Strong crowds turned out for the dispersal sale of John and Heather Phillips’ Gronw Limousin Herd at Whitland Livestock Market on Saturday, December 8.
The first-calved heifer Gronw Liberty (pictured above), made the top price with her heifer calf at foot at 5,000gns.
The June 2015 born Gronw Liberty is by Tomschoice Gladius and is out of the herd’s French-bred cow Ubaize.
Her March-born heifer calf at foot, Gronw Opal, is by the herd’s homebred stock bull Gronw Logan. Purchasing the top price unit was Mr. T Jenkins & Son for their Torycoed pedigree herd at Torycoed Farm, Rhiwsaeson, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan.
The sale, coming 28 years after the Gronw herd was first established in Cwnfelin Mynach, saw 80 lots sell.
Heather and John Phillips
Auctioneer Gareth Thomas of JJ Morris said it was likely to have been the biggest crowd ever seen at a livestock sale held at the market.
In all, 80 lots sold to gross a healthy £183,382.50 with 47 females with calves at foot averaging a solid £2,721.
Averages
- 47 Females with calves at foot: £2,721;
- 10 In-calf heifers: £1864;
- 21 Maiden heifers: £1,515;
- Two Bulls: £2,520;
- Auctioneers: JJ Morris, Whitland Livestock Market.
Commenting afterwards, British Limousin Cattle Society chief executive Iain Kerr said: “The Gronw Herd comprised of tremendously genuine cattle with a very commercial relevance.
“It was great to see John and Heather get such good reward for what was clearly a very well thought out breeding programme over a number of years. Everyone in the Society wishes John and Heather well for a long and happy retirement.”
Another first calved heifer, Gronw Llawen, made 4,000gns when selling to WG Davies & Son, Gelli Farm, Hirwaun, Mid Glamorgan. March 2015 born Gronw Llawen is by the sire Ironstone Brandy and out of Gronw Happy.
She was sold with her March 2018 born heifer calf at foot Gronw Oren, an Ampertaine Commander daughter.
Later in the sale, WG Davies & Son paid 3,600gns for Gronw Lena, another first calved heifer, sold with her heifer calf at foot Gronw Oprah.
The April 2015 born Gronw Lena, who was PD’d back in calf to Tynewydd Mealamu, is by Frewstown Gargantuan and is out of Gronw Helena. The March 2018 born Gronw Oprah is by the homebred stock bull Gronw Logan.
Selling as separate lots, the combined unit of Gronw Jan and her first calf, the heifer calf Gronw Olivia, made 3,880gns.
Gronw Jan, who was PD’d back in calf to Mynach Igor, is by Netherhall Dobleoseven and is another out of Ubaize the mother of the top price animal.
Gronw Jan made 2,300gns when selling to Mr. D Thomas for his Treweryll Herd at Dolau Newydd, Blaenffos, Boncath, Pembrokeshire.
The February 2018 born Gronw Olivia, by the noted AI sire Talent, was snapped up for 1,550gns by Irwel Jones, E & H M Jones & Co. Aberbranddu, Cwrty Cadno, Pumsaint, Llanwrda for his Rabar pedigree herd.
Cow and calf Gronw Heulwen and Gronw Olive made 3,800gns. First up the six-year-old Gronw Heulwen, by Fleethill Dazzler and out of Milbrook Dimple and back in calf to Mynach Igor, made 2,150gns.
She was followed by her January 2018 born heifer calf Gronw Olive, who is by Gunnerfleet Eros, who sold for 1,650gns.
Sold as separate lots, the unit was reunited when both were purchased by RM & G Watkins, Upper Cwm Farm, Craswall, Herefordshire.
In all, the Watkins made eight purchases on the day for their newly established Millend pedigree herd.
Commenting afterwards, Mrs. Watkins said: “We felt that this was a very good herd of cows with a depth of breeding behind them and carrying a good health status.”
In all, 13 lots on the day sold for 3,000gns or more.
