RYEDALE Limousins' depth of breeding and quality of cattle paid off at the herd's dispersal sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on with a 13,000gns top price and 17 head making 5,000gns or more.

The overall average for 65 females sold was a huge £3,198.35 and one of the herd's stock bulls, Ryedale Orion, with an illustrious show and breeding record behind him, made the sale's second top price of 10,500gns.

The dispersal of the Ryedale herd marked the end of an era for Peter and Anne Lang, who established it at Broadway Foot, Hawnby, Helmsley, near York in 1979.

The sale had been scheduled for the end of February last year but had to be postponed because of foot-and-mouth and the consequent movement restrictions and closure of auction markets.

There was standing room only at the Borderway ringside and the bidding resulted in a great finale to the Lang's breeding involvement with the Limousin.

"We were delighted with the support in terms of the number of people who have attended and with the 13,000gns top price," said Peter Lang. "As a result of the sale, we have helped numerous herds and I wish them all the best. The sale marks the end of an era for us but the start of a new one for other people.

"We will maintain an interest in the Limousin breed, so don't be surprised if you see us at shows this summer."

Auctioneer David Thomlinson described the herd as having good quality cattle, good records, depth of breeding and with tremendous show potential.

The top-priced animal, the yearling heifer Ryedale Seraph, with a great future both as a show and breeding female, was one of a number of cattle entered for the Royal Show this year. She was bought by Gary Swindlehurst, of Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Clitheroe, Lancashire for the Procters herd. Seraph is a daughter of Ronick Iceman, which was out of the famous Broadmeadows Ainsi and sired many cattle which have done exceptionally well in the show and sale ring.

Mr Swindlehurst had seen Seraph on farm and was keen to buy her.

He was keen to buy bloodlines of the heifer's dam, Hengrave Helen, which sold much earlier in the catalogue for 9,000gns to Smiths of Bloxham, Oxfordshire. As well as having BLUP figures in the top 5pc for 200- and 400-day growth, Helen produced the senior champion at Perth in February 1999, which sold for 6,500gns and is also dam of Ryedale Orion.

Mr Swindlehurst paid the fourth top price, 8,000gns, for the five-year-old cow Ryedale Masquerade, a daughter of the successful bull Rachels Hamlet out of Ryedale Frolic. "She is a big powerful cow and I think she will suit our stock bull Neutron," he said. "She goes back to some of the earlier bloodlines in the Ryedale herd."

Masquerqade has a beef value of +34, placing her in the top 1pc of the breed. She has been diagnosed in calf to Ryedale Orion.

The four-year-old Ryedale Orion, the first Limousin and possibly the first beef animal to win interbreed championships at three Royal Shows in one season in 1999, was introduced early in the catalogue.

Making the bid of 10,500gns was Alan Jenkinson, accompanied by farm manager Iain Scott, for the herd at Clifton Moor Farm, Clifton, near Penrith.

Mr Jenkinson bought a further six cows with calves to re-stock his farm after foot-and-mouth struck last year. He will run 250 breeding cattle, Limousin and Belgian Blue crosses, at Clifton Moor and nearby Whinfell Park, which includes a pedigree herd.

Mr Scott said they had been keen to buy Ryedale Orion because of his proven record. Mr Jenkinson bought four Limousin bulls at the society's sale in Carlisle at the beginning of March.

Another Ronick Iceman son, the yearling bull Ryedale Sabre, with a beef value of LM27, sold to Jeff Swift, of Dry Howe, Selside, Kendal, for 7,400gns. He is full brother to Ryedale Paragon, which sold for 13,500gns.

David Cormack, stockman for the Langs for the last eight years and who presented all the cattle for the sale, bought Ryedale Miranda for 5,000gns. Miranda, and a further 14 Ryedale animals bought at the sale, join the Newstart herd Mr Cormack runs with his wife Mary.

Averages: 32 cows served and/or suckling, £3,129.83; 24 heifers served and/or suckling, £2,953.12; 11 maiden heifers, £3,932.73; 65 females, £3,198.35. 9 bulls, £4,421.67; 5 FOT calves suckling recipient dams, £2,709.

Other leading prices in gns: Ryedale Raffles, 7,200 ES Graham, Allanshields, Blanchland; Ryedale Olivia, 7,000 Jenkinson; Ryedale Phoebe, 5,800gns to Vance, Brighouse, Sorbie, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire; Ryedale Odessa, 5,200 I Renton & Son, High Highlaws, Morpeth; Ryedale Redlight, 5,200 to Mrs PM Varley, Myrtle Grove Farm, Queensbury, Bradford; Ryedale Organdie, 5,100, Ryedale Ophelia, 5,100 both Jenkinson; Ryedale Moonlight, 5,000 to A&D Orr, Keirsbeath Farm Ltd, Dalbeath Farm, Cowdenbeath, Fife; Rachels Nanette, 5,000 J&W Gray, Midtown Farm, Aspatria, Carlisle; Ryedale Odette 5,000 JS Gibson & Son, Thornton Tower, Newbrough, Hexham; Ryedale Samantha, 5,000gns to Smiths of Bloxham