CHAROLAIS bulls met a solid trade at Stirling, today, where averages were up on the year as 111 bulls levelled at £6121, a rise of £62 on the year, and met a clearance rate of 82%.

Outgoing society chief executive, David Benson, said: “Bulls sold to a solid trade today although it was clear to see that a lot of commercial lads were bidding to a budget. Those with easy calving figures were in demand but anything with negative figures wasn’t getting a bid. All the doom and gloom merchants that were saying a while ago that the Charolais was getting too big for the market have had their myths dispelled.”

Living up to his name was Alasdair Houston’s Gretnahouse Lord, which followed the overall champion all the way from the senior championship to stand reserve supreme. He is among the first bulls to sell by the 18,000gns Balthayock Gladiator, whose daughters have been retained, while the dam is the Major-sired Gretnahosue Coll, herself from a female line that has bred bulls to 18,000gns and 15,000gns. Paraded through the ring by stockman John Morton, Lord caught the eye of Brendan and Greg Feeney and heads across the water to Scurrore, Enniscrone, County Sligo, to work in the Bostonia herd.

It was an unplaced bull that followed next in the trade stakes when Newhouse Lonestar from the Adams family ­– Bob and Kay together with sons Andrew and James – from Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, sold to Cumbrian breeder David Stobart, Gladsmuir, Broomfallen Road, Scotby, for 22,000gns. Matching the herd’s best price achieved on two occasions, Newhouse Lonestar is by the well-known AI sire Dingle Hofmeister, while the dam is Newhouse Flora, a heifer by the 18,000gns stock bull Sackville Claudius.

Just a few lots earlier and Major Walter’s Balthayock herd from near Perth received 16,000gns for Balthayock Lineup. Brought out by Davie and Tracey Nicol, he is bred from the Balthayock Vespian-sired Balthayock Fortune, a class winner at the Highland as a young cow. This third prize intermediate is by the 8000gns Ugie Echo bought in partnership with Firhills, and was knocked down to RA and J Blyth, Middleton House, Elwick, Hartlepool.

Making the journey across the Irish Sea worthwhile was Will Short, who sold his Woodpark Longbow to Jan Boomaars, Heathdown, The Ridge, Woldingham, for 16,000gns. Making this money was one of the second crop of calves by the privately purchased Deeside Gulliver bred out of Woodpark Gina, a daughter of the 19,000gns stock bull, Corrie Alan, from the herd at Beragh, Omagh, County Tyrone.

Females hit a top of 6800gns for the dearest on offer from Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell, Dumfries. That was Goldies Leona, a June 2015-born daughter of Goldies Elation bred out of Goldies Veil, a Maerdy Naser daughter. Selling in-calf to Kersknowe Jambo, a 7500gns purchase here last year, Leona heads to Sunnyside, Louehries Road, Newtonwards, Co Down, with H and H Heron, along with the female champion and reserve also from Goldies.

Full reports, pictures, leading awards and averages for both the Simmental and Charolais breeds will feature in the February 25 issue of The Scottish Farmer.