It’s not often the last animal in the ring attracts one of the day’s top bids, but trade for Charolais bulls got stronger as the Stirling sale progressed and concluded with a top bid of 12,000gn.
The day’s sound trade saw 82 bulls average £6,079 – up £405 on last year.
The top money was paid by a Northern Irish breeder for one of the youngest animals in the yard – Sportsmans Monarch from the Stockport partnership of Boden and Davies, Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor.
Earlier in the sale 12,000gn was also paid for Maerdy Magestic from Esmor Evans, Monfa, Mold. He sold to the Wights, Carwood, Biggar.
And at 11,500gn Peter and Allen Drysdale from Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie, sold Glenericht Majestic to I. and D. Goldie, Greenfield Farm, Cummertrees, Dumfries.
The Watson family from Bowsden, Berwick upon Tweed, sold Tweeddale Matador for 10,500gn to Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell.
Major David Walter sold Balthayock Maestro to John and Raymond Irvine, Inverlochy, Ballindalloch for 10,000gn, and Jack Nicoll Farms, Todpark Farm, Alyth, sold Mornity Mushroom to J. Anderson and Son, Headshaw, Lauder.
At the same price John Jeffrey, Kersknowe, Kelso, sold Kersknowe Matador to Eric Mutch, Whitefield House, Forglen, Turriff, and at 9,500gn he sold Kersknowe Matthew to W.J. Millar, Huntingfaulds Farm, Tealing.
Other top prices included 9,000gn for Elgin Mojo from the Milne family at Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, selling to G. Brown and Sons, Stoneypath, Stenton, East Lothian, and at 8,500gn Mike Massie, of Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, sold the overall champion, Elrick Malt, to C. Fraser, Tomnavoulin, Ballindalloch; and J. Burnett and Sons, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, sold Spittalton Massie to G Mitchell, Campdalemore, Tomintoul.
At 7,500gn, the Campbells from Alnwick sold Thrunton Masterpiece to Mr Brown, Biggings, Orkney; A.G. Houston sold Gretnahouse Matrix to a Tyneside buyer; and Mike Massie, Auchnagatt, sold Elrick Mighty to A. H. Fisher, Merrick, Portpatrick.
At 7,000gn the Milne family from Lhanbryde sold Elgin Moyness to R. Brunton, Crudie Acres, Arbroath and the Irvines from Inverlochy sold Inverlochy Magic to Gilston Castle Farms. J.H. Christie, West Carse Farm, Stirling, sold Westcarse Mac for 6,800gn to R. Brunton, Crudie Acres Farm, Arbroath and at 6,000gn Bill Bruce, Balmyle, Meigle sold Balmyle Muffin to J. Leiper and Sons, Black Heddon, Ponteland.
Charolais females sold to a top of 5,000gn. It was paid for the reserve female champion – Goldies Lullaby from Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Dumfries . She was bought by Annan farmer, A.J. Ewing, of Dumbretton Farm.
The reduction sale of Baillieston cattle from Orkney made a top price of 4,200gn for Baillieston Madge, a daughter of Blelack Digger. She was bought by Boden and Davies Ltd, Mellor Hall Farms, Mellor, Cheshire.
At 3,800gn Jim McMillan, Craigmore, Farnell, Brechin sold Dunesk Lady, a daughter of Balthayock Hamish, to R. McCullouch, Over Hill House, Armadale.
The 13 females sold averaged £2,374.