Having topped the trade in Carlisle on Friday at 70,000gns, Bruce Goldie travelled to United Auctions, Stirling, and claimed the overall junior and supreme Limousin championship on Sunday, before going on to achieve the highest price of 36,000gns (€43,584) on Monday for his Limousin bull, Goldies Volvo.
Not only did he top the Limousin trade, Volvo was the highest-priced bull across all breeds at Stirling, selling to Garrowby Farm in York. A son of the herd’s stock bull Ampertaine Opportunity, who is certainly making a name for himself, Volvo’s dam is a daughter of Goldies Juggler, going back to Wilodge Cerberus.
As well as excelling in the show ring, this April 2024-born bull carries a good set of figures, coupled with one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes.
Anside Valor from the Irvine team in Banffs was next best in the Limousin at 19,000gns (€23,002), selling to Messrs Grant in Perthshire. This March 2024-born bull is homebred on both sides, sired by Anside Superted and out of the Anside Orton bred dam, Anside Suzie. Once again, he carries a nice balance of figures, as well as two copies of the F94L gene. Overall, 39 Limousin bulls sold to average £9,329 (€10,756).
Irish Genetics
The breed achieving the highest average was the Simmental, selling 61 bulls to average £11,070 (€12,764). Leading the trade at 30,000gns (€36,320) was the overall junior champion Garmouth Robert 24, from Laura Green in Morayshire. Having claimed the overall male championship at the Royal Highland Show in June, this fantastic April 2024-born bull was on many buyer lists.
A son of the Irish-bred stock bull Rathnashan Magnum, his dam Garmouth Glory’s Jessica has proved herself in the past, producing bulls to 10,000gns. Robert will now join Reece and Andrew Simmers Backmuir herd in Morayshire.
The Green family’s success did not stop there, as Corskie Rome 24 was awarded the overall champion and went on to sell for 20,000gns (€24,213).
Once again, this January 2024-born bull is sired by the impressive Irish-bred stock bull Rathnashan Magnum.
Selling for the second highest price in the Simmentals at 26,000gns (€31,477) was Islavale Ruben from WS Stronach in Banffshire. Born in April 2024, this Rockytop Luca 20 son goes back to a Shacon Hannibal 16 bred dam and was acquired by the Towiemore herd in Keith.
Charolais
A price tag of 18,000gns (€21,792) was hit on three occasions in the Charolais section. Glenericht Verdi was the first to go under the hammer at that money selling to the Isle-of-Tiree.
Exhibited by Alan Drysdale from Perthshire, this single Q204X carrier is a son of Caylers Oxford, out of a Caylers Gladiator-bred dam.
Wensleydale Vinegar from the Timm family was the next Charolais to exchange hands at 18,000gns (€21,792), finding a new home in Aberdeenshire.
A son of Balthayock Nominee out of Tweeddale Olive, this April 2024-born bull had an eye-catching calving figure of +12.
The overall junior champion Maerdy Victory from Esmor Evans was the last bull to reach the 18,000gns (€21,792) mark. A son of Oakchurch Samson and a homebred dam by Maerdy Montypython, this single carrier of the F94L and Q204X genes displayed a below average calving figure of +5.2. The Charolais breed sold the most bulls across all breeds, as 85 bulls averaged £9,023 (€10,403).
Aberdeen Angus
Leading the Angus trade at 18,000gns (€21,792) was Tonley Errol A187 from Neil Wattie, selling to Brisca Farm in Dumfries. A son of Kilmaluag Eriskay going back to the Evora’s of Blelack, this May 2024-born bull packed some massive 200- 400- and 600-day weight figures.
A bid of 12,500gns (€15,133) secured Orbliston Prince Columbus A307 for Messrs Steele in Perth. Bred by the Shepherd family in Perth, this senior bull was homebred on both sides of his pedigree.
When all was settled, 32 Angus bulls exchanged hands averaging £7,656 (€8,827).
Shorthorn
Prices peaked at 6,500gns (€7,869) in the Shorthorns bulls for the overall champion Meonside Valantis from D and T Bradley, who also received the highest price of 9,000gns (€10,896) in the Shorthorn females for Meonside Jen Viva La Juicy. On the day, four Shorthorn bulls sold to average £5,644 (€6,507), however, Shorthorns did sell the most females, as 26 Shorthorn heifers averaged £4,362 (€5,029).