Black bulls from the Westhall herd from Dunning, Perth, proved the star attraction at the Limousin sale securing the top two prices at 11,500gns and 11,000gns.

Undeterred by being the final sale of the five breeds on Monday, and with a mid afternoon kick off time, Limousin bulls produced the highest clearance rate at 80%, with 59 changing hands to average £4600 – down £1214 on the year with just three fewer sold.

"Auctioneers claimed it was budget day for many, and while it was, it is still very encouraging to see such a high clearance especially when we have another sale of 200+ Limousin bulls to go at Carlisle this month," said Iain Kerr, chief executive of the Limousin Cattle Society.

"Farmers are looking to to more efficient ways to produce beef and we saw signs of that here today with a definite swing towards bulls with easy calving figures, power, length, weight for age and reduced days to slaughter," said Mr Kerr.

In contrast to the previous breed sales, many of the top Limousin bull sales sold into commercial herds to include the top two, highlighting the confidence in the sector when producers are still prepared to fork out five-figure bids for such animals.

Dearest at 11,500gns was the reserve junior champion from Mrs Mary Fotheringham, daughter Hazel and her husband Roy McNee, who sold Westhill Norris, a June 2017-born bull to D Walker and Son, Camregan Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire. Producing a personal best for this 80-cow herd of which half contain black genetics was a son of Westhall Jammy, a bull retained for breeding by Newhouse Glamis, that has already produced sons to 8000gns. Homozygous black, Norris is out of the Tamarvalley Boscastle-sired cow Westhall Freespirit.

Earlier, the family matched their previous best sale of 11,000gns selling the red ticket holder, Westhall Nathan, a similarly aged black bull by the same sire, to Peter and Murray Alexander, buying for their large commercial operation at Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie. The dam, Westhall Hlame, by the retained stockbull, Westhall Fothers, has already paid her way having produced the herd's previous 11,000gns sale.

Adding to the Westhall celebrations, the family's Westhall Nickson, a third prize junior again by Jammy, made 6000gns. This hetrozygous black bull is bred from the Stotsfold Dragon daughter, Westhall Highhope, and was knocked down to John McEwen, Mount Farm, Balfron, Glasgow. Overall, the herd had a cracking day, selling five bulls to average £8085.

The reserve overall champion, Anside Nemisis, from the Irvine family's herd from Braehead, Drummuir, Keith, made 9000gns selling to Haddington-based producer, A Kennedy, Seggarsdean. Intermediate champion prior to taking the reserve overall, this June 2016-born entry is another by the top stock sire, Powerful Irish, a bull bought privately as a calf from Philip Crowe, Co Cavan, that has bred sons to 13,000gns and 12,000gns while in excess of 30 sons have been sold in the UK to average £7000.

Equally notable is the dam, Bailea Cadea, by the French sire, Seringa, which was bought at a Bailea sale for 4500gns and has since bred several show heifers paraded at the Highland.

There were some real class genetics behind Neil and Stuart Barclay's Harestone Nimrod, which made 7300gns with stockman Robert Marshall at the helm. The bull from the Harestone herd based at Insch, Aberdeenshire, is by the 140,000gns world record priced bull, Trueman Jagger and bred from Glenrock Impulse, a 24,000gns purchase at the Glenrock dispersal, by Goldies Comet. This junior embryo-born calf which stood third in his class, headed back up north with GM Barclay, Tullo Farm, Garvock, Laurencekirk.

Bulls from Jimmy and Donald MacGregor's Dyke herd from Milton of Campsie, again proved popular with sales at 7200gns and 6500gns. The dearest, Dyke Nilegod, which stood champion at Campsie, last year, is by Dyke Gandalf, a Fieldson Alfy son retained for breeding that has already bred sons to 8500gns and 8000gns. Stockman John Duncan and his daughter Urla, brought out this popular bull out of the 13-year-old Haltcliffe President daughter Dyke Amazon.

Selling for 6500gns to Kirriemuir producer, R Easson, Barns of Airlie, was the red ticket holder, Dyke Nero, an April 2017-born son of the 8500gns stock bull Netherhall Gilbert, a sire that has bred sons to 13,000gns. His dam, Dyke Glam, is by Cloughhead Delboy.

Matching that bid was one of the last bulls sold in the catalogue Drew Hyslop's Bangtidy Notorious, a September 2017-born bull from Boquhan Home Farm, Kippen, Stirling. This youngster which stood second in his class, is by Grahams Lorenzo and out of the Grahams Unbeatable-sired Dynamite Henrietta, which is one of only a select number of females owned by Mr Hyslop who is stockman for Robert Graham's Grahams herd. Notorious sold to the judge, James Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty.

Local breeder Andrew Burnett and stockman Tim Russell, of the 90-cow Spittalton herd from Blair Drummond, sold two at 6000gns to include Spittalton Norman, the reserve intermediate champion. May 2017-born entry by Dinmore Jeanpierre, a 16,000gns purchase at Carlisle in 2016, he is bred from the Hargill Blaze daughter, Spittalton Fifi, whose half sister is Spittalton Flush the dam of the 65,000gns Aultside Meanmachine. Norman sold to the Scottish Bull Stud, Inverness.

Spittalton Nebraska, a similarly aged bull by the same sire, sold for the same money to A and R Paton, Easter Greenhill, Avonbridge, Falkirk. His dam, Spittalton Harriet, is by the French sire, Sympa.

Also hitting the 6000gns mark was Mike Massie's reserve senior, Elrick Nevada, from Mains of Elrick, Ellon, Aberdeenshire. He is by the Rahoney Geoffrey son, Elrick Jethro, out of Elrick Gagrielle, a second calver by Craigatoke Dundee, and was purchased by J and J Pattullo, Sandyford, Kirriemuir.

Only one Limousin heifer was forward for sale, Russells Nune, from young Fletcher and Caitlin Russell, Thornhill, Stirling. Their Huntershall Jeronimo sired April 2017-born heifer made 1800gns to Robert Warnock, High Bent Farm, Strathaven.

LEADING awards:

Bulls born on or between February 17 and April 18, 2017 – 1 and senior champion, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Napoleon, by Goldies Comet, 5000gns to AJ Mitchell, Denmill, Peterculter; 2 and reserve senior champion, MJ Massie’s Elrick Nevada, by Elrick Jethro, 6000gns to J and J Patullo, Sandyford, Kirriemuir, Angus; 3, M Fotheringham and H McNee’s Westhall Nero, by Westhall Jammy, 4600gns to Pitkindie Farms, Mains of Keithick, Coupar Angus; 4, JR MacGregor’s Dyke Nilegod, by Dyke Gandalf, 7200gns to J and J Wylie, Knockhouse, Crossford, Dunfermline; 5, DW Jordon’s Longhirst Napoleon, 3000gns to Firm of W Pettigrew, Faskine, Airdrie.

Bulls born on or between April 19 and April 28, 2017 – 1, JR MacGregor’s Dyke Nero, by Netherhall Gilbert, 6500gns to R Easson and Son, Barns of Airlie, Kirriemuir; 2, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Neuf, by Goldies Comet, 4600gns to J and A Young, Dalreoch, New Cumnock; 3, Mr and Mrs J Penny’s Shannas Narrator, by Dinmore Hitman, 4000gns to J Barrie, Rumbleton, Greenlaw, Duns; 4, R Dick’s Ronick Natural, by Ampertaine Jamboree, 3600gns to GS and IH Stewart, Wester Whin, Limerigg, Slamannan; 5, R Dick’s Ronick Napier, by Ampertaine Jamboree, 4500gns to H and H Reid, Woodhead, Cairnbanno, New Deer.

Bulls born on or between April 29 and May 5, 2017 – 1, R Cruikshank’s Kype Nemisis, by Carrickrouge Gismo, 5500gns to RE Greaves and Son, Castle Hill, Wheatley, Oxfordshire; 2, M Fotheringham and H McNee’s Westhall Nelson, by Westhall Justtheone, 5400gns to W Gunn, Murza, Bower, Wick; 3, MJ Massie’s Elrick Neutron, by Elrick Jethro, unsold; 4, J Burnett’s Spittalton Noble, by Dinmore Jeanpierre, 4000gns to J Brewster, Boclair, Bearsden; 5, R Dick’s Ronick Nesbit, by Lynderg James, 3700gns to C Green, Roadside, Upper Gills, Canisbay, Wick.

Bulls born on or between May 6 and May 16, 2017 – 1, M Fotheringham and H McNee’s Westhall Nathan, by Westhall Jammy, 11,000gns, to P Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie; 2, W McLaren’s McLarens Nougat, by Norman Gamin, 3000gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney; 3, MJ Massie’s Elrick Nemesis, by Foxhillfarm Impecabull, unsold; 4, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Ninja, by Macschoice Chris, 5000gns to T and M Paterson, Dunruchan, Muthill, Crieff; 5, J Struthers’ Banksys Neptune, by Goldies Comet, 3000gns to J and A Young, Dareoch, New Cumnock.

Bulls born on or between May 18 and 28, 2017 – 1 and reserve intermediate champion, J Burnett’s Spittalton Norman, by Dinmore Jeanpierre, 6000gns to Scottish Bull Stud, Inverness; 2, AG Howie’s Knock Nemesis, by Goldies Goldfinger, 4000gns to N and R Constable, Tomlea, Ballintuim, Blairgowrie; 3, W and A Oag’s Brims Neptune, by Ballynahone Arni, 3000gns to GJ and E Harper, Broadsea, Burnhervie, Inverurie; 4, J Logan’s Homebyres Nardini, by Homebyres Iveson, 4000gns to Scottish Bull Stud, Inverness; 5, J Burnett’s Spittalton Nebraska, by Dinmore Jeanpierre, 6000gns to A and R Paton, Easter Greenhill, Avonbridge, Falkirk.

Bulls born on or between May 29 and June 16, 2017 – 1, intermediate champion and reserve overall, Mrs and Mrs S Irvine’s Anside Nemesis, by Powerful Irish, 9000gns to A Kennedy and Son, Seggarsdean, Haddington; 2, J Burnett’s Spittalton Nabber, by Dinmore Jeanpierre, unsold; 3, PA Walker’s Walkers Nanvier, by Allanfauld Gazza, 4000gns to A Kennedy and Son, Seggarsdean, Haddington; 4, D and L Graham’s Burnbank Naughtyboy, by Spittalton Hugo, 3800gns to MacTier and Son, Boghouse, Mochrum, Newton Stewart; 5, NR Barclay’s Harestone Newton, by Killcastle Eric, 4000gns to P Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie.

Bulls born on or between June 17 and July 8, 2017 – 1 and reserve junior champion, M Fotheringham and H McNee’s Westhall Norris, by Westhall Jammy, 11,500gns to D Walker and Sons, Camregan, Girvan; 2, BT Goldie’s Goldies Nick, by Goldies Juggler, 4800gns to Messrs Smith, Arbroath; 3, M Fotheringham and H McNee, by Westhall Jammy, 6000gns to JW McEwan, Mount, Balfron; 4, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Nazereth, by Goldies Comet, 3400gns to GT and S Coghill, Muce, Birsay, Orkney; 5, DW Youngson’s Ythanvale Novak, by Spittalton Irvine, 3400gns to K Taylor and Sons, Dall, Killin, Perthshire.

Bulls born on or between July 9 and July 27, 2017 – 1, junior champion and overall champion, BT Goldie’s Goldies Novel, by Goldies Fandango, unsold; 2, RM Adam and Son’s Newhouse Ivanho, by Millington Ferrari, 4000gns to P Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie; 3, RM Adam and Son’s Newhouse Northesk, by Cloughead Jerry, 5500gns to GM Angus and Sons, Mains of Cookney, Nether Ley, Stonehaven; 4, RM Adam and Son’s Newhouse Nirvana, by Cloughhead Jerry, 3200gns to IA MacDonald, Baligrundle, Lismore, Argyll; 5, W and A Callion’s Lodge Nelson, by Lodge Hugo, 2400gns to R and D Hessin, Balnamoon Crossroads, Keith.

Bulls born on or after July 28, 2017 – 1, BT Goldie’s Goldies Notion, by Gallaway Kemp, 3800gns to WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow; 2, A Hyslop’s Bangtidy Notorious, by Grahams Lorenzo, unsold; 3, D McBeath and SJ Jessop’s Springsett Numpty, by Woodroad James, 4000gns to W and M McMillan, Cranslagvourity, Rothesay; 4, PJ Henshall’s Ringway Nimrod, by Ringway Lance, 4500gns to Scottish Bull Stud, Inverness; 5, R and J Graham’s Grahams Napoleon, by Elite Icecream, 3000gns to P Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie.

OTHERLEADING prices:

7300gns – NR Barclay’s Harestone Nimrod, to GM Barclay and Sons, Tullo, Garvock, Laurencekirk.