A great day was had by all at a joint Charolais Open Day in Perthshire, at Balmyle and Balthayock, courtesy of Bill Bruce and Major David Walter, respectively.

The event staged to celebrate Balmyle winning the Scottish and overall herds competition and the 50th anniversary of the Balthayock herd, attracted a huge number of breeders and enthusiasts from all over Britain.

The day culminated at Balthayock with a barbecue and auction of three Charolais heifers which sold to 7000gns for Balthayock Moria. This December 2016-born daughter of the 2015 Royal Highland Show champion, Balthayock Imp is out of Balthayock Hazel, a cow that goes back to Ugie Echo. She was bought by new breeder, Richard McCulloch, Overhillhouse, Armadale.

Just behind on 6200gns was a similarly aged daughter of Balthayock Imp, this time bred out of the Balthayock Adonis-sired Bathayock Ester, purchased by Mark Wattie, Alford, Aberdeenshire.

The last lot, Bathayock Mercedes, another rising three-year-old by Imp, out of the Balthayock Adonis daughter, Balthayock Hermione was snapped up by society chairman Ben Harman for 4500gns. All three sold in calf to Gretnahouse Luner due in November/December.

Some £7000 is to be gifted to the Scots Guards Injured Soldiers Appeal – a charity close to the Majors heart. The combined weight of the cow and calf was 1578kg – won by Edward Scott, with the proceeds of the competition seeing £350 split between the local RDA and the Air Ambulance.