Cash and calendar take toll of Perths AA bulls
Cash and calendar take toll of Perths AA bulls
By Jeremy Hunt
ABERDEEN Angus bulls achieved a top price of 6000gns for the breed champion and a respectable average of £2572 on the opening day of Perth bull sales this week.
The average may have fallen short of expectations after the bumper trade in February, but a shortage of cash in the beef sector and the trend towards spring-calving took its toll.
Breeders saw 64 bulls sold – on a par with last Octobers offering at this venue. And the old adage that the strength of a breed lies in its females bodes well for the future of the Aberdeen Angus, as devotees invested confidently, paying up to 7500gns for a six-year-old cow.
Top price male was the bull Hurdcott Ensign from Lord and Lady Glendynes herd at Forfar. He stood champion and sold for 6000gns to Robert McNeill who set up his pedigree herd just two years ago. Ensign, who will work on 30 cows in Mr McNeills herd at Auchterarder, is by Carlhurlie Elation and out of one of the Hurdcott herds most successful show cows.
Breed Society president Neil Massie saw a son of the Canadian bull Royal Added Values make 5500gns to top the consignment from his Aberdeenshire herd. His Blackbullet of Blelack was one of many high-priced bulls bought by a team of Orkney farmers. The ferry-load heading back to the islands includes 11 bought by the Crofters Commission.
Eileen Davidson, Dundee – who only established her Mushroom herd eight years ago – clinched the supreme championship with Mushroom Foxy Lord. This grandson of Mushroom Friar Fergus made 4200gns to P Stovold, Godalming, Surrey. Another from the same herd made 3200gns.
Other leading bids were 4000gns for a Mosston Muir bull from Tom Rennie, Forfar; 3800gns for a Moncur bull from Mark Taylor, Inchture and two 3500gns transaction for bulls from John Moores Moss herd at Merseyside.
Females peaked at 7500gns with a bid from Chris Marler, Buks – buying for Sheik Makhtoum to secure top show cow Netherton Kathleen from Willie McLarens draft sale. Heading for the same home were two other Netherton cows at 3500gns and 3200gns, as well as a maiden heifer at 4200gns. *