A cow and calf outfit lead the charge at the major reduction sale of the Woodhall Simmental herd at yesterday’s Stirling Bull Sales.
A top price of 16,000gn was paid for the duo at a sale of the entire spring-calving portion of Hector MacAskill’s Woodhall herd at Innerwick, near Dunbar.
The sale topper was five-year-old Woodhall Charmaine, by Woodhall Volcano and out of Woodhall Rebeka. She was sold with her heifer calf – Woodhall Helena, by Raceview Elton KK – and in-calf to Raceview Allstar. The buyer was Chris Traynor, who runs the Kilmore herd at Rosemeadow Farm, Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Mr Traynor, also bought two other cow and calf outfits and a heifer at 7,500gn, 6,000gn and 6,500gn respectively, to increase numbers in his 20-cow herd.
The second best price at the sale was 9,000gn for four-year-old Woodhall Delightful, by Raceview Allstar, with her heifer calf Woodhall Helki, by Woodhall Volcano. She sold to the McIlwaine family’s Corrick herd in Newtonstewart, Northern Ireland.
Other leading prices included 6,800gn for in-calf four-year-old cow Woodhall Dixie, by Annick Talisker, selling to Stewart Stronach’s Islavale herd at Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith.
The Hamilton family, who neighbour the MacAskills at Aikengall Farm, near Innerwick, were also out buying cow and calf outfits paying a top of 6,500gn for three-year-old Woodhall Electra, by Major Sky, with her bull calf Woodhall Hamish.
Other buyers included Orcadians Terry and Sheena Coghill of Birsay buying three-year-old Woodhall Eesha, by Curaheen Commanche. She sold with her bull calf Woodhall Harvey, by Curaheen Emanuel, for 6,000gn.
Another lot at 6,000gn, this time selling to the Mill family’s Shawsmill herd at Lochelly, Fife, was three-year-old Woodhall Eclair, by Raceview Allstar. She sold with her bull calf Hector, by Curaheen Emanuel.
Averages: 31 cows with calves at foot £5,030; 10 in-calf cows £4,442; 10 maiden heifers £3,266.