ANGUS IN TOP GEAR FOR STIRLING

If you are heading to Stirling next week with the aim of buying an Aberdeen Angus bull you should waste no time in getting to grips with the entry – from the catalogue or on-line. This spring’s sale presents a wealth of breeding and performance data that takes time to assess well ahead of sale day.

The catalogued entry of 235 bulls – including female gems from the Rawburn and Hurdcott drafts – presents an outstanding selection of bulls and females. And there’s enough performance data to meet the most demanding number-crunching buyers.

The Rawburn ladies look set to set sparks flying. Of note are the powerful 2006-bred cow Rawburn Duchess Kent – whose 2011 bull calf achieved a Terminal Index of 51 – and Rawburn Lady Hispade who boasts some of the breed’s best performance figures.

Some of the major players such as Haymount, Wedderlie, Fordel Cardona, Blelack, Netherton and The Moss have most stalls booked. The Massie’s entry includes Blelack Kentucky Lad (Terminal sire index 39) whose sire, Netherallan Peter Pershore has seen his first 10 sons sold at auction average 11,000gns.

From the McLaren family’s Netherton string comes Netherton Black Bobby (Terminal sire index +38) whose sire, The Moss Mr Eshton, was 2010  Royal Highland Show champion and cost 26,000gns.

For those looking for slice of some of the breed’s top performance achievements the five grade one embryos offered by Bova Gen Ltd will take some beating. They are by Rawburn Enigma and out of Rawburn Ellen Erica and will be full siblings to Rawburn Emblem who achieved an actual 400-day weight of 872kg and the highest muscle area ever measured at Rawburn. Emblem sold for 30,000gns.

(United Auctions)