Sadly a record entry of Saler bulls at Stirling came in front of too few buyers and recorded a dip in the breed’s average of £3,105 on the year.
Breed chairman Terence Pye reckoned there were not enough buyers at the sale but was confident that the demand for Salers would mean that all those taken home would sell privately.
He said that ease of calving had led to the breed being the fastest growing of the top 10 breeds in the UK in terms of numbers and was convinced the drop in average price was merely a blip and not a trend.
In all 14 bulls, out of 32 forward, sold to average £3,878 compared with 10 last year selling to average £6,983, helped along by two at 12,000gn.
Top price was 7,000gn for the intermediate champion, Cleughhead Legacy by Cuil Godfather from Rob and Kath Livesey, Nether Firth, Melrose. Used on heifers last year, he is the first son of Cleuchhead Gentle 25th. He went to fellow borders breeder, Andrew Tullie Farming, Whitchesters, Hawick.
Neil Austin, Boreland of Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet, bought two bulls, paying 6,200gn for the senior and overall champion, Kaimburn Lewis by Seawell Highlander from Edgerston Trading, Camptown, Jedburgh. Farm manager Neil Ralston established the herd for the De Gier family four years ago and it now numbers 60 pure and 20 commercial cows.
The second bull to go to Mr Austin for 5,000gn was the reserve intermediate champion from Patrick Boyd, Cornaigmore, Tiree. Drumaglea Lord Jim was by the French bull, Baron. Retired vet Patrick runs 37 pure cows in the island.
John McIntyre, Milton of Cullerlie, Echt, kicked the sale off with his senior bull, Corrichie Luther by Druide, which sold for 4,000gns to Orkney buyer Liam Muir, Upper Onston. He also sold Corrichie Lachlan by the same sire for 3,800gn to D. Howat, of Enoch, Girvan.
Also at 4,000gn,Fred and Bryn Robinson, Highfields, Church Stretton, Shropshire, sold Preenbank Lord Charles by Seawell Invader to the Smith Family, Stromness, Orkney.
Three bulls sold at 3,500gn, one from the Liveseys; Cleuchhead Lagavulin went to A. Malcolm and Son, Wester Coilechat, Callander. Alister Mackenzie, Whitebog, Fortrose, was disappointed with his trade with his best, Whitebog Lad, selling at 3,500gn to Glenkiln Farms, Bettyknowes, Crocketford, Dumfries.
Colin McClymont sold Cuil Larry by Whitebog Ensign for the same price to J M Fisher, Meikle Larbrax, Leswalt.