Breed records for a Highland bull were smashed at Michael Poland's dispersal of the Mottistone fold at United Auctions' Stirling Centre, when the five-year-old, Eoin Mhor 17 of Mottistone, sold for 23,000gns.

Add to that a further 19 females selling at or above the 5000gns bracket and Mr Poland's Isle of Wight-based show winning fold established in the early 1990s with just six cows for conservation purposes, grossed just shy of £250,000.

The fold, which has enjoyed huge success over the years under the watchful eye of Willie McLean, who attended to many of the cattle from his home at Benderloch, Oban, had nevertheless to wait until the last lot to see the record breaker.

Eoin Mhor 17 of Mottistone, a February 2015-born bull, is by Eoin Mhor 18 of Mottistone and a grand-son of the founding father of the fold, Eoin Mhor of Mungairigh, a sire that has bred no fewer than five breed champions between Oban, the Royal Highland and the Great Yorkshire Shows.

Male champion and reserve overall at the National Show in 2018, he is bred from the Alexander of Glengorm daughter, Solas Molach 4 of Mottistone and sold to new breeders Kevin and Ryan Carnegie, Balrownie Farms, Brechin.

The same buyers bought a further seven top females, going to a top of 8800gns for the first lot in the catalogue, Flora 4 of Mottistone – the supreme champion at the Glasgow International Show. This nine-year-old by Uisdean of Craigowmill, also boasts show winning genetics on her mother's side being bred from the Ruairidh of Glengarnock daughter, Flora 2 of Mottistone, a former female and reserve overall champion at the Highland. She sold with February-born heifer calf at foot by Coirneal of Balmoral.

Show winning genetics were also behind Balrownie's second top female purchase at 5500gns in Kerrie 4 of Mottistone, a May 2017-born heifer by the 23,000gns bull and bred from a previous home-bred Kerrie that goes back to a former female champion at Oban, and sired by Bentalla 2 of Mottistone. She served to Coirneal of Balmoral.

Blackface and Jacob sheep breeder, Ewen Macmillan, Lurg, Fintry, also bought a number of the lead females, going to a top of 7800gns for the seven-year-old cow, Fern of Mottistone, which sold with heifer calf at foot by the 23,000gns bull. She is by Alexander of Glengorm, which sired the 8000gns former Highland Show champion, Eachann of Hyndford. The dam, Fern 2 of Ardentraive, by Neil of Dunvegan, is a half sister to Fern 2 of Mottistone, a former top priced lot at Oban and breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Just behind, on 7500gns, George Burns, Tippetcraig, Bonnybridge, bought the five-year-old, Julie 3 of Mottistone. Bred from the Julie of Craigowmill daughter, Julie 2 of Mottistone, by Eoin Mhor of Mungairigh, she is sired by Challenger 2 of Mottistone and again sold with heifer calf at foot by Eoin Mhor 17 of Mottistone.

Also travelling on the same trailer load back to Tippetcraig at 6500gns was the five-year-old cow, Catriona Akeko 2 of Mottistone, a daughter of the former Great Yorkshire show champion, Eoin Mhor 8 of Mottistone. Her dam, Catriona Akeko of Lyntoun, by Angus of Rashiehall, was also a champion winner at Oban when purchased. Her heifer calf at foot is sired by Coirneal 3 of Balmoral.

At 6800gns, Vallatia 10 of Whitslaid, sold to Caithness breeder, I Gunn, Cairnald House, Lybster. She was bought as a calf at foot at the Whitslaid dispersal after being selected by Willie McLean, and again is by Eoin Mhor of Mungairigh but out of a previous Whitslaid Vallatia cow by Iain Og 3 of Pennygown. She also sold with heifer calf by Coirneal 3 of Balmoral.

The star heifer of her year, Capleadh Proiseag 4 of Broomrigg, a nine-year-old daughter of Urquhart of Tordarroch, made 6000gns selling to Dumfriesshire breeder, Douglas Fountain, Broomrigg, Lochmaben. Her dam is the Cathach 1 of Drummygar-sied cow Capleadh Proiseag 2 of Browhaze and she sold with black heifer calf, again by the Balmoral sire.

Averages: 32 cows and calves, £4492.03; 13 in-calf heifers, £3351.93; 11 maiden heifers, £2462.73 and 13 yearling heifers, £1890.00.

OTHERLEADING prices

5500gns – Kerrie 4 of Mottistone, three-year-old served heifer by Eoin Mhor 8 of Mottistone, to Balrownie.

5200gns – Capleadh Proiseag of Mottistone, five-year-old cow, by Jock of Inversnaid, and with Angus cross heifer calf, to Balrownie.

5000gns – Kerrie 2 of Mottistone, eight-year-old by Bentalla of Mottistone and with heifer calf to Balrownie; Leonie 2 of Dumyat U, seven-year-old by Aodhair of Balmoral and with heifer calf to Balrownie; Morag Odhar 6 of Mottistone, four-year-old by Iain of Mottistone and with heifer calf to Balrownie; Princess 4 of Mottistone, three-year-old served heifer by Eoin Mhor 8 of Mottistone, to E Macmillan, Lurg; Flora 11 of Mottistone, two-year-old heifer by Eoin Mhor 8 of Mottistone, to K Brown, Craigowmill, Milnathort.

4800gns – Gillian 3 of Blairlogan, four-year-old by Logan of Muingairigh, and with heifer calf to E Macmillan, Lurg.

4500gns – Catriona Akeko of Mottistone, seven-year-old by Iain of Balmoral and with heifer calf, to Balrownie; Iseabal 7 of Mottistone, five-year-old by Eoin Mhor 8 of Mottistone and with bull calf to F Bange, Brilon, Germany; Capleadh Proiseag of Mottistone, five-year-old cow, by Jock of Inversnaid, and heifer calf to Balrownie.

Auctioneers: United Auctions