All breeds sell well at Stirling

In general, all breeds enjoyed a cracking trade, with a Limousin from local breeder, Andrew Burnett's Spittalton herd topping the sale at 9000gns, while John Maxwell and his grandson, David, produced their best amongst the Simmentals, at 8500gns.

Growing demand for Aberdeen Angus beef also saw an increased demand for the breed, with the bulls producing the second top average of £4806, up £354, from a lead bid of 7200gns paid for an entry from Wigtownshire breeder, Martin McCornick.

And, Pamela Forbes, who manages the Doldy herd, produced a personal best for this up and coming Beef Shorthorn unit from Glenisla, to top the section at 7000gns, while Salers peaked at 6200gns from local breeders, Malcolm and Gill Pye.

Sale leader at 9000gns was Andrew Burnett's September 2017-born Limousin, Spittalton Niagra, brought out with assistance of stockman, Tim Russell. This beefy boy is by Dinmore Jeanpierre, a 16,000gns purchase at Carlisle, in 2016 which has already bred sons to 9000gns. He is bred from the Maraiscote Gigolo daughter, Spittalton Jemma, and was knocked down to Aberdeenshire pedigree breeders, John and Margaret Penny, buying for their Shannas herd from Mintlaw, Peterhead.

Mr Burnett also produced the reserve champion and second top priced Limousin at 7200gns in Spittalton Novak, another similarly aged son of Jeanpierre, this time out of the Lodge Equal-sired Spittalton Galaxy. William Dunlop, Elmscleugh, Innerwick, Dunbar, was the final bidder.

Next best amongst the Limousins was a 7000gns bid paid for Jimmy and Donald MacGregor's Dyke Nomad, from Dyke, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. Aberdeenshire producers, Ian Proctor and Son, Glenlogie, Alford, forked out the cash for this October 2017-born son of Netherhall Gilbert, bred from Dyke Louise, a heifer by Dyke Gandalf.

While most consignors enjoyed a good day, it was nevertheless, Martin McCornick and his two daughters, Gemma and Kate, who enjoyed the day most, having topped both the Charolais and Aberdeen Angus sections at 8500gns and 7200gns, respectively.

The family, who run just 12 pedigree Charolais females and 75 Angus at Boreland, Kirkcown, also produced the pre-sale breed champion, McCornick Nesquik, which went on to top the breed, selling to commercial producer, John Howden, who runs 200 Limousin cross cows at Balleny, Balerno. His purchase, a two-year-old, is the first son sold at auction by Thrunton Hermes, a bull bought for 6000gns, while the dam is McCornick Glacier, an Edenhurst Dynamo daughter.

Topping the Angus trade for the McCornicks was McCornick Delboy, a full brother to the 11,000gns McCornick Destroyer, sold here in October, 2017 after standing reserve overall champion. Delboy, another two-year-old, is by Halbeath Pentagon, a bull bought at the Halbeath dispersal which has also bred another at 11,000gns, out of McCornick Duchess, by Wedderlie Even Bonus. Placed third in his class to the champion, this beefy boy headed home with MK and G Sprowl, Eastlands, Rothesay, Bute.

Back amongst the Charolais, and Iain Campbell and sons, Bruce and Andrew, had a cracking day with sales at 8000gns, 6500gns and 6000gns. Dearest for this 75-cow herd which runs alongside 20 pedigree Angus at Thrunton, Alnwick, was Thrunton Norseman, a two-year-old bull purchased by J and J Strain, North Garphar, Ballantrae. For their money, they get a son of Thrunton Gladiator – a Balmyle Dickler-sired bull that also bred the top priced bull at 13,000gns in February, Thrunton Nugget. The dam, Thrunton Ellie, a Burradon Talisman daughter, is equally well bred, being the dam of the 6000gns Thrunton Hermes and another bull at 7000gns.

Three Charolais realised 7800gns to include John Christie's Westcarse Nimrod, a September 2017-born bull by Mortimers Highlandfling, a bull bought for a bargain price at Carlisle. Male champion and senior and continental champion at the Stars of the Future Show, in November, he is bred from the same family as the 14,000gns Westcarse Houdini, and sold to James Moir, Auchorties, Keith, Banff.

The next lot in, Harestone Nelson, from Neil and Stuart Barclay's multi-breed operation from Insch, made the same money, selling to the Scottish Government's Bull Stud at Inverness. The first bull sold by the privately purchased Knockmahon Ireland, Nelson was brought out by stockman Robert Marshall and is bred from the Harestone Ronsard daughter, Harestone Emmanuel – one of 95 pedigree Charolais in the herd.

Iain Millar's Lochend herd from Port of Menteith, Stirling, was another in the money with sales at 7800gns and 7200gns. His best, Lochend Noelle, a 19-month-old bull by the AI sire, Blelack Blackberet, is a heifer's calf out of Lochend Jinglebell, also by Mortimers Highlandfling. He headed home with W Young and Sons, Polquhairn, Ochiltree, Ayrshire.

Flying the flag for the Simmental breed at 8500gns was the reserve breed champion, Jaw Istagram, an AI son of the 14,000gns Woodhall Ferrari, from John and David Maxwell, Jaw, Fintry, Glasgow. Producing a personal best for this 20-cow herd, Istagram is bred from the Omorga Volvo daughter, Jaw Dakota which is bred from Tillymaud Kathy 27, bought at Tillymaud dispersal for 4000gns as a foundation female. This 17-month-old entry goes out to work on a pedigree and commercial unit at Peasiehill, Arbroath, having been purchased by Brian Souttar and his partner, Lynne Lyon.

Earlier, Robert and Hazel McNee, Finlarg, Dundee, sold the last Simmental bull from their Finlarg herd, with the cows having been registered in their children's names, for the second top price of 6000gns, to Islay Estates, Bridgend, Islay. This was Finlarg Ivan, a polled bull by the privately purchased Team Drambuie, a bull that bred the intermediate champion in February that made 5800gns, out of Benhar Clover, a Dirneanan Telstar-sired cow and one of only 10 in the herd.

Second top price amongst the Aberdeen Angus was 7000gns paid for the breed champion, Idvies Eland, a two-year-old from Alasdair and Graeme Fraser, Newton of Idvies, Forfar, purchased by Culfargie Estate, Tarrylaw, Balbeggie, Perth. This entry is by the top show winning bull, Shadwell Black Broughton, a former champion at both the Highland and the English National, which has also bred sons to 20,000gns, and out of Idvies Elstreme, by Aynho Rossiter Eric.

Matching that price and producing a personal best at auction for the 24-cow Doldy Beef Shorthorn herd managed by Pamela Nicol from Eastmill Farm, Glenisla, was Eastmill Lord, a two-year-old dark roan. This second prize winner is the first son sold by the Blelack Camelot-sired bull, Eastmill Joop which was retained for breeding, and out of Ballylinney Telluria, a Craigfaddock Ymir daughter bought at the herd dispersal for 1800gns. Lord sold to Keith Adams, who will use the bull to breed replacement heifers on his Simmental cross commercial herd at West Friarton, Newport.

Gill and Malcolm Pye's champion Salers from Rednock House, Port of Menteith, topped the breed at 6200gns, selling to Northumberland producers, JDE and SH Proctor, New Dotland, Hexham. This was Rednock Mercury, a 25-month-old son of Rigel Officer, a bull that bred the 5000gns Rednock Lauper, out of the black cow, Rigel Diamond, a daughter of the French sire, Casimir.

Averages: 31 Charolais, £5826 (+£424 for four more with 79% clearance); 29 Simmentals, £4439 (+£186 for nine fewer, 83%); 41 Limousin, £4474 (-£454 for three fewer, 89%); Seven Salers, £4080 (-£267 for two more, 88%); 10 Beef Shorthorn, £3203 (-£1186 for same number, 83%); 31 Aberdeen Angus, £4806 (+£354 for one more, 82%).

OTHERLEADING prices

Charolais – 7500gns – DFWH and NR Walter's Balthayock Neville, by Balthayock Influence, to TRC Logan, Holehouse, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.

7200gns – Mr and Mrs JW Millar's Lochend Orator, by Mortimers Highlandfling, to RR and MS McCarlie, Wester Hassockrigg, Harthill, Shotts.

7000gns – J Jeffrey's Kersknowe Neil, by Burradon Insomniac, to G Wilson and Son, Fichlie, Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire; J Irvine and Son's Inverlochy November, by Kilbline 1 Instigator, to Glenkiln Farms, Bettyknowes, Crocketford, Dumfries.

6500gns – M McCornick's McCornick Newyork, by Thrunton Hermes, to RM Mackay and Sons, Greenvale, Dunnet, Thurso; JHC Campbell and Sons' Thrunton Nemo, by Thrunton Gladiator, to W and F Thomson, Netherton, Kelty, Fife; R McCulloch's Overhill Nightrider, by Inverlochy Ferdie, to Woodmill Farms, Woodmill, Dunshelt, Auchtermuchty, Fife.

6000gns – D Muirhead's Firhills Nugget, by Ugie Echo, to A McEwan, West Mains of Colliston, Arbroath; JHC Campbell and Sons' Thrunton Neapolitan, by Maerdy Jerusalem, to RT Phaup and Partner, Hoprigshiels, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire; H Goldie's Goldies Nelson, by Goldies Formidable, to A and W Orr, Mossplatt, Cleghorn, Lanark.

Simmental – 5200gns – GW Smith's Drumsleed Inverawe, by Haystar Cracker, to J Drummond, Townend, Craigie, Kilmarnock; WS Stronach's Islavale Immortal, by Curaheen Bandit, to J Coventry and Sons, Newbarns, Forfar; WJ and J Green's Corskie Influence, by Dirnanean Bradley, to J Duff and Son, Broomknowe, Brechin.

Limousin – 6200gns – J Logan's Homebyres Norton, by Homebyres Iveson, to J Budge, 6 Kilvaxer, Kilmuir, Skye.

5400gns – J Burnett's Spittalton Navaho, by Dinmore Jeanpierre, to Scottish Government Bull Stud, Inverness.

5200gns – RM Adam and Son's Newhouse Nightman, by Millington Ferrari, to Lour Farms, Ladenford, Forfar.

Aberdeen-Angus – 6500gns – D Murray's Logan Bar Easy Jet, by Rawburn Boss Hogg, to Scrainwood Estate, Alnham, Alnwick.

6200gns – JA Rettie's Hillfoots Egotist, by Billinge Magic Jack Eric, to R Orr, Heights Farm, Buchlyvie, Stirling; NA Wattie's Tonley Postman, by Blelack Evor, to J King, South Hill of Dripps, Thorntonhall, Glasgow.

5800gns – JHC Campbell and Sons' Thrunton Picador, by Rawburn Transformer, to Snaigow Farming Partnership, Hillocks of Clunie, Blairgowrie.

5500gns – Tillyfour Farms Partnership's Tillyfour Limited Edition, by Tonley Pepe, to Scottish Government Bull Stud, Inverness; NA Wattiie's Tonley Echo, by Blelack Evor, to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stromness, Orkney; D Walker's Galcantray Duchy, by Blelack Bluey, to RA Austin, Boreland of Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet.

5200gns – D Walker's Galcantray Blue Magic, by Blelack Bluey, to Messrs Stewart of Kinninmonth, Cupar, Fife; G and A McFadzean's Cherrybank Pansy, by Idvies Infusion, to DA MacGillivray, Torgormack, Kirkhill, Inverness; Mrs SM Thomson's Coldoch Quincy Baloo, by Coldoch Kind Prince, to J Dunlop, Mackailston, Crosshill, Maybole.

Auctioneers: United Auctions.