Pre-sale breed shows will make a welcome return to United Auctions' Stirling Bull Sales, to be staged from Sunday, October 17 to Tuesday, October, 19.

Having been cancelled at previous such events due to the Covid pandemic, the easing of restrictions has allowed Stirling Agricultural Centre to remove many of the previous sales restrictions for the sale of 857 pedigree bulls and females from seven beef breeds.

However, in line with this updated designation for essential business events, customers who intend to complete a transaction must pre-register to attend and enter the sales rings and the judging in the Exhibition Hall. Pedigree beef enthusiasts will be able to watch the shows online from the comfort of their homes.

An online bidding facility will also be available for which all buyers must pre-register via https://www.uagroup.co.uk/sale-attendance and complete the ‘Know Your Customer’ checks at least 24 hours before the sales take place.

Facemasks however, remain a legal requirement and must be worn at all times in the market.

John Roberts, group sales director for United Auctions, said: “Many buyers are looking forward to the return of the judging at the sales, as are we. Buyers are reminded to pre-register and have their bidding number handy. All customers must continue to wear a facemask."

Two highlights of the sales will be the dispersal of the Blelack herd of Aberdeen Angus females and the production sale of Lochend Charolais females, with both offering breeders an opportunity to invest in exceptional prize-winning bloodlines.

The three-day event kicks of the with the pre-sale shows on Sunday, October 17 with Aberdeen-Angus in the morning and Beef Shorthorn followed by Limousin on Sunday afternoon. The show of Charolais bulls and Simmental females will take place on Monday, October 18.

Meanwhile, the sale of Aberdeen-Angus bulls will feature on the morning of Monday, October 18, followed by Beef Shorthorn females, Lincoln Red bulls and females, Salers bulls and Limousin bulls and females going under the hammer in the afternoon.

The final day, Tuesday, October, 19 opens with the sale of Charolais bulls followed by the Simmental breed sales and closes with the sale of Charolais females, which will feature the production sale of all heifers born in 2019 and 2020 from the Lochend herd from JW Millar, Lochend, Port of Menteith, Stirling.

The dispersal of 120 breeding head from the prize-winning Blelack herd of Aberdeen Angus from father and son Neil and Graeme Massie, Blelack Farm, Dinnet, near Aboyne, follows the Aberdeen-Angus females sale from 1pm on Monday, October 18.

Judges

Aberdeen-Angus – David Murray, Wolflaw, Forfar

Beef Shorthorn – Danny Wyllie, 17 Greenway, Burton on Trent

Charolais – Mathew Milne, Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin

Limousin – Alister Vance, Bridgehouse Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart

Simmental – Simon Key, Abbey Farm, Mundham, Loddon, Norwich

Programme of events

Friday, October 15

6pm Yard opens (this will be strictly adhered to)

Saturday, October 16

12 noon Aberdeen-Angus bull inspection

2pm Beef Shorthorn bull inspection followed by Lincoln Red bull inspection

Sunday, October 17

8.30am Limousin bull inspection

10am Show of Aberdeen-Angus females followed by bulls

10.30am Charolais bull inspection

1pm Simmental bull inspection followed by Salers bull inspection

1pm Show of Beef Shorthorn females followed by bulls

2pm Parade of Lincoln Red and Salers bulls

2.30pm Show of Limousin bulls

Monday, October 18

10am Show of Charolais bulls

10.30am Sale of Aberdeen-Angus bulls (85)

11am (Ring 2) Sale of class and draft Beef Shorthorn females (60)

1pm Sale of Beef Shorthorn bulls (27) followed by Lincoln Red bulls, (3), Lincoln Red females (14) and Salers bulls (8)

1pm (Ring 2) Sale of class and draft Aberdeen-Angus females (44 and 27 calves) followed by the dispersal of the Blelack herd

1.30pm Show of Simmental females followed by bulls

2pm Sale of Limousin bulls (81) followed by females (8)

Tuesday, October 19

10am Sale of Charolais bulls (122)

11.30am (Ring 2) Sale of Simmental females (19 + 4 calves)

12.30pm Sale of Simmental bulls (133)

12.30pm (Ring 2) Sale of Charolais females (7) followed by a production sale from the Lochend herd