There was steady trade for Limousin bulls at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s regional April show and sale, hosted by JA McClelland and Sons at Ballymena Livestock Mart, Co. Antrim, on Saturday, April 26.
Following a complete clearance, auctioneer Graham Loughery confirmed that 30 bulls sold to level at £5,225/head – an increase of £1,186 on last year with the two heifers sold averaging £4,935.
According to a sale report by Julie Hazleton, topping the trade on the day at 8,200gns was the 18-month-old Bernish Uriah bred by NI Limousin Cattle Breeders’ Club chairperson, Kieran McCrory from Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.
Sired by the 25,000gns Glenrock Redemption, this second-prize winner comes from one of the herd’s leading cow families.
His dam, Bernish Libbyfortune, is a daughter of the 32,000gns Millgate Fame. The sale leader carries two copies of the F94L myostatin gene and was snapped up by suckler herd owner Desmond Fulton from Ballymoney, Co. Antrim.
The day’s second-highest price of of 7,500gns was paid to Howard McFarland from Trillick, Co. Tyrone, for the senior champion Rahoney Umpire.
A 20-month-old Gunnerfleet Lion son, his dam is the home-bred Rahoney Melissa, a daughter of the 29,000gns Ampertaine Abracadabra.
Carrying a mix of F94L and Q204X genes, he sold to PL McKeag from Millisle, Co. Down.
The pre-sale show was sponsored by Fane Valley Stores and judged by Trevor Shields from the 60-cow Glenmarshal Herd located in Kilkeel, Co. Down.
He awarded the supreme overall championship to the male and intermediate champion, Eniver Undone exhibited by Michael McKeefry, and son Kian, from Coleraine, Co. Derry.
This was the McKeefry family’s second successive Limousin championship at Ballymena.
This 18-month-old entry was sired by the 70,000gns Ampertaine Magnum – reserve intermediate champion at Carlisle in October 2017.
His dam is the Plumtree Fantastic daughter, Eniver Polly – one of 17 cows on the herd while his granddam Eniver Julie has sold sons to a top of 12,000gns at Carlisle.
The Supreme Champion has F94L and Q204X myostatin genes, and sold for 6,500gns to RM Sterritt, Drumbanagher, Newry, Co. Down.
Judge Trevor Shields said: “The champion is well put together. He is long and clean, has a lovely temperament and a great backend.”
Following close behind at 6,400gns was Kieran McCrory’s fourth-placed Bernish Umberto.
Another Glenrock Redempton son, his dam is the Foxhillfarm Ourbest daughter, Bernish Superbabe. This 18-month-old bull has F94L and Q204X genes, and sold to A. Harley from Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone.
Next-best at 6,000gns was the reserve male and reserve supreme champion, Carmorn Undi, bred by Francis and Frank McAuley from Toomebridge, Co. Antrim. A 17-month-old Claddagh McCabe son, his dam is the home-bred Rocky daughter, Carmorn Mistletoe.
This bull has a F94L and Q204X myostatin pairing, and sold to Messrs J. and K. Lennox from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.
Shields added: “The reserve champion is another very-correct bull with great breed character.”
Joan Gilliland and niece Kim Montgomery from Co. Antrim sold four bulls from the noted Ballyrobin Herd to average £4,856/head.
Leading their line-up at 5,800gns was the third-prize Ballyrobin Unclejim. This 21-month -old Lynderg Herd son was bred from the Lowerffrydd Empire daughter, Ballyrobin Navara. He has NT821 and F94L genes and sold to WR Wilson from Ballymena, Co. Antrim.
Five lots sold for 5,200gns each. First to sell was Kieran McCrory’s Goldies Terence son, Bernish Ugo, bred from the Gunnerfleet Lion daughter, Bernish Rihannajuli. He has double F94L myostatin genes and joins G. and A. O’Loan’s herd at Martinstown, Co. Antrim.
Three bulls from Kieran McCrory’s Bernish Herd averaged £6,930/head.
Marty and Ronan McGurk from Cookstown realised 5,200gns for the reserve junior champion, Birchwood Vibrant.
This 15-month-old Ampertaine Progressive son has double F94L myostatin genes, and was bred from the Ampertaine Metric daughter, Birchwood Sparkle.
He was a first-prize winner at the NIYLB Rising Stars Calf Show in March. This bull was secured by online bidder, PJ McWilliams from Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone.
Newhillfarm USA, an 18-month-old bull bred and exhibited by Messrs McPolin from Cabra near Newry, Co. Down, sold for 5,200gns to JA Fleming from Downpatrick, Co. Down.
A Lynderg Rembrant son, his dam is the Kaprico Eravelle daughter, Newhillfarm Michelle. This third-prize winner has double F94L genes.
The Rodgers family from Dromore, Co. Down, sold the second-placed Draperhill Verstappen for 5,200gns.
He was a third-prize winner at the calf show seven weeks ago. This 15-month-old bull was sired by Huntershall Rodman and is out of a home-bred dam by Maraiscote Muddy. He has F94L and Q204X genes and sold to Trevor Campbell from Dromara, Co. Down.
Michael and Kian McKeefry’s third-placed Eniver United also sold for 5,200gns to Robin Nicholson, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.
This 16-month-old bull was sired by Whinfellpark Lomu, and is bred from the Plumtree Fantastic daughter, Eniver Nora. He has F94L and Q204X genes.
Howard McFarland secured the female championship with the 19-month-old Rahoney Ulicia.
Sired by Whinfellpark Lomu, her dam is the Moloskey Ger daughter, Rahoney Shirley. This heifer has double F94L genes and sold in-calf to Lodge Hamlet for 4,400gns.
She joins the Lisnacannon herd owned by M. and A. Millar, Rasharkin, Co. Antrim.
The reserve female champion Rahoney Unique sold to William Gabbie’s Hollowdene herd at Crossgar, Co. Down, for 5,000gns.
This 16-month-old Limousin heifer is by Whinfellpark Lomu, and bred from Rahoney Princess. She has F94L and NT821 genes.
