey, Dumfries. This bull, who had stood Reserve Male Champion at the Stars of the Future Show in 2013, is by the prolific Wilodge Tonka and is out of the seven-year-old Allanfauld Cortina.

ES & E Norman, Little Orton Farm, Little Orton, Carlisle, grossed 22,500gns for a pen of three bulls by their stock bull, the 24,000gns Claragh Franco. Their top price was the 10,000gns paid for the second prize junior bull, the May 2013-born Norman Ivan. Sired by Franco, this bull is out of Norman Delight, a daughter of the herd’s noted Heathmount Trojan. Buyers of Norman Ivan were BG & DE Marrs who run the Elvaplain herd at Elva Plain Farm, Setmurthy, Cockermouth, Cumbria. The first-prize-winning bull, Norman Irish, out of the Rombalds Rebel daughter Norman Violet, was purchased for 7,500gns by Michael Cursiter for his Lagas pedigree herd at Laga Farms Ltd, Arwick, Evie, Orkney. Early in the sale, Norman Igor, out of the Trojan daughter Norman Eternity, was sold for 5,000gns to PJ Dale, Mirey Leys Farm, Loscoe-Denby Lane, Ripley, Derbyshire.

Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, Lanarkshire made 10,000gns when selling Maraiscote Imperial for 10,000gns to W & T Nelson, High Kilphin Farm, Ballantrae, Girvan. Imperial, a first prize winner in Class 15, is another calf by the herd’s prolific 23,000gns Goldies Comet, a Wilodge Vantastic son. June 2013-born, Maraiscote Imperial is out of the Normande Urquhart daughter Maraiscote Cookie. In June this year, Maraiscote Imperial was a first prize winner at the Royal Highland Show.

Securing a final bid of 9,500gns was the third-prize-winning Millbrow Icatcher from G & P Long, Millbrow Farm, Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside, Cumbria. The first son of the Irish sire and Haltcliffe Vermount son, Millburn Foxhall, to be offered for sale, Millbrow Icatcher is out of the homebred Millbrow Tricia who has bred progeny to 13,000gns. Purchasers were PR Walker & Son, Manor House Farm, Lund, Driffield, Yorkshire.

The Intermediate Champion Procters Illusion from Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Clitheroe made 7,000gns when going under the hammer to B O’Loughlan, Gortinure Road, Magherra, Co.Derry, N.Ireland. By the 72,000gns Haltcliffe DJ and out of the Haltcliffe Vermount

daughter, Procters Fanita, ProctersIllusion sold with a Beef Value of LM+49.

Also at 7,000gns was Loosebeare Ivanovic from Messrs Quick. Having won third prize in the penultimate junior class, Ivanovic is by the Sympa-sired Aghadolgan Emperor and is out of the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Loosebeare Fudge. June 2013-born, he heads to the commercial enterprise of Monzie Farms, Cuilt Farm, Monzie, Crieff, Perthshire.

Making 6,800gns was the red-ticketed Monkeypuzzle Ideal from TD Wight & Sons, Whitrighill, St Boswells, Melrose. Born in May 2013, this bull had previously stood Reserve Male Champion at Border Union Show, being by the AI sire Ironstone Brandy and out of the 10,500gns dam Dyfri Fioled. Purchasing this bull with a Beef Value of LM+49 were LH Attewell & Ptrs, Chapel Farm, Undy, Caldicot, Gwent.

Tweeddale Igor, an embryo calf from Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed was sold for 6,500gns to Herries Farms, Glencaple, Dumfries. Having stood second in class 11, this April 2013-born intermediate bull is by the 22,000gns herd sire Goldies Fandango and is out of the Grahams Trooper-sired Tweeddale Anita. Tweeddale Igor’s full sister, Tweeddale Inita, sold at the Tweeddale Breeders’ Sale in May 2014 at Carlisle for 15,500gns.

Millbrow Icatcher - 9,500gns

Maraiscote Imperial - 10,000gns

Norman Ivan - 10,000gns

Parkwall Impossible - 10,000gns

Allanfauld Ibrox - 10,000gns

Culnagechan Ibrox - 10,000gns

74Limousin






StirlingOCT 2014

MORE BULLS SOLD ON THE YEAR AS 14,000GNS ELRICK INFERNO TOPS STIRLING LIMOUSIN SALE

Elrick Inferno from Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire lit up the Limousin trade

when securing the headline price of 14,000gns at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s October Sale held at Stirling Agricultural Centre on Monday 20th October 2014.

This April 2013-born calf is by the 22,000gns AI sire Hartlaw Excaliber, a Wilodge Tonka son who previously won the Male Championship at the 2011 National Limousin

Show. The dam of Elrick Inferno is Elrick Centrefold, a Ryedale Paragon daughter. With a huge Beef Value of LM+58, he sold to the Keirsbeath Herd of David Orr, Mains of Beath, Crossgates, Fife and will be used across the herd’s 50 pedigree cows. The intention is also there to take semen from the bull in due course.

Elrick Inferno had earlier been crowned Intermediate Champion and then Overall Supreme Champion by Judge Colin Soutter,

Whinfellpark Cottages, Brougham, Penrith, Cumbria, who is the Herd Manager of the noted Whinfellpark pedigree herd.

Commenting on his Champion, Mr Soutter said: “This bull had great presence and was very proud of himself in the ring. Very modern in type he had length, width along the top, roundness down the side, and was full of muscle without being fat.”

A prolific Championship winner at Stirling and Perth sales, this latest title and top price

• 55 Bulls average £4,717• 8 more bulls sold on the year• Three bulls at 10,000gns and more• 65% clearance rate of bulls forward• 14 Females average £2,257; Goldies lead at 4,800gns• Sale grosses £291,060

Elrick Inferno 14,000gns

76Limousin



Spittalton Imperial 11,000gns

Maraiscote Ivan 10,000gns

Maraiscote Ihawk 9,000gns

Homebyres Inch 7,500gns

Emslies Black Harvester 5,000gns


5,200gns Goldies Instructor to WT Hendry & Son, Back O’ Muir Farm, Bannockburn

5,200gns Maraiscote Icefall to A Sime & Son, Bruceland, Elgin

5,000gns Spittalton Ian to I & R Malcolm, Poltalloch, Kilmartin

5,000gns Emslies Black Harvester to Huntlyhill Farms, Huntlyhill Mains, Lanark

5,000gns Anside Iceman to L & LJ George, Parks, Rothiemay, Huntly

A V E R A G E S

55 Bulls £4,717.3614 Females £2,257.50

Auctioneer: United Auctions

for the Elrick herd followed on from February this year where it had also secured the Reserve Championship and 12,500gns sale top price with Elrick Handsome.

In all, Mr Massie’s three sale bulls grossed an impressive £24,990 which included the 6,000gns Elrick Iconic, a Wilodge Fastrac son and out of Elrick Eve (another by Ryedale Paragon). He went under the hammer with a Beef Value of LM+43 to commercial producers GT & S Coghill, Muce, Birsay, Orkney

Overall, the sale saw 55 bulls sell to level at £4,717 which represented an additional 8 bulls on the year. Three bulls made over 10,000gns with seven in all making 6,000gns or more. Commenting, British Limousin Cattle Society Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “Following on from Carlisle two days earlier this was another solid Limousin sale trade. At both sales we have seen the number of bulls sold on the year increase which for a back-end trade is really positive. In all, 140 Limousin bulls have been sold in 72 hours to average well over £5,000 which I think represents a very solid demand and a realistic trade. Again, it was a good show of commercially relevant bulls forward at Stirling with a lot of value to be had.”

At 11,000gns was Spittalton Imperial, another bull out of an impressive line-up from local breeder Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, Stirling. By the 100,000gns AI sire, Haltcliffe Vermount, and out of Spittalton Bramble the Dyfri Tanner daughter, this April 2013-born intermediate bull from the same class as the Overall Champion, sold to Northamptonshire commercial producers LD Carr, Upper Higham Farm, Rushden. From the same stable came the similarly aged 7,800gns Spittalton Irvine, by Bolide and out of Spittaton Eve, who sold with a Beef Value of LM+45 to the Ythanvale herd of DW Youngson, Rosemarkie House, Station Road, Ellon. Rounding off a good day’s trading for Spittalton were further bulls at 5000gns, 4800gns, 4000gns and 3500gns.

The third bull at the five-figure mark of 10,000gns was Maraiscote Ivan from Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw. By the Irish-bred senior herd sire Virginia Andy and out of the Tyddyn Mei-sired dam Maraiscote Aster, this May 2013-born bull now heads in a split deal to joint purchasers Tommy Lang, Parduvine, Rosewell, Mid-Lothian together with JW Gibb, Toftcombs Farm, Biggar. Ian Nimmo had earlier sold the 9,000gns Maraiscote IHawk, the Overall Reserve Champion, by the noted Goldies Comet and out of Maraiscote Davina, whose full brother Maraiscote Hawk, had sold for 13,000gns in October 2013. The new owner is the noted Balfour Estate, Balfour Mains, Shapinsay, Orkney. Other Maraiscote bulls realised 5200gns, 4000gns, 3800gns and 3000gns respectively. The Stirling trade followed hard on the heels of the Carlisle Sale where Maraiscote sold another Goldies Comet son, Maraiscote Imperial, for 10,000gns.

Selling away for 7,500gns was the Junior Champion Homebyres Inch in an impressive sale debut from first-time consignors

the Reserve Senior Champion the January 2013-born senior bull, Hartlaw Indigo, bred by John McKeen, Silloth, Wigton. By the Cannon son Cloughhead Jurassic and out of Hartlaw Endora, he was knocked down to Gary Bell, Haas Side Farm, Haas Grove Loaning, Lockerbie.

Two bulls made 5,800gns apiece. Early in the catalogue, W & A Oag, Brims Mains, Thurso sold Brims Intensive, by the French sire Vagabond and out of Brims Diva, to W Nelson & Co, West Brackly, Kinross. Further bulls from the Brims holding realised 4200gns, 4000gns and 3200gns. Also at 5,800gns was Allanfauld Irnbru from A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow. By the prolific Haltcliffe Underwriter and out of the homebred heifer Allanfauld Forte, he sold with a Beef Value of LM+34 to JD Steele, Goddens, Pitroddie Farm, Perth.

A pair of junior bulls each made 5,500gns. Strawfrank Ironman brought out by Allan Campbell, Strawfrank Farm, Carstairs Junction, Lanark is a June 2013-born Procters Commander son and out of Goldies Cordella (by Goldies Terence) and sold to Ballintomb Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown On Spey. Matching this figure was Esmors Black Illingworth, born in July 2013, sired by Newhouse Billy and out of the French dam Facture. With a Beef Value of LM+49 he was sold by DE Evans, Monfa, Gwornaffield Road, Mold to J Fisher, Flathill, Dunorennan, Kirkcudbright.

From a small show of females the Overall Champion was Goldies Black Honeydew from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot Farm, Mouswald, Dumfries.This October 2012-born heifer is another by Hartlaw Excaliber, the sire of the top price bull, and is out of the Ampertaine Bravo cow Goldies Flake. Goldies Black Honeydew was sold, AI’d to Bailea Black BMW, for the top price of 4800gns to Messrs Richardson.

AF Thomson & Son, Lammerview Farm, Athelstaneford, North Berwick. Bred by Messrs J Logan, Humebyres, Kelso this one is by Homebyres Gregory and out of the Ronick Hawk daughter Homebyres Catriona and was snapped up by Fodderletter Farms, Mid Fodderletter, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch. Messrs Thomson had previously sold another bull for 5,500gns, this time in the shape of



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78Limousin



The 8,200gns Garyvaughan Ifeild led a solid commercial trade at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Autumn

Sale held at Brecon Market on Saturday 8th November 2014 with McCartneys Auctioneers.

A Plumtree Deus son and out of the homebred Garyvaughan Elfie, the pre-sale Champion Garyvaughan Ifeild was sold by CV & EM Lewis & Sons, Buttington New Hall, Buttington Cross, Welshpool. Purchaser was DJ Lloyd & Co, Cefnbarrach, Trefeglwys, Caersws. Overall, 26 bulls sold to average £3,891 - up by £141 on the year. 20 heifers levelled at £1,653 with two cows and calves making £2,520 apiece.

In the pre-sale show Garyvaughan Ifeild was put up first as Junior and then Overall Champion under Judge Adrian Jones who runs the five-cow Mojo Herd at The Nurseries, Llanbadoc, Usk. Commenting on his April 2013-born Champion the judge said: “this bull is strong and powerful with tremendous hindquarters and locomotion. He would be ideally suited to both the pedigree and commercial market.” This result went one better than Mr Lewis’ 6,200gns Junior Champion, Garyvaughan Hoover, at the corresponding fixture in 2013. Earlier, Colin Lewis had sold another son of the herd’s stock bull, the 35,000gns Plumtree Deus, in the shape of Garyvaughan Itilla. Out of Ashledge Beauty, Garyvaughan Itilla sold to PE & RA Jones & Co, Long Oaks Farm, Penmaen, Gower for 4,600gns.

The day’s second leading price was the 5,500gns Glangwden Itunes from CL & FE Jerman, Glangwden, Trefeglwys, Caersws when going under the hammer to DI Roberts, Stingwern Farm, Brooks, Welshpool. A first prize senior bull by the Objat-sired Powerhouse Emblem and out of the Haltcliffe Ullswater daughter, Glangwden Fleurette, he sold with a Beef Value of LM+33. Two other bulls from the same home made 4,600gns and 3,300gns respectively. At 4,600gns was the second prizewinner, Glangwden Iolo, by the same sire and out of Glangwden Fiona, who sold to TG Lewis, Sarnau Fawr, Llanfihangel Y Creuddyn, Aberystwth. At the 3,300gns mark was the Reserve Junior & Reserve Overall Champion Glangwden Ionesco described as

a ‘good, long, smart bull’ by the Judge. By the herd’s 43,000gns Haltcliffe Ullswater and out of the Scorboro Ingot-sired Glangwden Princess, this June 2013-born bull now heads to G Jerman, Tynyrwtra, Adfa, Newtown.

At 5,300gns was Loosebeare Ionesco from EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Manor, Crediton, Devon. Second in his class this May 2013-born bull is by the Sympa son, Aghadolgan Emperor, and is out of the Rainbow Simon daughter, Loosebeare Fiona. With a Beef Value of LM+41 the new owner is GI Francis, The Bryn, Newtown, Powys. The same buyer snapped up the 4,200gns Senior Champion, Killerton Illinois, from PW & SM Greed, Columbjohn Farm Ltd, Rewe, Exeter. By Loosebeare Exmoor and out of Killerton Connie he went under the hammer with a Beef Value of LM+46. Another from Messrs Greed, Killerton Ivyleague, (LM+43) by Chinauley Fibber, a Wilodge Tonka son and out of Killerton Eve, secured a final bid of 4,700gns from HJ Hammonds, Ty-Gwyn, Glascwm, Llandrindod Wells.

The fourth lot in the ring, Mynach Igor, from ED Griffiths & Co, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Whitland made 4,900gns to the pedigree Gronw Herd of J & H Phillips, Esgairddaugoed, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Whitland. Sired by the Vagabond son, Greenwell Dreamboy, and out of the Sable-sired Mynach Aray, this

January 2013-born bull had stood Overall Bull Champion at the 2014 Brecon Stars of the Future. He sold with a Beef Value of LM+36. His half-brother, Mynach Harlequin,had topped the 2013 corresponding sale at 9,000gns.

The Female trade was headed by the 2,500gns cow-and-calf outfit comprising Mynach Creole and her bull calf Deri Juice. Mynach Creole was bred by ED Griffiths & Co and brought out here by Mr & Mrs TB & CD Griffiths, Brynderi Llangain, Carms. She was sold suckling her Haltcliffe Blaze-sired bull calf, Deri Juice, and back in-calf to the same sire. Purchaser was DL Hughes, Cherry Tree Bungalow, Canon Bridge, Madley, Hereford who also bought four further breeding females on the day.

AVERAGES UP AS GARYVAUGHAN BULL SELLS FOR 8,200GNS AT BRECON SALE• 26 bulls sell to an average of £3,891• Averages up by £141• Females reach 2,500gns• Sale grosses £139,282

Garyvaughan Ifeild Supreme Champion 8,200gns

Glangwden Itunes 5,500gns




The British Limousin Cattle Society’s Autumn Show & Sale held on Friday 24th October at Dungannon Livestock

Mart saw a top price of 4,100gns with 13 bulls finding homes at an average of £2,382. This figure represented an increase on the year of £376 per head. Eight females were also sold to a top price of 1,850gns and an average of £1,593. The sale sponsors were Norbrook Laboratories Ltd.

Top price on the day of 4,100gns went to Annadale Ironman bred by Christopher Murray, Cullyhanna. This April 2013-born bull had been picked by Judge Kevin McGrane, Keady, as his Reserve Intermediate Bull Champion at the pre-sale show. Sired by Ampertaine Commander and out of the homebred dam Annadale Beauty, a Nenuphar daughter, Ironman was purchased by the commercial producer James Savage, Portaferry.

The second top price of 2,800gns went to the youngest bull presented at the sale Glarryford Idol bred by Sam & Robin Coleman, Glarryford. This August 2013 bull is sired by the herd’s stockbull Teeshan Elmo, a Wilodge Vantastic son, and is out of the homebred dam Glarryford Eliza (by Goldies Astrix). Glarryford Idol now heads to the home of A McVitty, Newtownbutler.

Aghadolgan Ironboy, a red ticket prize winner bred by R Savage, Coleraine, made 2,500gns. This July 2013-born bull sired by Rainbow Simon and out of the dam Barrons

Cansy was purchased by Nigel Rainey, Portadown.

Top female price of the day of 1,850gns went to the Female Champion Lisnisk Halo bred by J & E Wilson t/a Lisnisk Farms, Ballyroney. This August 2012-born heifer is sired by Ronick Hawk and is out of the homebred dam Lisnisk Annie. She was snapped up by pedigree breeder Kieran McKinley, Silverbridge, Newry.

A V E R A G E S

13 Bulls £2,382 (+£376)8 Females £1,593

Auctioneer: Dungannon Farmers Mart

• 13 Bulls average £2,382• Averages up £376 • 8 Females level at £1,593


4,400gns Rhiwllech Iconic DM Howells to RJ Lewis, Lower Hall, Heyope, Knighton

4,200gns Ashledge Indiana AG Kirton & Sons to M Davies, Little Farm, Winslow, Bromyard

A V E R A G E S

26 Bulls £3,891 (+£141)20 Heifers £1,6532 Cows and calves £2,520

Auctioneer: McCartneys

ANNADALE IRONMAN HITS 4,100GNS TOP PRICE AT DUNGANNON SALE

Aghadolgan Ironboy 2,500gns

Annadale Ironman 4,100gns

Lisnisk Halo 1,850gns

Killerton Illinois Senior Champion 4,200gns

Glangwden Iolo 4,600gns

Killerton Ivyleague 4,700gns

Loosebeare Ionesco 5,300gns


80Limousin



The February 2013-born maiden heifer Foxhillfarm Infi nity from Mr & Mrs M Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough,

Cullompton, took the top price of 8,000gns at the 2014 Red Ladies Derby held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 12th December. Sired by the 22,000gns Hartlaw Excaliber, Infi nity is out of Bankdale Chanel and is a full sister to Foxhillfarm Impressive who was the Male Weaned Calf Champion at the corresponding sale in 2013 when selling for 7,000gns, and also the 65,000gns heifer Bankdale Erin.

Earlier in the morning, Foxhillfarm Infi nity had been placed as the Overall Supreme Champion at the pre-sale show judged by Miss Stephanie Dick who runs the Stephick Herd at Westerton of Cowie, Cowie, Stirling. Purchasing the Champion was Thor Atkinson who runs the Arradfoot pedigree herd at Meadow View, Newland, Nr Ulverston.

Commenting on her Champion, Stephanie

Dick said: “This heifer is very feminine, stylish, with a good top, very correct and a true-to-Limousin type.” Earlier in the sale, the Alfords also sold Foxhillfarm Isabelle for 3,000gns to S Lunn, Reap Farm, Slaithwaite, Huddersfi eld, West Yorkshire for their Coalgate prefi x. This January 2013-born Wilodge Tonka daughter is another embryo calf out of Bankdale Chanel.

Making 7,000gns was the Reserve Overall Champion, Poolehall Isabelle, an embryo calf from Mr & Mrs N Matthews, Applecross Farm, Alveley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire who

• Reserve Champion Poolehall Isabelle sells to Ireland for 7,000gns• Burnbank lead Weaned Calves at 6,800gns


he February 2013-born maiden heifer Foxhillfarm Infi nity from Mr & Mrs M Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough,

Cullompton, took the top price of 8,000gns at the 2014 Red Ladies Derby held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 12th December. Sired by the 22,000gns Hartlaw Excaliber, Infi nity is out of Bankdale Chanel and is a full sister to Foxhillfarm Impressive who was the Male Weaned Calf Champion at the corresponding sale in 2013 when selling for 7,000gns, and

Earlier in the morning, Foxhillfarm Infi nity

Champion at the pre-sale show judged by Miss Stephanie Dick who runs the Stephick Herd at Westerton of Cowie, Cowie, Stirling. Purchasing the Champion was Thor Atkinson

Commenting on her Champion, Stephanie

Dick said: “This heifer is very feminine, stylish, with a good top, very correct and a true-to-Limousin type.” Earlier in the sale, the Alfords also sold Foxhillfarm Isabelle for 3,000gns to S Lunn, Reap Farm, Slaithwaite, Huddersfi eld, West Yorkshire for their Coalgate prefi x. This January 2013-born Wilodge Tonka daughter is another embryo calf out of Bankdale Chanel.

Making 7,000gns was the Reserve Overall Champion, Poolehall Isabelle, an embryo calf from Mr & Mrs N Matthews, Applecross Farm, Alveley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire who

8,000GNS FOXHILLFARM INFINITY TAKES THE TOP HONOURS AT 2014 RED LADIES LIMOUSIN SALE

Stephanie Dick Judge

Foxhillfarm Infi nity Overall Champion 8,000gns

Red LadiesDEC 2014



Best three

was described by the Judge as “a really good heifer, very correct on her legs and very well-muscled.” This October 2013 heifer is by the Sympa son Haltcliffe Ben and is out of the 27,000gns Wilodge Flawless. Purchasing this heifer was MD Davis, Castlebrock, Ballinenee, Co.Longford, Republic of Ireland.

From the same vendor, the same-way bred ET calf Poolehall Iris, made 4,800gns when selling to SJ Jessop & D McBeath, Lower Greenyards Farm, Bannockburn, Stirling.

Getting the sale underway at 3,600gns was the red ticker winner in the fi rst class

Sarkley Fayme from Willie Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Co. Durham. A daughter of the prolifi c Wilodge Vantastic, this July 2010-born cow is out of the Sarkley Golddigger daughter Sarkley Maggie. Sold PD’d in calf to the 40,000gns Mereside Godolphin, Sarkley Fayme was purchased by the Moonleaze pedigree herd of JJ & BD Comer, New Moon Leaze Farm, Braydon, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Hughes Bros Construction, Portrack Grange Road, Portrack, Stockton on Tees purchased seven Red Ladies in all plus a

further four weaned heifer calves for their Brasscastle Herd of 100 pedigree cows which run alongside 100 commercials at their farm near Stokesley. Their leading price was the 3,500gns paid for Beachmount Imogen from K & C Knox, Whitehill North, Lisnarick Road, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh. November 2013-born, Imogen is by Wilodge Cerberus and out of the Sympa daughter Beachmount Ebony.

Heading to the same home is Bassingfi eld Hellena from John Crofts, Holme Farm, Bassingfi eld Lane, Gamston, Notts who went under the hammer for 2,700gns. By Wilodge Vantastic, Hellena is an embryo calf out of the French dam Dolly and was sold PD’d in calf to Oxygene. Mr Crofts also sold the 3,000gns Bassingfi eld Incagold to David Thornley, Main Street, Hartshorne, Swadlincote, Derbyshire. An embryo calf, she is by Goldies Comet and is out of Grahams Davinia, the 2009 Royal Highland Junior Champion.

Hughes Bros also bought the 2,500gns Allanfauld Icon from Archie MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow. Born in January 2013, Icon is by Wilodge Tonka and is out of Allanfauld Fame and sold having run with the Irish-bred stock sire Knockcroghery Hero.

Andrew Ewing, Dumbretton Farms, Annan, Dumfries & Galloway made 3,100gns when selling Fairywater Hester. This September 2012-born heifer is by the herd’s stock bull Ironstone Diego and is out of another Bankdale female, this time Bankdale Enya. New owners are D & R McFarland, Comber Road, Omagh, Co.Tyrone, N.Ireland.

A further animal secured a fi nal bid of 3,000gns. JH Davies & Co, Glyn Yr Odyn, Coedybryn, Llandysol, Ceredigion bought Lourie Hollie from Robert Aitken, College Terrace, Methven, Perth being by the AI sire Ampertaine Commander and out of the Killerton Travis-sired Lourie Diva and was sold in-calf to Lodge Hamlet.

A V E R A G E S

1 Cow served and/or suckling £3,780.00 3 Served Heifers £2,870.0016 Maiden Heifers £3,247.39

Auctioneer: H&H

Red Ladies Championship Presentation

Another Steaming Sale at Carlisle

Poolehall Isabelle Reserve Champion 7,000gns

82Limousin



Following on from the Red Ladies Sale on Friday 12th December 2014, Dougie & Lynda Graham, Mains of Burnbank,

Blairdrummond, Stirling topped the sale of Limousin Weaned Calves when selling Burnbank Jenny for 6,800gns.

This January-born heifer calf is by the AI sire Wilodge Fastrac and is out of the homebred Burnbank Bezique. Purchasing Burnbank Jenny were A & P Padfield & Barwood for their Brambles pedigree herd Green Lane, Potter Heigham, Great Yarmouth. This was the second year in a row that the Burnbank herd had led the heifer calf trade following on from Burnbank Isabella who made 5,200gns in 2013.

At 6,000gns was Shaws Josie from Michael Burns, Glenside Farm, Kirkmichael, Maybole, Ayrshire. This January heifer calf had won the heifer class in the morning’s Weaned Calf Show under Judge Stephanie Dick, Westerton of Cowie, Stirling who described her as “good on her legs, well-muscled yet retaining her femininity.” By the AI sire Powerhouse Elite, an Objat son, Shaws Josie is out of the Cannon-sired Shaws Elegance, and had come to Carlisle on the back of placing Reserve Overall Junior Champion at the Stars of the Future Show held in Stirling in November. Purchasing her were Mycocks Agri Ltd, Highfield Farm, Flagg, Buxton, Derbyshire.

At the 4,800gns mark was the top-priced

bull calf Barrons Jell from Willie Barron, Burnhope, Co Durham. January-born, Jell is by Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Sarkley Volvo daughter Barrons Bluebell. WE Swales & Sons Ltd, Mount Pleasant Farm, Balk, Thirsk, N.Yorkshire snapped up this promising bull calf for their Swale herd. From the same home, the heifer calf Barrons Jess sold for 3,000gns to DF Whiteley, Pond Farm, Scawton, Thirsk, N.Yorkshire. March 2014-born, Jess represents the first calf to be offered for sale by the 40,000gns Mereside Godolphin, being out of the Sarkley Volvo daughter Barrons Cherub.

John Murray, Glebe Farm, West Butsfield, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland was bid 4,000gns for the February-born Haneve Jester, a son of Powerhouse Elite and out of the Haltcliffe Doctor-sired Haneve Goldie who carries both Rossignol and Rocky bloodlines. Purchasing him were commercial producers G & W Halliday, Crawthat, Tundergarth, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.

Selling for 3,500gns to Robb & MacDonald, Flemington Farm, Cambuslang, Glasgow was the next lot in the ring, Maraiscote Jamie from Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, Lanark. Having earlier secured the red ticket in the bull class and described as “long, clean and stylish” by the Judge, this rising yearling bull is by Goldies Comet and is out of the 2003-born Tyddyn Mei daughter Maraiscote Unette.

A V E R A G E S

24 Weaned Heifer Calves £2,156.8818 Weaned Bull Calves £2,003.87

Auctioneer: H&H

Burnbank Jenny 6,800gns

Barrons Jell - 4,800gns

Shaws Josie 6,000gns

Haneve Jester - 4,000gns

Maraiscote Jamie - 3,500gns

BURNBANK JENNY LEADS LIMOUSIN WEANED CALF TRADE AT 6,800GNS

First Prize bull calf Maraiscote Jamie



B1013 Limousin BullLimited Edition: 750By Ray AyresHeight: 16.0cmLength: 25.5cm

Best Breed Studies from

B1155 Limousin Cow & CalfLimited Edition: 500By Kirsty ArmstrongHeight: 18.0cmLength: 31.5cm

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Border Fine Arts specialises in larger prestigious pieces which have an impact, such as Limousin Bull and Limousin Cow & Calf (both pictured). These superb �igurines come complete with a numbered limited edition certi�icate.

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84Limousin



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