Despite finished cattle prices down £1/dwkg on the year, overall averages held up well at United Auctions’ multi-breed sale of pedigree bulls, which saw a top price of 17,000gns paid for a Limousin and a sound, albeit selective trade for most breeds.
Interestingly, while most breed averages were down on the year, demand for the top end of bulls was just as strong with no fewer than 35 attracting five-figure prices compared to 37 at last year’s event which saw new May highs of 30,000gns for a Charolais and 20,000gns for a Salers.
Limousins appeared most popular, attracting 11 of those 35 top prices to average just shy of £9500 which is a rise of £953 on the year for an almost complete clearance and for the most sold at 36.
Sale leader at 17,000gns was Dougie and Lynda Graham and sons John and James’ Burnbank Vermont, an embryo-born entry from the 60-cow herd based at Mains of Burnbank, Blairdrummond. Producing a personal best for the family was a bull that boasts a pedigree going back some 20 years. The sire is the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic sold in 2006 that has produced a phenomenal amount of top priced progeny, while the dam, Burnbank Undone, a Ronick Hawk daughter that lasted 20 years, has bred sons to 14,000gns, 12,000gns and 10,000gns. A red ticket holder at the pre-sale show judged by Andrew Adam, Vermont sold to Islay Estates, Islay.
The first Limousin bull, Allanfauld Ventura, from Archie and John MacGregor, Kilsyth, made 14,000gns to Willie and Susan McLaren, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir. This January 2024-born entry is an AI son of the 180,000gns Graiggoch Rambo and bred from Homebyres Jess, a Haltcliffe Eubank-sired cow bought at the herd dispersal.
Brother Jimmy MacGregor and son Donald, Dyke, Milton of Campsie, also enjoyed a cracking day, selling seven two-year-old Limousins to a high of 12,000gns, twice, to average £10,425. First to make 12,000gns when brought out by stockman John Duncan was Dyke Vanquish, a double F94L bull by the 12,000gns Goldies Lordoftherings, out of the Ampertaine Foreman daughter, Dyke Iona. Full brother to the 14,000gns Dyke Papa, Vanquish headed home with Colin McMillan, Tallant, Isle of Islay.
Lordoftherings, which is still going strong at 11 years of age having produced numerous bulls to average in excess of £10,000, was also the sire of the second 12,000gns entry and another at 11,000gns. Dyke Vanhesling is out of the Dyke Gandalf-sired Dyke Ora, and was knocked down at 12,000gns to EJ Wilson and Son, East Mains of Carseburn, Forfar.
Earlier, Dyke Verdi out of the Claragh Franco daughter, Dyke Melody, made 11,000gns to GD MacDonald, Meadows of Ballied, Blairgowrie.
Three other Limousin bulls sold for 12,000gns to include the Goldie family – Bruce and Linda, son Thomas and daughter Isla’s – Goldies Vintage, from Mouswald, Dumfries. This September 2024-born embryo calf is by the Ampertaine Gigolo son, Goldies Juggler, a retained bull that has bred several five-figure priced bulls to a high of 60,000gns in February. The dam is the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Goldies Gracious. Final bidders on Vintage were C and P Thomlinson, Belstruther, Duns, who get for their money a full brother to the 14,000gns Goldies Northstar.
Also making 12,000gns was the pre-sale champion from United Auctions’ auctioneer Murray Rainnie and his wife Nia who were selling for the second time from their 40-cow Loanhead herd from Alford, Aberdeenshire. Their Loanhead Victory is one of the first sons sold by the 13,000gns Anside Supra which was bought here in 2022 after standing pre-sale champion, and out of Mynach Ivene, a Greenwell Enrique daughter gifted to the couple by Nia’s parents. The buyers were R and J Milroy, Cairnwhin, Girvan.
Forfar-based P Cooper and Sons, Govals, bought the second at 12,000gns from Garry Patterson, of the Aultside herd based at Rothes. This was the reserve intermediate champion, Aultside Vagabond, an embryo-born bull bred from the Dinmore Goldcrest daughter Aultside Jazz that bred the 24,000gns Deveronvale Razzledazzle and several other bulls at big money. The sire is Foxhillfarm Jasper.
Salers soar to 16,000gns – twice
Increased demand for suckler cow breeders ensured the Salers and the Simmental breeds were also in the money with the former producing the second two top prices at 16,000gns paid for the champion and the reserve winners.
Read more
-
Charolais cattle set new centre record of 16,000gns at Welshpool sale
-
A commercial demand for Northern Irish Charolais bulls at Swatragh Spring sale
-
Home-bred Limousin bull tops at £28k at beauty and beasts sales in Randalstown
Supreme was Alister MacKenzie’s Whitebog Ultimo, a July 2024-born bull from the 150-cow herd based at Fortrose, Ross-shire.
Producing a sixth championship win at UA’s Bull Sales and a second May title for the herd was a son of the French sire, Napoleon, a bull that is still going strong at 10 years of age having produced several sons at 6-7000gns. The dam, Whitebog Jinny by Seawell Diplomat has also produced a couple of bulls sold at Castle Douglas, into breeding herds. Colin McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, Newton Stewart, forked out the cash for this lad which first took the junior championship before standing breed leader.
Murray Lyle, Mid Cambushinnie, Dunblane, bought the reserve Salers at 16,000gns. This was Gill and Malcolm Pye and daughters Jo and Jenny’s Rednock Unorthodox from Rednock Estate, Port of Menteith. Senior champion at the pre-sale show, Unorthodox is sired by the French AI bull, Icare, and out of the Rigel Officer-sired Rednock Nalani.
Simmentals secure top average at £9758
Michael Stronach’s small Maisley herd from Keith came out on top among a strong show of Simmentals, producing not only the lead priced bull at 15,000gns, but also superseding that of the family’s Islavale enterprise which peaked at 14,000gns.
Add in a further six five figure prices and numerous others at 8000gns and above and the Simmental breed secured the lead average of £9758 – up a massive £963 on the year and with an 85% clearance.
Topping the trade was Maisley RIP, a November 2024-born bull by the family’s privately purchased stock bull, Coose Lincoln, Ex95. The dam, Maisley Fizz’s Martini, by Islavale Keith, goes back to an Islavale cow gifted to Michael for his 21st birthday. RIP sold to commercial producer Iain Johnston, Kirkton, Falkirk.
Just behind on 14,000gns was the junior champion and reserve overall from Stewart Stronach and family’s 200-cow herd, Islavale Rafferty, purchased by David Lowry, Newsteadings, Lanark. This 17-month-old is the second son sold by Bighill Parker, an Ex90-classified bull bought at Roscommon, whose first bull sold in February for 15,000gns. Senior overall champion at the Stars of the Future, Rafferty is out of the Corskie Highland Ex93 daughter, Islavale Lippy GP80.
The family also took 12,500gns and 10,500gns for bulls. Dearest was the red ticket holder, Islavale Raphael, another by Coose Lincoln, a sire that has bred sons to 20,000gns, this time out of Islavale Libby VG89. The 18-month-old headed home with Robert Bell and Partners, Craigco, Westhall, Milnathort.
Selling at 10,500gns was Islavale Rafiki, a son of Islavale Echo purchased by GM Mitchell, Fernie Mill, Carslogie, Cupar.
There were also top genetics behind the reserve senior champion, Auchorachan Robbie from Michael Durno and his father Leslie, which made 12,000gns selling to J Hunter and Son, Braehead, Bainshole, Huntly. Robbie’s sire is Hemingford Nelson Ex93, which is a half brother to the 56,000gns Hemingford Prince Charming while the dam Auchorachan Ace is by Greencape Kane Ex91.
Another three Simmentals sold for 10,500gns including: Alistair Ross’ Well House Rhythm Is A Dancer, a Kilbride Farm Islander son purchased by J and J Marshall, Daleigh, Advie, Grantown on Spey; Fiona and Jenny Macaskill’s Woodhall Rancher, a son of Mixbury Hall Magnus, bought by WW Dunlop and Son, Commonside, Hawick; and Ward Farms’ Westridge Remington, a son of Coltfield Maestro, now owned by W and W Dawson and Son, Whinbrae, Huntly.
Angus sell to 15,000gns
Falkirk-based freelance stockmen, Richard and Carol, scored a hat-trick when they produced three breed champion winners among the Aberdeen Angus, Charolais and Simmental sections, with their top performer, making 15,000gns.
This was Brailes Black Boy, an October 2024-born bull from Richard Hassall and Rachael Wyllie of Brailes Livestock, Oxfordshire.
No stranger to the show circuit, their junior bull is the first son sold by Tonley Ronald and bred from the show cow Brailes Black Bee which is a daughter of the couple’s foundation Angus female, Cheeklaw Black Beth, bought at the herd dispersal. Junior male champion at the Royal Highland and the Beef Expo and senior male champion at Stars of the future, Black Boy, sold to Willie Dunlop and sons Quintin and William, Elmscleugh, Dunbar.
At 14,000gns, George and Nicky Taylor sold Tonley Enzo, a June 2024-born bull from Mosshall, Blackburn, brought out by James Reid. He was bought as a calf at foot, alongside his dam, Tonley Ester, a Blelack Evor-sired cow carrying red genetics at the herd’s production sale. Robbie Galloway, Cardona, Doune, bought this youngster bred by Neil and Mark Wattie.
Charolais match 15,000gns
Team Rettie also brought out the champion Charolais which made 13,000gns for Esmor Evans’ Maerdy herd from Monfa, Mold, while the top priced lot from Tom Smeaton and sons Grant and Mark’s Bombax herd led the breed at 15,000gns.
The champion, Maerdy Vector, which first topped the senior section, is sired by the French bull, Maerdy Offenback and out of Maerdy Swansong that is a full sister to the 40,000gns Maerdy Newman.
Vector sold over the phone to Peter Donger of the Seawell herd from Towcester.
While eight bulls sold at 10,000gns or above, a disappointing trade saw just 50% of the numbers forward change hands.
Dearest at 15,000gns was Bombax Van Dyke, a son of the 24,000gns Harestone Ronaldinho, that has bred sons to 20,000gns for the 30-cow herd from Cotton of Overstone, Inverarity, Forfar.
Archie John MacLean, Heylipol, Tiree, forked out the cash for this 17-month-old bull that is in the top 1% of the breed for 200/400 and 600 dlwg.
Next at 11,000gns was Duncan MacGregor’s Corrie Vindiesel, a Balthayock Lachlan son out of Corrie Lilo which has bred bulls to 10,000gns in the past. The bull from Burnhead, Queenzieburn, Kilsyth, was purchased by Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Orkney.
Just behind, on 10,500gns, Glenericht Vibrant, an ET-bred bull by Caylers Oxford from Peter Drysdale, son Allen and his wife Fiona, sold to PR and MA Hooper, Trefrawl, Cornwall. Vibrant is the result of a flush from the Clyth Diplomat-sired Glenericht Gem that has bred sons to 25,000gns.
Vantastic tops Beef Shorthorns
The first two bulls in the catalogue topped the Beef Shorthorns at 13,000gns and 12,000gns for Upsall Castle Farms and Jock Currie and Sons respectively.
Dearest was the pre-sale champion, Vantastic of Upsall, a 26-month-old bull from Gerald Turton’s Yorkshire-based herd brought out by George and Maureen McCulloch. This roan bull is a son of Nelson of Upsall, a stock sire that has bred 11 sons to average £11,000. Bred from Augusta of Upsall, he sold to Stuart Coubrough, Huntlyhill Farms, Lanark.
Producing a personal best for Jock Currie’s 30-cow herd from Carlinside, Lanark, when selling at 12,000gns to F McDaid, Slipend, Luton, was the similarly aged Miltonlockhart Victor, a son of the 12,000gns Stonehills Rockstar, out of Miltonlockhart Kerry.
Herefords sold to 5000gns for George and Sophie Harvey’s Harveybros 1 Captain Morgan, from Balfron, purchased by John Cameron, Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife.
Other leading prices
Charolais – 10,000gns – AJR Farms’ Newlogie Vintage, by Newlogie Toyota, to A and J Craig, Craigton, Castle Douglas; JHC Campbell and Sons’ Thrunton Verdi, by Rutherston Sonny, to A Sinclair, Stitley, Thurso; Alba and Jess Malone’s Lakelady Victor by Balthayock Muskateer, to J Collier and Son, Dullomuir, Kelty, Fife; RA Milne’s Elgin Vagabond, by Falleninch Stormzy, to Messrs Roberts and Jones, Parc, Welshpool, Montgomery. 9000gns – C Smeaton and Son’ Bombax Virgil, by Glenericht Ryder, to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Orkney.
Simmental – 9500gns – Delfur Farms’ Delfur Rolex, by Islavale Magnum, to Messrs Farquhar, Darley, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire; G and A Christie’s Rockytop Rooster, by Annick Manhattan, to RM Lamont, Creagmhor, Glenelg, Kyle.
Aberdeen Angus – 10,000gns – G and N Taylor’s Mosshall Presley, by Isauld Lord Hector, to Scottish Bull Stud, Inverness; NA Wattie’s Tonley Jumping Jack, by Tonley Endgame, to JW Weir, Cortleferry, Stow, Galashiels; R Gardiner’s Newton Equator, by Blelack Hill Blue Lightening, to JW Delday, Inchgreen, New Deer, Turriff. 9500gns – WAL Lawson’s Scotsmill Fergus, by Scotsmill Neil, to Scottish Bull Stud, Knocknagael, Inverness.
Limousin – 10,000gns – JR MacGregor’s Dyke Vigil by Goldies Lordoftherings, to Rathfillet Farm, Cupar, Fife; BT Goldie’s Goldies Virtual, by Goldies Juggler, to L Yowdell, Atkinson Wood, Great Ayton; R Dick’s Ronick Vortex, by Castlebrock Paddington, to M Jack, Carriston, Star of Markinch, Fife. 9500gns – JK Hunter’s Wedderburn Voltage, by Goldies Northstar, to Scottish Bull Stud, Inverness.
averages:
24 Charolais, £8571 (-£2910 for 14 fewer sold); 28 Simmentals, £9758 (+£963 for three more); 25 Aberdeen Angus, £7237 (-£1088 for four more); nine Salers, £9625 (-£1038 for the same number); seven Beef Shorthorns, £8355 (+£1708 for six fewer); 36 Limousins, £9494 (+£593 for three fewer).
Share