Aberdeen Angus sells for 60,000gns at Stirling Bull Sales

Farmers were out in force with a full ringside of pedigree and commercial buyers at Stirling Bull Sales on 1 and 2 February.

The trade at the sale was underpinned by strong finished beef prices throughout the past year, with steers averaging 650p/kg in 2025, although prices have started to wane in more recent months.

Overall champion Aberdeen Angus bull, Duncanziemere Jet, from A Clarke & Sons in Ayrshire, sold for 60,000gns, matching a longstanding previous record price for an Aberdeen Angus bull from 1963.

See also: Margins tighten for beef finishers as abattoirs cut prices

Reserve champion bull, Massies Patriot from Graeme Massie at Banchory, sold for 42,000gns – the second highest price on the day.

More than 100 Aberdeen Angus bulls went through the ring with a clearance rate of 81% and a sale average of £10,745, up by £3,018 on the year.

Seven cows and heifers were also sold, achieving an average price of £3,090.

John Roberts, executive chairman of United Auctions, said: “Confidence in beef breeding is currently high and we were anticipating a good sale, but were delighted to see the market as strong as it was.

“All breeds enjoyed an average increase and good clearance rates.

“It was outstanding to see an Aberdeen Angus bull match a record not seen for more than 60 years and it was also a huge day for Beef Shorthorns.”

There was strong demand for Limousin bulls, with a top of 20,000gns for Anside Vulcan, by Mr and Mrs Irvine of the Anside herd near Keith in north-east Scotland.

A total of 55 Limousin bulls sold to an average of £9,744, up by £2,411 on last year’s sale.

A new breed record of 40,000gns for a Beef Shorthorn bull was also achieved by new breeder and first-time seller Reece Simmers from Keith.

More than 380 bulls are due to go under the hammer on 15 and 16 February at Stirling Auction centre for its second major sale of the year.

Store cattle trade

The store trade remained relatively strong throughout January, despite the declines in finished prices, as supplies look set to remain tight throughout the year.

Continental steers aged between 15 and 21 months averaged £1,993/head during the past week in England and Wales.

Three- to six-month-old continental steers were still more than £1,000/head, while heifers of the same age averaged £700/head.

Dylan Rees, auctioneer at Tregaron Mart, said: “Calf prices were at their highest in the autumn last year when bluetongue restrictions were in place, but have been steady up until now.

“Store cattle have also not seen a drop in prices yet.”