DESPITE a top of 18,000gns and six further five-figure transactions, Charolais bulls met a disappointing trade on the final day of the bull sales, with averages dropping £1400 per head to level at £5674.

This year’s trade was up against a buoyant trade last year, which had a lead price of 50,000gns plus many five-figure sales, so it was always going to be a struggle to match it. While several bulls were turned out unsold, the clearance rate was a respectable 63%, with three more sold. Of the 132 bulls forward, 83 found new homes.

It was a bull with good calving figures that topped the trade at 18,000gns. This was the reserve senior champion and overall runner-up, Goldies Linford ET, an April, 2015-born bull from Hamish Goldie’s herd, from South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell, Dumfries. This beefy boy is bred from the best heifer retained that year, Goldies Happiness, by the 34,000gns Goldies Uppermost. His sire is the easy calving bull, Blelack Digger, and he sold to Welsh pedigree breeder and vet, Esmor Evans, who owns one of the UK’s largest herds at Monfa, Mold, Wales.

His full brother, Goldies Landmark ET, which was third in his class, was bought by Aberdeenshire producers, J and W Kellas, Raws, Dufftown, Keith, for 11,000gns.

Flying the flag for Ireland, Diarmuid O’Kane produced his best ever sale in Ovill Lennon ET, a first prize May, 2015-born bull which made 16,000gns to Bill Bruce, Balmyle, Perth. Another backed by top genetics, he is bred from Sagesse Florienne, a heifer by Oldstone Egbert, and is sired by the AI bull, Goldies Usher.

Good figured bulls from Major Walter’s Balthayock herd from Perth, brought out by Tracey and Davie Nicol, again proved popular, with sales at 14,000gns and 10,500gns. Their team of five averaged £8820.

Dearest was Balthayock Loyalist, the junior champion purchased by the pre-sale judge, Bob Adam and his wife, Kay, for their herd at Newhouse of Glamis. Another boasting a cracking female line, he is bred from the Balbithan Vespasian daughter, Balthayock Glory ET, while the sire is Maerdy Grenadier, bought for 20,000gns.

Earlier, Balthayock Legend, an April, 2015-born bull, made 10,500gns. By Swalesmoor Cracker, he is out of Balthayock Gigi, by the 28,000gns Balbithan Vespasian, and was knocked down to Ian and Katherine Hepburn, Northhouse, Hawick.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out October 22, for the full round-up from the Stirling Bull Sales.