BEEF Shorthorn bulls reached a top of 12,000gns at Stirling Bull Sales, for the overall champion from the Roddick, Laurie and Thomson team of Newlands, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie. 

With 15 bulls levelling at £4487, a drop of £634 on the year for two less sold, sale leader was with Shawhill Leroy, a 19-month-old polled son of Shawhill Henderson, out of the Glenisla Zetor-sired, Shawhill Dewdrop Jasmine. A former breed champion at the Agri-Expo and Stars of the Future Calf show, last year, Leroy stood second in his class at the Yorkshire Show this year, as well as breed champion at Dumfries. He sold to pedigree breeder Duncan Welsh, for his West Broad herd at Fenwick, Ayrshire.

Next best at 6000gns was Meonhill Leader from Sid and Mary Chaplin, Little West End Farm, Chidden, Hampshire. Brought out by husband and wife duo, John and Mary Reynolds, this January 2017-born red and white polled twin is by Elliot Danny Boy, a bull which bred the junior champion at this year’s Yorkshire Show. Bred out of Meonhill Waterloo Ziva, this lad heads to work with JP Gray, Unthank Farm, Whittingham, Northumberland.

First time vendors, Fran Baird, Mel and Adrian Park, and Stephen Hamilton, who run the Charlesbury herd near Charlton, received 5200gns for the reserve champion, Charlesbury Mr Mackai. This 19-month-old roan bull is the first son of the Irish imported Creaga Kai, out of an imported dam Creaga Jetta and sold to A Vrona, Langhalm Lodge, Borley Road, Rutland.

Shorthorn females peaked at 5000gns for the second prize heifer Gordon Millicent from the Gordon Brooke Estate at Upper Huntlywood Farm, Earlston. She is an April 2017-born daughter of the 13,000gns Chapelton Braveheart, out of Holmeere Millicent, and is a maternal sister to the Stars of the Future native inter-breed champion, Lintonpriory Millicent. Buyer here was G Price, Parcyden, Llanilar.