A CHAROLAIS bull from Mike Massie paved the way at the sale of bulls held alongside the Christmas Classic at Thainstone on Tuesday. 

His leader from the herd at Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, was Elrick Mac, a son of the 16,000gns Thrunton Fearless which has bred bulls to 12,000gns on four occasions. Born in April, 2016, out of the Coolnaslee Adversary-sired Elrick Daffodil, Mac was reserve Charolais champion at the pre-sale show and went on to sell to J Barclay and Son, Ardiecow, Fordyce, for the top price of 6000gns. 

Two Charolais sold for 3600gns apiece including the champion, Logie Monarch from the AJR Farms team at Milton of Collieston, Ellon. Bred by M Bruce and Partners before AJR Farms bought the farm and stock, Monarch is by the 8500gns Goldies Golddust, which has bred bulls to 6000gns. He is out of Craigieford Fragrance, by Maerdy Amontillado, and sold to J and L Shepherd, Cowiehillock, Echt. 

Just one lot earlier, Miss Kim Taylor received the same sum for her red ticket winner, Cauldwells Montecarlo, a Blelack Digger son. Bred out of the Newhouse Bigal daughter, Thrunton Fergie, from Kim’s herd at Cauldwells, Craigston, Turriff, Montecarlo heads to work at Main Street, Aberchirder, for PW Grant. 

It was the Limousin leader and overall champion from Neil and Stuart Barclay, South Road, Insch, and new stockman Hugh Ross, that sold for the second top price of 5800gns to Banff-based breeder WJ Morrison, Fairburn, Longmanhill. This ET-bred lad, which was born in November, 2015, is by the French-bred Ideal 23, a bull renowned for breeding females that Neil managed to get his hands on a few straws of semen, while the dam is a full sister to the 126,000gns Glenrock Illusion in the shape of Glenrock Impulse, a Goldies Comet daughter bought for 24,000gns. 

With the Limousin breed setting the best of the averages, two realised £4800 with the first being John McIrvine’s Whinfellpark Lazzaro. This Lowerffrydd Empire son, which is out of the Dolcorsllwyn Fabio-sired Whinfellpark Indigo, was bred by Messrs Jenkinson and sold to GM Barclay and Son, Tullo of Garvock, Laurencekirk. 

Matching that was Shannas Modem, a second prize bull from John and Margaret Penny, Shannas, Clola. Selling to PA and P Duncan, of Northfield, Gamrie, Banff, Modem is by Ampertaine Hitman and out of Shannas Footloose, a Glenturk Astounding daughter. 

Dearest Simmental at 4800gns was the champion from Bill and Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith. Their Aultmore Highlander is an ET by Banwy Bonzo and the Whitemire King Kong-sired Hazelden Jingle 8, with this combination producing the 16,000gns Aultmore Goliath. Highlander heads Midtown of Barras, Stonehaven, with A and E Wyness.

See the December 2 issue of The Scottish Farmer for all the latest from the Christmas Classic.