Pedigree Limousin bulls reached a high of 5200gns at the breed society’s autumn show and sale at Ballymena Livestock Mart where 20 bulls sold to average £3507 with an 87% clearance.

Judge John O’Kane of the Gleneagle herd, Garvagh, saw his choice of intermediate and reserve male champion Carmorn Usher, from Francis McAuley, Toomebridge, top the trade. This 19-month-old bull is sired by Ampertaine Nugent and bred from the Rocky daughter, Carmorn Margarita – one of 65 cows in the herd. The bull sold with F94L and Q204X myostatin genes and was purchased by commercial beef producer P McGurk from Plumbridge, Co Tyrone.

Second top price was 5000gns paid for the junior and overall male champion Millgate Universe, from Michael Loughran, and daughter Christina, who run 35 pedigree cows at Cookstown. He is sired by the herd stock bull Norman Ely, and sold with F94L and NT821 myostatin gene to C Murray, Derrynoose, Keady, Co Armagh. The 17-month-old entry is the first calf bred from the Carrowreagh Narasaki daughter, Millgate Sky.

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Two bulls made 4000gns with the first being the reserve senior champion Ashview Uphold, a 20-month-old Norman Ely son from Victor and Stephen Keys, Dromore, Co Tyrone. He is bred from the Ampertaine Abracadabra daughter, Togherdoo Eskie, and has NT821 Q204X genes. Buyer was Martin Barr from Larne.

Also selling at 4,000gns was the youngest bull forward, Draperhill Utah, from the Rodgers family’s herd at Dromara. This 15-month-old is by Huntershall Rodman, and bred from the Maraiscote Muddy daughter, Draperhill Ruby. A first prize winner, he has F94L and Q204X genes and sold to K Bell from Aughnacloy.

Females peaked at 2200gns for Raymond Savage’s reserve section champion Aghadolgan Valerie from Drumahoe This nine-month-old is by Glenrock Redemption and is bred from Garryvaughan Ridea. Buyers were P and S McNally from Cookstown.