averages:

22 in-calf heifers, £2295.68 (–£60.05 for nine fewer sold); 160 bulling heifers, £1274.77 (–£308.80 for 62 more sold); 28 bulls, £5943.75 (+£1066.75 for the same number sold).

THE bull trade was the success story of the Luing Cattle Society’s 54th annual Premier sale at Castle Douglas, where the same number of males sold as 2018 saw an impressive rise just over £1000 in their averages.

Although the female trade didn’t fare so well, with averages back across the board, Wallets Marts auctioneer Robin Anderson explained that the strong bull trade was marked a promising years trading for the breed.

He said: “The bull trade was excellent, with a great clearance rate of over 90% - a centre record this year for any breed. Good heifers got away fine, but anything lacking size or flesh was harder to cash.”

Leading the days trading at the peak price of 18,000gns was Finlarg Warrior, an April-2017-born bull from husband and wife team, Robert and Hazel McNee.

The McNees, who run 180 Luings at Over Finlarg, near Tealing, of which 120 are bred pure with the remainder to the Simmental, have a long history in the breed, but this was their greatest sale success in the seven years they’ve been selling from Over Finlarg.

Their impressive lad, a Benhar Snowie son out of a the home-bred Finlarg Bracken, found a new home with Neil Anderson, who was buying on behalf of Professor Penny’s renowned Harehead unit at Cranshaws Duns, where 180 of the 300 Luings are kept pure.

More than helping to fund their sale-topping purchase of Finlarg Warrior, Professor Penny saw his Harehead Walker knocked down for 17,000gns.

Brought out by stockman Ronnie Wylie and farm manager Neil Anderson, this April-2017-born bull was the second son of Finlarg Nero to hit the 17,000gns mark. Harehead Sivivatu hit the same heights in 2016.

Out of a home-bred dam that goes back to Benhar Flint, a 7000gns purchase that left a stamp of good feet in the herd, Walker was knocked down to Alastair MacArthur and his son David, for their herd at Nunnerie, Elvanfoot.

Roy and Andrew McNee, of Benhar, Woodend, Armadale sold their top bull, Benhar Wrangler, for 10,000gns to Kedzlie Farms, Galashiels.

One of the first crop of bulls by Culmaily Sheamus, this March-2017-born bull is out of the home-bred Benhar Misty.

From the same home and going for 7500gns was Benhar Walter. This May-2017 bull went to the Tweedies of Brownsbank Farm, Biggar.

Also a Sheamus son, he is out of Benhar Lily.

Next up, at 8500gns was Craigdarroch Wrangler. This red boy, from Willie and Billy Graham’s 55-cow Craigdarroch herd from near Sanquhar, Dumfries, sold to the McClymomt family for their herd at Tinnis, Yarrow.

He is by Finlarg Nimrod, a bull that sold for 9000gns, and his mother is a home-bred cow.

The Graham’s also saw Craigdarroch Wren through the ring for 7000gns. This fully home-bred bull – sired by Craigdarroch Sid – found a new home with James McCaig Farms, Wester Jawcraig, Slamannan.

Also going for the 7000gns price tag was the next bull through the ring, Backmuir Whisky from Philip and Reece Simmers, Backmuir, Keith.

The top price so far from the 100-head herd, Whisky is by the 17,000gns bull Harehead Savivatu and out of a home-bred dam. He went home with the McKnee’s of Over Finlarg.

The Simmers’ also sold Backmuir Warrior, a bull of the same breeding, for 6500gns. He was snapped up by Miss S Marshall, Concraig House, Mains of Concraig, Kingswells.

Founders of the breed, the Cadzow brothers, from Ardlarach on the Isle of Luing, assisted by stockman Euan Ferguson, saw Luing Warpath through the ring for 6000gns. Purchased by Neil McGowan, for his herd at Incheoch Farms, Alyth. Blairgowrie, this Luing lad-sired bull, out of Luing Ardlarach was born in March 2017

Going for the same price tag was one of the very last bulls through the sale ring, Blackhouse Warrior, from Billy Renwick, Blackhouse, Yarrow. This May-2017-born red lad is of more Benhar breeding, with Magnum being his sire. He is out of a home-bred dam. Taking him home was the Dunlop team, from Commonside at Hawick.

FEMALE prices were back on the year, with a selective trade seen throughout, although there were 41% more sold on the year. Topping the day at 3200gns was a pair of in-calf heifers from the McKnee’s of Benhar. Benhar Brackliinn V51 and Benhar Lily V54 are both by Benhar Pioneer.

The third top price heifers from Benhar to date, they were knocked down to Messrs Burke, Nether Stewarton Farm, Eddleston, Peebles.

From the same home, Benhar Fairy V41 and Benhar Bracklinn V58, also sold to the Burkes, this time for 3100gns. This in-calf pair had taken the pre-sale show championship, judged by Stewart Wood from Orkney.

The team from Benhar dominated the in-calf heifer trade, with no less than four top prices. Next top at 2900gns were Benhar Lily V57 and Benhar Primrose V45. Both Benhar Lennox daughters, they travelled home with the Jardine's of Fairgirth, Colvend.

Messrs Graham, Craigdarroch and the Cadzow brothers of Luing both sold their top bulling heifer consignments for the joint sale-leading price of 1900gns. Craigdarroch W90 and Craigdarroch W79, both April-2017-born Finlarg Nimrod daughters sold to Neil Robson, Townshields, Haydon Bridge.

Luing Achafolla, a Drinkstone Panamar daughter and Luing Ardlarach, a Harehead Sumo daughter, sold for the same price, to Mulholland Contractors, Ettrickshaws, Selkirk.

Auctioneers: Wallets Marts