2023 Limousin Annual Journal

ANNIVERSARY
Reserve Pedigree Herd was James McKay’s Ampertaine
Herd based at Kilrea Road, Upperlands, Maghera, Co
Derry, N Ireland. 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.” The Champion
Commercial Herd was Edward & Hazel Mather who run
104 purebred Limousin cows at Besshill Farm, Arlington,
Barnstaple, Devon. In announcing his winner, Peter said
that this was very much a family farm run by a couple
and their three children, and it was the overall total
Limousin system that was the deciding factor with all
replacements homebred, everything finished at home
and then either put through their farm shop or sold to
ABP. Collecting the trophy on the Mathers’ behalf was
South West Club Chairman Patrick Greed who also
picked up the Champion Pedigree trophy making it a
long but successful return trip from Devon!
Standing Reserve was Strattons Farms, Scarletts Farm,
Plastow Green, Headley, Berkshire and it was a delighted
Herd Manager Bill Ferguson accepting the award on
the night. This is a 120-cow commercial operation run
alongside the pedigree Strattons prefix by Bill working
together with Farm Manager Simon Hill, stockwoman
Laura Bartlett and stockman Nick Waite. Mr Ferguson had
a busy day having judged Friday’s pre-sale Carlisle Show
of Limousin Bulls where he had put up Spittalton Stag
as his Overall Champion, a bull which went on to sell for
19,000gns on the Saturday.
NATIONAL HERD COMPETITION
FULL RESULTS
Pedigree Herds
Champion: Killerton – PW & SM Greed – (South West)
Reserve Champion: Ampertaine – Messrs WJ & J McKay
(N Ireland)
Other Finalists
Garyvaughan – CV Lewis & Sons (North West Midlands &
North Wales)
Barrons – Willy Barron (North East)
Maraiscote – Ian Nimmo (Scotland)
Norman – Norman Farming Co (North West)
Cowin – WD Dyfan & C James (South Wales & Mid-West)
Fieldson – JW & MC Fieldson (East Midlands)
Strattons – Strattons Farms (South East)
Commercial Herds
Champion: Edward & Hazel Mather (South West)
Reserve Champion: Strattons Farms (South East)
Other Finalists
Wyn Williams, Holyhead, Anglesey (North West
Midlands & North Wales)
Swinbank Family, Neasham, Darlington (North East)
Messrs William McLaren, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir
(Scotland)
Ted Chapman, Helsington, Kendal (North West)
James May, Tardebigge, Bromsgrove (South Wales &
Mid-West)
Ivan Lynn, Armoy (Northern Ireland)
Grateful thanks are extended to all entrants, regional
Clubs, regional judges, national judges and all supporters
of the event.
1971 - 2021
50 TH ANNIVERSARY
Ampertaine James McKay.
Strattons 6 Lord Sainsbury Bill Ferguson.
www.limousin.co.uk
ANNUAL JOURNAL 2023 | 39