WITH a cracking trade for Neil and Graeme Massie’s Aberdeen-Angus females on Monday, the dispersal of the Charolais herd the following day had some big prices to chase but certainly didn’t disappoint.

The top price of 30,000gns was paid for the young stock bull, Oakchurch Igor, a January, 2013-born son of the Blelack Blackberet-sired Goldies Eddy. 
Orignally a private purchase, Igor is at ET bred out of Goldies Uptowngirl, herself a daughter of the 20,000gns Blelack Rustic, and was the sire of many of the young calves on offer. The hammer fell at that top price to Danny Sawrij, who will use him on his 45-cow Swalesmoor herd at Kedzlie, Lauderdale.

It was another stock bull that attracted the second top price of 12,000gns when the 2012-born Caylers Hustler was knocked down to Gareth Jones, of Cae Coed, Abergele, Clwyd. Originally bought at Carlisle in May, 2013, and sire of a bull to 10,000gns, this Thrunton Dominator son is out of the Maerdy Uniroyal-bred Caylers Empress.

The dearest of the females at 8000gns was Blelack Harlot, a four-year-old Balmyle Dingle daughter that sold to W and CS Robb, Chalmerston, Mauchline, carrying a calf to Caylers Hustler. Bred out of Blelack Daphne, a Solitude Amazing daughter, Harlot’s April-born heifer calf by the aforementioned Igor, Blelack Mayflower, was also in the money, selling to the same home for 2800gns.

Strathisla Farms paid 7000gns for another stock sire, Maerdy Henley, to take back to Moolies, Ruthven, Blairgowrie. The breeding behind this four-year-old includes Begonia on to a Maerdy Padirac daughter.

Back to the females and Alsnow Emulous sold to C Smeaton and Son, Cotton of Ovenstone, Kirkbuddo, Forfar, for 6500gns. This seven-year-old is by Gwenog Banjo, out of a Burradon Talisman daughter and sold having ran with the bull along with her June-born bull calf by Blelack Missouri at foot.

Two sold for 6000gns with the first of these, Blelack Gorgeous, heading across the water to Doon, West Gurteen, Co Sligo, with M Phillips. This Ugie Dynamo daughter is out of a home-bred cow by Balbithan Vespasian, and sold carrying her fourth to Caylers Hustler.

Her stocky bull calf, the Hustler-sired Blelack Mercedes, then made 4200gns – top price among the calves – when snapped up by Andy Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Elgin.

Also selling for 6000gns, this time to E Hamilton and Partners, Gilmeadowland, Strathaven, was the Goldies Dynamite daughter, Blelack Hairbell. This four-year-old is out of a Swalesmoor Bayonet-bred cow and changed hands with her Hustler-sired bull calf at foot and back in calf. 

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out October 22, for the full report from the Blelack sale.