Dispersal sale of famous Charolais herd a “landmark event”
31st October 2023
The remarkable Gretnahouse herd has some of the most influential and admired Charolais genetics in the national herd book.
A dispersal sale of the Gretnahouse herd is set to take place at Borderway, Carlisle, on Saturday 18th November.
The British Charolais Cattle Society has described it as a “landmark event” in the history of British Charolais, as it is the sale of some of the most influential and admired Charolais genetics in the national herd book.
The sale will be livestreamed and open to bidding through Harrison & Hetherington’s MartEye.
For many Charolais Society members and livestock breeders, this sale will be a tribute to and celebration of the life and achievements of the late Alasdair Houston.
A past chairman of the British Charolais Society among many other distinctions, Alasdair took over the Gretnahouse herd from his father Adair in 1985 and made it one of the powerhouses of the breed’s development in the UK.
Gretnahouse stock bull Lochend Nighthawk will clearly be a highlight of the sale, together with 30 spring calving cows and calves and nine autumn calved cows with 10 calves at foot. The sale will also include nine in calf heifers, two autumn in calf heifers, 11 spring 2022 born heifers and 11 autumn 2022 born heifers.
At Gretna House the main focus has always been ease of calving, and general performance with a strong influence on performance traits to keep the herd in the top percentiles of the breed.
The BCCS will produce full breeding and EBV graphs for all the Charolais in the Gretnahouse sale, underlining the commitment that Alasdair Houston made to breeding for commercial performance as well as for pedigree excellence.
Pre-sale inspection of the herd is welcome by appointment. Please call Joe Speak on 07469 70488 or email Gretna.house@btinternet.com
