INCREASED demand combined with a cracking show of females set the ball rolling for a buoyant trade of Beef Shorthorns from start to finish, with the heifers witnessing a complete clearance and an average some £1100 up on the year to level at £3016 for 33.

Topping the trade at 6600gns was a June 2015-born roan heifer from Duncan McDowell's Castlemount herd from Northern Ireland, purchased by Ross Withers, Higher Tresawle, Truro, Cornwall. Selling at this bracket was Castlemount Matrix Foxglove Flake, another by the privately purchased Elliot Matrix, which bred Mr McDowell's bulls.

The dam, Ballyvaddy Foxglove Flake, which is a daughter of Glenisla Foxglove Flake, was purchased privately in Ireland. Reserve champion and reserve overall at the NI Club Calf Show in 2015 at just 5.5months of age, and first prize heifer and best opposite sex a the 2016 National Show, she sold served to Meonhill Firefox.

Jim Frame's similarly aged first prize heifer, Galla Julie Wildeyes, from Little Galla, Biggar, realised 4800gns. A red and while daughter of Kidston Rambo, she is bred from the VG86-classified 12-year-old cow, Bon-Accord Sunny Wildeyes 3, by Aylward Nomad 2,and sold to Eamonn McCorman, Ardikellan, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, Eire.

The champion heifer, Lancaster Liz 21 of Skaillhouse, a rising two-year-old heifer by Glenisla Faust, made 4500gns for Stuart Macadie, all the way from Skaill, Thurso. His cracker, which sold served to Firebrand of Skaillhouse, is out of a home-bred Uppermill Farquharson daughter and was knocked down to S and J Hodgson, Fall Top Farm, Clayron, Bradford.

Matching that 4500gns bid was Westbroad Daisy 2, an August-2015-born red and white heifer from D Welsh, Westbroad Moss, Fenwick, purchased by Thomas Staunton, Lough Curra, North Kinvara, Co Galway. She is by Hallsford Dominic and out of Grandtullybrae Lancaster Daisy.

Donald Biggar's draft sale of heifers from the Chapelton herd at Castle Douglas, peaked at 4200gns to average £3570 for six. Dearest here at 4200gns was Chapelton Nettle 5176, a rising two-year-old red heifer by Stonehills X Factor and bred from the same family that produced the record priced Dauphin and February sale champion, Exemplar.