Simmentals from the Stronach family's Islavale herd from Keith, proved a real star turn for the last of the breed sales at United Auctions' Stirling Bull Sales, producing not only the top two sellers at 14,000gns but also as a string of other lead priced bulls.

The family who run a herd of 200 cows at Berryleys, of which 150 are pedigree Simmentals sold six bulls to average just shy of £8900.

No strangers to the big prices here, their first 14,000gns sale came for the April 2019-born Islavale Kristoff, a son of Corskie Highlander, an Ex92 classified stock bull that has already bred several high priced bulls to a top of 15,000gns. The dam is the Delfur Casanova daughter, Islavale Ethel Ex91.

The Scottish Farmer:

Islavale Kristoff was the first bull to sell for 14,000gns

Kristoff sold to Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, which is home to 260 commercial cows and a select number of pedigree females, managed by Geoff Anderson, who was impressed by the bull's depth of rib, power and width throughout.

Matching the 14,000gns top was Islavale Kai, a similarly aged boy by Curaheen Giant 2, a bull bought at Roscommon for €8200, which has since bred sons to 16,000gns here. Kirriemuir producers J and J Pattullo, Sandyford, were the final bidders of this big lad which boasts a top class dam in the shape of the Ex94 Popes Laird daughter, Islavale Britney.

The Scottish Farmer:

Islavale Kai also made 14,000gns

Two other Islavale sons of Corskie Highlander made 6500gns and 6000gns with the dearest of the duo, selling to AH Smith, Low Arkland, Kelton, Castle Douglas. Islavale Kiddo, is bred from the VG86 classified Islavale Fondu, by Celtic Comet.

Outwith the Islavale consignment, a further two lots attracted five-figure prices to bolster the sale average to £5589 for 52 with a 64% clearance. This compares to same sale last year when 66 bulls levelled at £5178.

The Scottish Farmer:

Adrian Ivory's Strathisla Kinloch made 11,500gns

Next best at 11,500gns was Adrian Ivory's Strathisla Kinloch, an April 2019-born AI son of Atlow Dixon, bred from the best breeding family in the 50-cow herd which runs alongside 40 pedigree Charolais. Kinlock is out of the Dellfield Brigadier daughter, Strathisla Foxy's Mira VG88, which has bred sons to 8000gns and sold to Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch.

The Scottish Farmer:

Broombrae Kojac from Gordon Clark sold for 10,000gns

Gordon Clark's 25-cow Broombrae herd from Auchtermuchty, Cupar, was also in the money, selling his best at 10,000gns. Broombrae Kojac, one of first sons off Lisglass Goldstar, a bull that won the senior bull class at the society's virtual show and is also a former inter-breed beef champion at Fife, is bred from the Team Wisconsin-sired Broombrae Delight. The buyer was fellow breeder, David Lowry, Newsteadings, Cartland, Lanark.

The Scottish Farmer:

Colin Inglis' Greencap Kane made 9000gns

The last bull through the ring, Greencap Kane, an 18-month-old from Colin Inglis' 25-cow herd from Craegorry, Galachy, Aberdour, was another to make the grade when he made 9000gns selling back up north with Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet. Backed by some top breeding genetics, Kane is by the 8000gns Denizes Fabio, which has bred sons to 7500gns, while his dam, Greencap Darcy, an Omorga Volvo-sired cow, is also the mother of a previous 8000gns bull sale.

Breed president, Michael Barlow and family, Four Oaks, Leyland, also enjoyed a good day with entries from their 60-cow Denizes herd which sold to 8500gns amongst the bulls and earlier topped the female trade at 4800gns.

Their lead bull, Denizes Kylian, a January 2019-born lad by Denizes Hamish, a bull retained for breeding whose first five sons averaged £5500, sold to DM Keay and Son, East Balloch, Kirriemuir. His dam is Denizes Trixie-Belle 3, by Ashland Tornado.

Their lead female came from the same family, when Denizes Trixie Belle 12, a March 2017-born heifer by Dinton Nautical and bred from Denizes Trixie Belle 8, sold to W Stevenson, Ballingry, Fife. The heifer changed hands in calf to Blackford Galaxy, a previous Highland Show winner.

The Scottish Farmer:

First time consignors Reece and Andrew Simmers sold Backmuir Knight for 8000gns

It was a big day for young Reece and Andrew Simmers too when they sold their first Simmental bulls from their recently established Backmuir herd from Keith, to a top of 8000gns and 7000gns.

Dearest here was Backmuir Knight, a March 2019-born son of the stock bull Corrick Hayden, bred from the Kilbride Farm Duke daughter, Starline Karina 50, which was bought privately. Knight heads out to work at Towiemore, Drummuir, Keith having been purchased by lead commercial producers EM Smith and Sons.

Backmuir Knox, another by the same sire but out of a different Duke daughter in the shape of Starline Eva 23, then made 7000gns selling to WJ Fraser and Sons, Auchnarrow, Glenlivet.

Having topped the Beef Shorthorn bulls the previous day, Gerald, Morag and Douglas Smith, were again in the money with sales at 7000gns and 6800gns. Both are sons of the 11,000gns Wolfstar Gordy, with the first, Drumsleed Karate, heading across to Islay with D and McLellan, Kilchiaran, Port Charlotte. He is out of the Popes Barclay daughter, Drumsleed Faye – one of 100 pedigree cows in the herd.

The second, Drumsleed Know-How, out of the Ashland Perfect-sired Drumsleed Calypso, sold to S and J Urquhart, Bogloch, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire.

Second top price amongst the females was 3600gns paid for Andrew Wilson's Cairnview Tilly 3, a six-year-old by Bruchag Awesome, from Westcroft, Kilwinning, purchased by B Steel, Powblack, Thornhill, Stirling. She sold with June-born heifer calf at foot by Woodhall Ferrari.

The 10 heifers sold to average £2877, with four cow and calf outfits cashing in at £4541.25.