The Limousin breed enjoyed the strongest clearance of the day, with 80% of bulls finding buyers, although averages were back considerably on the year, by £1,200.
Overall, 59 sold to level at £4,600, with buyers proving particularly cautious, according to Limousin chief executive, Iain Kerr.
The Dundee-based Westhall consignment of bulls, from Mary Fotheringham and her daughter and son-in-law, Hazel and Robert McNee, met the strongest trade of the day, with two reaching five figures.
Best of the bunch, and making the herd’s top price to date, was the reserve junior champion, Westhall Norris, a black Limousin by Westhall Jammy, out of Westhall Freespirit. He was knocked down at 11,500gn, to D Walker and Sons, Camregan Farm, Girvan.
Not far behind, at 11,000gn, was Westhall Nathan, another black bull by Westhall Jammy, out of Westhall Hlame. That one went to Peter Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie.
Intermediate and reserve overall champion, Anside Nemesis, from the Irvine family’s 65-cow herd at Braehead Farm, Drummuir, sold at 9,000gn, to A Kennedy and Son, Seggarsdean, Haddington. A second prize winner at Echt Show, this one is by a bull bought from Ireland, Powerful Irish, which has bred previous sons to 12,000gn. The dam is a privately-bought Bailea-bred cow.
The reserve senior champion, Elrick Nevada, from Michael Massie’s Ellon-based herd, sold at 6,000gn to J and J Pattullo, Sandyford, Kirriemuir. A son of Elrick Jethro, he is out of Elrick Gagrielle.
A consistent run of bulls from Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton, Blairdummond, saw two sell at 6,000gn apiece, including the reserve intermediate champion, Spittalton Norman, a Dinmore Jeanpierre son, out of Spittalton Fifi. He was knocked down to the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Inverness.
At 5,500gn, the Adams at Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, sold Newhouse Northesk, a Cloughhead Jerry son, to GM Angus and Sons, Mains of Cookney, Netherley.
The junior and overall champion, Goldies Novel, from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, went through the ring unsold at 8,500gn.