SOME of the Charolais breed's highest genetic merit cattle come under the hammer next month when the entire Limestone herd owned by Graham Rowles Nicholson, together with a consignment of females and calves from JSR Farms' Givendale herd, are sold at in Borderway Mart, Carlisle on August 7.

Both herds are members of the Beef Improvement Group (BIG, formerly GLB), which was among the pioneers of the BLUP genetic evaluation systems launched in 1991.

The Limestone herd, established by the late Maureen Rowles, at Walkhouse, Barrow upon Humber, in 1976, is being dispersed owing to a change in farming policy.

It consists of 30 cows in calf or with calves at foot, eight in calf heifers with an average Beef Value within the breed's top 10pc at CH30; ten maidens averaging CH33 and within the top 1pc, and six bulls.

Some of Limestone's current key herd influences are Limestone Rump CH40, Seawell Offshore CH31 and Balthayock Marius CH43, who is jointly owned with JSR Farms and the Birdsall Beef Company, and is a breed trait leader for Beef Value and muscle depth.

The herd was the first ever to lift the championship at Smithfield and Birmingham Primestock shows in the same year with purebred Charolais heifers.

The Givendale consignment comprises 20 maidens, with an average Beef Value within the breed's top 10pc CH24; four in-calf heifers, also with an average Beef Value of CH24, and 26 cows and calves.

Calves are by Balthayock Marius CH43, Brampton Chopper CH33, Givendale Noddy CH35 and Givendale Operator CH35.