FEMALES from Lord Catto’s Schivas herd of Aberdeen-Angus at Ythanbank, Ellon, met a phenomenal trade, selling to 18,000gns,16,000gns and 12,000gns.

Founded back in 2001 and since managed by Doug Shand, the herd expanded to 100 cows before the complete dispersal at Stirling Bull Sales where an in-calf heifer led the entry at 18,000gns when knocked down to the Doyle family in Northern Ireland at Drum Road, Cookstown. Sired by Water End Jackpot Eric, Schivas Morning Princess S430 is bred from a previous Princess and sold to the Doyles scanned in calf to Schivas Edge, which went on to realise 3200gns.

The Doyles completed the set when they paid 6000gns for the heifer’s mother, Schivas Morning Princess M803. This 2012-born Cardona Rito daughter bred from a Ballathie Lord Jack-sired Morning Princess sold with her Netherton Kentucky-sired heifer calf at foot and due with her fifth to the same sire.

Also in the money at 16,000gns when snapped up by the team at Brailes Livestock, Oxfordshire, was the 2013-born Schivas Miss Betty N149, this time by Schivas Evolution and bred from a Blelack Evolution daughter. She was also scanned in calf with her fifth to Netherton Kentucky, a private purchase, and changed hands with her heifer calf by Gretnahouse Exocet, a 15,000gns bull bought in February, 2017.

The Renton and Readon partnership from Berwick upon Tweed paid 12,000gns for another three-life outfit in the shape of Schivas Jane Erica R341, her Schivas Edge-sired heifer and her successful scan to Weeton Ronan. This three-and-a-half-year-old by Hallington Powerline is out of a Rawburn Lord Ross-bred previous Jane Erica.

Hitting the 8500gns mark when selling to Phil Hallhead at Norbreck Genetics, Cockerham, was the Blelack Evril-sired Schivas Lady N133, a 2013-born fourth calver that heads to her new home with her Netherton Kentucky-sired bull calf at foot and scanned in calf to Weeton Ronan. Her dam is a Logie cow by Nightingale Poldark.

Averages: 45 cows with calves, £3824; 17 heifers with calves, £3743; seven in-calf heifers, £5760; 20 maiden heifers, £1964.