Charolais bulls take the highest bid for any breed of 18,000gns at Stirling

Charolais bulls took the highest bid of all the breeds at the Stirling spring sales, when bidding peaked at 18,000gns on Tuesday (17 February).

Altogether 15 lots traded at five figure sums, with 136 selling to an average of £6,821, up £283 on the year making it the only breed to beat last year’s average of £6,538.

A further 10 bulls sold outside the ring to take the day’s clearance to 81% – up from 73% in 2014 – taking the gross figure just over £1m.

Chief executive of the Charolais Society David Benson said it had been a good, steady trade, driven by suckler producers.

“There was a very good show of bulls – one of the best we have had in Stirling. Easy calving bulls were in demand and there seemed to be a premium for these”

Sale leader at 18,000gns was Clyth Indestructable TI +51, SRI +52, an 18 month old by Goldies Eddy and out of a homebred heifer going back to Dingle Hofmeister. Bred and exhibited by Ron Mackay, Lybster, Caithness, this first class prize winner was joined Billy Turner’s Brampton herd at Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon.

Two lots shared a 16,000gns bid. First to go at this money was the 20-month-old Burradon Insomniac TI +51, SRI +52, by the 12,000gns Gwenog Banjo and from Chris Curry, Thropton, Morpeth. Buyer was John and James Jeffrey, Kersknowe, Kelso.

Mr Curry invested a portion of his takings later on in the day when he paid 14,000gns in a two way split with fellow Northumberland breeders, the Campbell family, Thrunton, Alnwick, for the junior champion, Blelack Imperialist TI +46 SRI +49, a 17 month old by the homebred Blelack Forbes from father and son team, Neil and Graeme Massie, Dinnet, Aboyne.

The day’s second 16,000gns call was made by D and R Durno and Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, for Burnside Indian TI +32, SRI +33, a 19 month old by the 18,000gns Clyth Diplomat, from father and son team, Brian and William McAllister, Kells, Ballymena.

Two entries made12,000gns. Alsnow Imperial TI +39, SRI +45, a 21-month-old Puntabrava Federico son from Alan Lawson and Son, Hallington, Newcastle, joined RB Millar, Tealing, Dundee.

The second 12,000gns bid was made by Jock Wilson and Sons, Glenkindie, Alford, for the intermediate and overall supreme champion, Goldies Ivan TI +49, SRI +50 from Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries.  A 19 month old by the 12,000gns Blelack Edition, he was out of a homebred dam going back to Dingle Hofmeister.

Mr Goldie’s string of nine bulls to average £8,400 and it was Goldies Uppermost sons that were in demand. They included at 10,000gns the reserve junior champion, Goldies Icon TI +47, SRI +44, which sold to JA Connolly, Ballynahinch, County Down.

Senior champion, the 21 month old Balthayock Imperial TI +64, SRI +56 commanded an 11,000gns bid from George Wordie, Glass, Huntly. Consigned by father and son team, David and Nick Walter, Balthayock, Perth, he is sired by the 22,000gns Blelack Forester.

A bid of 11,000gns secured the first class prize-winner, Gretnahouse Ivor TI +52, SRI +67 for H MacDonald, Advie, Morayshire. Bred and exhibited by Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green, this 21 month old is by the 12,000gns Wesley Equinox. The same breeder offered the catalogue’s highest recorded entry, Gretnahouse Intouch TI +92, SRI +78, a 20-month-old Balthayock Adonis son at 9,500gns to RC Woodburn and Son, Galashiels, Selkirk.

Neil Barclay, Crathes, Banchory was another breeder selling to average close on £9,000 for six lots to come under the hammer and it was sons of the 25,000gns Stirling overall reserve champion, Inverlochy Ferdi that were in demand. Leader of the pack at 11,000gns was Harestone Ingot TI+45 SRI +48, a 20 month old selling to Jim Warnock, Broughton, Biggar.

The day’s final five figure call of 11,000gns went to Elgin Isaac TI +38, SRI +37, a 16 month old class winner from the Milne family, Lhanbryde, Elgin. Sired by the 30,000gns Balmyle Bollinger, he went home with CA Smith, Tarland, Aboyne.

Females

Females met a strong demand selling to 4,000gns for the champion, Goldies Happy TI +42, SRI +42, a 15-month-old Blelack Edition daughter from Hamish Goldie. The buyer was Messrs Ceregan, Northern Ireland. Hamish Goldie mirrored his success of earlier in the day with his string of six entries leading the female trade to average £3,570.

Next at 3,800gns was the reserve female champion, Goldies Havanna TI +22, SRI +19, a 17-month-old Edition daughter which sold to A Wright, Girvan, Ayr.

Averages: 136 bulls, £6,821; 10 females, £3,118.50.

(United Auctions)