Growing demand for pedigree Aberdeen Angus females ensured a flying trade for Ben Marsden’s Liley dispersal sale at Stirling, which saw prices peak at 16,000gns for a 10-month-old ET calf.

The herd which was established in 2010 mostly from Rawburn females, was topped by Liley Kinannie ET, purchased by Shadwell Estate, Thetford, Norfolk. She is the result of a flush from the KMK Alliance daughter, Belhaven Keystone Kinannie and sired by the Rawburn Lord Ross son, Rawburn Elmer.

Another from the same family realised 8000gns selling to Moses Irwin, Fintona, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland. This was the yearling bull, Liley Karlsberg, a son of Shadwell Earl, bred from the Lockerley Kougar daughter, Liley Kinannie.

The first lot in the catalogue, Rawburn Ellen Erica and her February-born calf, Liley Easy Rider, got the sale off to a cracking start, selling for 7000gns to Cheshire breeder, O Tunney, Manor Farm, Cuddington. This 11-year-old Canadian ET cow is bred from Cudlobe Chester daughter, Cudlobe Ellen Erica ET and sired by Da ES Ro Twister, while her calf is by Shadwell Earl.

Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch, also got in on the action, forking out 6200gns for the rising five-year-old cow, Liley Kinannie, a Lockerley Kouga daughter bred from the Rawburn Elmer daughter, Rawburn Kinannie. Inter-breed calf champion at the Stars of the Future and the English Winter Fair, she sold due in May to Shadwell Earl.

Rawburn genetics were also behind Liley Ellen Erica, which made 6000gns to Holystone Estate, Sharpeton, Morpeth. Female champion at the Great Yorkshire and inter-breed champion at several calf shows, this ET-bred calved heifer is by Rawburn Elysium and bred from the Da Es Ro Twister-sired Rawburn Ellen Erica ET. She also sold due in May but to Rawburn Excel.

Her January-born bull calf, Liley Edgar made the same money selling to John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso.

Top price amongst the in-calf heifers was also 6000gns paid for Liley Kinannie, a daughter of the Lockerley Kougar-sired Liley Kinannie. She is by the Rawburn Elmer son, Liley Edd and heads across the Irish Sea with Messrs Tillingdale, Gigginstowns House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Selling at 4200gns to D and K Graham, Birsca, Corrie, Lockerbie, was the January-born heifer calf, Liley Kinannie and her recipient Aberdeen Angus dam. This ET calf is the result of a flush from the KMK Alliance daughter, Belhaven Keystone Kinannie which was bought privately for £10,000 and sired by Rawburn Elmer.

Just behind on 4000gns, A Neish, Rodmead Farm, Maiden Bradley, Warminster, bought the January 2018-born Liley Ellen Erica, a full ET sister to the 25,000gns Linton Gilbertines Elgin sold here in February. She is bred from the TC Freedom daughter, Rawburn Ellen Erica ET, sired by Rawburn Enigma and sold due in February to Rawburn Excel.

Two stockbulls sold at 4000gns to include the five-year-old Shadwell Earl, a Blelack Backgammon son which heads to Germany with Herr Bischoff, Niederrheinishe Strass, Neukirchen.

George McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer, Perth, bought the second, Liley Lord Rascal, an April 2018-born bull by Shadwell Earl, out of Liley Lady Rita.

Averages: Four cows with calves at foot, £4095; 19 in-calf cows, £3128; 10 bull calves, £1922; five heifer calves, £1575; four in-calf heifers, £3386; six maiden heifers, £2713; four recipients with calves, £5434.