The Beef Shorthorn’s ability to cater for the breeding market as well as produce premium quality beef, was the reason given for a buoyant demand for both sexes at Stirling.
Breed president, Sally Horrell, said it was ‘a sound sale for both sexes’, with bulls peaking at 12,000gns and females at 5500gns.
“Our membership is increasing, with new members looking to produce suckler cows while the bull trade was driven by commercial farmers looking for the premium prices paid for Shorthorn-sired cattle,” said Mrs Horrell, pointing out that demand for Shorthorn-sired branded beef through supermarket giant, Morrisons, was increasing.
That demand for bulls meant that averages increased by a hefty £2100 on the year to level at £5121 for 13, backed by top prices of 12,000gns and 9000gns for the champion and reserve bulls. This compared to last year’s £3021 for the same number. 
A good show of females and several new breeders investing in the breed resulted in the heifers levelling at £2890 for 48.
It was a relatively new breeder that topped the trade at 12,000gns too, when Chris Mallaber, who had secured the overall championship and celebrated his 63rd birthday the previous day, secured that money for his first time selling here.
This was Grovewood Jackson, a dark red bull which has been in the hands of freelance stockman, Allan Jackson, in Lanarkshire, for the past few months. An ET-bred youngster, he is bred from Tamhorn Fireworks, which in turn was out of Mr Mallaber’s foundation cow, Croxden Marigold Fireworks 3 – purchased for 1500gns at Carlisle – which is still going strong at 11 years of age.
Jackson is by the AI sire, Glenisla Explorer and sold to up to Aberdeenshire for pedigree and commercial work at Kincraig Estates, Lumphanan, Banchory, owned by the Marshall family – Robert, his father Robbie and uncle, Norman.
Following him, both in the show and the sale ring, was the reserve champion from Donald Biggar’s Chapelton herd, from Castle Douglas, which made 9000gns. 
This was Chapelton Jacob, a red bull which stood second in his class to the champion, purchased by commercial producer, George Grieve, buying for his Simmental cross herd at South Nittanshead, New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire.
Jacob is the first son sold off Chapelton Emperor – which is, in turn, by Chapelton Typhoon, that has bred several champions and sons to 13,000gns. Third in his class at the Highland, Jacob was brought out by stockman, Robert Grierson and is out of the consistent breeder, Chapelton Gem, a Cavans Yankee daughter.
Major Gibb and his daughter, Catriona, from Glenisla House, Blairgowrie, enjoyed a good trade for their sole bull, Glenisla Kelpie and their usual consignment of heifers. 
Their bull, a first prize winner by the 7000gns Flight Lieutenant of Upsall, brought out by Stephen Martyn, made 6500gns to Campbell Graham, Aucheneck, Killearn, Glasgow. His dam is the Broughton Park Thunder-sired Glenisla Foxglove Flake VG88.
Two bulls made 5000gns, including Robert and Paula McAlister’s Langalbuinoch Joker, a third prize senior bull from Kingarth, Bute. Beef champion at Bute Show and fourth in his class at the Highland, this red, roan entry is by Loch Awe Saxon and out of Glenisla Foxglove Flake. He goes out to work on the Lithgow family’s Ormsary Estate, at Lochgilphead.
David and Rosemary Dickie, of the Knockenjig herd at Sanquhar, sold the second 5000gns Shorthorn to Aberdeenshire producer, AN McInnes, Rinmore, Glenkindie. This was Knockenjig Kaiser, a 19-month-old light roan son of Glengloy Geronimo, bred from the Meonhill Charlie Chaplin daughter, Knockenjig Foxglove Flake.

Shorthorn females
A cracking trade for the Shorthorn dames saw prices reach 5500gns for the second prize senior heifer from Jack and Grace Ramsay’s Ayrshire-based Millerston herd.
This was the June, 2015-born Millerston Augusta Julie, a roan heifer by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin, a bull bought privately from Knockenjig, that has already bred several champions for the Ramsays, including this year’s champion at the Highland and the Great Yorkshire.
Bred from the Glenbrae Yogie daughter, Millerston Augusta Clare, this stylish heifer sold due in the spring to the 6000gns Glenrinnes Goliath. Forking out the cash were relatively new breeders and young brother and sister team, Kenny and Sally Mair, buying for their Muiresk herd, which will run alongside the family’s Holstein dairy herd, which is being reduced next month.
Another Millerston heifer by Charlie Chaplin, a bull that has bred sons to 12,000gns for the Ramsays, realised 4500gns to another relatively new breeder, Professor Peter Fitzgerald, Cherryvalley Farms, Crumlin, Co Antrim. Millerston Augusta Jewel is out of Millerston Augusta Flo, by the show winning bull, Podehole Beefeater, and is due to Goliath.
Cherryvalley Farms bought four heifers, including the champion from Bill and Jane Landers’ Cairnsmore herd, from Bargaly, Newton Stewart, brought out by son Bobby an daughter Katie. This was Cairnsmore Kirsten Averell, one of the last crop of heifers by the 15,000gns Chapelton Dauphin, bred from Cairnsmore Averell Tessa 1 which is daughter of the show winning Colonywymott Tessa. She sold due to the 15,000gns Coldrochie Jurassic.
Lincolnshire breeders, Alan and Helen Haigh also enjoyed a cracking trade for heifers from their Willingham herd from Market Rasen, which hit 4800gns for Willingham Augusta Florence 2. 
Producing a personal best for them was a May, 2016-born roan daughter of Willingham Humperdink – a bull retained for breeding by the Canadian sire, Alta Cedar Perfect Storm out of Dunsyre Meadowsweet 24. Her dam is a home-bred cow by Podehole Cracker. She sold up to Sutherland with HG Murray, 207 Migdale, Bonar Bridge. 
Top from the drafts was 4500gns for John Elliot’s Elliot Surprise, a June, 2015-born red heifer from Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. A full ET sister to the $28,000 Shadybrook Shorthorn sold in 2013, this complete UK outcross, is by the US sire, HD Swagger and bred from Shadybrook Pure Surprise. She sold, due to Balgay Journeyman, to Paul Westaway, Grange Hall, Dymock, Glocs. The herd sold four at £3806.25.
Douglas McMillan’s Coldrochie herd, from Luncarty, Perth, sold nine heifers to level at £3208.33, with a top of 4200gns  for Coldrochie Grace Beauty. This September, 2015-born red is by Knockenjig Foremost, out of a cow by Colnvalley Bogart, and sold served to Fearn Godfather, to Iain Green, Corskie, Fochabers.
Heifers from Glenisla averaged £3137 for eight. Top was 3800gns paid twice for Glenisla Eva Broadhooks selling to Balnabroich, Strathardle and Glenisla Foxglove Tansy, purchased by James Hay and Son, Meikle Tullo, Edzell, Brechin.