Selling for the top price of 9000gns was Melbreak Hero from the judge of the pre-sale shows, James Callion and wife Alison of Shaneragh, Dromore, County Tyrone. Their January-born embryo son of Rossignol is out of Sarkley Tarriane, which has bred heifers to 6400gns and is maternal sister to the 28,000gns Sarkley Arriana. Hero carries a beef value of +23 and was knocked down to John Richardson of Ghyll House, Appleby, Cumbria, with semen having been drawn and retained for use in the Melbreak herd.
Making the second top price among the calves was the best of the heifer calves from Dougie and Linda Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blairdrummond, Stirling. Their Burnbank Honey is by Carmorn Dauphin, which is out of the noted cow Carmorn Penny, and out of the home-bred Rocky-sired Burnbank Damson. Honey, born in January, realised 7000gns and joins two of the Red Ladies Derby sale leaders, Trueman Grazia and Nebo Favourite, on the lorry load to Cowporation, Netherlands.
See this week's The Scottish Farmer for full report, out December 22.
