Averages: 31 bulls, £5727.58 (-£216.17 for three fewer sold); 31 in-calf heifers, £1700 (-£594.83 for nine more); 85 bulling heifers, £1684.94 (+£410.17 for 75 fewer).

Breed records were smashed the Luing Cattle Society's annual spring show and sale at Castle Douglas, when the bull, Nunnerie Xenon, sold for 25,000gns.

The April 2018-born bull, from father and son duo, Alastair and David MacArthur, from Nunnerie, Biggar, who run 70 pedigree Luing females, is one of the first sons to be sold by the 17,000gns Finlarg Tornado – purchased here in 2017 – and is out of a home-bred dam, by Nunnerie Magnus.

Surpassing the previous record of 20,000gns, Xenon was knocked down to Billy and Andrew Renwick, Blackhouse, Selkirk.

Strong demand for the breed ensured a high clearance rate of more than 94% with 31 bulls out of the 33 forward, finding new homes, with three bulls surpassing the 10,000gns bracket.

Next best in the ring at 14,000gns was the similarly aged, Benhar Xerox, from Roy and Andrew McNee, who run a 180-head herd of pedigree Luing cattle, as well as 90 Luing cross Simmental cattle at Woodend Farm, Armadale.

Led out by stockman, James Wightman, Xeron is the last son from one of their best breeding bulls in Benhar Lennox – a bull which has previously bred sons to 11,000gns, and last year bred the in-calf champion heifers here. His genetics also appeared in the record breaking Nunnerie Xenon.

Xerox is out of the home-bred dam, Benhar Poppy, a College Kracker daughter and was purchased by Philip and Reece Simmers from Backmuir, Keith.

Husband and wife team of Robert and Hazel McNee – host farmers of this year's NSA ScotSheep event – who run a herd of 100 Luings at Over Finlarg, near Tealing, were next in the trade stakes at 10,000gns with their pen leader, Finlarg Xplosion.

Sired by Lammermuir Tremendous – purchased here in 2017 for 5000gns – Xplosion is out of Finlarg Bracken, another by the top breeding bull, Benhar Lennox, and was bought by Kedzlie Farms, Galashiels.

The McNees also saw the April-18 born bull, Finlarg Xclusive, go through the ring at 8000gns. This fully home-bred bull is sired by the Harehead Mourie son, Finlarg Pedro and is a full brother to Finlarg Tornado – the sire to the 25,000gns Nunnerie Xenon. The dam is the Benhar Kaiser daughter, Finlarg Bounty.

Xclusive headed home with ___________

Following close behind at 6000gns was the similarly aged Harehead Xplorer, from Professor Penny's 160-head of pedigree Luing at Cranshaws, Duns, managed by Neil Anderson. He was led into the ring by stockman Robbie Wylie, and is a son of Finlarg Nero – the sire of the herd's 2019 sale leader, Harehead Walker, at 17,000gns. Xplorer is out of a home-bred Nunnerie Harvey daughter and sold to ???

*A flying trade for bulling heifers, saw averages rise more than £400 per head on the year, albeit for 75 fewer sold.

In all, 85 bulling heifers averaged £1691 – just £15 short of the 31 in-calf entries that levelled at £1700.

Bulling heifers sold to 2600gns for the reserve pairing as selected by the judge, Alan Cowens, Philiphaugh, Selkirk. This was a duo by Finlarg Nimrod, from Willie Graham and son Billy, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar, that sold to M Halligan and Burke, Stewartson, Eddleston.

The champion pairing from D and A Barr, Milkieston, Peebles, made 2400gns. They are by Benhar Tweed, and sold up to Keith with Philip and Reece Simmers.

An increased entry of in-calf heifers saw averages slip on the year, although the top price matched that of the bullers at 2600gns for the first daughter sold by the 4000gns Culmaily Sheamus – a bull that last year bred sons to 10,000gns for Roy and Andrew McNee, Woodend Farm. The buyers were SK and S Brown, Woodmarsh, North Bradley, who also bought the champion pair at 2500gns again from the McNees. Benhar Tulip is by Culmaily Sheamus and Benhar Lily, is a daughter of Lochbroom Royal.

Steven Murray's reserve champions from Rockcliffe, Dumfries, both of which are sired by Benhar Jacob, were bought by ??? at 1300gns each.

• At the AGM the previous evening, Alan Cowens of the Teviot herd, Selkirk; Kirsty Dunlop, Commonside; Hawick and Shona Marshall, Concraig herd, Aberdeen were elected on to council to replace Bruce Gilchrist, Pip Simpson and Chris Young.

• At the annual Luing dinner some £800 was raised in the raffle to go to RSABI.

• Two presentations were also made – to Andy Kirkpartrick, former yard manager at Wallets Mart for his outstanding service to the society during the breed sales at Wallets Mart and to Alex Reid, Dalbeattie for his 30+ years of commitment to the breed.