The Marston family sell top priced Limousin bull at 45,000gns

Juniors bulls proved the most popular with the 22 head levelling at a massive £10,276. It was one of the younger bulls that led the trade at 45,000gns too, for former Lambing Live stars, Andrew and Rachel Marston, who together with daughters Catherine, Abigail and Olivia, and Andrew’s parents, Donald and Christine, run the mixed beef and sheep unit, Easegill Head, Wharmby, Kirkby Stephen.

The family who were selling their first Limousin in more than a decade, went straight to the top with their 18-month-old Easegillhead Spoton. Reserve junior at the pre-sale show, this natural-born calf is a polled son of the 22,000gns AI sire, Gunnerfleet Lion – former stockbull at Whinfellpark and the sire of several five-figure priced bulls. Interestingly, the dam, Netherhall Narhera, a Netherhall Jackpot daughter that goes back to the French sire, Requin, was bought as a heifer at Kirkby Stephen from David and Maggie Kelly. Spoton which sold with the muscle myostatin genes NT821/Q204X, was knocked down to Paul and Christine Tippetts buying for their pedigree Wilodge herd from Shrophshire.

“He’s a great carcase bull and should be one of the best for breeding pedigree and commercial show calves,” said Mr Tippetts.

Easegillhead Superduper stood second in his class to the Marston's 45,000gns bull and made 18,000gns

The Marstons who run just 10 pedigree Limousin cows alongside a larger pure Swaledale and commercial sheep enterprise, also sold the fourth equal highest priced bull at 18,000gns when Andrew Proctor of the Swarland herd from Morpeth, bought the second prize winner to his 45,000gns herd mate. This was Easegillhead Superduper, out of the herd’s No 1 breeding cow family. The first bull calf out of the Netherhall Jackpot daughter, Easegillhead Northernlight, his grand-dam, Easegillhead Tina, was the dam of Easegillhead Exterminate, a bull that has sired several top show calves at Countryside Live and the Agri Expo. Superduper is by the AI sire, Plumtree Fantastic and sold with a double Q204X gene.

James McKay's overall champion Ampertaine Senator sold for 25,000gns

James McKay’s Ampertaine herd from Maghera, Co Derry, was again up in the big money with two bulls, brought out with assistance of free-lance stockman, Barney O’kane, making 25,000gns and 20,000gns. The former, Ampertaine Senator, the intermediate and overall champion, described by the judge, Craig Ridley, simply as “outstanding,” is another bred from a strong cow family. The dam, Ampertaine Ladyship, a Loosebeare Fantastic daughter, is a maternal sister to the 10,000gns Ampertaine Parisian – a line which has bred bulls to 40,000gns for Ampertaine Opportunity. Senator which was producing a fifth overall championship title at Carlisle for the herd, is a polled son of the 26,000gns Foxhillfarm Ourbest and sold carrying one copy of easy calving F94L gene, to Paul Dawes of the Dinmore herd from Hereford, managed by Richard Bartle.

Another from Mr McKay, Ampertaine Squire made 20,000gns

Mr McKay’s No 2, Ampertaine Squire, a third prize junior also sold carrying the F94L gene. An ET, he is the result of a flush from Ampertaine Jlo, a daughter of Ampertaine Elgin and full sister to the 20,000gns Jackpot and maternal sister to the 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman. Josh Knaggs, of the Jorica herd from Sadberge, Darlington, was the final bidder on this Wilodge Cerberus son.

Steven and Richard Priestley sold Brontemoor Sonofgod for 18,000gns

Steven and Richard Priestley’s Brontemoor herd from Cracrop, Brampton, Carlisle, had a cracking trade selling four bulls to a top of 18,000gns to average £11,150. Tops here was Brontemoor Sonogod, a 19-month-old polled second prize winner boasting a double copy of the F94L gene. He is by the 10,000gns Knock Msport stockbull, that bred sons to 17,000gns here last year for the Priestleys, while the dam, Brontemoor Luckylady is by Garrowby Hurricane – a bull bought at Skipton for 6000gns that goes back to Glenrock Ventura. Sonogod will be put to a lot of use as an AI sire for Norbreck Genetics, Cockerham, Lancaster.

Another from the Priestleys, Brontemoor Salering, made 10,000gns selling to the Irish breeding company, South Eastern Cattle Breeding, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Another by Msport and boasting a double copy of the F94L gene, this 20-month-old blue ticket holder is a natural-born calf out of the Cloughead Ernie-sired cow, Haltcliffe Gavel, which was bred from Brontemoor Sue.

Senior champion, Maraiscote Savoy from Ian and Andrew Nimmo was knocked down at 16,000gns

The top two senior bulls both made 16,000gns, with the champion, Ian and Moyra Nimmo and son Andrew’s Marasicote Savoy, selling to the Jerman family, buying for their 75-cow Glangwden pedigree herd which runs alongside a similar number of Stabiliser cows near Trefeglwys, Caersws, Powys. Another son of the 50,000gns stockbull, Bassingfield Machoman which has bred numerous high priced bulls for the Newmains, Wishaw-based herd, Savoy is a natural-born calf out of Maraiscote Nestle, a daughter of the retained bull, Maraiscote Javelin, by Virginia Andy. He also sold with a double copy of the easy calving gene.

Anthony Renton and family's Meadowrig Scorpio was reserve senior and sold for 16,000gns

The reserve senior from Anthony Renton – owner of the successful business, Transport Services, Spain – and family, Stuartslaw, Duns, was Meadworig Scorpio, brought out by farm manager Alistair Cormack. April-2021-born, this natural calf by the 9000gns Homebyres Macadoo, a bull that has already sons to 16,000gns twice, is out of the show cow, Meadowrig Naranja, an Ampertaine Foreman daughter out of the €12,000 French show cow, Fatima. Best Young bull in the Scottish Herds Competition, Scorpio goes out to work at Strattons Farms, Headley, Berkshire.

Best from Bruce Goldie at 15,000gns was Goldies Stamp

Bruce Goldie’s herd from Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries, also came up with the goods, selling six to average £10,675. His best, Goldies Stamp, a second prize junior, made 15,000gns selling to the Cockleshell herd of Ian Pitcher, Ivy House Farm, Boston, Lincs. An ET calf and a double F94L gene carrier, Stamp boasts modern and older, traditional genetics. The result of a flush from Wilodge Cerberus daughter, Goldies Poppy, he is got by frozen semen from the 22-year-old Goldies Terence, which boasts French genetics on both sides being a son of Ideal bred from Emue – the dam of Goldies Tiffany that bred the Goldies’ star brood cow, Goldies Vitality.

Goldies Supreme from Bruce Goldie made 11,000gns

Others from the same stable made 11,000gns and 10,000gns twice, with the former, Goldies Supreme, an ET calf bred from Goldies Vitality daughter, Goldies Goldilocks, selling to Philip Roberts of Lotherton Estates, Lotherton, Leeds. Supreme is by the 35,000gns Ampertaine Majestic and again carries a double copy of the F94L gene.

Selling for 10,000gns was the red ticket holder, Goldies Strongbow, another ET and double F94L gene carrier. This intermediate bull is bred from the Ampertaine Commander daughter, Goldies Iona, that bred the 16,000gns Goldies Nelson and sired by Wilodge LJ. Strongbow headed up to Aberdeenshire with Harry Emslie, Mintlaw, Peterhead.

Ampertaine genetics were on both sides of Goldies second 10,000gns bull too – Goldies Saturn purchased by Messrs Huck, Hubberholme, Skipton. Another ET, Saturn is bred from the Ampertaine Foreman daughter, Goldies Joyeuse and sired by Ampertaine Opportunity.

Pabo Sunshine from Peredur and Llyr Hughes realised 12,000gns

Another carrying a double copy of the easy calving gene made 12,000gns for Peredur and Llyr Hughes’ Pabo herd from Llanbabo, Rhosgoch, when Pabo Sunshine, sold back down to Wales with Messrs Davies, Eglwyswrw, Crymych, Dyfed. Their third prize intermediate is another son of the retained Pabo Oldspice, a son of Derrygullinane Kingbull, that has bred bulls to 19,000gns and 16,000gns twice. The dam is the Loosebeare Fantastic daughter, Pabo Loose, one of 50 cows in the herd.

Harry Emslie bought Calogale Sykes for 11,000gns

Heading up to Farden, Girvan, with FJ Shennan, at 11,000gns was the first prize intermediate bull, Calogale Sykes from Welsh breeders, GJ Lee and CM Lloyd, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. One of the first sons to be sold by Meadowrig Pedro – a bull that has bred daughters to 30,000gns and 18,000gns, his dam, Calogale Osprey is by Foxhillfarm Manhattan.

Three other bulls came under the hammer for 10,000gns with the first being Garry Patterson’s Aultside Sexbomb, a senior ET-bred bull from Upper Forgie, Keith. Full brother to the 65,000gns Aultside Mean Machine and 55,000gns Aultside Hulk, this blue ticket holder was best bull calf in the 2021 Scottish Herds competition. Sexbomb is bred from the star brood cow, Spittalton Flush, sired by Wilodge Cerberus, and sold back up to Kincardineshire with PA Walker, Stonehaven.

Another blue ticket holder, this time from society chairman, Jonathan Watson, Berwick upon Tweed, made the same money when selling to R Holyroyd and Sons, Shawcroft, Wadsworth, Hebden Bridge. Tweeddale Sergeant, an intermediate by Carrickmore Maximus is bred from 16,000gns cow, Grahams Lizzie a Claragh Franco daughter out of Robert Graham’s top breeding female, Grahams Coffee.

Ivyfarm Stormzy from Beth and Luke Wilkinson, Leyburn, also made 10,000gns when selling to Messrs Doig, Glenalmond, Perth. An ET bred from the Trueman Idol-sired cow, Garnedd Model, which was bought at Ruthin in partnership with John Smith-Jackson, Stormzy’s sire is Mr Smith-Jackson’s own Hightown Jacko, a proven show calf breeder.

OTHERLEADING prices

Bulls – 9000gns – J Common and Sons’ Crossdykes Sid, by Crossdykes Optimus, to Messrs Scott, Hawick; EW Quick and Sons’ Loosebeare Slade, by Dinmore Neptune, to Atkins Agriculture, Masons Green, Halifax; DW and M Jordon’s Longhirst Sauvignon, by Maraiscote Odante, to Messrs Henderson, Insch, Aberdeen; C Knox’ Beachmount Solomon, by Goldies Olympia, to Messrs Fleming, Kelso; BT Goldie’s Goldies Shergar, by Ampertaine Opportunity, to Messrs Blair and Son, Balmerino, Newport-On-Tay.

averages: 24 senior bulls, £6444.37; 32 intermediate bulls, £8163.75; 22 junior bulls, £10,275.68. Overall, 78 bulls, £8230.38 (+£338.07 for 12 fewer sold).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.