Charolais bulls met a flying trade with 15 lots selling for five-figure sums at the closing day of the Stirling Bull Sales yesterday.
The sale topped at 25,000gn twice for the overall and reserve overall champions from the pre-sale show, as judged by Tomintoul breeder Raymond Irvine.
The overall champion, selling to Galashiels breeder Danny Sawrig for his Swalesmoor herd, was May 2018-born Glenericht Oasis from the Drysdale family at Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie. He is by Caylers Gladiator, and out of Glenericht Gem.
The reserve overall champion was August 2018-born Elrick Outlaw from Mike Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon. By Maerdy Gouverneur, and out of Elrick Florida, he sold to Boden & Davies Ltd for the Sportsmans herd in Cheshire.
The next best price of 15,000gn was paid twice.
First at this price was the intermediate champion from the Milne family’s Elgin herd at Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin. This was June 2018-born Elgin Oliver, by Woodpark Elgin, which sold to J & J Rix, Wissington Grove, Essex.
The other at 15,000gn, selling to the Crawford for their Coolnaslee herd in Northern Ireland, was 18-month-old Elrick Oxygen, by Maerdy Gouverneur, from the Massie’s at Mains of Elrick.
Other leading prices included 13,000gn for Maerdy Osgood, by Blelack Fabulous, from Welsh breeder Esmor Evans. He sold jointly to C Smeaton & Son, Cotton of Ovenstone, Kirkbuddo, Angus, and Perthshire breeder Major David Walter.
Thereafter, 10 lots exchanged hands for 10,000gn apiece. This included Swalesmoor Oscar, by Oakchurch Igor, from Danny Sawrij. He sold to John Millar, Lochend Farm, Port of Menteith.
The reserve intermediate champion made 10,000gn to Messrs Mallarkey, Airdlin Mains, Ythanbank, Ellon. This was Balthayock Overdrive, by Balthayock Impression, from Major Walter.
The Milne family, which runs the Glenernan herd at Ernan, Waterside, Strathdon, topped at 10,000gn twice.
Their first at this price, selling to Kelso breeder John Jeffrey for his Kersknowe herd, was Glenernan Ohboy, by Elgin Jagger. The other, selling to J Gordon & Co, Waterside, Forbes, Aberdeenshire, was another Elgin Jagger son named Glenernan Original.
The Wrights at Lagavaich, Glenlivet, made 10,000gn selling Lagavaich Orlando, by Elrick Jazzman, to G T Wordie, Cairnborrow, Glass, Huntly.
The Barclay family, which runs the Harestone herd near Insch, also topped at 10,000gn for Harestone Offtheclock, by Harestone Jacquard. He sold to Northern Ireland.
Other leading prices included 9,500gn for another lot from Esmor Evans – Maerdy Obrian, by Goldies Linford, sold to Willy Millar, Huntingfaulds, Tealing.
Perthshire breeder Bill Bruce topped at 9,000gn selling Balmyle Onward, by Ovill Lennon, to Barry Ritchie, Wallhouse Farm, Torpichen, West Lothian.
In all, a 75% clearance rate was achieved when 111 bulls sold to average £6,774. This is up £603 on last year’s sale when 121 bulls averaged £6,171.