The British Limousin Cattle Society held its autumn premier bull sale in Carlisle over the weekend, with Irish judge John Lynch taking centre stage.
John is a well-known cattle breeder in Ireland, but is more well known for his role as beef manager at AI centre Dovea Genetics.
Making short work of the judging after a mere three hours, he awarded the overall championship sash to Ampertaine Opportunity. Bred and exhibited by Northern Irish breeder James McKay, this stylish bull is sired by Ampertaine Gigolo and goes back on an Ampertaine Elgin-bred daughter.
The Irish judge’s decision was confirmed as the right one when Opportunity sold for the top price of 40,000gns, purchased jointly by the three pedigree herds of Newhouse, Spittalton and Goldies.
Speaking of his champion, John Lynch said: “He was the stand-out bull, functionally correct with a super body and back end.”
Overall, the society will look at the sale as a success, with the average price rising by £246 to settle at £5,826. However, it must be noted that the clearance rate dropped to 64% from 83% in 2018, resulting in 35 less bulls sold on the year.
Foxhillfarm Ourbest, which sold for 26,000gns. \ Wayne Hutchinson
Strong commercial trade
That said, those sold witnessed a very strong commercial trade, with some commercial men going as high as 26,000gns to secure the bull of their choice.
This price was paid for the first-prizewinner Foxhillfarm Ourbest from the Alford family. This son of Foxhillfarm Lord of the Ring is out of the Irish-bred cow Corranhill Krystal, sired herself by Haltcliffe Dancer.
Born in April 2018, Ourbest was secured by Gordan Cameron, Newtown Cottage, Acharrade, Argyll.
A total of nine bulls hit five-figure sums. As a testament to the judging, six of these were red rosette winners or higher. Hitting a price of 12,000gns was the first-prizewinner Calogale Oxcide from GJ Lee and CM Lloyd, Four Roads, Kidwelly, Carms.
This one also has an Irish connection, with the successful bidder being well-known Co Clare breeder Donal Moloney, who runs the successful Ardnacrusha herd.
An April 2018-born embryo calf, Oxcide is by Trueman Jagger and out of Calogale Izzy and had stood as male champion and overall reserve champion at the 2019 Royal Welsh.
Taking home the third-top price of the day was Ian Nimmo Wishaw, with Maraiscote Oxford. This bull stood second in his class to the intermediate champion and was knocked down at 11,500gns.
He is the first son offered at auction by the 50,000gns Bassingfield Machoman and is out of the Goldies Comet daughter Maraiscote Holdon. This bull was also bought by a commercial breeder.
Senior and reserve overall champion Barrons Oslo, which sold for 10,500gns. \ Wayne Hutchinson
Hitting 11,000gns
Two bulls hit the 11,000gns mark. First up was Whinfellpark Oz from the Jenkinson holding, which sold to Thorndean Farms.
This son of herd stock bull Gunnerfleet Lion was another red rosette winner in the pre-sale show.
Matching him was Brontemoor Oasis from JM and SM Priestley. This June 2018-born bull is sired by Uptonley Living the Dream and was knocked down to yet another confident commercial buyer.
John Lynch awarded the senior and reserve overall championships to Barrons Oslo from Willie Barron. This son of Lowerffrydd Empire secured a price of 10,500gns from the Garyvaughan herd in Welshpool.
The last two bulls to hit the five-figure mark were Cairness Onside and Mcparlands Ozzy.
These bulls were in the same class as the junior and reserve junior champion and both sold for 10,000gns. Onside is a Goldies Goldfinger son bred by William and David Moir, while Ozzy is an Amperatine Gigolo son from MacParlin Genetics in Newry.
The British Limousin Cattle Society held its autumn premier bull sale in Carlisle over the weekend, with Irish judge John Lynch taking centre stage.
John is a well-known cattle breeder in Ireland, but is more well known for his role as beef manager at AI centre Dovea Genetics.
Making short work of the judging after a mere three hours, he awarded the overall championship sash to Ampertaine Opportunity. Bred and exhibited by Northern Irish breeder James McKay, this stylish bull is sired by Ampertaine Gigolo and goes back on an Ampertaine Elgin-bred daughter.
The Irish judge’s decision was confirmed as the right one when Opportunity sold for the top price of 40,000gns, purchased jointly by the three pedigree herds of Newhouse, Spittalton and Goldies.
Speaking of his champion, John Lynch said: “He was the stand-out bull, functionally correct with a super body and back end.”
Overall, the society will look at the sale as a success, with the average price rising by £246 to settle at £5,826. However, it must be noted that the clearance rate dropped to 64% from 83% in 2018, resulting in 35 less bulls sold on the year.
Foxhillfarm Ourbest, which sold for 26,000gns. \ Wayne Hutchinson
Strong commercial trade
That said, those sold witnessed a very strong commercial trade, with some commercial men going as high as 26,000gns to secure the bull of their choice.
This price was paid for the first-prizewinner Foxhillfarm Ourbest from the Alford family. This son of Foxhillfarm Lord of the Ring is out of the Irish-bred cow Corranhill Krystal, sired herself by Haltcliffe Dancer.
Born in April 2018, Ourbest was secured by Gordan Cameron, Newtown Cottage, Acharrade, Argyll.
A total of nine bulls hit five-figure sums. As a testament to the judging, six of these were red rosette winners or higher. Hitting a price of 12,000gns was the first-prizewinner Calogale Oxcide from GJ Lee and CM Lloyd, Four Roads, Kidwelly, Carms.
This one also has an Irish connection, with the successful bidder being well-known Co Clare breeder Donal Moloney, who runs the successful Ardnacrusha herd.
An April 2018-born embryo calf, Oxcide is by Trueman Jagger and out of Calogale Izzy and had stood as male champion and overall reserve champion at the 2019 Royal Welsh.
Taking home the third-top price of the day was Ian Nimmo Wishaw, with Maraiscote Oxford. This bull stood second in his class to the intermediate champion and was knocked down at 11,500gns.
He is the first son offered at auction by the 50,000gns Bassingfield Machoman and is out of the Goldies Comet daughter Maraiscote Holdon. This bull was also bought by a commercial breeder.
Senior and reserve overall champion Barrons Oslo, which sold for 10,500gns. \ Wayne Hutchinson
Hitting 11,000gns
Two bulls hit the 11,000gns mark. First up was Whinfellpark Oz from the Jenkinson holding, which sold to Thorndean Farms.
This son of herd stock bull Gunnerfleet Lion was another red rosette winner in the pre-sale show.
Matching him was Brontemoor Oasis from JM and SM Priestley. This June 2018-born bull is sired by Uptonley Living the Dream and was knocked down to yet another confident commercial buyer.
John Lynch awarded the senior and reserve overall championships to Barrons Oslo from Willie Barron. This son of Lowerffrydd Empire secured a price of 10,500gns from the Garyvaughan herd in Welshpool.
The last two bulls to hit the five-figure mark were Cairness Onside and Mcparlands Ozzy.
These bulls were in the same class as the junior and reserve junior champion and both sold for 10,000gns. Onside is a Goldies Goldfinger son bred by William and David Moir, while Ozzy is an Amperatine Gigolo son from MacParlin Genetics in Newry.
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