We may only be three weeks into 2017, but the first of the bull sales are fast approaching with the first – United Auctions’ multi-breed sales at Stirling, kicking off on Monday, February 6.
As in previous years, the sales, which this year have attracted an entry of 1048 pedigree bulls and females featuring no fewer than seven different breeds, are being split over two weeks, but there is a change to the first batch.
In a bid to make the actual sales more efficient and reduce the amount of time farmers have to spend away from their businesses, United Auctions has curtailed the number of actual sales days. Instead, all animals forward in the first week will be sold on Monday February 6. This means the shows of bulls and females in both the Aberdeen Angus and Beef Shorthorn breeds will be staged on Sunday, February, 5.
Monday will see the show of Limousin bulls and females and the sales of all three breeds to include the entry of five British Blue bulls.
Aberdeen Angus bulls have topped the entry leader board, with no fewer than 174 expected along with 35 females. Meanwhile the Beef Shorthorn entries stand at 97 bulls and 44 females, with Limousin numbers standing at 81 and five respectively.
The remainder of the continental breeds will be sold two weeks later, with Sunday, February 19 witnessing the show of Simmental bulls and females and Salers bulls.
On Monday, February, 20, the sales will kick off with an entry of 16 Salers females and 29 bulls, which will be followed the same day by the Simmental sale, comprising 29 females and 220 bulls – the biggest entry of the entire sales. 
The show of 186 Charolais bulls and 26 females will also be staged on the Monday, and sold the following day on Tuesday, February 21.

Judges

Aberdeen-Angus – Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney
Beef Shorthorn – George Somerville, Aardar, Manse Road, Terrregles, Dumfries
Limousin – Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Bowsden, Berwick upon Tweed
Salers – Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney
Simmental – Ted Fox, St John’s Kirk, Symington, Biggar
Charolais – Chris Curry, Low Burradon, Thropton, Morpeth