averages: 47 females with calves at foot, £2721; 10 in-calf heifers, £1864; 21maiden heifers, £1515

LIMOUSINS being dispersed from John and Heather Phillips' Gronw herd, from Cwnfelin Mynach, Whitland in Wales, peaked at 5000gns for a heifer and calf outfit, at last weekend's sale at Whitland Livestock Market.

The event, which ended twenty-eight years of breeding for the couple, attracted one of the biggest crowds ever witnessed at the centre and saw £183,382.50 change hands for the 80 lots sold, with 13 lots at or above 3000gns.

Sale leader at 5000gns was Gronw Liberty, a three-year-old heifer by Tomschoice Gladius and bred out of the herd's French cow, Ubaize. She changed hands with her March-born heifer calf, Gronw Opal which is by the herd's home-bred stock bull, Gronw Logan, to T Jenkins and Son of the Torycoed herd near Rhiwsaeson, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan.

A similarly aged heifer named Gronw Llawen, made 4000gns when sold to WG Davies and Son for their Gellibenuchel herd at Gelli Farm, Hirwaun, Mid Glamorgan. This March 2015-born AI daughter of Ironstone Brandy, is out of Gronw Happy and was sold with her nine-month-old heifer calf at foot Gronw Oren, which is by Ampertaine Commander.

Later on in the sale, the same buyers forked out 3600gns for the heifer, Gronw Lena and her heifer calf at foot, Gronw Oprah – another by the herd's home-bred stock bull. This three-year-old heifer which is PD'd in-calf to Tynewydd Mealamu, is by Frewstown Gargantuan and out of Gronw Helena.

Next best was another heifer and calf outfit which were sold as separate lots at 3880gns and 2300gns, respectively. Dearest was the heifer calf, Gronw Olivia, a February 2018-born calf by the AI sire, Talent, which sold to Irwel Jones of the Rabar herd at berbranddu, Cwrty Cadno, Pumsaint, Llanwrda.

Her mother, the Netherhall Dobleoseven-sired, Gronw Jan, made 2300gns to D Thomas' Treweryll Herd at Dolau Newydd, Pembrokeshire. PD'd in-calf to Mynach Igor, she is another bred from the French cow, Ubaize.

Newly established breeders, M and G Watkins, Upper Cwm Farm, Craswall, Herefordshire, who run the Millend herd, forked out 3800gns for a cow and calf outfit in the shape of Gronw Heulwen and Gronw Olive.

Sold as two separate lots, the six-year-old cow, Gronw Heulwen is by Fleethill Dazzler and out of Milbrook Dimple. She is PD'd back in-calf to Mynach Igor and made 2150gns. Her January-born heifer calf is by Gunnerfleet Eros and sold with a 1650gns price tag.

Just behind at 3200gns was another by Fleethill Dazzler, Gronw Gwenno – a seven-year-old cow which sold with her April 2018-born heifer calf at foot, Gronw Ola, by Mynach Igor. This unit also sold to RM and G Watkins.

Auctioneers: JJ Morris, Whitland Livestock Market