Simmental breeders produced another record breaking trade at the Stirling Bull Sales with a new February average high just shy of £7500 backed up by a top price of 37,000gns.

Such was the demand for the breed that no fewer than 21 bulls sold at five-figure prices with 95 cashing in at £7498 – up £238 on the year and for just two less.

The Barlow's Denizes herd enjoyed the best of the day's trading, selling the 37,000gns entry, with their team of five cashing in at a colossal £17,640.

Producing a personal best for the Lancs-based father and son duo, Michael and John Barlow, Four Oaks, Leyland, was Denizes Nugget, a 20-month-old son of their top breeding show bull, Denizes Hamish, out of Ashland Topaz. Reserve intermediate champion at the pre-sale show, he sold to Jimmy and Vikki Wood of the Popes herd from Preston.

All the Denizes bulls were sired by Hamish, with their next best seller, Denizes Newton, an August-born son of Denizes Trixie Belle 10, making 14,000gns to John Park, Dalpeddar, Sanquhar.

Alex and Ross King's Wolfstar herd from Ormiston, Tranent, was also in the money selling three bulls to average £14,700. They also produced the second top priced bull at 17,000gns when Wolfstar Nobleman, a May 2022-born entry was purchased by Tom Lyth, Heatherhouse, Tankerness, Orkney. Nobleman, an embryo bull, is bred from the Team Celtic daughter, Wolfstar Forget-Me-Not and sired by Curaheen Bandit.

The reserve junior champion from the same home, Wolfstar Nasa, made 14,000gns selling to Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin. Nasa is sired by the privately purchased Islavale Guy and out of Wolfstar Ivy, another Team Celtic-sired cow.

* Gordon Clark's part dispersal of the Broombrae herd from Cupar peaked at 5800gns on two occasions.

First to make that money was Broombrae Rosina K16, a rising five-year-old by Lisglass Goldstar which sold with September-born heifer calf at foot by Camus Harold, to Richard McCulloch of the Overhill House herd from Armadale.

Matching that 5800gns bid was another from the same family, Broombrae Rosina E40, a 10-year-old cow by Team Wisconsin, which changed hands with twin August-born bull calves by Ardunsaghan Magic One. This outfit headed home with MacFarlane Farms, Quixwood, Duns.

For full report and pictures see this week's Scottish Farmer (24th February 2024) and in our Digital Edition here