The hammer went down eight times on five-figure bids for Simmentals at the Stirling Bull Sales lifting the average up more than £200 on last year.
In all United Auctions sold 72 bulls, with a clearance rate of 68%, to average £5,852 (+£211).
Breed society secretary Neil Shand, who was due to leave his post on Friday but yesterday confirmed he would be staying in the role, described trade as “pretty damn good”.
He said there had been a very good show of bulls with many of the top-priced lots being snapped up by commercial producers in the north and north-east.
The sale topper, at 16,000gn, came from the consignor of the pre-sale show’s overall champion – Northern Irish breeder Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Farm, Portglenone.
Slievenagh Emperor, by Curaheen Apostle and out of Slievenagh Aileen, was bought by pedigree breeder Gordon Clark, Broombrae, Auchtermuchty. He made up the other half of this year’s champion in the Ivomec pairs competition with the overall and junior show champion Slievenagh Extra Special.
This one, by Kilbride Farm Bantry and out of Slievenagh Sarah, was snapped up for 9,000gn by Lockerbie breeder Clive Houdley, Kirtleton House, Waterbeck, who spent 34,000gn on females earlier in the day.
The next best at 13,000gn was the reserve overall and senior champion – Corskie Edgar – from Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers.
A son of this year’s Royal Highland Show Simmental champion – the 22,000gn Dirnanean Bradley – and out of Corskie Tanya, this one sold to Delfur Farms, Dendurcas, Aberlour.
The Greens, who keep 160 pure Simmental and 350 cross cows, achieved two more five-figure sums at yesterday’s sale.
Described by Iain Green as the “best bull I’ve ever bred”, Corskie Elton sold for 12,000gn to Gordon Snowie at Inverdunning Ltd, near Stirling. This third-prize winning Dirnanean Bradley son is out of Corskie Wren.
Another third-prize winning bull – Corskie Elvis – made the Greens 11,000gn from A. and P.A. Hurn and Partners, Beck Farm, Norwich. This one is by Greencap Ace and out of Corskie Sable.
First-prize winning bull Williams Eddie, from Hayley Clark, Model Farm, Hevingham, Norwich, was bought for 12,000gn by D. Leslie, Redhill Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin. This one is by Clonagh Tiger Gallant and out of Williams Lorette Auror.
Both at 11,000gn were the intermediate and reserve junior champions. First up was the intermediate champion – Drumsleed Eldorado – from Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, Laurencekirk.
This son of the 11,000 euros (£8,680) Auroch Ace is out of Drumsleed Suzie; he goes home to D. N. Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Thurso, Caithness.
The reserve junior champion – Islavale Ensign – from Stewart Stronach, Barryleys Farm, Grange, Keith, was snapped up by B. Grant, Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.
This one was junior champion at the national show at Turriff and is by Chestermann Varney and out of Islavale Whoop.
Fourth-prize winning Woodhall Energise, from Hector MacAskill at Woodhall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, sold at 10,200gn. This Raceview All-star KK son, out of Woohall Venchen, heads north to Terry Coghill, Muce, Birsay, Orkney.
The reserve senior bull – Corskie Damario – from Jimmy and Iain Green sold for 7,000gn to the Robsons at Kilbride Farm, Ballyclare, Northern Ireland.
While, the reserve intermediate champion – Woodhall Eveready – from Hector MacAskill sold for 8,000gn to J. G. Hamilton, Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar.
Trade for the females was flying with a top price of 8,500gn paid for a cow and calf outfit from the reduction sale of Roslyn Smith’s Sapling herd at Tarporley, Cheshire.
Lockerbie breeder Clive Houdley, Kirtleton House, Waterbeck, bid the top price, on behalf of his son Harry, for Sapling Bluebell and her heifer calf Sapling Fleurette. This one, which is by Blackford Soul Man and out of Sapling Vanity, was sold in-calf to Atlow Crown.
The next best paid by the Houdleys was 4,400gn for bulling heifer Sapling Eugenia, which is by Blackford Soul Man and out of Sapling Red Lady.
In all, Mr Houdley bid for 11 lots from the Sapling reduction – four for his son – to a total of 34,000gn and said he was expanding his herd due to taking on more land.
North-east farmer Gary Christie, of Birchfield, Midtown of Glass, Huntly, spent 10,200gn on three bulling heifers – Sapling Evette, Sapling Elouise and Sapling Eve – all by Blackford Soul Man.
The third best priced lot in the Sapling reduction of 4,200gn was paid for Sapling Charlene and bull calf Sapling Flint by Barry Harding, of Cornerfields farm, Uxbridge. This one is also by Blackford Soul Man and out of Sapling Rebecca.
The pre-sale female champion – Scarthingwell Damselfly – from Mr and Mrs P. Dick, Scarthingwell Farm, North Yorkshire, sold for 3,600gn to R. and C. Simmers, Wester Pltmarcus, Clola, Peterhead. This one is by Heywood Andrew and out of Scarthingwell Thistledown.
The reserve champion – Williams Malvenas 4th – from Hayley Clarke, Model Farm, Hevingham, Norwich, went for 3,000gn to Inverdenning Ltd, East Gogar, Blairlosie, Stirling.
This Heathbrow Tristar daughter is out of Tillymaud Malvenas 58th.
A total of 39 females sold to an average of £3,077, down £200 on last year.
The Sapling reduction sale saw 17 cows and calves average £3,255 and 10 heifers average £2,678.
CHAMPIONS
Overall and junior champion – Robin Boyd, 78 Ballynafie Road, Slievenagh Farm, Portglenone, Northern Ireland, with Slievenagh Extra Special, by Kilbride Farm Bantry.
Reserve overall and senior champion – Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with Corskie Edgar, by Dirnanean Bradley.
Reserve senior champion – Jimmy and Iain Green with Corskie Damario, by Greencap Ace.
Intermediate champion – Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fourdon, Laurencekirk, with Drumsleed Eldorado, by Auroch Ace.
Reserve intermediate champion – Hector MacAskill, Woodhall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, with Woodhall Eveready, by Omorga Volvo.
Reserve junior champion – Stewart Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith, with Islavale Ensign by Chestermann Varney.
Female champion – Mr and Mrs D. Pick, Cottage One, Scarthingwell Farm, Scarthingwell, North Yorkshire, with Scarthingwell Damselfly, by Heywood Andrew.
Reserve female champion – Mrs H. Clarke, Model Farm, Brick Kiln Road, Hevingham, Norwich, with Williams Malvenas 4th, by Heathbrow Tristar.