A new breed record price for Belted Galloways was set at Castle Douglas at the Society’s annual show and sale.
It came late in the day when the bull champion, 17-month-old Grassknop Idris from Mrs Alison Taylor, Grassknop Farm, Skelton, near Penrith, sold for 14,000gns.
The judge for the day, Max Welters from Cumbria, picked out Idris for his champion bull from a strong entry and the packed ringside saw the bidding soon reach the record-breaking price which was paid by Castleton Estates Ltd, Castleton Farm, Dollar, Clackmannanshire.
It was a day of high prices for good quality cattle with the second highest bid of 9,000gns coming for the two-year-old bull Mochrum Finnigan from David Bertie of Mochrum Estates, at Mochrum in Wigtownshire. The buyer was Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House Farm, Harrogate.
Messrs JM & D Maxwell of Blairvockie, Drymen, Glasgow had some of the best prices with his April 2021 bull Lomond Benromach selling for 7,500gns to Messrs SJ & M Richardson and Son of Stonehouse, Cowgill, Sedburgh.
Two lots later and the Maxwells received a 5,500n bid for their Lomond Knockandhu, another April bull born last year from Wentworth Farming Ltd, Thornthwaite Hall, Bampton, Penrith.
John S Fleming from South Milton Farm, Glenluce made a successful 5,000gn bid for another bull from Mrs Taylor’s Grassknop herd. This was for Grassknop Ikaris, a May 2021 bull.
Heifers met flying trade at Belted Galloway sales
Heifers also met a flying trade with a top of 8,000gns and again it was the Lomond Herd that came out on top.
The Maxwell’s reserve female champion Lomond Creme Brules, born in April 2020, sold for 8,000gns to Messrs Forster, trading as Elgany Farms, New Barn Farm, Langley.
The next Lomond heifer in the ring was Lomon Rum Baba, also born in April 2020 which was quickly sold for 7,000gns to Evistones Farm, Cleugbrae, Rochester, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Belted Galloway sales champion heifer
The female champion was shown by Gilbert Johnston of Towhead of Culloch Farm, Dalbeattie. Culloch Fiona was picked out by the judge and caught the eye of ringsider, Mr R T Adams of Town End Farm, Alstonefield, who paid 3,100gns for her.
Messrs D&T Ross of Romesbeoch received a 4,000gn bid for their 18-month-old heifer Romesbeoch Judie, from Michael Smyth from Limavady.
Heifer stirks were topped at 3,600gns for Clifton Violet from Mrs Anne Bell, Clifton Farm, Southwick which sold for 3,000gns to Mr A Campbell of Alt-Na-Craik, Corrow Farm, Lochgoilhead.
It was also a successful debut at the Belted Galloway sales for Mr James Jack of Dornells Farm, Laurieston, who sold his bull Dornells Jack, born in Mary 2021 for 3,800gns. The buyer was William Mack, The Grange, Norwich.
In the small White Galloway section of the show and sale, the champion was the June 2020-born Bergere Bramble from Messrs Trafford, Springfield Farm, Cokermouth which sold for 2,500gns to Messrs Burke, Portadown. The reserve champion White Galloway, the senior bull Romesbeoch Yogi, from Messrs D&T Ross of Romesbeoch, Shawhead made 2,800gns to Messrs J H Fisher, Crailloch, Stranraer.
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