Thainstone Spectacular calves hit £4500

Last night’s Spectacular sale of show calves at Thainstone certainly lived up to its name, with 10 selling for more than £2000 and buyers from across Britain packing the ringside to try and buy a winter show winner.

Topping the trade at £4500 was Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, with a Bailea Tyson sired steer Hanky Panky. This one, out of a British Blue x Simmental dam is full brother to another steer of the same name which picked up the AgriLIVE Smithfield title last year for Michael and Melanie Alford. Buying this 448kg bullock was Elfed Williams, Sennybridge. He is likely to re-emerge for a number of the winter events.Second best price of the night was a £4200 bid for the overall champion and heifer champion, Pussy Cat Doll, a Saunders Bandit sired Limousin cross heifer from Simon Stephen and his mother Sue, Meikle Geddes. this one, which tipped the scales at 454kg sold to Bert and Patsy Paton, Spott.Then at £2800 was a Limousin cross heifer from J A Smith, Brora. This one which was Black Isle and Sutherland Show crofters champion was bred by Andrew Anderson and sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Following that at £2700 was another from Mr Anderson himself, Limousin cross heifer Pandora. Out of a Limousin x British Blue dam this one was reserve supreme at Black Isle Show and sold to Andrew Bishop, Eldersfield, Gloucestershire.

And then at £2600 was the best of the trade from Michael Durno, Glenlivet. This was paid for Miss Wet T-Shirt, a Charolais cross heifer by Glenlivet Single Malt and out of a Limousin cross dam. She was cattle champion at Grantown and reserve at Tarland and sold to Scott Watson, Carnoustie.

Making £2300 was Black Magic, a 16 month old Limousin cross heifer from J Munro and Son, Ardgay. This is out of  a British Blue cross dam and was reserve at Black Isle. Buyer of this one was Angus Greenlaw, Bridge of Marnoch.

Best price in the 2010-born calves was a £2300 bid for the steer champion from this section, Limousin cross Guiness. This one, from Smallburn Farms again, is out of a Blue x Limousin dam and sold to Paul Barwood and Anita Padfield.Making £1700 in this section was Joy Division from Barry Paterson, Sauchen. This Ronick Hawk daughter is out of a Limousin cross dam and has picked up a host of tickets this summer. She was bought by D Jenkins, Brongest.In the unhaltered section the top call was a £2200 sale for the section champion, a Limousin cross heifer from G P Smart, Shiel, Alford. This sold to James Nisbet.

Making £2200 in the main section was another Bailea Tyson daughter from Smallburn Farms, this time out of a British Blue x Simmental dam. He sold to J A Smith, The Rowans. And at £2000 was a Baillie Bennyhill sired Limousin cross heifer from J Munro and Sons. This was Coco Pop which was calf champion at Latheron and is out of a British Blue cross dam. She was bought by R and J Greenlaw, Logie Coldstone.