Power and performance shown from Angus bulls at Perth livestock market

Chrissie Lawrence 07 February 2007

>More in

Trade for Angus bulls at Perth is renowned for making headlines and this week’s sales were no exception. The final average saw the 141 bulls sold return a record average of £4357 – an increase of £36 on last February with 11 more sold. With both interest from pedigree and commercial buyers, many were also paying close attention to figures and health status:

From the event(click on pictures to expand):

	Blelack Emperor took the highest bid on the day of 25,000gns for leading breeder Neil Massie. This powerful bull weighing 1160kg sold to last year’s Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year runner up John Elliot for his Rawburn herd based at Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. Speaking after the sale John Elliot jnr said “With our commercial bull customers wanting growth rates that compete with the top Continental bulls while maintaining moderate birth weights, Blelack Emperor was an obvious herd bull for the Rawburn breeding programme. Rarely a bull comes along that combines muscle, growth and performance. His ABRI performance figures put him in the top 1% for 400-day growth, Muscle and Terminal Index. We are confident Emperor has the potential to make a big impact in the Aberdeen Angus breed.”
	Taking a bid of 23,000gns from Alex Sanger, Montrose, Angus, Donald Biggar’s Chapelton Eventer sold for the second highest price of the day. Sired by Chapelton Pilot and out of a Chapelton Evita dam, this bull has a terminal sire index of +25.
	Howard and Lorraine Quayle’s Ballavitchel Preferred Stock headed south to Daylesford Organic Farm, Moreton in the Marsh, Gloucestershire, for 16,000gns. Preferred stock is homebred on both sides, but goes back to noted sired Dalrene Cruz and Coldstream Dominator.
	Messrs Fraser and Son sold Idvies Fullback to Stirling-based David Ismail for 14,000gns. This Calfward Ethos sired young bull has a Breedplan EBV of +37 (top 1%). On the female side of his breeding, Fullback goes back to the famous Netherton Flower line.
	The first son of the Moss Florian went under the hammer in the form of Messrs William and Duncan McLaren’s Netherton Peruvian and sold for 12,000gns to Southern Ireland breeder T O’Brien, Co Kilarney.
	The Tilson family’s Wedderlie Kanterbury sold for 11,000 to Angela McGregor, Fife. This March 05 born bull is sired by Ellin Erroneous and out of a Kansue female.
	Neil Massie’s Blelack Widgeon, sired by Blackstock and out of a Wisteria female, sold to Messrs McCombie, Aberdeenshire for 10,000gns.
	The dispersal of the Netherallan Angus herd saw a top bid of the day come from Irish breeder Dr Sheahan, who paid 8000gns for Netherallan Elba F057.
	Canadian-bred heifer Elliot Starlet from John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains took top price in the Shorthorn rings selling for 2600gns to Mr and Mrs Landers of Newton Stewart.