BREED records were smashed at the Salers sale when two bulls came under the hammer for 12,000gns, which coupled with a strong demand for the remainder to the cattle, ensured the breed enjoyed it’s best ever sale here.

Add to that a 10,000gns sale for the champion, and averages rose a massive £1895 on the year to just short of £7000 for 10, with the females peaking at 2000gns to level at £1905 for seven.

First to surpass the previous best of 11,000gns for a bull paid at the breed sale at Castle Douglas, in November, was Drumaglea Kingpin 2, a 22-month-old all the way Cornaigmore, Tiree. Bred by retired vet, Patrick Boyd, his cracker is by the French sire, Sancy, which has already bred sons to 5000gns and out of the Variegeois daughter, Drumaglea Alice, whose first bull made 5500gns. Kingpin was knocked down to Alan Howatson, Risk, buying on behalf of pedigree breeder, Colin McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, Newton Stewart.

The same stable also produced a 5000gns sale for Drumaglea Juicer, a rising three-year-old bull by the Sancy son, Drumaglea Zenith, out of a home-bred cow. He headed up to Orkney to work at Vestrafold Farm, Sandwick.

Bulls from Alister MacKenzie and son also Alister, Whitebog, Fortrose, again sold well, with their best at 12,000gns also selling into a pedigree unit. This was Whitebog Kracker, a 19-month-old son of Seawell Diplomat, a 3600gns purchase at Castle Douglas, which is still going strong at nine years of age, havingbred sons to 7800gns and more than 40 bulls to average £5000. The dam is equally notable being a daughter of Cumbria Fury, which bred the 5800gns bull sold here in 2015. Buying back some of his own genetics he was knocked down to Peter Donger of the Seawell herd, based at Foxley, Towcester, Northants.

The MacKenzie duo also received 10,000gns for their pre-sale champion. This was Whitebog Kipper, brought out by free-lance stockman, Jimmy Laing. Similarly aged, Kipper is by Whitebog Sandy, a Lascar son sold privately and used on loan, is out of the Uni daughter, Whitebog Emily – one of 70 pedigree cows in the herd. Jim McCornick, Drumjargon, Whauphill, Newton Stewart, who was the second last bidder on the two 12,000gns bulls, was successful man in this time.

Top price for David Watson’s 30-cow Darnford herd from Banchory, was 7000gns paid for the third prize bull, Darnford Keene, a rising two-year-old bull by the French sire, Fangio – a bull that bred Mr Watson’s 7800gns entry at Castle Douglas in November. Keene is bred from the Chapelpark Ali-sired cow, Darnford Diva and was knocked down to Matthew Milne, buying on behalf of the family farm at Kennieshillock to use on heifers in their 50-cow Charolais herd based at Lhanbryde, Elgin.

Local breeder, Murray Lyle, also came up with the goods for his first time selling in the Salers ring, producing not only the reserve champion, but also a 5000gns sale for Strathallan Klondyke. His 22-month-old, brought out by stockman Robbie McNeil, is the result of the in-calf purchase, Cleuchhead Carat, purchased from Rob Livesey at the breed sale at Castle Douglas. Klondyke is by Cleughhead Chief and sold to Islay producer, Bob Cunninghame, Neriby, Bridgend.

A good show of females from Brian Walling and sons Tom and Ian, who own the Cumbrian herd at Selkirk, peaked at 2000gns twice for polled heifers by Cumbrian Joker. Cumbrian Vermille and Cumbrian Jolie, were both purchased by AJ Fettes, Essil, Garmouth, Fochabers.

LEADINGawards

Bulls born on or between March 30, 2014 and March 9, 2015 – 1, Rigel Pedigree’s Rigel Orleans, by Rigel Picasso, 4500gns to JI and WN Stout, Whitehall, Stronsay, Orkney; 2, JC McIntryre and Son’s Corrichie Farquhar, by Lataster, 3500gns to T Smith and Son, Netherton, Whitehouse, Alford, Aberdeenshire; 3, P Boyd’s Drumaglea Juicer, by Drumaglea Zenith, 5000gns to Vestrafold Farm, Sandwick, Orkney; 4, G and M Pye’s Rigel Tiberius Poll, by Rigel Byron Poll (unsold).

Bulls born on or between March 10 and June 16, 2015 – 1 and reserve champion, M Lyle’s Strathallan Klondyke, by Cleuchhead Chief, 5000gns to 5000gns to R Cunninghame, Neriby, Bridgend, Islay; 2, A MacKenzie’s Whitebog Krone, by Gentleman, unsold; 3, D Watson’s Darnford Keene, by Fangio, 7000gns to RA Milne and Sons, Kennishillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin; 4, P Boyd’s Drumaglea Kingpin 2, by Sancy, 12,000gns to C McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, Newton Stewart; 5, A Makenzie’s Whitebog King Tut, by Gentleman, 4000gns to Ardtalla Estates, Kintour, Kildalton, Port Ellen, Islay.

Bulls born on or after June 17, 2015 – 1 and champion, A MacKenzie’s Whitebog Kipper, by Whitebog Sandy, 10,000gns to J and A McCornick, Drumjargon, Whauphill, Newton Stewart; 2, A MacKenzie’s Whitebog Kracker, by Seawell Diplomat, 12,000gns to P Donger, Seawell Grounds, Towcester, Northants; 3, S and R Hallos’ Beeston Hall Kev, by Beeston Hall Finn, 3500gns to JM Aitken, Carlopshill, Penicuik; 4, A MacKenzie’s Whitebog Kick-Ass, by Seawell Diplomat, unsold; 5, P Boyd’s Drumaglea Keystone, by Drumaglea Bordeaux, unsold.