WITH the majority of producers still awaiting basic farm payments, bull averages fell in most sections at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' pedigree sale staged alongside the Royal Northern Spring Show.

Such is the popularity of the Charolais as a terminal sire in the North-east, that the white bulls again dominated the prices at the salewhich saw 28 of the 44 forward sell to new homes to give an 64% clearance rate.

Selling for the top price of 6500gns was the youngest of the breed in the shape of Graeme Leggat's Bonnykelly Jackpot, a 16-month-old Charolais by the 6000gns Kersknowe Clansman - a bull that has bred a number of show and sale leaders. This red ticket holder from Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh, is out of Bonnykelly Annie, a daughter of Haymount Ulysees, and was knocked down to Peter Watson to take home to work on his Salers herd at Darnford, Durris.

Mr Leggat also received 5000gns from G and K Beverly, Cottown Farm, Rhynie, for the Newhouse Challanger-sired Bonnykelly Jaguar. This rising two-year-old is out of a Maerdy Rumbull-bred cow.

Two bulls sold for 6000gns apiece, including a Charolais from Jock Wilson's herd from Glenkindie, Alford. Kinclune Jackass, another born in May of 2014, is by Beechtree George, a 20,000gns bull bought after standing junior and supreme champion at Carlisle. He is out of the Thrunton Crownprince-sired Kinclune Flower, and heads to Fichlie, Glenkindie, Alford, with G Wilson.

Simmentals came next in the trade stakes with the champion and reserve from the Green family - Jimmy and Nan, son Iain and daughters Laura and Jemma - from Garmouth, Fochabers, selling for 6000gns and 4500gns.

In a swap around from their show results, the reserve Simmy that was the dearer of the two when chapped down to the Cormacks at Ha Durran, Castletown, Thurso. This was Corskie Fitzroy, a June, 2014-born son of the home-bred Burghbridge Lane-sired Corskie Bowen, while the dam is the former show cow show, Corskie Vicky, a Ballinlare Farm Nightrider daughter.

Leading the any other breed show and sale at 5400gns was Gary Patterson's 25-month-old British Blue, Aultmore Jacko. This black and white picked up a number of prizes during the 2015 show season for Mr Patterson's small herd based at Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith and is by Gregmaur Osman. He is out of the Twyning Ash Vaughan-sired Netherdale Deva, and sold to the judge, Lee Coghill, at Muce, Birsay, Orkney.

Hitting 5000gns was the best of the Limousins in the form of Dumbreck Jaguar from David Work, Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, Ellon. Sired by the 22,000gns Hartlaw Excaliber, he is out the Greenbank Star-sired Dumbreck Classy. The buyers here were WJ and P MacKenzie, Hilton Farm, Tain.

Aberdeen-Angus bulls reached 3800gns for Strathinver Master Beethoven, the reserve champion from Wendy Willox, Home Farm, Druminnor, Rhynie. Selling to D Petrie and Son, Midtown, Strachan, Banchory, this rising two-year-old is by Wall Elmo.

Malcolm and Terrence Pye, Middleton-on-Leven, Yarm, sold the dearest of the Salers when their Rigel Cassio was bought by IJ Daniel and Son, Hillhead of Auchmacleedie, Strichen, for 3200gns. This rising three-year-old is by the imported Casimir.

See the February 27 issue of The Scottish Farmer for a full report from the bull sale at the Spring Show, including all the averages and photos of the section leaders.