Averages for Limousin bulls were back £700 on the year at the Stirling Bull Sales yesterday, when a total of 45 bulls achieved a 65% clearance rate and cashed in at £4,482 for four fewer sold.
It was the reserve overall and intermediate champion from local breeders Dougie McBeath and Sarah-Jane Jessop, Lower Greenyards, Bannockburn, which led the day’s trade at 10,000gn.
This was Ironstone Oliver, an 18-month-old bull which was purchased as a five-week-old calf alongside its mother at the Smiths of Bloxham Ironstone dispersal.
Backed with some of the best genetics in the breed, he is by the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Ironstone Gandi, out of the 22,000gn Brockhurst Batik, which is by the 55,000gn Grahams Samson and lifted the reserve inter-breed honours at the Highland as a two-year-old heifer.
He was knocked down to Paul and Christine Tippetts, of the Wilodge herd at Shifnal, Shropshire.
Doug and Lynda Graham, together with sons John and James, from Mains of Burnbank, Stirling, sold their senior champion for 9,000gn to Messrs Glass and Smith, Mill of Fowlis, Alford.
This was Burnbank Ollymurs, a 20-month-old son of Mereside Lorenzo, out of Burnbank Grace.
The next three top prices came from breeders in the north including the reserve senior champion from the Davidson family – Richard, Kathleen, and children, Richard and Rachael – from Corsairtly, Keith.
Selling for 8,000gn to the Simpson family, Mains of Creuchie, Blairgowrie, was Corsairtly Oswald, a January 2018-born bull which secured six breed championships and two reserve inter-breeds at shows this summer.
He is by Ronick Inspector, out of the Goldies Dictator-sired, Corsairtly Janelle.
Another family from Keith, this time the Irvines, of the Anside herd at Drummuir, sold two bulls for 7,500gn and 6,500gn.
Dearest was Anside Olaf, an 18-month-old son of Powerful Irish, which has sired sons to a top of 13,000gn. Bred out of Anside Gia, he sold to Walter Dandie and Sons, Learielaw, Broxburn.
The Irvine family’s second prize-winner Anside Odin, made 6,500gn to Stuart MacMillan, Ardbeg Farm, Port Ellen, Islay. This was another similarly aged son of Powerful Irish, out of Anside Jaffa.
The Irvine family’s overall champion bull failed to sell.
Three bulls came under the hammer at 6,200gn with the first two from Andrew Burnett’s Spittalton herd at Thornhill, Stirling.
Selling north to A Sime and Son, Bruceland, Elgin, was the March 2018-born Spittalton Outlaw, by Burnbank Judge, out of Spittalton Corrie.
Matching that price when knocked down to the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Inverness, was the second prize winner Spittalton Oxo. Another March 2018-born bull, he is by Dinmore Jeanpierre, out of Spittalton Loreen.
Mike Massie, from Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, received the same money for the 18-month-old Elrick Osprey, which stood first in its class.
By Rahoney Geoffrey, out of Elrick Fandango, he was knocked down to Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Dundee.
Messrs Porter, Carrabus Farm, Bridgend, Islay, paid 5,800gn for Ian Nimmo’s March 2018-born Maraiscote Ozone. He is by Rutland Jetset, out of Maraiscote Jewel and stood second in his class.