The second round of the renowned Stirling bull sales took place this week, with action in the Simmental, Salers and Charolais rings.

Topping trade across all breeds at 25,000gns was the Charolais bull Gretnahouse Lord from Alasdair Houston. Son of the 17,000gns Balthayock Gladiator, he is out of a Major-bred dam whose full sisters have bred bulls to 15,000gns and 18,000gns.

The 1,100kg bull was also awarded the reserve senior and reserve overall championships in the pre-sale show under judge Chris Curry. Successful bidder was the Sligo-based Bostonia Charolais herd.

Claiming the second-top price of 22,000gns was Newshouse Lonestar from R M Adam and Son. This July 2015-born son of Dingle Hofmeister carried positive figures down the line, which was a noticeable selection criteria for a number of top-priced bulls throughout the sale.

The 16,000gns price tag was hit twice on the day. First at that mark was the golden Balthayock Lineup from the Walter family, Perth. This son of Ugie Echo is out of a daughter of the 28,000gns Balbithan Vespasian and heads to Middleton House Farm.

Northern Ireland breeder Mr Short from Omagh matched this price when he sold his October 2015-born Woodpark Longbow. Sired by Deeside Gulliver Et, Longbow was out of a homebred Corrie Allan-bred dam and sold to Jan Boomaars, Woldingham.

The overall champion was Edenhurst Leader from A and J Forrest. This May 2015-born bull is a son of the 17,000gns Sandleford Harrison, while the dam is Doonally New daughter Edenhurst Delight. Leader met a number of bids, but failed to gain the traction of the reserve champion, selling at 11,000gns to Wissington Grove Farm, Essex.

Claiming top spot in the intermediate championship was Northern Irish breeder Bartley Finnegan, Co Tyrone, with Battleford Laser. Sired by Lochend Apache and out of a Thrunton Socrates dam from Blelack, he sold for 11,000gns to S and D Bothwell, Fermanagh. Bartley also sold a younger full brother to the champion at 5,000gns.

The reserve junior champion also came from the North in the form of Mr Stubbs and Mr Burleigh’s Derryharney Lionheart. This August 2015-born son of proven easy-calver Blelack Digger met trade at 10,000gns, selling to Skirrid Farm.

Overall, 104 Charolais bulls found new homes, representing a 76% clearance with an average of £6,121.

Simmentals

David Wall, who passed away last year, continues to leave his mark in Simmental breeding circles. Since his passing, his females have won the Royal Highland Show, set a new Irish record price for the breed and now a son of a bull he sold has topped the Stirling sales at 21,000gns.

Overhill House Guinness 15 was the high seller and was sired by the €18,500 Curaheen Drifter. This April 2015-born bull had clinched the reserve senior championship the previous day for breeder Richard McCulloch, Armadale, before later selling for the top breed price to an undisclosed buyer.

Coming up trumps in the intermediate section and subsequently going on to claim the reserve overall championship was Dirnanean Grafter 15.

Bred and exhibited by the Shand family, Ellon, Grafter is a dark red July 2015-born son of Ranfurly Confederate and went on to sell for the second-top price of 20,000gns to Strathisla Farms, Perthshire.

The hotly tipped junior champion Aultmore Goliath 15 secured 16,000gns for his breeders W M Patterson and Son, Keith. This stylish September 2015-born bull is a son of Banwy Bonzo 10 and Hazelden Jingle 8. No stranger to the show ring, Goliath also secured the senior championship at last year’s stars of the future competition. He sold to R McCulloch, Armadale.

Two bulls traded at 15,000gns. The first came from MA Barlow, Leyland, with Denzies Gallant 15. This son of the 9,600gn Bosahan Dynamo 12 was born July 2015 and was the pick of R and P McAlister, Isle of Bute. Next at the price tag was one of the last bulls into the ring, Wolfstar Gold Digger 15. This Team Celtic 11-sired bull from A King, Tranent, was knocked down to MR and MT Quarm, Ayrshire.

Claiming top spot in the pre-sale show under judge Ted Fox was the day’s senior champion Islavale Gambler from Mr Stronach, Keith.

Sired by Atlow Dixon, the 15,000gns overall champion at the sale in 2014, he is out of a homebred Woodhall Walker dam. Gambler found a new home at 13,000gns to Backmuir Trading, Moyayshire.

Top of the Kilbride Farm’s group of 14 was a 12,000gns call for Kilbride Farm Goldstar 15. Sired by Kilbride Farm Wareen, who has bred bulls to 18,000gns, he is out Kilbride Farm Eunice. Successful bidder here was E Grant, Inverness.

Simmentals boasted the biggest number catalogued with 204 bulls and 29 females. Although all entered did not show on the day, numbers still remained well up on previous years. Altogether, 120 of the 160 bulls present sold to average £6,066, up £391 on the previous year. While averages were up, clearance rates dropped to 75%. There was a clear consensus among breeders of figures and preferred health status becoming apparent in customers’ bull selections.

Salers

The Salers bull trade was met with flying demand, with the small entry seeing 10 bulls sell to £6,983 average, a significant boost of £1,895 on the same sale last year.

Top price on the day of 12,000gns was achieved twice. First to hit the price tag was Whitebog Kracker from Messrs MacKenzie, Rossshire. Sired by Seawell Doplomat and from a Cumbria Fury-bred dam, he sold to the Donger family in Northamptonshire.

At the same money was P Boyd, Isle of Tiree, with the bull Drumaglea Kingpin 2. This Sancy son is out of a homebred Variegeois-bred dam. At 10,000gns was the overall male champion Whitebog Kipper, again from Messrs MacKenzie. This time, sire was homebred Whitebog Sandy and the dam was out of Uni.