The Shorthorn breed enjoyed an incredible day of trading at this year’s Stirling bull sales. Scheduled two weeks later than usual due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, records were smashed, with a new top price and highest average.

Bulls sold to a high of 27,000gns (£28,350), with an average price of £6,127. This average was up a massive £1,347. A total of 54 bulls sold, representing a 79% clearance rate.

Topping the sale was the 20-month-old Meonside Nidavellir from D and T Bradley Farmer, Drumfriesshire. This son of former Stirling champion Willingham Kensington was secured by LJ Townsend.

This topped an exceptional day for the Meonside herd, with Meonside Nosty selling for 12,000gns moments earlier.

Meonside Nosty who sold for 12,000gns

This young bull was also sired by Willingham Kensington and found a new home with JF Irving and son.

The Meonside herd also sold two females at 6,500gns and 3,800gns. Both these heifers were also sired by Kensington.

Muiresk Northern Dancer secured the second-highest price of the sale at 14,000gns. Bred and exhibited by Stuart Mair and Sons, this rising two-year-old bull is sired by Alvie Galaxy.

Muiresk Northern Dancer who sold for 14,000gns.

Two lots hit the 10,000gns mark. First at the money was Glenisla Nobleman from Major JPO Gibb. This two-year-old son of Broughton Park Thunder was secured by GL Riby.

The same exhibitor also secured 9,500gns for Glenisla Nitro. This March 2019-born bull is sired by the 12,000gns Millerstown Jamboree.

The second lot at the 10,000gns mark was Chapelton Nearco from Messrs Biggar. This 23-month-old bull is sired by the 15,000gns Balnabroich Kermit.

A select number of females on offer also proved to be in demand, selling to 7,500gns. This set a February sale record price for a Shorthorn female.

Securing the record price was Millerston Iranian Marilyn from Grace Ramsay. This nearly three-year-old heifer is a daughter of Glenrinnes Goliath and was knocked down to A and C Farms.

Angus

The Angus breed got the Stirling bull sales off to a good start, with eight bulls making five-figure sums.

Topping trade was Galcantray Jedi Eric V287 at 15,000gns. Bred and exhibited by David Walker, this May 2019-born bull is sired by Jac Just Eric and out of a homebred dam sired by Carlhurlie Deka.

Galcantray Jedi Eric V287 who sold for 15,000gns. \ MacGregor Photography

The sale topper was secured in a two-way split between Jonathan and Lisa Doyle’s Northern Irish-based Drumhill herd and the Massies’ Blelack herd in Scotland.

Hitting the market at 12,000gns was Duncanziemere Jetstream V322. This April 2019-born bull was brought out by regular Stirling attendees Allister Clark and sons.

Sired by 2019 Highland Show champion Carruthers Grenadier, he is out of the herd’s best breeding cow, Duncanziemere Jill S183. Sold having served, he was the choice of the Tonley herd.

Duncanziemere Jetstream who sold for 12,000gns. \ MacGregor Photography

The Duncanziemere team also sold Mr Bellman V347 at 8,000gns. This July 2019-born bull is also a son of Grenadier, while the dam previously bred a Highland Show champion cow.

Andrew and Emma Hodge of the Rulesmains herd were next in line, selling two bulls at 11,500gns and 11,000gns respectively. The upper of these was Rulesmains Lord Hugh V245.

Sired by the highly indexed Rawburn Braw Lad, Lord High is out of a Rawburn Black Hawk daughter from the Lady Heather family.

At 11,000gns was Rulesmains Kai V226, another son of Braw Lad. Kai is out of a daughter of the 17,000gns Hallington Edition and goes back to the famous Kim line.

Matching this 11,000gns price tag was the previous lot through the ring Idvies Frank V892. This April 2019-born bull was brought out by the Fraser family of Forfar.

Homebred on both sides, Frank’s pedigree includes the 10,000gns Gretnahouse Prince Cool and Highland Show interbreed champion Shadwell Black Broughton.

Best of the Stouphill herd offering was Major Primus V267, selling for 10,500gns. Bred and exhibited by Dallas and Ruth Allen, this April 2019-born bull is a son of the herd’s stock bull Rawburn Estonian, himself a Rawburn Boss Hogg son.

Trustees of the late Gordon Brooke offered three bulls on the day, with two hitting 10,000gns. These two bulls, Gordon Picasso and Gordon Phoenix, were June 2019-born ET full brothers sired by Netherallen Peter Pershore and out of Belhaven Pole Star. These bulls were full brothers to the former Stirling champion Linton Gilbertines President, which sold for 17,000gns, and maternal brothers to Linton Gilbertines Powerhouse, which sold for 22,000gns.

The Angus breed also witnessed a substantial increase in average price, rising to £6,499, up £679 on the year. This increased average was matched with an impressive clearance of 86% or 66 bulls sold.

Limousin

The Limousin breed continued the success of the Carlisle bull sales, with bulls in Stirling for the breed rising by £1,050 on the year. This brought the average price up to £5,911 for 34 bulls sold, representing a 79% clearance rate.

Topping trade was a black polled Limousin by the name of Cairness Fraserburgh. Bred and exhibited by William and David Moir, this bull was sired by Goldies Goldfinger and is out of Knock Fifi. Securing Fraserburgh at 11,000gns was D Walker, Ayrshire.

The second five-figure bull in the Limousin breed was Harestone Playboy, which hit the market at 10,000gns. This June 2019-born bull is a son of Claragh Franco and is out of a full sister to former record-priced female Glenrock Illusion.

The second round of the Stirling bull sales takes place this weekend, with the Simmental, Charolais and Salers breeds taking centre stage.

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