Luing demand disappointing
Luing demand disappointing
BREEDERS of Luing cattle would liked to have seen more new faces at the ringside of the societys sale at Castle Douglas last week.
Denise Burn, secretary of the Luing Cattle Society, expected a better trade: "With an excellent selection of pure and cross-bred Luing females on offer and the increasing interest in hard wearing native-type suckler cows I expected to see a stronger demand.
"Why look to Continental types when the solution to more economic suckled calf production is here on the doorstep?"
Top price was 2400gns paid for the bull Monzie Yodler, a spring 1997-bred red son of Monzie Vintage from long-time breed supporters J J and R Cameron, Blair Atholl, Perthshire.
As the first bull through the ring he set business off to a flying start. He impressed several pedigree breeders with his sale-day weight of 795kg and his height of 55.75in. Buyers were Cadzow Bros for their herd at Oban, Argyllshire.
West Lothian breeder R McNee sold his yellow bull Benhar Yorkie at 1300gns. Weighing 850kg on the day, this 23-month-old bull was bought by R and R Dalgleish, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
The two other bulls at 1000gns were Mr McNees Benhar Yeltsen and Messrs Camerons Monzie Yiani Maol. Buyers were Finlay McGowan, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and T Acheson, Isle of Man respectively.
Mr Matthew Mauchlan of the MacAulay Landusers Institute judged the show classes finding his best pair of in-calf heifers from Cadzow Bros. They made 620gns apiece to the judge.
But the reserve winners of this section met a stronger reception from the ringside when bidding reached 800gns for a smart pair of heifers from Mr McNees Benhar herd, also claimed by the judge. The 42 in-calf heifers averaged £667.
In the bulling heifer section the reserve champions again led the trade when a 920gns call came for Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, breeder John Fawcetts winners. These two red heifers from his Merkland herd had Mr McGowans Dirnanean breeding behind them and were bought by the Ettrickshaws Farming Partnership, Selkirk.
A pair of red-roans by sire Monzie Vintage from the Monzie herd took the bulling heifer title and realised 720gns to the MacAulay Landusers Institute. The 112 bulling heifers averaged £476. (Wallets Marts) *