A new award will be presented at next month’s Stirling Bull Sales in memory of late auctioneer Morton Strachan MBE.
The inaugural presentation of the Morton Strachan MBE Memorial, which will be presented as an annual prize for the supreme champion Charolais bull at the May bull sales.
United Auctions (UA), which hosts the bull sales at its base near Stirling, has created the award to honour Mr Strachan who died last August.
Mr Strachan worked in the agricultural sector for more than 50 years and served as managing director at UA from 1990-95 and, following his retirement, remained on the main board of the group until 1999.
“Morton lived and worked in Stirling for 60 years, making an indelible mark on those who knew him by going that extra mile with great care, thought and attention,” said UA chairman, Neil McLean.
“He was dedicated to his work while being a true family man so it’s fitting that his daughters are the first to present this special tribute which honours his legacy.”
Next month’s bull sales, which run across two days on May 5-6, features an entry of 242 pedigree bulls and females across nine breeds.
Pre-sale shows of Charolais, Simmental, Salers, Beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen-Angus cattle ,along with a parade of Highland and Hereford bulls, takes place on the Sunday. The Limousin show, and sales of all cattle, takes place on the Monday.
UA group sales director, John Roberts, said: “There will be a tremendous show of bulls forward this May with pedigree breeders making the journey to Stirling from the four corners of Scotland, northern England and Oxfordshire. It’s also great to see that the numbers of Limousin, Salers, Charolais and Beef Shorthorn bulls forward are all up on the year. And we look forward to welcoming a Maine Anjou bull to this year’s line-up, a first for Stirling in the show and sale ring.”