A PENRITH businessman helped set a new Limousin world record price when a fourteen-month-old maiden heifer went under the hammer for 250,000gns (£262,500) in Carlisle.

Allan Jenkinson, who owns the Whinfellpark herd, based at Clifton Moor, Penrith, bid for British Limousin maiden heifer, Wilodge Poshspice, in a joint purchase with Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans herd, based at Mellor Hall Farms, Stockport.

Bred by Christine Williams and Paul Tippetts at Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire, Wilodge Poshspice is by Ampertaine Elgin and out of Milbrook Gingerspice.

A combination of stunning visual appeal and a pedigree packed full of breeding lines convinced joint purchasers, Mr Jenkinson and Mr Boden.

As well as a new Limousin record, the 250,000gns price tag was a new all-breeds UK and European world mark for a bovine animal eclipsing the 140,000gns paid for the Limousin bull, Trueman Jagger in October 2015.

The record-breaking price also beat the previous record of 125,000gns paid for Glenrock Illusion at the Illingworth family from Eaglesfield's Glenrock dispersal in 2014 at Carlisle.The family took the decision to disperse herd, with the exception of the herd’s matriarch Glenrock Spangle, to help fund the purchase their tenanted farm at Howgillside.

Christine Williams said: “We are overwhelmed and equally delighted to have achieved this fantastic result with what is a great young heifer.” The sale at Borderway Mart represented a Major Reduction of the Wilodge Herd, with the entire crop of served and maiden heifers used for pedigree breeding, put up for sale. The herd was established in 1989 by Christine and her late father, Don.