Despite the premiums available for Beef Shorthorn beef, bulls met a disappointing trade at the breed sale with only 12 finding new homes from a catalogued entry of 33, to average £3439 ¬- down a massive £1048 for three fewer sold.

Admittedly, it was a far from vintage show of males, and as a result, former breed president Sally Horrell remained far from despondent, preferring to concentrate more on the buoyant demand for females which averaged £2440 for 54 with a top price of 7000gns.

While the bull sale was topped at 5000gns, heifers sold well from the outset, with the sale leader at 7000gns being the female champion, Millerston Augusta Mint, a light roan heifer from Jack and Grace Ramsay’s 40-cow herd from Millerston, Mauchline, Ayrshire.

One of the best females sold from the herd, this 18-month-old youngster is by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin, a bull bought from David and Rosemary Dickie after three successful years breeding at Knockenjig.

Equally notable is the dam, Millerston Augusta Heidi, a VG86 classified female by Millerston Cyclone, and bred from Millerston Auusta Eilidh Ex90 – the dam of last year’s champion, Millerston Jamboree which made 12,000gns selling to the Glenisla herd. Augusta Mint was knocked down to Andre Vrona of A and C Farms which breed pedigree Beef Shorthorn, South Devon and Ryeland sheep at Langham, Oakham, Rutland, Leicester.

The reserve female, Cherryvalley Denise Olea, a red and white heifer from Peter Fitzgerald of race horse fame, also made her mark, selling for 5000gns to Northern Ireland breeder, Edward Green, Carnbane Road, Lisburn.

Mr Fitzgerald, the founder of Randox Health, from Crumlin, Co Antrim, and first time consignor at Stirling, received this money for the similarly aged heifer Cherryvalley Denise Olea. A red and white is a daughter of Creaga Logic, a bull bought in the South of Ireland privately, she is out of Croobview Denise, an Ex91-classified female by Chapelton Wildfire, purchased from Denise Ballie.

Adding to the herd’s success, Cherryvalley which has been breeding Beef Shorthorns for 21/2-years and now comprises 65 pedigree Beef Shorthorns, sold the top priced bull also at 5000gns to Morayshire producers, HA Smith and Sons, Floors Farm, Grange, Keith. Selling at this price was Cherryvalley Oak, a January 2018-born roan bull also by Creaga Logic. He is bred from Cherryvalley Bluebell VG86, a Craigfaddock Xerxes daughter out of Largyvale Rotary Augusta.

Back amongst the females and heifers from Lucinda Townsend’s Coxhill herd from Moffat sold to 5500gns and 5000gns for daughters of Ballylinney Glenn. The dearest, Coxhill Menna, an April 2018-born red polled heifer, bred from the Uppermill Rotary 2-sired Largyvale Rotary Menna VG86, sold in calf to Millerston Kasper. The buyers were Gates Farming, Rosemore Manor, Coldoverton, Leics.

Coxhill Princess, a similarly aged roan polled heifer in calf to Barnaigh Highwayman, then made 5000gns selling to Thomas Stauton, Lough Curra, North Kinvara, Co Galway, Eire. Her dam is Glenariff Princess Calister.

Top price for the Horrell’s – Charles and Sally and son Harry – Podehole herd from Peterborough was 4500gns paid twice for heifers by Knockenjig Hercules, a bull that has bred sons to 15,000gns.

First was Podehole Irene Melody, a March 2018-born show heifer that was junior native inter-breed champion at the South of England and champion yearling at the Great Yorkshire. She is out of the polled Chapelton Clansman daughter, Podehole Irene Helga VG88 and sold to A and C Farms.

Gates Farming, Coldoverton, bought the second at 4500gns, Podehole Tessa Moneypenny, a similarly aged heifer that made up part of this year’s show team, bred from Podehole Tessa Yokel Ex92, by Loch Awe Lucky Jim.

The family also sold the second top priced bull at 4000gns to pedigree breeder, Geoff Riby, Low Stone Hills, Fraisthorpe, Bridlington. This was Podehole Rock Master, a 19-month-old red polled bull that stood fourth in his class at the pre-sale show. The first bull to be sold by the polled Australian sire, Royalla Rockstar, he is out of Podehole Madeline Helena which is a daughter of the former Royal and Great Yorkshire Show champion, Podehole Madeline Zeta Ex91.

Next best amongst the bulls were two at 3600gns to include the reserve male champion, Elliot Houdini, a February 2018-born ET from John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. This red polled bull is bred from the Canadian cow, Bodmin Estelle and sired by the American-bred Sull Cyclone. The buyers were pedigree Luing breeders, W Barr and Co, Thirlestane, Lauder.

The fifth prize senior bull, Langalbuinoch Lord, a red roan polled bull from Robert and Paula McAlister, Bute, also made 3600gns selling to Angus Kennedy and son Angus, Mitchellhill, Broughton, Biggar. This two-year-old is by Newfield Tarquin and out of Langalbuinoch Emma.

Top price for Major John Gibb and daughter Catriona’s draft sale from the Glenisla herd from Glenisla was 4000gns paid for Glenisla Waterloo Andrea, an April 2018-born heifer by Chapelton Glen Clova that sold served to Glenisla Mount Blair. Brechin breeders, James Hay and Son, Meikle Tullo, Edzell, was the final bidder on this entry out of the Glenisla Arctic Storm daughter, Glenisla Folda Catriona Rosebud GP82.