MORE Limousin bulls sold to an increased trade compared to the 2017 sales when 49 of the 61 forward cashed in to average £5182, a rise of £119 for eight more sold.

Bolstered by two bulls equalling the top price of 11,000gns and another at 10,000gns, commercial producers were out in force and weren’t shy to pay for bulls with muscle, scope and good figures, with pedigree buyers also taking a number of bulls home for pedigree work.

“There’s a huge confidence in the breed and breeders are definitely looking to the future to produce fast finishing progeny which is able to hit 400kg deadweight at 15 to 16 months old. Breeders were very much looking for easy calving, easy fleshing bulls with scope,” said the society’s chief executive, Iain Kerr, of the sale, pointing out more Limousins sold between the Carlisle and Stirling sales compared to last year.

The first of two bulls to hit 11,000gns was the junior and supreme champion from Albert and George Howie in the shape of their Knock Nicol, which was brought out for show and sale by William Moir. This 19-month-old is by the 21,000gns Goldies Goldfinger, whose previous sons peaked at 10,000gns in May for Knock Msport, while his dam in the herd at West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead, is a Newhouse Billy daughter, Knock Hopscotch. Marking a successful show debut, where the judge, Michael Robertson, of Easter Fodderletter, commended him for his power, width and character, adding he is a tremendous bull for his age, Nicol heads north to Orkney having been bought by Terry Coghill to work on his Herka pedigree herd and commercial unit at Muce, Birsay.

Matching that top bid was another unshown junior bull, Burnbank Northernlad from Doug and Lynda Graham, which was brought out by son James and Stephen Taylor, while other son John was on a flight to America for the World Clydesdale Show. Selling in a two-way split to Bob and Kay Adam at Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, and Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Northernlad is sired by the 24,000gns AI bull, Glenrock Ventura, which also bred the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, and out of a former show female, Burnbank Evita, by Ionesco.

The Burnbank herd of 100 cows at Mains of Burnbank, Stirling, started the sale off well when the second lot to go under the hammer, Burnbank Millenium, sold to Messrs Stark and Sons, South Ballo, Inchture, for 8500gns. This second prize bull, which was born in November, 2016, out of the Rainbow Simon-sired Burnbank Gypsy – which had previously bred bulls to 7000gns and 6000gns – is by the AI bull Ampertaine Gigolo, which also bred the 140,000gns Trueman Jagger.

Fresh from a good sale at Carlisle, John Logan had plenty to celebrate when his reserve junior champion was knocked down to the judge, Michael Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul, for 10,000gns. This 19-month-old is another got by AI, being by Fairywater Haig, while his dam is the herd of 85 cows at Humebyres, Kelso, is Homebyres Floricity, a daughter of the top female breeder, Homebyres Vanhee, which has in turn bred bulls to 16,000gns.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer for a full round-up and pictures from the Stirling Bull Sales.