Graiggoch Rambo sets world record at 180,000gns

A world record was smashed at the Limousin Society’s annual May bull sale at Borderway Mart on Saturday, May 7.

From first-time vendor, but no stranger to the breed, Gerwyn Jones, Conwy, Graiggoch Rambo flew through the bids and sold for an incredible 180,000gns.

This world record was the highlight of a remarkable sale which saw an overall sale average of £10,651, up by £2,348 on 2021. Twenty-one bulls made £10,000 and over, and the clearance rate was a phenomenal 90 per cent with 84 of the 93 bulls forward selling to new homes. Without the record price included, the average was £8,098 for the same clearance rate, reflective of the high quality of bulls throughout.

Speaking of his overall champion and the show of Limousin bulls, judge Pat Greaney commented: “Rambo is the best bull I have ever seen. He is 100 per cent correct with power throughout, a super top and without the coarseness that can sometimes come with this.” On the wider show and sale, Pat said: “I have been thrilled to be part of this event. The show is a snapshot of what you might get, the EBVs offer a little help and the pedigree is permanent. The show of bulls was a credit to breeders and the trade today, reflective of the continued demand for the breed across both pedigree and commercial sectors.

“I like to be validated in everything I do and this came today from the purchaser and underbidder of Graiggoch Rambo.”

Reserve overall champion for the day was Goldies Relish from Bruce T Goldie, Dumfries. He was knocked down at 30,000gns to WJ and M Mash Ltd of the Brockhurst pedigree herd, Buckinghamshire. Born in April 2020, a powerful bull with a top 10 per cent Beef Value of LM41, he is by Ampertaine Opportunity out of Goldies Harmony, who goes back to Hartlaw Excaliber and the noted cow Goldies Vitality.

Reserve intermediate champion was Glenrock Redemption from S and T Illingworth, which sold for 25,000gns to Messrs JW and MC Fieldson to take home to their pedigree Fieldson herd near Gainsborough. With F94L/F94L myostatin and a Beef Value in the top 10 per cent of the breed, this October 2020-born bull is a son of Ampertaine Majestic and out of Glenrock Diamante, one of the herd’s most successful cows selling to 24,000gns.

Next at 24,000gns was first prize bull Deveronvale Razzledazzle. By the well-known Foxhillfarm Jasper out of Aultside Jazz, a daughter of Dinmore Goldcrest, he is a November 2020-born bull. Sold by Graham Morrison, of the Deveronvale herd, Banff, he heads to the home of S Wilson of the Impulsive pedigree herd near Carlisle.

The junior male champion at the pre-sale show was Pabo Superspice. This February 2021-born bull is sired by Derrygullinane Kingbull and out of the homebred cow Pabo Mared. Carrying on the success from this herd at the February sale at Carlisle where Pabo Rolex, sold for 38,000gns, WP Hughes and Son, Anglesey, sold him for 19,000gns to W D Wright and Son of the Hunthills pedigree herd, Parkgate, Dumfries.

Taking home the reserve senior champion was A and D Proctor of the Swarland herd, Morpeth. This was Strawfrank Romeo from Allan Campbell, Lanark. An October 2020-born bull, he is sired by the 35,000gns Foxhillfarm Lordofthering and out of Strawfrank Napoleon. Romeo went on to sell for 17,000gns.

Snowballing through a number of bidders was Barrons Snowman, with a final bid of 17,000gns from J Hunter and Sons, Steel Farm, Northumberland. This January 2021-born bull, brought forward by W Barron, Morrow Edge Farm, Durham, is sired by the homebred bull Barrons Major, which sold in October 2021 for 10,000gns, and is out of Barrons Oulip, which sold at the same sale for 6500gns.

Selling for 16,000gns was Meadowrig Rifraf from A Renton and HSB Redden Partners, Duns, Berwickshire. Born in August 2020 and with F94/F94L myostatin, Rifraf is sired by the stock bull Homebyres Macadoo out of the successful Brockhurst Fuzzy, whose sire and dam were both Ronick-bred animals. He went home to fellow pedigree Limousin breeders R P and D L Hutchinson Ltd of the Beaconsfield herd, Greenhill Farm, Nottinghamshire.

From Northern Ireland came Gorrycam Saxon from S Reel, Newry. Homebred on both sides of the pedigree, he is sired by the noted Gorrycam Hazzard and has dam lines that have bred to 24,000gns. This January 2021-born bull sold to commercial buyers J A Wood and Sons, Kinnerton Hall Farm, Shropshire, for 13,000gns.

Presented by Michael Diamond, Carhill Road, County Derry, Point-house Rumble caught the attention of K I, E and H Jones of the Garnedd pedigree herd, Bryn Ddraenen, Conwy, with a final bid of 10,000gns. A son of Ampertaine Gigolo and out of a Claragh Franco daughter, this November 2020-born bull has a top 10 per cent Beef Value of LM44.

The 91 female Limousin consign-ments achieved a clearance rate of 88 per cent and a top price of 10,000gns.

Auctioneer for the day was James Little, who commented: “A strong commercial interest underpinned the trade achieving a high clear-ance rate, which demonstrates a continued demand for Limousin females.”

Topping the trade on the day and from a large quality consignment from J Nimmo of the Maraiscote herd, Lanarkshire, was Maraiscote Rolex. Born April-2020 with a top 10 per cent Beef Value of LM43, she is by the noted Bassingfield Machoman, which has been so successful for the herd and out of Maraiscote Gold, going back to Goldies Comet. Selling for 10,000gns, she heads to the home of Mr A White of the newly founded Midlock herd, Lanarkshire.