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The renowned Stirling bull sales kicked off this weekend, with the Angus breed first through the ring.
Scheduled two weeks later than usual due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, trade throughout remained strong, with eight Angus bulls reaching five-figure sums.
While no pre-sale show took place, a restricted number of buyers were allowed ringside - unlike in Ireland where none are allowed.
Top of the trade
Topping trade was Galcantray Jedi Eric V287, which sold for 15,000gns.
Bred and exhibited by David Walker, this May 2019-born bull is sired by Jac Just Eric and out of a home-bred dam sired by Carlhurlie Deka.
He was secured in a two-way split by the Drumhill and Blelack herds.
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.
Champion cow
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.
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 the price
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, which sold 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.
Former Stirling champion
Trustees of the late Gordon Brooke offered three bulls at the sale, 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.
Securing a bid of 9,000gns was Newhouse Express from the Adam family. This August 2019-born bull is sired by Tonley Pato and out of the dam Tonley Emiline P119.
Ettrick Bluetooth V241 from Messrs Gray secured a price of 8,500gns. This bull is sired by the aforementioned Linton Gilbertines President and out of the Belle family line, which bred the top-priced bull at the October Stirling bull sales.
Impressive clearance rate
Two bulls hit the 8,000gns mark. First of these was Wrae Proud Ignatius V372 from Alexander Norrie.
Sired by Blelack Lord Heathcliff, this April 2019-born bull is out of a home-bred cow sired by Lord Stockton x48 of Tullyfergus.
Matching the price was the best of the Massie family’s offering, Blelack Evolve V000.
This July 2019-born bull contains the famous Evora line on both the top and bottom of his pedigree. Sired by Weeton Evolution R447, he is out of Blelack Evora R579.
Overall, the sale of Angus reported an impressive 86% clearance rate, with the average price settling at £6,499, up nearly £700 on the year.
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