Angus bull triumphs at 24,000gns

Scooping a jackpot on their first visit to Perth, Scottish brothers John and Stewart Montgomery looked on with pride as an Aberdeen Angus bull from their Lorabar herd sold for the top price of 24,000gns on the opening day of this week’s bull sales.

The brothers, who are tractor dealers from Renfrewshire, set up their herd nine years ago.

Their 20-month-old bull, Lorabar Roshan D126, who also stood champion, had an impressive eye muscle depth of 93mm at 424 days and an EBV of +31.

He is by the leading USA sire Ankonian Elixir 100, and joins the Hurdcott herd of Forfar breeders Lord and Lady Glendyne.

Their herd manager, Ian Neish, had earlier given the bull the top ticket in the show classes.

A jittery beef industry curbed spending in the lower ranks leading to a fall of 495 in the average.

This year’s entry levelled at 3332 for 41 bulls compared with 3826 for 38 last year.

One of the youngest bulls in the sale yard, the 10-month-old Halbeath Panther D095, earned 12,000gns for Robin Orr, Fife. Panther (EBV +27) took the reserve championship.

He was by the 6500gns Blelack Telestar A240 and out of a 3800gns Netherton dam.

The buyer was Andrew Ewing, Dumfries.

Following his Royal Show male championship, the 18-month-old Abberton Marshall Beau D084 collected the reserve junior title and made 8000gns for Worcs breeders Angus and Catrina Sutherland.

By Abberton Pride MacBeth he was bought by John and Marion Tilson, Wedderlie, Berwickshire.

Breed society president John Elliot of Kelso saw his Rawburn Duke Windsor D326 realise 6000gns to Neil Rendall who farms on Papa Westray – one of the outermost Orkney islands. Duke Windsor is by the top performance sire Rawburn Transformer.

Female trade

A draft from the Cardona herd of Robbie Galloway, Doune, Perthshire, produced the highest female bid when 5200gns secured the three-year-old Cardona Evon B173.

Bought by Northern Ireland breeder Bernard Mairs, she is by Mushroom Falstaff and was suckling a heifer calf by Lockerley Eastern Cruz.

Also bound for Ulster was the cow Cardona Black Barbara B152, a daughter of Wedderlie Evestar Y391 and also with a heifer calf at foot by the Lockerley sire.

Buyer was John Henderson at 4800gns.

John Elliot paraded the female champion, Rawburn Lady Ruth C202. By SAF 598 Bando 5175, she was taken by well-known suckled calf producer breeder Finlay Munro from Ross-shire at 3600gns.

(United Auctions)

jh@jeremyhunt associates.com