BUYERS from overseas as well as the South-west of England ensured a steady trade for Galloway cattle at the spring sale at Castle Douglas, yesterday, where trade peaked at 5000gns on two occasions.

“Cattle sold to a good steady trade without any silly prices and I think the averages will be well up on the year,” society chairman Scott McKinnon told The Scottish Farmer.

“There was a big influx of German buyers with four bulls and three heifers heading to the country, as well as regular buyers from Devon and the South-west.”

Lot number 13 proved lucky for David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite’s Balgray herd when their 22-month-old Louis of Balgray was the first to hit that top price when sold to Germany with HH Kraft. Achieving a best price for the 40-cow herd at Balgray Hill, Lockerbie, Louis is one of the first sons sold by the 2500gns Ballavair Black Magic while the dam, the Blackcraig Lucrative-sired Penninghame Queen, is a maternal sister to the female record holder.

Also hitting 5000gns was Xavi of Kilnstown from Kilnstown Farm, Bewcastle, which was brought out by Andrew Waugh and son Douglas. Sired by the 11,000gns Coldplay of Fingland, Xavi was born in September, 2015, out of the John Jo of Kilnstown daughter, Doreen 31 of Kilnstown, a cow which has bred a number of native champions at winter fat stock shows. Forking out the cash for this lad was Jim Robertson, Becks, Langholm.

Next best at 4500gns was the reserve male champion, Troloss Knockout, from the Troloss team at Elvanfoot, Biggar. This Blackcraig Dec-sired 23-month-old is out of Troloss Hannah and heads to Blairvockie, Rowardennan, Drymen, with the Maxwells for use in their Ben Lomond herd.

Females followed next at 4400gns when Jock and Ann Finlay, and son Iain, sold their female champion to the judge Robert Marshall, to found a new herd at Balavil Estate, Kingussie. That was Blackcraig Bertha W560, a September 2014-born daughter of Blackcraig Sam bred from one of the best cows in the local herd at Corsock, in the shape of a previous Bertha by Highland Monrach of Gall-way daughter. This Bertha ran with Jock of Balgray prior to the sale.

See the February 25 issue of The Scottish Farmer for the full report, pictures and averages from the Galloway sale at Castle Douglas.