Soaring demand for Beef Shorthorn cattle ensured a record breaking trade for Grace Ramsay's Millerston dispersal at Stirling, with a new breed high of 17,000gns paid for a cow and calf outfit, another two five-figure outfits and numerous other top sales.

One of the best known herds in the country, the Millerston dispersal provided the ideal opportunity to purchase top class, well bred foundation females, with the lead seller, Millerston Irania Linnet, doing just that when knocked down to new breeder Mary Cormack, Tambour Manor, Canterbury.

This April 2017-born polled roan cow by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin and bred from the Podehole Beefeater daughter, Millerston Irania Flame Ex92, sold with her third calf, the March-born heifer, Millerston Irania Rainbow by Portnadoran Maestro, at foot. She also sold served either to Bushypark Tiger or Burnside Elite.

Setting the trade off to a good start early on was the seven-year-old red cow, Millerston Augusta Heidi Ex92, a fifth-calver by the Glenbrae Yogie son, Millerston Cyclone, out of Millerston Augusta Eilidh Ex90, also by Beefeater. She sold with bull calf at foot, Millerston Ramsay, by Tiger and served to Elite, to Andrew Thornber, Barkisland, Halifax.

New breeder, Hannah Barker, buying for the Barker Gibson family from Kirkbymoorside, York, went to 15,000gns for Millerston Madeline Lilly VG85, a red second calver by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin, out of the Beefeater daughter, Millerston Madeline Fay Ex92. Her roan heifer calf, Millerston Madeline Rae, is by Cairnsmore Landmark.

Averages – 27 cows and calves, £5810; five in-calf cows, £3108; eight in-calf heifers, £4016; 15 maiden heifers, £3094; four young bulls, £2310.

For full report and pictures see next week's Scottish Farmer