A PEDIGREE Limousin breeders' sale at Carlisle saw a tremendous trade for breeding cattle from four pedigree herds with 78 lots grossing more than £240,000 and a leading price of 14,500gns.

The sale featured production offerings from the Greenwell Herd of JT & J Nattress & Son, Greenwell Farm, Lanchester, Durham; the Rombalds Herd of G C Rowson, Goose Farm, Eastmoor, Sutton-on-the-Forest, and the Grahams Herd of R & J Graham, Bridge of Allan. Guest consignor was William Bedell of the Staveley Herd, Llandrindod Wells.

Topping the sale at 14,500gns was Mr Bedell's December 2000-born Staveley Rebecca with her heifer calf at foot, Staveley Valerie, sired by French bull, Opera. Rebecca is sired by Octave and out of Staveley Irene. The buyers were Smiths of Bloxham, Banbury, who run the Ironstone pedigree herd.

Leading the Greenwell Herd was Greenwell Natasha, out of Greenwell Gevorn and by Igolo. Greenwell Viking, her bull calf at foot by Ronick Member, weighed in at 197kg at 100 days. Greenwell Natasha was offered in-calf, having run with Tanin. New owners at 4,800gns are J S Gibson & Son, Thornton Tower, Newbrough, Hexham.

On a very strong day for the Rombalds Herd, both top lots were again bought by Smiths of Bloxham. Rombalds Sabrina, a January 2001-born first calver, is out of Newsham Judy and by Dauphin. With her bull calf at foot, Rombalds Venice, sired by Lino, she was offered in-calf to Oxygene and made 5,300gns. Rachels Melody, with an EBV of +25 and in-calf to Greensons Gigolo, made 5,000gns.

Averages. - Greenwell Herd: 16 cows served &/or suckling £2,821.88; 4 hfrs served &/or suckling £2,047.50; 3 young bulls £2,485. Rombalds Herd: 14 cows served &/or suckling £2,850; 6 served heifers £1,872.50; 3 maiden heifers £1,610. Grahams Herd: 18 cows served &/or suckling £3,575.83; 7 served heifers £3,480; 5 maiden heifers £3,507; 1 young bull £2,520. Staveley Herd: 1 cow served &nd/or suckling £15,225.