Bulls from Cookstown-based Aberdeen Angus breeders Jonathan and Lisa Doyle of the Drumhill herd, took the senior and intermediate champions, the overall championship, and the top price, at the United Auctions bull sales event in Stirling on Monday.

Leading the way for them to take the intermediate and overall supreme championship was the March 2015-born Drumhill Lord Hatfield R532. This ET-bred Nightingale Proud Jake G405 son is out of Blelack Lady Heather J169, herself a daughter of the popular sire Netherallan Peter Pershore E052.

With a self replacing index of +50, Lord Hatfield heads back to NI at 11,000gns with Kevin Mcoscar, Cookstown, for his Island Farm herd.

The Doyles’ senior champion, Drumhill Lord Hampton R414, went on to sell for 5,000gns. This Peter Pershore son is out of Blelack Lady Heather E169 and sold to the noted Nightingale herd of the Robertson family, Pershore, Worcestershire.

Also heading back to NI with a 10,000gns price tag was the reserve intermediate and reserve overall champion, Linton Gilbertines Masterpiece R941, from the Trustees of the Late Gordon Brooke, at Upper Huntleywood Farm, Earlston.

By Rawburn Black Hawk L261, he is out of the Riverbed Powerline daughter, Linton Gilbertines Missy L457 and has a self-replacing index of +53 and a terminal index of +43. The bull sold to J Kelly, Co Derry.

Overall, 26 bulls sold out of 40 offered, to average £5,379, up £835 on last year.

Blelack sale sets new record

Also at the Stirling Angus sale, the Blelack herd of Messrs Neil and Graeme Massie, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire, set a new female breed record of 35,000gns.

The sale leader was Blelack Lady Eraline J258, an ET-bred May 2009-born daughter of Oneills Renovator and out of Oneills Lady Eraline. She sold to Hannah and Eric Heerema of Balavil Estate, Kingussie, in the Scottish Highlands.

Among other top prices, the Elliot family of the Rawburn herd in the Scottish Borders, sold their March 2014-born heifer, Rawburn Evergreen P899, for 6,500gns to James Alexander, Randalstown, Co Antrim.

This one is a daughter of Rawburn Black Hawk L261 and is out of Rawburn Evergreen J004, a Rawburn Randolph F555 daughter.