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 at 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, who added there were more Limousins sold between the Carlisle and Stirling sales compared to last year.

The first to hit 11,000gns was the junior and supreme champion from Albert and George Howie, Knock Nicol, which was brought out 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 after the judge, Michael Robertson, of Easter Fodderletter, commended him for his power, width and character, he headed north to Orkney with Terry Coghill for his Herka pedigree and commercial herds at Muce, Birsay.

Matching that 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 herd split to Bob and Kay Adam, at Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, and mother and daughter Mary Fotheringham and Hazel McNee, Westhall herd, this bull is by the 24,000gns AI bull, Glenrock Ventura, which bred the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, and out of a former show female, Burnbank Evita, by Ionesco.

Burnbank 100-cow herd from near Blairdrummond started the sale off well when the second lot in, Burnbank Millennium, sold to Messrs Stark and Sons, South Ballo, Inchture, for 8500gns. This second prize bull, which is out of the Rainbow Simon-sired Burnbank Gypsy – which had previously bred bulls to 7000gns and 6000gns – is by Ampertaine Gigolo, which 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 in the 85-cow herd at Humebyres, Kelso, is Homebyres Floricity, a daughter of Homebyres Vanhee, which has bred bulls to 16,000gns.

Allan Campbell’s Strawfrank herd, from Lanark, was in the money, with three of the top prices when brought out by Allan Jackson. His dearest was his senior champion, Strawfrank Nevada, which already landed a couple of red tickets at the Stars of the Future and Royal Highland. Sired by the 24,000gns AI bull, Ballinloan Jaegerbomb, the dam, Strawfrank Grace, is by Moloskey Claus. Nevada heads to work on Islay for Charlie McMillan, Ardbeg, near Port Ellen.

Selling at 8000gns to Tom Howden, Stanley, Perth, just a couple lots earlier was Strawfrank Nero, which is by the 45,000gns Ampertaine Jamboree. His dam is Siddall Harriet, an Ionesco daughter.

At 6600gns, Strawfrank Nolan, a 19-month-old by the 16,000gns Homebyres Guthrie bred out of the Loosebeare Fantastic-sired Strawfrank Jessy, sold to the Isle of Lismore, to the McCormicks of Balligarve.

An intermediate bull from Ian Nimmo’s Maraiscote herd, Bogside, Wishaw, was in the money when Messrs Anderson paid 6800gns to take Maraiscote Natural home to Cloy, Fortrose. His sire is the 19,000gns Millgate Jukebox, purchased when he stood reserve junior at Carlisle in February, 2016, while his dam, Maraiscote Fern, is by Ian’s consistent breeder, Virginia Andy.

A run of bulls sold for 6500gns apiece, with the first of these being Shannas Nifty, from John and Margaret Penny, Mintlaw, Peterhead. Messrs Hutchison paid that price to take home the son of the 8000gns Goldies Emperor, bred from the Craigatoke Bart-sired Shannas Hattie, to Chapel Farm, Moffat.

Messrs Paterson, of Kiltersan Farm, Kirkcowan, also forked out 6500gns to get Peter Henshall’s Ringway Navajo, a son of Lodge Hamlet. His dam from the herd at Sarkshields, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, is the Bavardage daughter, Ringway Joyaux.

Local breeders, the Dick family, from Mains of Throsk, sold their first prize Ronick Novak – among the first crop by the 20,000gns Lynderg James – to Messrs Keir and Son, Ladymill, Alford, for 6500gns. With a pedigree that goes back to the herd’s foundation female, he is out of Ronick Evita, a Fieldson Topaz daughter.

The final bull at 6500gns was Ian Burnett’s Spittalton Navigator, from Blair Drummond. Selling to the Isle of Tiree with the MacLean family, Heylipol, his pedigree features the Greensons Gigolo-sired Spittalton Figolo and the current stock bull, Greenbank Judge.

LEADING awards:

Bulls born Nov 17, 2016, to Feb 19, 2017 – 1 and reserve senior, RM Adam and Son’s Newhouse Nash, by Millington Ferrari, 6000gns to Messrs Fisher, Flathill, Dundrennan; 2, D and L Graham’s Burnbank Millennium, by Ampertaine Gigolo, 8500gns to Messrs Stark and Son, South Ballo, Inchture; 3, C Knox’s Swalesmoor Nick, by Dinmore Goldeneye, 2800gns to Messrs Thain, Knowehead, Aberchirder; 4, Mr and Mrs S Irvine’s Anside Ninja, by Powerful Irish, 3500gns to Osborne Farms, Mains of Balmadies, Forfar; 5, D and L Graham’s Burnbank Micmac, by Ampertaine Gigolo, 4000gns to Messrs McOuat and Sons, Fornought, Crieff.

Bulls born Feb 20 to March 26, 2017 – 1 and senior champion, A Campbell’s Strawfrank Nevada, by Ballinloan Jaegerbomb, 8200gns to C McMillan, Ardbeg, Islay; 2, A Campbell’s Strawfrank Nero, by Ampertaine Jamboree, 8000gns to Messrs Howden, Stanley, Perth; 3, RJ Mowbray’s Droit Nabraska, by Wilodge Cerberus, 3000gns to Messrs MacLeod, Lurignish, Appin; 4, Messrs Jenkinson’s Whinfellpark Nemesis, by Trueman Jagger, 3500gns to Messrs Sime and Son, Bruceland, Elgin; 5, A and V Brown and Sons’ Hollyberry Nevis, by Loosebeare Fantastic, 3000gns to Osborne Farms.

Bulls born March 27 to April 13, 2017 – 1, intermediate and reserve supreme, Mr and Mrs W and A Callion’s Lodge Nevada, by Ampertaine Elgin, 6000gns to Luckenburn Farms, Slamannan; 2, BT Goldie’s Goldies Neptune, by Goldies Fortress, 4800gns to Scottish Government Stud; 3, Messrs Jenkinson’s Whinfellpark Nonu, by Foxhillfarm Jasper, 4000gns to Messrs Kennedy and Son, Perryston, Ayr; 4, J Burnett’s Spittalton Nick, by Huntershall Jeronimo, 6000gns to Scottish Government; 5, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Nedkelly, by Corlea Jetset, 4800gns to Scottish Government.

Bulls born April 14 to May 1, 2017 – 1 and reserve intermediate, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Nula, by Macschoice Chris, 6000gns to Messrs Walker and Sons, Sauchenbush, Echt; 2, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Ned, by Goldies Comet, 5200gns to Scottish Government; 3, MJ Massie’s Elrick Notable, by Foxhillfarm Impecabull, unsold; 4, J Burnett’s Spittalton Nelson, by Huntershall Jeronimo, 5500gns to Baird, Manor Hill; 5, R Dick’s Ronick National, by Stephick Hero, 2800gns to Messrs Miskelly, Boulintogle, Scotscalder, Halkirk.

Bulls born May 2 to 13, 2017 – 1, R Dick’s Ronick Novak, by Lynderg James, 6500gns to Messrs Keir and Son, Ladymill, Alford; 2, J Nimmo’s Maraiscote Nuka, by Goldies Comet, 4000gns to Tallant, Islay; 3, R Dick’s Ronick Natterbox, by Stephick Hero, 2500gns to J Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Gollanfield; 4, G Harvey’s Harveys Naughtyboy, by Whinfellpark Gainful, unsold; 5, R Dick’s Ronick Napoleon, by Lynderg James, unsold.

Bulls born after May 14, 2017 – 1, junior champion and supreme champion, AG Howie’s Knock Nicol, by Goldies Goldfinger, 11,000gns to T Coghill, Muce, Orkney; 2 and reserve junior, J Logan’s Homebyres Nistleroy, by Fairywater Haig, 10,000gns to Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul; 3, BT Goldie’s Goldies National, by Ampertaine Jamboree, 4500gns to D Findlay and Sons, Pirnhall, Stirling; 4, D and L Graham’s Burnbank Northernlad, by Glenrock Ventura, 11,000gns to A Adam and Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, and Messrs McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee; 5, J Logan’s Homebyres Napoli, by Larkhill Julius, 4000gns to WJ Fraser, Little Croy.