Stirling Bull Sales: Beef Shorthorn break new 12,000gns record at Stirling
Beef Shorthorn records were smashed for a second consecutive year on Monday, when bidding peaked at 12,000gns.
Bull averages were up £258 with five more bulls sold on the year leveling at £4,305, while females averages also rose on the year by £107.
Frank Milnes, from the breed society, said the breed met exceptional demand, driven by commercial sector.
He added the Morrisons Traditional Beef Scheme, which pays suckler producer a 30p premium a kilo deadweight for Beef Shorthorn sired progeny, was attracting more buyers to the breed.
“Commercial men are looking for the ideal suckler cow – low cost and low maintenance,” and he said the Shorthorn delivered.
Sale leader at 12,000gns was the day’s champion, Alvie Elton TI +15, SRI +15, a roan two-year-old by the £5,000 Glenisla Zinzan and out of Millerston Irania Xanadu, the foundation cow in Catherine Williamson’s Kincraig, Inverness based herd, which over the last eight years has grown to 20 breeding females. Earlier in the day, Elton was awarded the supreme male championship, a fitting reward after taking one of the two top titles this season at the Royal Highland, Perth, Grantown and Keith shows. “We’re absolutely thrilled for the herd to have achieved such success in a very short period of time,” said Mrs Williamson.
12,000gns beef Shorthorn champion, Alvie Elton
Elton went to join Mohsin Altajir’s 100 cow Highland Wagyu Beef Shorthorn herd based at Dunblane, Perth.
The day’s second top call at 9,000gns was made by J Wink and Sons, Huntly, for the reserve male champion, Langalbuinoch Fantastic TI +13, SRI +11, a 19-month-old red and white bull from R and P McAlister, Kingarth, Isle of Bute. A Newfield Tarquin son, he was out of a homebred dam going back to Loch Awe lines.
9,000gns for the reserve male champion, Langalbuinoch Fantastic
Two bulls commanded a 5,000gns bid and both from Orkney buyers. First to go was Gregors Fernando TI +20, SRI +20, a 20-month-old roan bull from Chesterhall Parks Farm, Wiston, Biggar. Sired by the Barnaigh Loch Awe and out of a homebred dam going back to Uppermill lines, he sold to EM Flett, Holm.
5,000gns Gregors Fernando
The second 5,000gns entry was the 19-month-old Knockenjig Fearless TI +32, SRI +25, a roan Meonhill Charlie Chaplin son and out of a Gregors bred dam from David and Rosemary Dickie, Sanquhar, Dumfries. The buyer was RFJ Seatter, Sanday.
5,000gns Knockenjig Fearless
Castlemount Frankie TI +12, SRI +14, a two-year-old roan bull from D McDowell and SJ Martin, Newtownards, County Down, returned over the water with N Gibson, Belfast for 4,000gns. A Chapelton Neptune son, he was out of a Glenbrae bred dam.
A second 4,000gns bid was made, this time by Tullochgorum Farm, Boat of Garten, Inverness, for Alvie Emblem TI +18, SRI 18, a two-year-old roan bull by Glenisla Zinzan from Catherine Williamson.
Two more entries were in the money for Mrs Williamson.
At 3,200gns she sold to K and B Brown, Milnathort, the red and white maiden heifer Alvie Fern Broadhooks TI +17, SRI +14, an Alvie Diamond daughter and out of a Glenisla bred dam. Meanwhile Alvie Lovely Friday TI +23, SRI +20, a 17-month-old red and white maiden by Zinzan and out of a Croxtonpark bred dam made 3,000gns to A Park, Charlton, Malmesbury.
FEMALES
Mr Altajir’s investment didn’t stop there. He went on to purchase a further 14 lots including the reserve female champion and leader at 5,800gns, Millerston Irania Fizz TI +12, SRI +10. A 19 month old white heifer, she was among the first progeny to be sold by the 14,000gns Stirling junior champion, Podehole Beefeater and out of a homebred dam from Jack Ramsay’s Mauchline based 25 cow herd.
The day’s second highest female call at 5,400gns went to the female champion, Galla Floss Zeta TI +18, SRI +15, an 18 month old roan Kidston Rambo daughter and out of a Winningbank bred dam. Bred and exhibited by JW Frame, Wiston, Biggar, she was knocked down sold to M Haigh, Glenluce, Stranraer.
Heading a draft from Carey Coombs, Carnwath, at 4,500gns was Dunsyre Honeysuckle Opal 6 TI +17, SRI +15, a six-year-old light roan cow by Dunsyre Yorkie. She sold with her five-week-old heifer calf, Dunsyre Honeysuckle Opal 19 by Langalbuinoch Barney. The pair went to HD Bailie, Dromara.
Shawhill Dewdrop Fairlady TI +12, SRI +8, a red 20-month-old maiden all-Canadian ET heifer by K-Kim Freedom and out of a Braebank dam from Thomson, Roddick and Lawrie, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie sold for 3,800gns to S and C Currie, Rathmell, Settle.
Minutes earlier, Shawhill Fancy TI +20, SRI +14, an 18-month-old maiden by Alvie Blue Eyedboy from the same breeders made 3,000gns to Smallburn Farms, Elgin.
A draft from Major John Gibb and his daughter Catriona, Blairgowrie, Perth, was led at 3,500gns by Glenisla Foxglove Flake TI +24, SRI +21, a 19-month-old roan heifer by Dunsyre Cavalier and out of a homebred dam by Broughton Park Thunder. The buyers were H and M Sloan, Oxton, Lauder. Their next entry at 3,000gns to Messrs Macdowell was Glenisla Margo TI +15, SRI +13, a maiden by Glenisla Artic Storm.
Top lot from Cupar based W and J McGowan and Son’s draft at 3,000gns was Fingask Rosette Elga TI +18, SRI +15, a Bon-Accord Angus sired two-year-old heifer. The buyer was W Denham, Langleydale, Barnard Castle.
Averages: 16 bulls £4,305; 90 females £2,217.
(United Auctions)