The Limousin breed achieved the highest price at the opening day of the Stirling Bull Sales yesterday although averages were down on last year.
The breed had a 58% clearance rate for 49 bulls sold to an average of £4,914 (-£248), while 13 females sold to an average of £2,322 (-£303).
Topping the sale with a top price of 14,000gn was the overall and intermediate champion hailing from the north-east.
Put forward by Mike Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Elrick Inferno is by the 22,000gn Hartlaw Excaliber and out of Elrick Centrefold.
He tops the Massies’ previous best of 12,000gn achieved in February last year for the reserve supreme champion, and goes home to David Orr of the Keirsbeath herd at Crossgates, Fife.
Pre-sale show judge Colin Soutter – the herd manager at A W Jenkinson, Whinfellpark, Penrith – said the champion had great round sides and a great carcase.
The next best price of 11,000gn was achieved by Spittalton Imperial from Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, Stirling.
This one, which is by Haltcliffe Vermount and out of Spittalton Bramble, was sold south to J & P Carr Farms, Piddinghoe, near Peacehaven, East Sussex.
The reserve junior champion – Maraiscote Ivan – from Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw sold for 10,000gn.
This one is by Virginia Andy, which has bred sons to 15,000gn, and out of Maraiscote Aster.
He sold to T Lang, Parduvine, Rosewell, Midlothian.
Mr Nimmo also achieved the next best price of 9,000gn with the reserve overall and reserve intermediate champion.
Maraiscote Ihawk is by the 23,000gn Goldies Comet and out of Maraiscote Davina. He travels north to Balfour Estate, Balfour Mains, Shapinsay, Orkney.
In the females sale, the champion – Goldies Black Honeydew – from Bruce T goldie, Townfoot Farm, Mouswald, Dumfries, sold for 4,800gn.
This one, by Hartlaw Excaliber and out of Goldies Flake, went to a Mr Richardson.
The next best at 4,100gn was Newhouse Black Happy from Bob and Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Forfar, Angus.
CHAMPIONS
Overall and intermediate champion – Mike Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, with Elrick Inferno, by Hartlaw Excaliber. Reserve and intermediate reserve champion – Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, with Maraiscote Ihawk, by Goldies Comet.
Senior champion – Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead, with Emslies Black Harvester, by Bailea Caviare. Reserve – Alec Fraser Thomson & Son, Lammerview Farm, Athelstaneford, North Berwick, with Hartlaw Indigo, by Cloughhead Jurassic.
Junior champion – Alec Fraser Thomson & Son with Homebyres Inch, by Homebyres, Gregory. Reserve – Ian Nimmo with Maraiscote Ivan, by Virginia Andy.
Female champion – Bruce T Goldie, Townfoot Farm, Mouswald, Dumfries, with Goldies Black Honeydew, by Hartlaw Excaliber. Reserve – Bob and Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Forfar, Angus, with Newhouse Helena, by Rosecroft Duke.