Beef Shorthorns from Dean and Andrew Anderson's Smallburn herd met a buoyant demand at the family's dispersal sale at Dingwall, selling to a top of 5800gns.

The sale of 21 adult head from the family's show winning herd from Elgin, was led by Smallburn Jilly, a four-year-old cow by the Irish sire, Creaga Dice. She is bred from the top show cow, Lowther Sally, a Blelack Minstrel daughter and sold with March-born red roan bull calf by the 9500gns Meonside Javelin and back in calf to the same sire to Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown, Keith.

Glenrinnes Farms bought four lots including the second top priced animal at 5000gns – Smallburn Katie, a three-year-old show heifer that was junior champion at last year's Royal Highland. She is by the 6200gns Coldrochie Front Rank, out of the Glenford Gus daughter, Smallburn Fancy, and sold due with her second in October, to Meonside Javelin.

Gilven Butterly Lexi, a two-year-old in-calf heifer also headed home to Glenrinnes at 4100gns. Another by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin but bred from the Matlock Ariel-sired Hallsford Butterfly 9, Lexi sold due in October to last year's Highland Show champion, Smallburn Jethro.

The dam of the sale leader, Lowther Sally, an unbeaten show cow that was supreme overall at Grantown in 2017 and also grand-dam of the top show bull Smallburn Jethro, sold next at 4800gns to Stephen MacKenzie, Auchmore, Muir of Ord. His purchase, a nine-year-old, is by Blelack Minstrel, out of the Uppermill Sherlock-sired Lowther Sally 01 and changed hands with April-born roan bull calf by Burnside Judge.

Also heading back on the same trailer load to Auchmore at 4000gns was the first lot in the ring, Shawhill Fancy, last year's breed leader at Nairn Show. A seven-year-old by Alvie Blue Eyedboy, she sold with nine-month-old heifer calf by Smallburn Jethro.

Orkney breeder, Inga Kemp, Harston Park, was another to part with the cash, giving 4600gns for Smallburn Hilary, an ET-bred five-year-old with roan heifer at foot by Meonside Javelin. Hilary is bred from Prairie Lane Sparkle 1K and sired by Star P Matrix.

Top priced bull at 4400gns was the four-year-old Burnside Judge which had previously been used on both pure and commercial cows at Smallburn. Kincraigie Farms, Mains of Auchlossan, Lumphanan, for this Paintearth Rama son out of Burnside Bluebell.

Overall, 21 lots averaged £2646.71.

Auctioneers: Dingwall and Highland Marts.