Belted Galloways hit 6000gns at Castle Douglas

Belted Galloway breeders went home happy at the weekend after the annual show and sale at Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas.

They saw bulling heifer sell at 6000gns, averages soar and a host of four figure prices.

The top price of the day was for the Belted Galloway champion shown by Messrs J and Z Kirk of Low Kirkbride, Auldgirth, Dumfries. The two-year-old heifer, Hunfield Kim, sired by Lullenden Adam 3439 and out of Huntfield Flora, was bought by Charles Godfrey from Cator Court, Widecombe, Devon for his herd on Dartmoor.

Mr Godfrey was the leading buyer at the sale and purchased 13 bulling heifers for a total of £26,000.

The second top price of the day was 4000gns for another bulling heifer sold by Adam Lawson, North Cassimgray, Fife. The April 2007 bulling heifer Mourneview Joy was junior champion heifer at the Royal Highland in June and was champion Any Other native breed at the Perth Show. This bulling heifer was second prize to the champion and was purchased by Howemill Estate, Ramsbury, Marlborough

It was a highly successful day for Cecilia Hislop, Waterbeck, Lockerbie. She sold sold her November 2006 heifer Waterbeck Honeysuckle for 3600gns to Howemill Estate, another at 1050gns and her 11-month-old calf Waterbeck Poppy for 2000gns to Peter Langforth of Whitehead Farm, Tattenhall, Cheshire.

A 3000gns bid was received by Messrs Scott and Son, West Kilbride, Ayrshire, for their June 2006 bulling heifer Bushglen Grace from Messrs Wilson of Cockermouth and they also sold another bulling heifer, Bushglen Geranium, born in August 2006 to the same buyer.

The top price in the bull section was 1200gns for the May 2006 bull Offthewall Andy from Tim Oliver of East Farm, Great Whittington, Newcastle.