Dinmore Herd

The 50 cow Dinmore Herd of pedigree Limousin, owned by Paul Dawes and managed by Richard Bartle, has emerged as one of the leading herds in the breed since its foundation in 2001. The herd has been built on some of the best bloodlines and no expense has been spared in sourcing foundation stock of the highest quality. The shrewd investment in carefully selected stock has paid off handsomely and the herd has a string of show and sale successes behind it, including a top price of 28,000 gns at Carlisle.

Home to the herd is a new range of farm buildings, including 2 cattle courts, 75' x 140' and 100' x 140' and a 200' x 100' grain store on a greenfield site on the Dawes family's 1800 acres, Dinmore Manor Estate, which is a mixed farming unit with almost 500 acres of crops, 600 acres grass and 700 acres woodland. The estate is also home to the world-famous Dinmore Manor Stud.

Original foundation females for the Limousin herd, included 30 c0ws from Peter and Maxine Brown's Peasleyhill herd and selected females from Martin Thomas' Wintercott herd and from several production and dispersal sales at Carlisle. Expansion has been largely based on a judicious embryo transfer programme from the best females in the herd.

The stockbull to put the herd on the map is Tonka, purchased for 30,000gns at Carlisle in October 2003 and sire of Cerberus, sold for 50,000gns; Vantastic, Carlisle champion in May 2006 when sold for 42,000gns; Dinmore Bandit, Intermediate champion at Carlisle in February 2008 when sold for a herd top price of 28,000gns.

Tonka's progeny won the best progeny award at the Royal Show in 2008 and daughters sold at Carlisle last November for 6500gns and 5800gns.

Dinmore is also home to the cow, Dinmore Athena, unbeaten in her class in 13 outings and junior champion at the Royal Welsh Show and first at the Royal Show in 2006 and female champion at the Royal Welsh in 2007.