16,000gns for Angus is a great start for Perth
16,000gns for Angus is a great start for Perth
By Jeremy Hunt
ABERDEEN-Angus bulls got the Perth sales off to a flying start this week with a top price of 16,000gns.
Four bulls made 10,000gns or more and 113 averaged £3408, up £22 on the breeds 1997 record average at this venue.
The strict pre-sale selection ousted 26 bulls – leaving a high-quality parade for judge Bob Campbell, Co Down. And buyers bid hard throughout the auction, reflecting the demand for AA sired meat, despite the beef industrys problems.
Breed society officials were elated, commentating that a 300kg AA steer carcass was earning a premium of about £80, as supermarkets continued to promote the breeds superior quality beef.
Neil Massie, new society president, bathed in the glory of the breeds success and was even more delighted when his bull, Evasion of Blelack, made 16,000gns after standing champion.
Bred in the Massie familys herd at Dinnet, Aberdeenshire, this son of Royal Added Value won his class at last years Royal Show and is considered by Mr Massie to be one of the best bulls he has ever bred in a lifetimes involvement with pedigree cattle.
Pedigree AA herd
Evasion was bought by David Walker who set up a pedigree AA herd at Banbury, Oxon four years ago. Mr Walker, who runs a large beef processing plant, has 60 AA cows.
Although the trade had its highlights throughout the sale, it was not until the last bull came into the ring that the bids came really thick and fast. They were for Robert Galloways Dec 1996 born Cardona Edgus, a son of Mushroom Friar Fergus.
From Mr Galloways herd in Perthshire, he quickly reached 14,000gns and heads for David Walkers herd at Nairn.
Mr Galloway, who runs the meat processing company Scotbeef, also invested heavily in stock bulls. He paid 9000gns for Mushroom Falstaff, a second prize winner from Mrs Eileen Davison, Dundee and 8000gns for Lochdu Elfking from Mrs Lena Forbes, Nairn.
There were more high prices for the Massie consignment. The reserve intermediate champion, Egret of Blelack, went to * Rhind and Sons, Kinloss at 6500gns and another Blelack entry made 5500gns to Bill Bruce, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
A son of Lord Horatio of Blelack and bred in the purple on the dams side, earned an 11,000gns price tag for Willie and Tom Arnott, Kelso. Their Waviratio of Haymount was bought by * Hodge for his new herd in Hertfordshire. The Arnotts also sold their intermediate champion, also by Lord Horatio, for 6500gns to D Aird, Cromarty.
TLA Northern Samurai has been a big influence over the years as the sire of good Perth bulls and this week was no exception. Carhurlie Eureka from A R Grieve, Fife made 10,000gns and will work jointly in the herds of buyers Jim Stobo (Kelso) and Bob Eggo (Duns).
Reserve supreme champion was Primo of Eastfield from T * Brewis, Kelso. Buyers at 8000gns were north of Scotland breeders W Barnetson and D Coghill.
World of horse racing
Money from the world of horse racing boosted takings in the female AA sale ring when a 5500gns bid followed by another at 5000gns secured females for the herd being established by the Maktoum family on their estate in Norfolk.
Chris Marler (Bucks) was acting as agent and bought Ergressa of Blelack at 5500gns for the Massies and 5000gns for the champion female from Shropshire breeders Bob Lanes Penguin herd.
Champion and top-price Aberdeen-Angus at Perth, Evasion of Blelack.