AN ORDER for 100 straws of Aberdeen-Angus semen for export to Estonia from a bull from the Rosemount herd has been confirmed at this week’s bull sales at Stirling.

The semen has been sold by Rosemount herd owners, Alex and Wendy Sanger, of PB Scanlan and Partners, Prettycur Farm, Hillside, Montrose, Angus, from their stock bull, Chapelton Eventer E809.

Bred by QMS chairman, Donald Biggar, Chapelton, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, the bull was second in his class at the Perth bull sales three years ago when purchased by Mr and Mrs Sanger for 23,000gns.

The buyers, Mellis and Piret Marmor, have just sold 20 in calf heifers and 18 yearling heifers from their Angus herd in Estonia to Belarus, and are developing a market for Angus beef in Estonia through their own butchers’ shops.

“Aberdeen-Angus is a new beef brand for Estonia where the main meat is pork,” said Ms Marmor. “More beef is now being eaten and we are experiencing a strong demand for our organic, grass-fed Aberdeen-Angus beef. With increasing demand for beef in the domestic market and a buoyant market for breeding stock to Belarus and other former Eastern Bloc countries, we see a good future for the Aberdeen-Angus breed in Estonia.”

Mr and Mrs Marmor run a herd of 74 Angus cows and followers, trading as Aberdeen Top Genetics Estonia. The herd was founded in 2006, with the purchase of heifers from the Cairnton, Tonley, Whinbush and Rosemount herds and a further 35 heifers from the 200-cow Rosemount herd in 2007. Two stock bulls were also purchased from Tonley and Cairnton.

“The Aberdeen-Angus breed is becoming well established in Estonia and we hope the use of semen from our stock bull will help the breed continue to progress,” said Mr Sanger.