A new Welsh record for a Simmental bull sold in the UK was achieved at United Auctions' second round of bull sales at Stirling, when Pistyll Kingsman realised 26,000gns.

Add to that another five bulls selling for 10,000gns or more with 28 in all hitting 6000gns and above it was a particularly good day for the breed which saw sale averages rise a massive £1443 on the year to level at £6482 for 64, albeit down 22 on the same sale last year.

Clearance rates were impressive too with 82% of the bulls forward finding new homes, which represents a 15% increase on the year.

"We had a great sale with averages well up on the year and for all there were fewer forward, we could have sold a lot more as there was a really good demand for both breeders' and commercial bulls," said Stewart Stronach, Simmental breed president.

"We had breeders looking to establish a new herds and a good number of new commercial producers looking to the Simmental to produce home-bred milky, easy-calving females," added Mr Stronach whose own Islavale herd was one of several in the money.

The 26,000gns sale is also the second highest price paid for a Simmental bull in the UK, following the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie sold by the Macpherson family here in 2013.

Flying the flag for Wales at 26,000gns was Pistyll Kingsman, from Aneirin and Heulwen Francis, daughter Angharad and son Rhys, who are better known for their pedigree Welsh Blacks and Blue Texels, from Pistyll Uchaff, Abergorlech, Carmarthen.

Their June 2019-born entry brought out by Perthshire-based freelance stockmen, Richard and Carol Rettie does however boast Scottish genetics on both sides from the late Hector Macaskill's Woodhall herd from Dunbar. Bred from the Omorga Volvo-sired Woodhall Evangeline which was bought at the herd dispersal – while her 14-month-old heifer made 6500gns – Kingsman is by Woodhall Ferrari, an AI sire that has bred sons to 14,000gns.

Following on from two previous top prices of 8000gns for the Francis family, Kingsman sold to Richard McCulloch, buying for the Over Hillhouse herd at Armadale, where stockman Scott Gilmour is at the helm.

"He's a good, all round, stylish bull with a great pedigree to match," said Mr McCulloch, who runs 160 pedigree cows.

Second top price was 15,000gns paid for Backmuir Kraken from Reece and Andrew Simmers Ref:RH270221421 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Second top price was 15,000gns paid for Backmuir Kraken from Reece and Andrew Simmers Ref:RH270221421 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Young Reece and Andrew Simmers, also had a cracking day, securing a personal best with Backmuir Kracken, a 22-month-old bull from Backmuir, Keith, which sold for the second top price of 15,000gns. He is the first son sold by the 7000gns Islavale Hamilton, an Atlow Dixon son bought here, out of the privately purchased Starline Kreole 11, a Kilbride Farm Duke daughter. Kracken sold to new breeder, Alex Bulmer, Coultas, Great Habden, Malton, Yorkshire, having been most impressed by the bull's style, power and top line. He will be used on some 10 females bought privately from the Green family's Corskie herd.

Bulls from Stronach family's Islavale herd from Berryleys, Keith, again sold well, peaking at 11,500gns to average £6562 for 10.

Sale leader from the Stronach family, Islavale Kacy made 11,500gns

Sale leader from the Stronach family, Islavale Kacy made 11,500gns

Their best, Islavale Kacy, a 23-month-old is by Corskie Highlander, an Excellent-classified bull that bred the top priced bulls here in October in both 2020 and 2019 at 14,000gns twice and 15,000gns respectively. The dam also boasts an Ex classification, with Islavale Fantasia Ex91 being a daughter of Curaheen Bandit and one of 200 cows in the herd of which 150 are pedigree.

Kacy heads back up north with C and G Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Midmar, Aberdeenshire.

Second top price from the herd was 7200gns, paid by Arnhall Farms, Edzell, Brechin, for Islavale Kilt, a 22-month-old that boasts Excellent-classified genetics on both sides of his pedigree. The sire is the Ex94 Ranfurly Confederate while the dam is the Chestermann Varney-sired Islavale Dream Ex93.

The gavel came down at 11,000gns for Gerald and Morag Smith and son Douglas' Drumsleed Kingsman, from the 200-cow herd from Fordoun, Laurencekirk. Show winning genetics are on both side of this 21-month-old which is the first son sold by Drumsleed Hivy, a former champion at the Highland and Scottish National champion, by Haystar Cracker.

The Smiths sold Drumsleed Kingsman for 11000gns. Ref:RH270221431 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The Smiths sold Drumsleed Kingsman for 11000gns. Ref:RH270221431 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The dam, Drumsleed Farina, a Clonagh Buckarroney Truely daughter is equally well known having twice landed the reserve honours at breed's National Show in Scotland. He also sold up to Aberdeenshire, this time with S and K Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen.

Two bulls came under the hammer for 10,000gns with the first being Knockreagh Kilroy, all the way from Rostrevor, Newry, Northern Ireland. This ET entry from Val and Conrad Fegan, who is an AI technician to trade, was producing a personal best for the 10-cow herd, and is the first from the privately purchased Omorga Dorcas, a Corrick Kentucky Kid-sired cow. The sire is Dermotstown Delboy, a former champion winner at Balmoral. Commerical producers, William Barnetson and sons, James and William, Lynegar, Watten, Caithness, were the final bidders.

Val and Conrad Fegan received 10,000gns for Knockreagh Kilroy Ref:RH270221422 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Val and Conrad Fegan received 10,000gns for Knockreagh Kilroy Ref:RH270221422 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Matching that 10,000gns sale was Billy and Anne Macpherson's Blackford Kirk, which sold in the opposite direction, down to Herts, with David and Lesley Sapsed, buying for their Heathbrow pedigree herd from High Heath, Codicote. Top genetics are behind this 17-month-old from Blackford, Croy, with the sire being the former Highland Show winner, Blackford Galaxy, which has already bred sons to 11,000gns. The dam, Silver Wells Belle, an Ex91-classified home-bred cow, is a full sister to the mother of the 45,000gns record priced Bel Dhu Capercaillie.

Blackford Kirk from the MacPherson family sold for 10,000gns Ref:RH270221432 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Blackford Kirk from the MacPherson family sold for 10,000gns Ref:RH270221432 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Narrowly missing out on the big five-figure sale was Andrew and Yvonne Leedham's Grangewood Kingdom, which made 9500gns selling up to Orkney with Terry Coghill, Muce, Birsay. This 18-month-old from the couple's 30-cow herd at Lockton, Pickering is by the Omorgo Alonso-sired Grangewood Glenlivet, a bull retained for breeding. The dam, Grangewood Carla, is a daughter of Highcroft Tollie 10 which bred the 19,000gns Grangewood Baron.

Grangewood Kingdom from Andrew and Yvonne Leedham made 9500gns. Ref:RH270221442 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Grangewood Kingdom from Andrew and Yvonne Leedham made 9500gns. Ref:RH270221442 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Grangewood Baron produced an 8000gns sale for the Leedhams too when Grangewood Kingpin, a 16-month-old out of the Omorga Alonso-sired Grangewood Sahara's Gold, was purchased by V and M Baillie and Sons, Mixbury Hall, Brackley, Northants.

A cracking team of bulls from Michael Durno and his father Leslie, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, peaked at 9000gns for Auchorachan Kennedy, purchased by Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains, Annan. Bred from three generations of Excellent-classified females, Kennedy is out of the Rawbawn Caesar King daughter, Auchorachan Gipsy Ex90. This 18-month-old is also one of the first sons sold by the 12,000gns Auchorachan Hercules, an ET by Auchorachan ACDC bred from a flush from David Hazelton's show winning cow, South Park King Kong Weikel 2 Ex.

Auchorachan Kennedy from Michael Durno sold for 9000gns Ref:RH270221438 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Auchorachan Kennedy from Michael Durno sold for 9000gns Ref:RH270221438 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The same sire was behind the Durno's 8000gns and 7800gns bulls. Tops was Auchorachan King Kong, a similarly aged bull bred from another home-bred Caesar King daughter in the shape of Auchorachan Genie VG86 which is about to be flushed. He headed home with Heather Duff, buying for the family's Pitmudie herd from Menmuir, Brechin

And selling at 7800gns up to Beauly with A and B Munro, Wellhouse, was Auchorachan Krypton, which is out of Curaheen Heddy VG86, a Curaheen Dickens daughter bought as a calf at foot at the herd dispersal.

Selling at 8800gns for father and son duo, Clive and Harry Houldey's Manor Park herd from Kirtleton House, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, was Manor Park Kelvin, a June 2019-born son of the 22,000gns former stockbull, Kilbride Farm Foreman. He is out of Manor Park Cherie, a daughter of the former Perth sales champion, Shanehill Victor, and was knocked down to A Anderson and Son, Nether Tillygarmond, Banchory.

DC Houldey sold Manor Park Kelvin for 8800gns . Ref:RH270221429 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

DC Houldey sold Manor Park Kelvin for 8800gns . Ref:RH270221429 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Colin Inglis also had plenty to celebrate when his 25-cow Greencap pedigree herd from Dalachy, Aberdour, produced sales at 8500gns and 8000gns. Dearest was Greencap Kerse, a September 2019-born son of the AI sire, Woodhall Ferrari. A heifer's calf bred from the Denizes Fabio daughter, Greencap Imogen, Kerse sold to down to Penrith with Messrs Pearson, Manor Farm, Blencow.

Greencap Kerse from Colin Inglis made 8500gns Ref:RH270221435 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Greencap Kerse from Colin Inglis made 8500gns Ref:RH270221435 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Also selling down to Penrith, with ACS Addison, Greystone House, Kings Meaburn, at 8000gns was Greencap Klassik, a similarly aged, polled bull by the Danish AI sire, Sneumgaard Imperator. He is also bred from a home-bred heifer by Fabio.

The AI sire, Woodhall Ferrari which bred the sale leader, was behind the best from John and Grace Houliston and daughter Gayle's Saltire Kelso, from Newmains, Drem, North Berwick, which was another selling for 8000gns mark. A full brother to the 10,500gns saltire Judge sold in October 2019, he is out of Saltire Felicity, a Popes Barclay-sired cow and sold down to Wales with RI and GI Davies, Penlanlwyd, Cefn Gorwydd, Powys.

Saltire Kelso from J and G Houliston was one of several to make 8000gns. Ref:RH270221425 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Saltire Kelso from J and G Houliston was one of several to make 8000gns. Ref:RH270221425 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The Houlistons also received 7000gns for the first son sold by their 14,000gns Saltire Impressive, a Woodhall Ferrari son purchased by the Ballmoney herd in October 2018. Leominster producer, W Smith, Park Farm, Eye, was the final bidder on this similarly aged bull bred from the Islavale Winkie daughter, Hazelden Helli 12.

Another heading down to Wales on the same lorryload with Messrs Davies, Penlanlwyd, at 7500gns was Adie Sutherland and sons Neil, Graham and Brian's Glenlossie Kingsman from Connachie, Kellas, Elgin. This 21-month-old is the first son sold at public auction by the 12,000gns Islavale Galahad, out of the Omorga Denman daughter, Glenlossie Gael.

Young Kate and Alan McNee, showed their parents, Robert and Hazel, how it's done too when they sold two bulls at 7000gns. The family, who run eight pedigree cows at Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee, first received this money for the polled bull Finlarg Kingjohn. He is the result of the in-calf purchase, Mendick Cara, a Thursford Viceroy daughter bought at John Dykes' dispersal which sold due to Blackford Grouse. Kingjohn sold up to Orkney with Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness.

Selkirk-based producers J White and Sons, Middlesteads, bought the second, Finlarg Kansas, by Team Drambuie, out of the Ranfurly Confederate-sired Dirnanean Polarine.

Females peaked at 2400gns paid for the Denizes Beauty, a rising eight-year-old cow by Ashland Tornado, from the Barlows, Four Oaks, Leyland. She is out of Ranfurly Beauty 5 and sold with two-month-old bull calf at foot by Denizes Impeccable, to K and A Graham, Easterton, Argaty, Doune.

Heifers sold to 2000gns for Andrew and Yvonne Leedham's Grangewood Tollie's Kate, a two-year-old by Grangewood Glenlivet purchased by JA Taylor, Skirling Craig, Biggar.

Auctioneers: United Auctions