The British Limousin Cattle Society held its annual May sale in Ballymena earlier this week, which achieved an 83% clearance. In total, 40 bulls sold out of the 48 forward for an average price of £2,785.

Taking top price was the pre-sale show male champion Drumhillaa Nutcracker from Drumhilla Farm, Newtownards, Co Down.

This 20-month-old bull is a son of Ampertaine Gigolo, with the dam also coming from the Ampertaine herd in the form of Lola. Tapped out as champion by Sean Killen, Nutcracker was secured by a Scottish buyer for 5,800gns.

Taking the female championship and overall championship was Rahoney Ophelia from the McFarland family in Co Tyrone.

Female and overall champion Rahoney Ophelia, which sold for 5,200gns.\ Alfie Shaw

This yearling heifer went on to secure the second-top price of the sale and overall top-priced female when she was knocked down at 5,200gns to the Mossbrook herd.

Also sired by Ampertaine Gigolo, she is out of the homebred dam Rahoney Jerusha.

The Rahoney herd didn’t stop there, as it also achieved 5,000gns for Rahoney Naboth.

Born in December 2017, Naboth is a full sister to the top-priced female. Securing Naboth was Robert Matthewson, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.

Matching the 5,000gns mark was Trueman Ocarolan from the Savage family. This January 2018-born bull is a son of record-priced bull Trueman Jagger and one of the best cows in the herd and 2011 National Limousin Show supreme champion Trueman Euphonium.

Trueman Orpheus, again from the Savages, was next in line when sold for 4,400gns. This January 2018-born embryo calf is a son of Foxhillfarm Jasper and out of the homebred Trueman Indie.

Females also witnessed a high clearance, with 11 of the 12 forward selling to average £1,828.

Limousin top 27,000gns in Carlisle

While all the talk in Carlisle may have been surrounding the Ballinloan herd (see page 48), it didn’t deter buyers on sale day, with trade peaking at 27,000gns.

While overall average was back slightly, 103 bulls still sold to average a very respectable £6,350, with an 80% clearance rate.

Leading the way in the sales ring was Allanfauld Nemises from John and Archie MacGregor. This powerful bull placed first in the pre-sale show and is a son of Loosebeare Fantastic.

Born in November 2017, this bull is out of Allanfauld Elegance from the noted Allanfauld Bindaree bloodline.

This bull also performed well in the show ring, with pre-sale judge Ken Jones of the Garnedd herd selecting Neymar as his reserve intermediate champion

Securing the high-seller was the Knock herd of Messrs Howie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Not far behind and securing a bid of 25,000gns was Goldies Neymar from Bruce Goldie, Dumfries.

This bull also performed well in the show ring, with pre-sale judge Ken Jones of the Garnedd herd selecting Neymar as his reserve intermediate champion.

Sired by the 45,000gns Ampertaine Jamboree, he goes back to the herd’s stand-out cow Goldies Vitality.

Purchasing this bull was Messrs Owen, Aberhafesp, Newtown, Powys.

Mr Bruce didn’t stop there, as he went on to claim the third-top male price and top female price the previous night.

Goldies Ohboy is a January 2018-born bull sired by the renowned Wilodge Vantastic and was knocked down at 16,000gns. Heading to a pedigree herd, Ohboy was knocked down to Messrs Neale.