Salers top Stirling multi-breeds

Drumaglea Kes made 12,000gns for Patrick Boyd

The event, which featured a record entry of no fewer than 300 head, proved a huge success for all, with most breeds witnessing increased averages and clearance rates.
Charolais attracted the second top average and equal lead price, with the champion, Elgin Lochness, from Roy Milne and Sons’ Elgin herd from Kennies Hillock, Lhanbryde, selling for 8500gns to Allan McArthur, Cretlevane, Balfron. This October 2015-born entry shown by Matthew Milne, is by the 14,000gns Westcarse Houdini, a bull shared with the Mornity herd whose first male progeny made 8000gns here in February. The dam is the Thrunton Alpha daughter, Elgin Hiedi.

Elgin Lochness

Following him in the show and the price ratings was the reserve winner, Goldies Lively, which made 8000gns for Hamish Goldie’s Dumfriesshire-based herd. A son of the 15,000gns Gretnahouse Heman bought at Carlisle, Lively is a heifer’s calf being bred from Goldies Isabelle, a daughter of the 34,000gns Goldies Uppermost. Ayrshire-based producers, J and A Dunlop, Ashfield, Maybole, were the last men in on this 18-month-old bull.
Simmentals were also in the money with a lead price of 7400gns and a further six bulls selling at or above the 6200gns bracket. Again, it was the champion that led the proceedings here for the Green family from Corskie, Fochabers, who also sold bulls at 7200gns and 6200gns. 
Their dearest was Corskie Glenfiddich, another son of 2014 Highland Show champion, Dirnanean Bradley which has bred sons to 13,000gns to average in excess of £8000. The dam is the Kilbride Farm Tarrant-sired Corskie Champagne. This 18-month-old bull heads south to Penrith having been purchased by Messrs Pearson, Manor Farm, Belencowe.

Corskie Glenfiddich

Minutes later, JS Fraser, Tore Mains, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire, went to 7200gns to buy the similarly aged bull, Corskie Global, by the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie. He is a grand-son of the noted show cow, Corskie Star.
The Stronach family’s Islavale Simmental bulls from Berryleys, Keith, sold well too with sales at 7200gns and 6200gns twice. Their best came for Islavale Guardian, a November 2015-born son of Islavale Denzil, a son of the Irish-bred Clonagh A Super Star, retained for breeding, out of Islavale Panda, by Darsham Lucky Strike. He sold to Gordon Sharp, Farmton, Tough, Alford, Aberdeenshire.
Goldies Liam led the Limousin line up for Bruce Goldie’s 70-cow unit from Dumfriesshire, when selling for 7200gns to A and H Sim and Son, Rorandle, Monymusk, Inverurie. His 21-month-old bull which stood second in his class to the champion, is a son Foxhillfarm Irishlad, a bull purchased for 38,000gns in partnership with Jonathan Watson, and out of Goldies Eva, by Normande Arapaho.

Goldies Liam

Father and son team, Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie, also enjoyed a cracking day with sales at 6500gns and 6400gns for sons of their 8500gns Netherhall Gilbert. The former, Dyke Lino, brought out by stockman John Duncan, stood champion at the pre-sale show and sold to William Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty, Fife. He is out of the heifer, Dyke Ina, by Drumduff Champ.
The latter, Dyke Luke, is also a heifer’s calf being out of Dyke Icicle, by Guards Boomer, and was knocked down to Richard Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith.
A flying trade for Aberdeen Angus peaked at 6800gns for Linton Gilbertines Lazer, a two-year-old bull from the Trustees of the Late Gordon Brooke, Earlston, brought out by stockman Iain Campbell. A son of Rawburn Black Hawk, a bull that bred sons to 10,000gns in October, out of a home-bred heifer by Galawater Bentley, he sold to A Lindsay, Culnaightrie, Auchencairn, Castle Douglas.

Linton Gilbertines Lazer

Both the champion and reserve Angus bulls made 6200gns, with the show leader, Blelack Lord Hardie, an August 2015-born bull from Neil and Graeme Massie, Blelack, Dinnet, selling to the Scottish Government’s Bull Stud at Knocknagael, Inverness. This bull is by Warrenho Emperor, a bull bought for 10,000gns in partnership with the Tonley herd and out of Blelack Lady Heather.
It was nevertheless an even better day for 21-year-old Isla Maree Shaw, who has been taking part in the Aberdeen Angus Youth Development Scheme, and sold her first bull for 6200gns. Isla, who owns just two cows in her Maree herd from West Lethans, Saline, received this money for Eastfield Jester, an October 2015-born bull bought at a month old, alongside his dam, Eastfield Janice at the 2015 February 2015 bull sales. He is by Halbeath Kansas, and stood reserve junior at the Stars of the Future.
It was a ladies day in the Beef Shorthorns too when new breeder, Mrs Lucinda Townsend, who was selling for the first time from her Coxhill herd of 64 females from Moffat, produced both the champion and reserve and the top two sales.
Her champion, brought out by stockman Trevor Kirk, was Ballylinney John Boy, a two-year-old bought at the Ballylinney sale alongside his dam, Ballylinney Wheat. This red and white is by Fearn Wyvis and made 6200gns to the Scottish Government’s Bull Stud at Inverness.

Ballylinney John Boy

The reserve was Ballylinney Judge, a similarly aged bull bought at the same sale alongside his dam. Northumberland producer, WA Graham, Newton Farm, Harbottle, was the last man in on this Ballylinney Glenn son at 5200gns.
Flying the flag for the Highland cattle breed with a 5000gns bid was the champion, Bryden 1 of Culfoich, a two-year-old from Gordon McConachie’s 16-cow fold from Advie, Grantown on Spey. He is by the 3600gns Oban purchase, Jacob 2 of Benmore and out of Cailean 1 of Culfoich, a Charles of Richmondhill-sired cow and former second prize winner at the Highland. He sold up to Orkney with A and P Casey, Gaitnip, St Ola.

Bryden 1 of Culfoich

OTHERLEADING prices

Charolais – 6000gns – J Irvine and Son’s Inverlochy Lustre, by Blelack Giggsey, to J Whiteford, Hilltarvit Mains, Cupar, Fife; E and W Scott’s Linross Farm Leo ET, by Blelack Digger, to G McCormick, Claggan, Bridgend, Islay. 
Simmental – 6200gns – WS Stronach’s Islavale Guru, by Dirnanean Bradley, to Aucheneck Estates, Glasgow; WJ and J Green’s Corskie Gel, by Dirnanean Bradley, to J Meikle, Kirkton of Lundie, Lundie, Dundee; WS Stronach’s Islavale Gameboy, by Delfur Casanova, to Aitken Bros, Riccarton, Linlithgow; R and H McNee’s Benhar Gunner by Auchorachan Winger, to Messrs Stewart, Balglass, Lennoxtown, Glasgow. 6000gns – H Macaskill’s Woodhall Glen, by Curaheen Commanche, to A Lindsay, Culnaightree, Auchencairn; RJ MacGregor’s Team Glenearn, by Auchorachan Winger, to K Russell, Crouse Farm, Wigtown; WS Stronach’s Islawvale Gruff, by Islavale Casanova, to A Nicolson, Relugas Mains, Dunphair, Forres.
Limousin – 6200gns – B Goldie’s Goldies Legionaire by Goldies Fantastic, to J and R Semple, Netherton, Dalrymple, Ayr. 6000gns – J Burnett’s Spittalton Lancaster, by Bolide, to A Sime and Son, Bruceland, Elgin. 
Aberdeen-Angus – 6000gns - AG Houston’s Gretnahouse Lord Hit, by Haymout Precursor, to JGS and D Duncan, Jacobshall, Gamrie.

averages: 
Bulls– Four Highlanders, £1811 (+£764 for two fewer); nine Salers, £5635 (+£700 for four more with 75% clearance); 25 Charolais, £4578 (+£92 for same number, 69%); 37 Simmental, £4475 (+£283 for four more, 90%); 51 Limousins, £4025 (-£331 for eight more, 84%); 30 Aberdeen Angus, £4354 (-£284 for seven more, 75%); four Beef Shorthorn £4200 (+£1354 for seven fewer, 42%). Females – 12 Highlanders, £624; six Limousins, £1516.