A small selection of pedigree bulls averaged £3,934 for 15 head with seven Charolais levelling at £3,675, five Limsouin £4,557 and three Simmental £3,499 at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic.
Top price was 6,000gn for the reserve champion Charolais from Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt. His sale topper was Elrick Mac, a 20-month-old son of the 16,000gn Thrunton Fearless, a bull making a notable impact on the Elrick herd. His sons include the champion at the Stirling bull sale in October and four have sold for 12,000gn. Buyers yesterday were J. Barclay and Sons, Ardiecow, Fordyce, Banff.
Winning his first Classic championship since acquiring the Logie Aberdeen-Angus and Charolais herds at Ellon from M. Bruce and Partners was businessman, David Stubbs, of AJR Farms, Mains of Collieston, Ellon. His Charolais winner, the 20-month-old, Logie Monarch, by Goldies Golddust, sold for 3,600gn to J. and L. Shepherd, Cowieshillock, Insch.
The Logie herds are continuing to be managed by stockman Andrew Reid, and his brother, James.
The overall and Limousin champion, the two-year-old Harestone Limit, by the French sire, Ideal, and out of the 24,000gn cow Glenrock Impulse, from Neil Barclay, Harestone, Crathes, Banchory, sold for the second highest price of 5,800gn to W. J. Morrison, Fairburn, Langmanhill, Banff. The bull was brought out by new stockman Hugh Ross who now looks after the Harestone Charolais and Limousin herds totalling 110 pedigree cows.
This was followed at 4,800gn bid by D. N. Barclay, Tullo, Garvock, Laurencekirk, for the reserve champion, Limousin, Ronick Lazyboy, from Jock McIrvine whose traded bulls are prepared for sale by Dougie McBeath of Lower Greenyards, Bannockburn.
The same price was paid by P. A. and P. Duncan, Northfield, Gamrie, for the second-prize Shannas Modem, a 20-month-old son of Ampertaine Hitman, from John and Margaret Penny, Shannas, Mintlaw.
Mr Massie was also in the money with his Limousin herd, taking a first-prize ticket with the 20-month- old Elrick Magnum, by Foxhillfarm Impecabull, which he went on to sell for 4,400gn to B. Kerr and Son, Ladymill, Alford.
Simmentals sold to 4,800gn for the champion, the 21-month-old Aultmore Highlander, by Banwy Bonzo, from Bill and Garry Patterson, Aultmore, Keith, which sold to A. and E. Wyness, Midtown of Barras, Stonehaven. Two full brothers of this bull have sold for 16,000gn and 11,000gn.