More Angus bulls sell with 18,000gns top

While a disappointing show of senior bulls put a slight dampner on the proceedings early on, trade soon picked up for the intermediate and junior bulls where prices peaked at 18,000gns with a further seven bulls selling at or above the magical 10,000gns bracket. Overall, 111 changed hands to average £5735 – down £7 on the year, but for eight more sold.

Clearance rates were also up on the year at 76%, compared to just 70% last year.

And, as always, the lead bulls sold into pedigree herds, with the 18,000gns lot from John Lascelles, Balmachie herd at Carnoustie, heading for the Rawburn herd owned by John and Johnnie Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, who purchased Balmachie Jack Eric, an April 2015-born bull, from Carnoustie breeder, John Lascelles, Balmachie.

Producing a personal best at public auction for Mr Lascelles' 25-cow herd, was Balmachie Jack Eric, a 22-month-old bull that is also one of the first calves by the Canadian ET, Balmachie Ben Vorlich, which was used for three seasons and has since been sold privately to George Kinaldy and George Hendry.

The mother, Balmachie Juana Erica, by Rawburn Transformer, is also one of the best females in the herd, with three daughters retained and one destined for the Highland Show in June.

Another appeal for Mr Elliot, who runs 200 pedigree cows was the fact that Jack Eric is a myostatin single version carrier, with good calving figures, which is apparently, difficult to find.

Almost financing that big bid, Rawburn sold two bulls at 8000gns, with the first, Rawburn El Macho – the highest indexed bull in the catalogue – selling to Austrian breeder, ???? over the telephone. He is by Rawburn Dublin, which has already bred sons to 6000gns and out of Rawburn Ellen Erica.

Another bred from the same female line, Elliot Excalibur ET by Rawburn Transformer, made the same money selling to Elsick Estates, Mains of Newhall, Newtonhill, Stonehaven.

Father and son team, Neil and Graeme Massie, who although dispersed their Blelack herd from Dinnet, Aboyne, in October, were back for more with a cracking team of 10 bulls that averaged £7245.

The duo also produced the second top priced bull at 16,000gns, when their third prize junior bull, Blelack Pontius, sold to John and Marion Tilson, and daughter Wanda Hobbs, who own the Wedderlie herd at Gordon, Berwickshire. Their bull, brought out by Gordon Fraser, is one of the first bulls sold by the Blelack Egotist son, Blelack Banjo, whose dam, Blelack Miss Bangle, sold for 15,000gns at the herd dispersal. Pontius, is a heifer's calf, out of Blelack Pride, by the Australian sire, Carrington Park Time.

The Massies who are calving 55 Angus heifers this year with the intention to build numbers up to 80, also received 10,000gns for the youngest bull in the catalogue, Blelack Blue Jay, which is by the Blelack Duke son, Blelack Lord Hampton. Another heifer's calf, Jay is out of a home-bred daughter of the 9000gns cow, Blelack Blackbird, which was also sold at the dispersal. Final bidder was Wilts breeder, AW Neish, Rodmead, Maiden, Bradley, Warminster.

And, at 8000gns, Blelack Latitude ET, bred from the bought in cow, Lockerley Laura and sired by Hallington Picasso, was bought by Glenbervie Aberdeen Angus, Drumlithie, Stonehaven.

Bulls from Alasdair Houston's Gretna House herd from Gretna, always prove popular and this year was no exception with the 25-cow herd, selling four to average in excess of £10,000. Dearest at 15,000gns was Gretnahouse Exocet, a similarly aged bull bred from the first home-bred Angus female, Gretnahouse Eliza – a daughter of the foundation cow, Blelack Eliza. Equally impressive is the sire, Gretnahouse Blacksmith, the bull part owned with Haymount, which has already bred three sons at 10,000gns. Exocet was knocked down to pedigree breeder, Douglas Shand, who manages 100 cows for Schivas Estates, at Ythanbank, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

Notably, the full brother to Gretnahouse Blacksmith, Gretnahouse Black Ballboy, brought out by stockman John Morton, made 13,000gns selling to Glympton Estates, Glympton, Woodstock, Oxford. Blelack genetics are again behind this cracking ET bull which is the result of a flush from the foundation cow, Blelack Blackbird, by Netherallan Peter Pershore, and sired by Blelack Duke.

There were smiles all round too from the Duncanziemere camp, when the Clarks – Alistair and sons, Brian and Alistair – Cumnock, Ayrshire, sold five bulls to average £9500, with a lead bid of 15,000gns. All their bulls were sons of Rawburn Jester Eric, the inter-breed champion at the Highland Show, in 2014, whose sons have already sold to 9000gns to average £6500.

Superceding that price this time was Duncanziemere Judge, which is bred from the 2006 Highland Show champion, Duncanziemere Jody, a cow that has bred sons up to 10,000gns, while her daughters have produced sons to 9000gns. Andrew Hodge and his daughter Emma, forked out the cash for this 18-month-old second prize winner, for their Rulesmains herd at Duns.

The Clark's first bull, Duncanziemere Scotstoun, made 9500gns selling to Wedderlie. This 21-month-old cracker that stood first in his class at the pre-sale show and second prize junior yearling at the Highland, is out of the Auldhouseburn Karlos daughter, Duncanziemere Schelda.

And at 8500gns Duncanziemere Jack Daniels, bred from the same Jody family as the 15,000gns bull, was knocked down to Huntlyhill Mains Farm, Lanark.

Borders' breeders enjoyed a good day in the show and the sale ring, with Ewan and Alison Brewis and son Michael, selling four bulls at £8321, from a lead price of 13,000gns. Tops for this 35-cow herd from Lempitlaw, Kelso, was Eastfield Jockey, the reserve intermediate champion, brought out by stockman, Iain McGillivary. Bred from one of the best female lines, this rising two-year-old is out of the Rawburn Edge daughter, Eastfield Jessie, whose family has bred in excess of £40,000 of bull sales. Jockey is also the first son sold from the privately purchased Abberton Proud Nixen, by Ankonian Elixir. Pedigree breeder, John Coutrip, who owns the Wingfield herd at Stalisfield, Faversham, Kent, was the last man in here.

The same sire was behind Eastfield Fiddler, which made 9000gns selling up to Orkney with Raymond Flaws, Nisthouse, Evie. He is out of the Rawburn Rochester daughter, Eastfield Fanta.

While most breeders had a great sale, it was nevertheless a poignant day for David Lucas and his daughter Sian Sharpe, who were selling for the last time at this event as their Cheeklaw herd from Duns, is being dispersed in October.

Mr Lucas, who is retiring later in the year, also produced the herd's first overall championship here, with Cheeklaw Jake Eric, which came through the ranks as intermediate leader with young Jamie Rettie at the helm. A son of the privately purchased Cardona Proud Punch, which was placed at the Highland as a calf, Jake Eric is out of the Tweedside Jewgal Eric daughter, Cheeklaw Jaye Erica and sold to NA and J De Cogan, Killanuckey, Castle Martyr, Co Cork, Eire.

Also heading across the Irish Sea, with a 8500gns price tag was Drumhill Lord Harry ET, which is bred from the Peter Pershore daughter, Blelack Lady Heather and sired by Nightinale Proud Jake. Consigned by Northern Ireland breeders, Jonathan and Lisa Doyle, Drumhill, Cookstown, this May 2015-born bull was knocked down to P Cahill, Shankhill, Lower Cavan, Co Cavan, Eire.

Two other bulls sold for 8000gns to include Wyddial Blackbeard, from HB and I Hodge and Son, Glenshochie, Stanley, Perth. Bred from the top breeding female, Blelack Blackbird F528, and sired by Rawburn Lord Ross, this 22-month-old, headed south with JS Fleming, Castle Sinniness, Glenluce, Stranraer.

Matching that, was the junior champion and reserve overall from Wedderlie, which was brought out by Richard and Carol Rettie. Selling to G Raeburn, Lodge Hill, Newhousmill Road, East Kilbride, was Wedderlie Evenkeel, bred from the Canadian ET Wedderlie Kenyon and out of Wedderlie Evenart