Angus bull steals the show
AN ABERDEEN Angus bull rated as the best ever bred in the renowned Netherton herd stormed to victory to take the supreme championship at Perth this week and went on to set the sale-ring alight, selling for 30,000gns.
From W and D McLaren’s herd at Auchterarder, Netherton Figo is by Netherton Royal Sovereign and out of the Dalrene Cruz-sired cow Netherton Frances X63. He has an EBV of +33 and stood supreme after taking the junior title under judge David Walker of the Galcantray herd. Joint buyers were James Arnott, Forfar, and R McNeil, Kincardine Castle, Perthshire.
His victory marked yet another milestone in the influence of the Netherton herd on the fortunes of the Angus breed, which, judging by the capacity crowd at the ringside, continues to attract new supporters.
There was no shortage of investors although buyers were choosy; a total of 158 bulls were sold from an entry of 210.
Drumdow Panther C194 from W and E Brown, Turnberry, Ayrshire, drew a stream of determined bidding to settle at the day”s second highest price of 18,000gns. He is by The Moss Passionate, a past Perth champion and a bull with an EBV of 45, representing many years of dedicated performance recording undertaken in John Moores’ Moss herd.
Panther – terminal sire index +26 – is out of a Hurdcott Pink Guardian dam and was bought by Mr and Mrs P Kermode, Isle of Man.
A 12,000gns call from Messrs Taylor, Inchture, Perthshire, secured Curzon Entertainer C088 from D C Moss and Son”s herd at Grantham, Notts. He was another bull whose conformation strengths were underpinned by impressive performance figures (terminal sire index +33) ranking him in the top 1% of the breed. He took the reserve senior title.
David Walker’s judging stint did not preclude him from selling bulls and his Galcantray Mr Jaguar realised 10,000gns to Orkney buyers Messrs Sinclair. Another high performance sire (terminal sire index +32) with a strong Canadian pedigree, this son of Galcantray Pro Nitro is from the herd’s successful Miss Jolte family.
Messrs McLaren also took the reserve junior championship with Netherton Lord Jupiter C241 bred from the famous Lady Jane line. He is an ET-bred son of the 2000 Royal Highland Show’s champion Netherton Lady Jane X13. His sire is Netherton Royal Sovereign, who produced a 9000gns daughter at last year’s record-breaking Netherton sale. Lord Jupiter made 8000gns to J H Gillanders, Peterhead, Aberdeen.
The senior title went to Alexander Grieve’s Carlhurlie Fully Loaded, a Fairfax Ayre of Bronte son with a terminal sire index of +35. Buyers at 5500gns was Messrs Burghill, Brechin, Angus.
Averages: 164 averaged 3600 (last year 147 averaged 4177). (United Auctions)