Salers peak at 5,800gns twice

The Saler sale saw prices top at 5,800gns twice, with 16 bulls sold averaging £3,754.

This year saw nearly twice as many bulls sold, but averages were down £971, from £4,725. Breed secretary Liz Wilde said, overall it was a good show and sale.

“Farmers are looking at the rewards of easy calving and good growth offered by the Salers breed for both pedigree and commercial cattle,” she added.

First of the two sale toppers was Mr J Pirie’s Chapelpark Hawk, from Kingussie, Inverness-shire. This horned April-2013 born bull is sired by Chapelpark Aaron and out of Chapelpark Una. Shown at the Royal Highland Show with his mother, she became female champion and reserve overall. Hawk sold to A J Hunter, Brae, Shetland for 5,800gns.

Also at this money was another horned bull from Fortrose, Ross and Cromarty. Mr A MacKenzie’s Whitebog Iain, born in June 2013, is sired by Seawell Diplomat and out of Whitebog Tilli. He was knocked down to R Garden, Echt, Aberdeenshire.

Next at 5,000gns was Mr G S McCylmont’s Cuil Gandalf from Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. Sired by Blazer (Blason) and out of Cuil Bonny, he went to N and D Austin, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway.

Another MacKenzie bull realised 4,800gns. This Seawell Diplomat son is out of Whitebog Faith and sold to the Blair Castle Estate, Pitlochry, Perthshire.

Females were in demand with 11 sold to an average of £2,100. Top priced female from S and R Hallos, Ripponden, West Yorkshire went to two year old heifer, Beeston Hall Gorgeous. Sired by Cleuchhead Zoro and out of Beeston Hall Apple, she sold in-calf to Beeston Hall Finn, the Salers Society senior bull of 2014, for 2,700gns to T Murphy, Banchory, Kincardineshire.

(United Auctions)