STIRLING BULL SALES 2016: Limousins hit 10,000gns

Limousin bulls sold to 10,000gns on the second day of trading (Tuesday 2 February) at Stirling.

Overall 56 out of the 76 bulls forward sold to average £4,601, representing a clearance rate of 74%.

Speaking after the sale BLCS Chief Executive Iain Kerr said: “It was a good, solid, selective trade.  There was a very strong, level show of commercial bulls brought forward and those with conformation, length, ease of fleshing qualities and growth potential were in ready demand and sold well.”

Leader of the pack at 10,000gns was the junior and overall champion Harestone Jim, from Neil and Stuart Barclay, Insch, Aberdeenshire. For the Barclays it was a first Limousin Championship, from their 25 pedigree cow herd, and a first overall supreme with any breed at the Stirling sales.

This 20-month-old is sired by Fieldson Alfy and is out of the dam Millburn Caoimhe, sired by Mas Du Clo, which was bought privately in Ireland from breeder Richard O’Brien.

He was bought by Michael Cursiter, Evie, Orkney.

Local Stirlingshire breeder Andrew Burnett, who runs the 100 cow Spittalton herd at Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond,  took the day’s second leading price when selling the July 2014 born Spittalton Jimbob for 9,000gns.

This July 2014-born bull is by Maraiscote Gigolo and is out of the Dyfri Tanner sired Spittalton Frisky.  Buyers were WC and MI Wood, Octofad Farm, Isle of Islay.

The reserve overall and intermediate champion Goldies Jonjo from Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries, sold for 7,800gns. Born in May 2014, Jonjo is by Goldies Fortress, who has had sons sell up to 20,000gns, and is out of Goldies Fresh, an Ampertaine Bravo daughter. He also headed to  Goldies Jonjo was another bull to the islands when being bought by G and M Porter, Carrabus Farm, Isle of Islay.

His stablemate, the reserve junior champion Goldies Black Jonah, also sold for 7,800gns. Another by Goldies Fortress and out of Goldies Visa, he was the pick of R Simpson and Son, Mains of Creuchies, Alyth, Perthshire.

The third and final bull to sell for 7,800gns was the senior champion Homebyres Jardine, an April-2014 born bull from the 80-cow Homebyres herd of Messrs J Logan, Homebyres, Kelso. By the 12,000gns Haltcliffe Eubank and out of Homebyres Visabelle, a Balnacraig Supreme daughter, he was purchased by H MacKay, Nairn, Morayshire.

Mary Fotheringham and her daughter, Hazel McNee, Tealing, Dundee, sold the homozygous black-coated Westhall Black Justthejob to George Wordie, Glass, Huntly for 6,500gns. This April 2014 bull stood third in his class and is by Greenhaugh Forester and is out of Westhall Dancer.

Next best the fifth prize Westhall Black Joker, by Westhall Fothers and out of Westhall Gingerspice, sold for 5,200gns to Welsh buyers GR Davies, Bala, Gwynedd.

Shannas Joel, an April 2014 born son of Craigatoke Bart from John and Margaret Penny, Mintlaw, Peterhead made 5,500gns.  Out of the Procters Rocco sired Shannas Dolly, this bull was snapped up by A and D Clark, Holm, Orkney.

At the same money was the young July 2014 born Newhouse Jiver from Bob and Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis Forfar. This first prize-winner is by Millington Ferrari, an Objat son, and is out of Newhouse Elm. Purchasing this bull was the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Knocknagael Farm, Inverness, which made several purchases on the day.

Just shy of this at 5,400gns was another from the Adams, Newhouse Jura which had stood second to his stable mate in their class.  Again by Millington Ferrari, and out of Newhouse Usabell, this bull went to TE Hutchinson, Chapel Farm, Moffat.

Averages: 56, £4,601.

(United Auctions).