The renowned Stirling bull sales took place last Monday at United Auctions, with more than 200 bulls present across three main breeds. The cold weather experienced over the past month wasn’t enough to deter both sellers and buyers, with a packed ringside on both the Sunday and Monday.
Those present weren’t afraid to invest in the bull of their choice, with a strong commercial influence on bull selection. Easier-calved growthy bulls continued to fetch the higher end of the commercial market, with those carrying poorer EBVs for calving a harder sell.
Beef Shorthorn
Topping the trade and representative of the quality of show was the Beef Shorthorn breed. While averages took a slight drop on the record-breaking sales last year, it still settled at over £5,800.
The breed has worked tirelessly on improving the beef traits of the breed since the introduction of the beef premiums a number of years back and are now reaping the rewards at the sales for it.
Securing the top price of 20,000gns was Jack Ramsay’s Millerstown Kasper. This much-admired son of Meonhill Charlie had garnered a lot of attention pre-sale, giving his strong female line which saw both his dam and granddam classifying as excellent.
Charlie progeny are no strangers to the limelight, with another son of his securing the overall championship at last year’s February sales before selling for 10,000gns. Successful bidder of the top seller was L Townsend, Coxhill farm, Moffat.
Tipped for champion but having to settle for a second prize rosette was Balnabroich Kermit from Balnabroich farms. This May 2016-born bull was sired by Glenisla Centurian and out of the Glengloy Lovely Cecilia.
This very stylish red and white bull had a lot of people on him before the hammer eventually dropped at 15,000gns to the famous Chapelton herd of James Biggar.
Following the strong trend, a further two bulls traded at 11,000gns. First in the money was the senior champion Willingham Katabatic.
Sired by Fearn Wyvis and out of an Uppermill Morse-bred dam, this bull carries a calving index of +7.2, making him one of the easiest-calving bulls forward.
Brought out by the Haigh family, he found a new home in Wales with Mr I Evans.
The second bull to make the price also achieved a championship sash. This bull was the reserve junior champion Coldrochie Kensington from Douglas McMillian.
This bull also carried Fearn blood, with the sire Fearn Godfather sold earlier in the day, as part of the Coldrochie dispersal, for 20,000gns.
This bull was originally purchased at the sales in 2015 for 10,000gns and successful buyer was the original breeder John Scott. Successful buyer of the reserve junior champion was LFP farms.
The Haigh family were back in the money and topped a very good few days when they sold the breed’s overall champion for 10,000gns. The stylish champion was much admired throughout the day of the sale, not just by Shorthorn breeders but those in other breed circles, who also commented on his style and correctness.
This April-born Willingham Kensington was sired by homebred Willingham Haigh and out of Glenisla Eva Broadhooks G934. Successful bidder for the roan champion was Drayton Farm, Hampshire.
In total, 59 Shorthorn bulls sold on the day representing a 75% clearance.
Thrunton Panther was the highest-priced Angus at 15,000gns. \ MacGregor photography
Dispersal
The aforementioned Coldrochie dispersal was also met with a flying trade. Along with the 20,000gns bid for the senior stock bull Fearn Godfather, there were a number of high-selling females.
Topping the female lots was the eight-year-old Glenisla Desiree D778 who sold for 12,000gns. Sired by Holmeere George, she was sold alongside her Knockenjig Foremost August calf.
Successful bidder was S Anderson, Thistledown, Costock Grange. This was one of many lots secured by the herd, having also secured the first lot into the ring, Coldrochie Irania Rainbow K9, at 8,000gns.
This March 2016 cow was again sired by the 12,000gns Knockenjig Foremost and sold due to calve in three months.
Also heading to Costock Grange is the 7,000gns Coldrochie Bro adhooks K35. This almost two-year-old heifer was again sired by Foremost and has had previous success at Perth Show where she was awarded champion.
Mr Anderson wasn’t afraid to spend on the right lots, with Coldrochie Secret Swift also finding a home with him at 6,000gns. This three-year-old again sees Foremost in the lineage, with Chapelton Neptune as the grandsire.
Securing a bid of 9,000gns was Coldrochie Grace Beauty J40. Sired by Foremost, this first-calver was sold alongside her August calf by Foremost. This was one of many who found a new home with the aforementioned LFP farms.
Angus
While Angus bulls mightn’t have seen high flyers like other years, trade can be described as a lot more steady, with a much stronger middle ground.
A good selection of able commercial men’s bulls assisted in maintaining trade throughout the day. In total, 101 bulls sold to an average of £5,746, representing a 72% clearance that saw averages rise by £11.
Topping trade across the Angus scene was the first-prizewinning Thrunton Panther from Messrs Campbell.
This Hallington Edition son was out of homebred Netherallan Peter Pershore daughter Thrunton Paradise. Securing the bull at a price of 15,000gns was the Fraser family, who run the Idvies herd in Forfar.
This came on the back of a very good Sunday for the Idvies outfit who secured the overall championship with Idvies Ferrari. Awarding him the championship was Northern Ireland breeder Alan Morrison, who runs the well-known Drumeer herd in Co Fermanagh.
Ferrari is sired by the herd’s 10,000gns stock bull Gretnahouse Prince Kool and from one the Idvies best female line, the Flowers. Despite the championship sash and a strong pedigree, Ferrrari failed to meet his reserve and will now return home to be retained for the Frasers’ own use.
The second-top price of the day wasn’t far behind the breed’s sale leader at 14,000gns. This came in the form of Wanda Hobbs Ellin Ergo S481.
Again a first-placed bull, this animal carried a positive calving figure, with growth rates within the top 10%. Sired by OGL Battle Cry son Wedderlie Target, Ergo is out of the homebred Ellin Eragle. Successful bidder of the September 2016-born bull was Robson & Co of Yatesfield.
Hitting a price of 12,000gns was Stouphill Lord Ramon from Dallas Allen. This bull is out of stock sire Duncanziemere Jigsaw and goes back to the well-known Lady Rose line at Rawburn. Placing third in his class, he was secured by Alasdair Houston for his Gretnahouse herd.
Selling at 10,500gns was Hamish Sclater’s second-prizewinner Deveron Eldon S554. This April 2016-born bull is a son of Belhaven Dryburgh Abbey and out of the herd best line Deveron, the Elize. He found a new home with Vance Ltd in Whithorn.
A further five bulls traded at 10,000gns. First in was the first-prizewinning Linton Gilbertaines Profile from the trustees of the late Gordon Brooke, a Rawburn Elysium son. The senior champion Logie Explosive from Mr Bruce and Partners also shared the price tag. This was a son of Rawburn Enoch.
Tonley were the next to hit the 10,000gns mark, which they hit twice on the day. The first was Tonley Eagle sired by homebred Tonley Essien. Belhaven El Burladero by the well-known Gretnahouse Blacksmith was the next in line at that price tag, while, finally, the sale’s reserve junior champion, Tonley Emmerson, again from the Wattie family, was the last to hit the five-figure mark.
Tonley also came out on top of the small number of females forward. Their two-year-old Tonley Princess S273 was awarded overall female champion before selling for 7,000gns to the McOscar family in Northern Ireland.
Dyke McBeth was the highest-priced Limousin at 13,000gns. \ Macgregor
Limousin
The Limousin breed was the last of the major breeds to have a sale held at Stirling in the last week. Averages for the breed rose significantly on the year, with 62 selling for £5,814, up £712 on the year. This represented a clearance of 81%.
Topping the trade with a call of 13,000gns was the day’s intermediate champion Dyke MacBeth from Jimmy and Donald MacGregor.
Sired by the 8,500gns Netherall Gilbert, he is out of homebred Cappaduff Aaron-bred daughter Dyke Florette. Gilbert is well used to breeding champions having also sired the breed champion at the May sales. Successful bidder was Dunlops at Pinvalley, Girvan.
Two further bulls hit the five-figure mark. First to hit 10,000gns was the Bruce family’s supreme champion Goldie’s Black Manhattan. This Black Limousin was secured by well-known breeder across a number of breeds John Elliot. Sired by homebred Goldies Fortess, a son of the renowned Wilodge Vantastic, Black Manhattan is out of Goldie’s Dalmatian.
Matching them at the price tag was the first-prizewinning Powerful Irish son Creran Mourinho. This one was exhibited by Ewen MacGillvray and found a new home with D Fisher, Groan farm.
The Dick family’s Ronick Material, a son of Stephick Hero, sold for 9,500gns. Out of Ronick Fatella, he sold to Carr Farms, Northamptonshire. Matching them at the price tag was the Brown family’s Hollyberry Marius. Sired by Ronick Hawk, this one is out of a former reserve junior champion at Lincolnshire Show.
Next Friday, the Limousins will take centre stage in Carlisle as the British Limousin Cattle Society hosts its premier sale, while the following week, Charolais and Simmental will host spring sales in Stirling.
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