A growing demand for quality bulls with size and scale from both UK and continental breeders, ensured a bumper trade for the best animals forward at the main Galloway sale at Castle Douglas, last week, where the fourth highest price paid at public auction was given.

With several breeders having sold bulls and heifers privately prior to the sale, this was one of the smallest ever February shows ever seen. But, what this two-day show and sale lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality, when Jimmy Wallace, Fingland, Dalry, Castle Douglas, secured a personal best selling a bull for 10,500gns. That was in a two-way split to the Fergusson families from Nether Rusko, Gatehouse of Fleet and Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas, respectively.

Following the breed record at 22,000gns, for a bull bred by Geordie Wilson, Reddings, Moffat, which sold to Germany in 1989, another at 13,500gns from Glengeith and one at 13,000gns from Mains of Penninghame, was Barack Obama of Fingland. This rising two-year-old had a daily liveweight gain of 1.08kg and is the first bull in recent years to hit the magical five-figure bracket.

From the 30 pedigree herd at Fingland, which runs alongside 20 cross-breds and 700 Blackface ewes bred pure, Obama is bred from the best female line in the herd. He is out of the Penninghame Icarus-sired cow, Lady Polka 1 of Fingland, which is a daughter of Marbrack Polka, a cow purchased as a birthday present for Jimmy’s wife, Margaret, at Frank Hunter Blair’s Marbrack dispersal. She also produced the couple’s previous top seller at 3200gns.

Obama, the reserve two-year-old bull champion, is the first son of Kirkmabreck Monarch – a Glenkiln Dynamite-sired bull with which a half share was bought privately from his breeders, John and David Wilson – to be sold.

Next in the ratings were two bulls at 5800gns – one from Peter Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh, Dalry, and the other from John and Ann Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock, respectively.

First at that was Quincy of Nether Cleugh, a 17-month-old bull by the privately purchased Doon of Urr Anonymous which also bred last year’s sale leader at 5500gns for Nether Cleugh. Another with a strong female line, Quincy is out of the Barlaes Volunteer daughter, Barlaes Katie 24, that stood reserve champion at the Highland as a two-year-old. Forking out the cash for this youngster was Mark De Wymter-Smith, who has been increasing herd numbers at Exmoor Forest Farms, Cornham, Minehead, Somerset, in recent years.

Minutes later, the Finlays received the same for the male champion, Blackcraig Quartz, a bull with Australian bloodlines on both sides. He is the first son to be sold off Blackcraig Nimrod, a Globex Winchester son out of the heifer, Blackcraig Noreen, which is by Globex Xplosive X63. Quartz also heads to the far south, being bought by John Heard, Hughslade, Oakhampton, Devon. The majority of the Blackcraig heifers were also by Nimrod which sold to a top of 2300gns and 2000gns.

Averages: 20 bulls, £3150 (+£525 for one more sold); 52 bulling heifers, £1059.29 (+£50.70 for one less); 11 served heifers, £1546.36 (+£273.86 for four fewer).