TRADE was off to a flier at the first part dispersal of Douglas McMillan’s Coldrochie herd of Beef Shorthorns when the very first lot swiftly rose to 8000gns, but it was one of the senior stock bulls that went on to top the offering at 20,000gns. 

Presented for sale by stockman Charlie Reid, and daughter Charley, that was Fearn Godfather, a five-year-old son of Dakota of Upsall originally bought for 10,000gns at the February sale back in 2015. He’s bred from the Fearn Bundaleer daughter, Fearn Passion Diana, and sold back to his breeder, John Scott, who believes he will ‘knit well with the New Zealand genetics’ in the 100-strong herd at Fearn Farm, near Tain. 

"He's a proven breeder both at Fearn and at Coldrochie, and as many of the cows in our herd aren't related to him, we felt he would click with the New Zealand element," said Mr Scott of his purchase. 

"He also has an excellent health status and his figures are among the top in the breed, being consistantly high for various traits. Like his father, Dakota, he in a gentleman with an awesome temperament - we want to breed cattle with this type of approach to life. He is the best Shorthorn bull that I have seen for some time and despite the fact that we had to pay double what we received for him, we are confident that it will be money well spent."

Next in the trade stakes at 12,000gns and one lot of many lots snapped up by S Anderson, of Thistledown, Costock Grange, near Loughborough, was Glenisla Desiree D778, an eight-year-old bought by Douglas as he particularly liked her female pedigree. Sired by Holmeere George and out of a previous home-bred Desiree by Pakaraka Quebec Sherrif, she sold with her Knockenjig Foremost-sired heifer calf at foot, the August-born Desiree L42, and back in calf to the same sire. 

Selling for 8000gns to Thistledown was the first offered from Coldrochie in the shape of the March, 2016-born Coldrochie Irania Rainbow K9, a daughter of the 12,000gns Knockenjig Foremost. Bred from a previous Irania Rainbow by LS Zeus 151, she changed hands due in a few months to Lintonpriory Victory. 

At 7000gns, Mr Anderson also secured Coldrochie Broadhooks K35, a 21-month-old Foremost daughter that stood breed champion at Perth Show in 2017. She is out of another home-bred LS Zeus 151-sired cow, and was again in calf to Lintonpriory Victory. 

Also heading to Thisledown, this time for 6000gns, was a heifer and calf outfit in the shape of rising three-year-old Coldrochie Secret Swift J27, a daughter of the Foremost bull. Bred from an easy calving line, being out of the Chapelton Neptune daughter, Wavendon Secret Swift, she sold with her July-born heifer calf, the Fearn Godfather-sired Secret Swift L40, and back in calf to Godfather. 

Another breeder to secure several lots was the Luncarty-based LFP Farms, with the dearest heading back to Grangehill Farm for 9000gns being Goldrochie Grace Beauty J40, a calved heifer with her August-born heifer, Grace Beauty L48, by Godfather, at foot. Her breeding includes Knockenjig Foremost on to the Tamhorn Zip-sired Colnvalley Grace Beauty C35, and she was PD’d in calf to Godfather.

Another from the same family, Coldrochie Grace Beauty F6, sold to the same home for 8000gns. This six-year-old offers different genetics to the majority of the catalogue, being by Colnvalley Bogart and out of Colnvalley Grace Beauty Y31, an Uppermill Ling daughter. She also had a heifer calf at foot, the July-born Grace Beauty L38, by Foremost, and was PD’d in calf to Godfather. 

A strong offering of young bulls peaked at 7000gns for a son of the sale leader, Coldrochie Leif. This 10-month-old dark roan, which sold to Tracy Severn, at Brick Green, Scammonden Road, Halifax, is bred from a Foremost daughter, Coldrochie Catriona Rosebud J7. 

Having produced a daughter to 9000gns earlier in the sale, Colnvalley Grace Beauty C35 then sold to Sarah Wilkins for her Rumsden herd on Steep Road, Jarvis Brook, East Sussex, for 6000gns. This nine-year-old had a Foremost-sired heifer calf, Grace Beauty L43, at foot and was carrying a calf to Fearn Godfather.

Averages: 13 cows with calves, £5557; four in-calf heifers, £5880; four young bulls, £4384.

  • The second part of the Coldrochie dispersal, which will include in the region of 38 spring calvers, 22 young heifers and two stock bulls (Lintonpriory Victory and Knockenjig Foremost), will take place at United Auctions, Stirling, on Wednesday, May 23.