Galloway greats

Having finished one of their best sales for many years with prices topping at 6,200gns, Galloway cattle breeders have turned a corner in terms of selling.

And in keeping with previous spends at Oban for Highland cattle, German breeders were back in force at Castle Douglas for quality Galloway genetics as well, as they helped tip heifer averages up by £113.

The top price of the day came at 6200gns for the supreme bull champion, the 19-month-old Ben Lomond Maximus shown by the Maxwell family from Blairvockie Farm, Drymen, Glasgow.

This was bought in a joint purchase by local breeders Messrs R & M Fergusson of Barlaes, Dalry, Castle Douglas, and Messrs J A Fergusson and Son of Nether Rusko, Gatehouse of Fleet.

Second top price of the day was 5000gns for a bull from Andrew McConchie and Co of Mains of Penninghame, Newton Stewart, for their second prizewinning bull, Penninghame Nipper, born in September 2005 and bought by Hedgeley Farms from Alnwick in Northumberland.

The two-year-old bull Septimus of Tweedshaws shown by Neil Manning of Tweedshaws Farm, Biggar, reached 4,200gns and was bought jountly by Messrs G & K Gilligan of High Creoch, Gatehouse of Fleet, and Denis Gall.

From his small herd of just four Galloways cows and kept as a hobby, Mr Gall in turn received 3,200gns for his first-prize winning bull Monty of Gall-Way (see below) from Messrs G H French and Son of Carrington Farm, Devon.

In the heifer section the top price of the sale came for two heifers from the show judges, John and Ann Finlay of Blackcraig, Corsock, with their three-year-old heifer Blackcraig Yolande 346 bought at 3600gns by Messrs H Smith, Cumbria.