Dispersal Sale of the Procters Herd & Sale from the Haltcliffe Herd

On Friday 20th August a crowd of new and established breeders made their way to Borderway Mart, Carlisle to see the dispersal sale from the Procters herd on behalf of Procters Farm, Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Clitheroe. In addition, a production sale was sold on behalf of the Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Wigton, Cumbria. This highly anticipated sale had high demand after the online promotion and on farm viewing of the top-class cattle on offer. Purchases were secured both in the mart, by phone and online. The British Limousin Cattle Society Breeders’ Sale had a catalogue entry of 113 pedigree Limousin cattle and saw a strong clearance across the two herds.

It was a momentous day for the British Limousin Cattle Society when the renowned Procters herd dispersed after the prefix was established 25 years ago in 1996. Procters Farm is a hill farm with 750 acres of disadvantaged land sitting at 650 feet above sea level. At Procters, they always sought to buy the best genetics on offer. Gary Swindlehurst, herdsman at Procters commented “Our aim has been to breed cattle with character, maternal traits and to meet market demands. We wish all purchasers the very best of luck and sincerely hope Procters cattle go on to breed for you.” The bloodlines spoke for themselves throughout the sale with eight lots exceeding 10,000gns.

Herdsman of the Procters herd, Gary Swindlehurst commented “We were very pleased with the sale albeit an emotional day. We would like to wish the purchasers the best of luck with their buys.” As one door closes one door opens for Gary, who has he established Brackenhurst prefix with a half share in Glenrock Diamante and the purchase of Proctors Nelle with her heifer calf at foot, Proctors Shantelle.

Top price of the day, 16,000gns was scored twice. First by Procters Rdiamante, an embryo calf and recipient outfit. Rdiamante, a September-20 born daughter of 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount and out of 15,000gns Objat daughter, Glenrock Diamante. This heifer was sold alongside a recipient cow who has been pd’d in calf to 65,000gns Aultside Meanmachine. This promising heifer is a favourite of Glenrock Diamante’s progeny. Rdiamante was a jewel the Anside herd couldn’t resist, where she goes home to Mr & Mrs S Irvine, Drummuir, Banffshire.

Also reaching 16,000gns was Procters Jewellery and her heifer calf at foot, Procters Silver. Jewellery an October-14 born daughter of Glenrock Highwayman is out of Glenrock Diamante who was purchased by the herd in 2014 for 15,000gns. Jewellery is sold in calf to Carrickmore Maximus. Silver, the May-21 born heifer calf at foot is sired by Carrickmore Maximus, who was National Limousin Champion at Tullamore in 2018, the youngest ever winner of this title. He went on to be sold for a record price in Roscrea later that year, purchased jointly for 38,000 euros. This smart outfit dazzled Mrs S Field, Burnley, where she now calls the Cornfield herd home.

Going under the hammer for 13,000gns was Procters Janita with Procters Sjanita at foot. As seen on the front page of the catalogue, this mother and daughter duo has real style! Procters Janita is an April-14 born Ampertaine Foreman daughter, sold in calf to Westpit Omaha. Out of Procters Fanita, the dams’ bloodlines go back to 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount. Heifer calf at foot, Sjanita, is a May-21 born Ampertaine Majestic daughter. This heifer is one of the herds favourites born in 2021, oozing potential.

Procters Nelle was next in the stakes, with her heifer calf Shantelle selling for 10,500gns. Procters Nelle is a daughter of Haltcliffe Genesis, who has a pedigree packed with French bloodlines. Out of Procters Hanelle, a daughter of Hartlaw Excaliber who sold for 22,000gns in 2010. Nelle displays two sets of F94L ‘profit’ gene and a Beef Value of LM38 placing her in the top 25% of the breed. Heifer calf at foot, Procters Shantelle is a daughter of Maraiscote Phil, who was purchased by the herd in 2020 for 15,000gns and is packed with potential. This outfit was purchased by Gary Swindlehurst.

The first of four animals to achieve 10,000gns was Glenrock Diamante, a highly anticipated animal within the sale. Diamante’s progeny that has been sold both at this sale and previously proves she is a consistent breeder of quality. 12 super daughters went under the hammer within the sale averaged 9,308gns well as Procters Legacy previously selling for 24,000gns in 2014 at Carlisle. Originally purchased from Mr & Mrs S D Illingworth of the Glenrock herd from their sale in August 2014 for 15,000gns. A daughter of Objat (19-30-299-413) and out of Glenrock Rupee. An impressive Beef Value of LM39 places her in the top 25% of the breed. Sold AI’d to Westpit Omaha, who was purchased privately after being seen at the Royal Highland Show in 2019. Going back to her breeders, Diamante returns home to the Glenrock herd, based in Eaglesfield, Lockerbie after purchasing her in shares with Gary Swindlehurst of the Brackenhurst herd.

Next to achieve 10,000gns was Procters Juleiha alongside Procters Suleiha standing at foot. Procters Juleiha with her heifer calf Suleiha at foot. Procters Juleiha is a daughter of Haltcliffe DJ who was purchased by the herd in 2010 for 72,000gns. Out of Procters Caleiha, who is a daughter of Greenwell Leiha, one of the foundation cows at Procters. Displaying a beef Value of LM37, this seven-year-old cow’s beef value is in the top 25% of the breed. Suleiah, the May-21 born heifer calf at foot is sired by 38,000 euro Carrickmore Maximus, Juleiha and her stylish calf Suleiah was snapped up by Andrew Ewing, Annan of the Fairywater herd.

Selling for 10,000gns was Procters Nwen with heifer calf Procters Swen at foot. Sired by 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman, August-17 born Nwen is a ET daughter of Procters Gwen, who is a daughter of 72,000gns Haltcliffe DJ. An impressive Beef Value of LM49 puts Nwen in the top 1% of the breed and she is sold in calf to Millbrook Playboy. Heifer calf at foot, May-21 born Swen, is a daughter of Haltcliffe Orator, who was purchased for 10,000gns in 2019. This outfit was taken home by Sean Mitchell, Skelton, Penrith to the Huttoninglewood herd.

Procters Piamante was the final animal to reach 10,000gns. This April-19 born embryo calf is a daughter of Sympa and out of 15,000gns Glenrock Diamante, a pedigree packed with French breeding. A Beef Value of LM40 places Piamante in the top 10% of the breed and she also displays two sets of the F94L ‘profit’ gene. She was sold pd’d to Lodge Hamlet. She now calls Retford, Nottinghamshire home with Mr W Tomlinson of the Tomlinson herd.  

Procters Nawen with Procters Syleiha at foot was next in the stakes reaching 8,200gns. The September-17 Ampertaine Foreman daughter is out of Procters Gwen, who sold for 5,200gns earlier in the sale. A Beef Value of LM40 places her in the top 10% of the breed. She was sold in calf to Millbrook Playboy, as well as with her fostered heifer calf Procters Syleiah at foot. Syleiah is out of Myleiha who sold for 6,500gns earlier in the sale. Mrs Field of the Cornfield herd also take this outfit home to Burnley.

Hot on their heels was Procters Peyrens who went under the hammer for 8,000gns. This embryo daughter of Wilodge Cerberus is out of 15,000gns Glenrock Diamante. This October-19 heifer displays two sets of the F94L myostatin gene, as well as a Beef Value of LM48, placing her in the top 10% of the breed.

Procters Purmante went under the hammer for 8,000gns. This embryo daughter of 15,000gns Genrock Diamante is sired by Goldies Jazz. Displaying myostatin of F94L and NT821, Purmante also has a Beef Value of LM44, placing her in the top 10% of the breed. This December-19 born heifer oozes style and substance and has a promising future as a breeding cow.

Averages
37 Cows served and/or suckling          £6328.38
  6 Cows in calf                                       £4550.00
  5 Recipients with Embryo calves       £5922.00
  8 Served Heifers                                   £4987.50
18 Maiden Heifers                                 £3494.16
  3 Bulls                                                     £5425.00

The Haltcliffe production sale packed a punch, with Haltcliffe Raquel topping the trade at 32,000gns. Raquel is an August-20 born daughter of Westpit Omaha, who was purchased privately by the herd in 2019 at the Royal highland Show and out of Haltcliffe Opal, who was sold along side Raquel. This heifer oozes style and has real presence. Raquel displays two sets of the Q204X myostatin gene. Raquel heads over the water with Gareth Corrie, Newtownards to his Drumhilla herd bought in shares with Ms Claire Ferris of the Damview herd. Gareth commented that Raquel is one of the best heifer’s he has seen in Carlisle “I am looking forward to crossing her with Ampertaine Majestic a double F94L ‘profit’ gene bull. One reason I was attracted to the heifer is her father Omaha, who I saw at the Royal Highland Show in 2019, a really excellent bull.”

Craig Ridley of the Haltcliffe herd commented he was “very pleased with the sale on the whole, it is not every day you sell a heifer at that level under a year old. She would be one of the highest price females ever sold from Haltcliffe. We are delighted with Westpit Omaha who we purchased privately after he went to the Highland, we knew he needed to come back to Haltcliffe.”

Haltcliffe Opal, the dam of sale topper Raquel was next in the stakes, going under the hammer for 14,000gns. March-18 born Opal is a daughter of Ampertaine Elgin, who was purchased by the herd for 32,000gns in 2011. Carrying her second calf, she is sold pd’d to Haltcliffe Olympus. Dam, Haltcliffe Larissa is sired by 18,000gns Haltcliffe Fencer. Opal displays myostatin genes of F94L and Q204X. Opal also goes across with water, to Millisle, County Down with Ms Claire Ferris of the Damview herd.

Hot on their heels was Haltcliffe Rose at 13,000gns. Sired by Grahams Nathan, this January-20 born heifer is out of homebred cow Naples. Rose is a full sister to Haltcliffe Paul who sold for 13,400gns in May 2020 at Carlisle. Rose is the first of two lots who now call the Sportsmans herd home with Boden and Davies based in Mellor, Stockport.

12,000gns was achieved for Haltcliffe Nikki and her heifer calf at foot, Ritz. Nikki is a daughter of Ballyrobin Joop, who was purchased by the herd in 2016 for 20,000gns. Dam, Haltcliffe Bianca is a proven breeder, with progeny breeding to 18,000gns with Haltcliffe Fencer and 15,000gns Haltcliffe Gentry. Nikki displays an impressive Beef Value of LM48, which places her in the top 10% of the breed. Heifer calf at foot, Ritz is a December-20 born daughter of French bull, Nectar, purchased by Haltcliffe in 2019. A half-sister to Ritz, Perfume sold later in the sale for 4,800gns. This promising pair sold to Andrew Ewing of the Fairywater herd based in Annan.

Next in the trade at 10,000gns is Haltcliffe Raffles, a March-20 born heifer sired by 20,000gns Ballyrobin Joop and is out of homebred cow Haltcliffe Igles whose pedigree is packed with French bloodlines and previously bred Haltcliffe Mike, who sold for 15,000gns at Carlisle in 2017. A Beef Value of LM47 places Raffles in the top 10% of the breed and she displays myostatin of F94L and NT821. Boden and Davies take Raffles back to their Sportmans herd in Stockport.

8,500gns was achieved for Haltcliffe Jolie with her heifer calf Scarlet at foot. Jolie is a June-14 born daughter of the full French pedigree Cloughhead Umpire, who sold for 42,000gns in 2005. Out of Haltlcliffe Angela, a daughter of Ronick Red and out of Sympa, this cow is from top selling bloodlines. Haltcliffe Angela has bred Haltcliffe Eubank which sold for 12,000gns. Jolie is sold pd’d in calf to Omaha at the sale. Heifer calf at foot, Scarlet is a daughter of Westpit Omaha, who was purchased by the herd in 2019 at the Royal highland Show. This pair goes to Mr H Wood of the Deerhouse herd, based in Dutton, Preston.

Averages        
13 Cows & Heifers served &/or suckling         £9571.15
  6 Served Heifers                                                £4532.50
12 Maiden Heifers                                             £4655.00
  1 Bull                                                                  £8400.00