Ampertaine herd is the reserve overall in UK-wide competition

AS part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) has been running a National Herd Competition during 2022 which culminated in an Awards

Dinner held at Carlisle on Friday, October 14.

With both a Commercial and Pedigree section, competition has been keen between herds that had come through the ranks of their regional competitions the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

The competition was judged by renowned commercial producer Peter Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie and former BLCS President Jim Scott of the Ardigon herd, Killyleagh, County Down, who were there on the night to give some much-appreciated comments on each herd and present the awards.

Winning the Overall Pedigree Herd Competition was Patrick Greed, who runs the 70-cow Killerton herd together with his wife Sheila at Columbjohn Farm, Rewe, Exeter, Devon. In presenting the trophy, Jim Scott said: “This was an exceptional herd of females breeding true to Limousin type, very maternal and leaving great calves.

“There was also a keen eye to bull selection with stock bulls from Maraiscote, Nealford, Foxhillfarm, Meadowrigg, Emslies and Goldies doing a great job. However, my mind was made up when walking through the ‘Fields of Gold’ of tremendous yearling heifers knowing the future of the Limousin breed was in safe hands.”

Reserve Pedigree Herd was James McKay’s Ampertaine herd based at Kilrea Road, Upperlands, Maghera. Commenting, Jim said: “This herd needs no introduction having produced bulls such as Ampertaine Abracadabra, Commander, Elgin, Foreman and Gigolo, which have been so influential in the breed yet are a balance of terminal and maternal traits. And this has all been done by selective use of AI which is, as we all know, no easy task. James McKay truly has a unique talent in bringing pedigrees together.”

Addressing the assembled audience of around 100 guests, Peter Alexander commented: “We were so impressed by what we saw touring the country with Limousin cattle doing a great job across all farming systems, land types and farm sizes.”

n The Champion Commercial Herd was Edward and Hazel Mather, who run 104 purebred Limousin cows at Besshill Farm, Arlington, Barnstaple, Devon.

n The Northern Ireland regional winner in the commercial section was Ivan Lynn, Armoy.