STIRLING BULL SALES 2016: Wattie family tops Angus trade with 24,000gns bid
Aberdeen Angus bulls sold to a top price of 24,000gns at Stirling on Monday (1 February), with a further five bulls selling for five figure sums.
Overall no fewer than 93 head sold to average £5804, up £544 on the year, and representing a 70% clearance rate.
Father and son team, Neil and Mark Wattie of Alford, Aberdeenshire, witnessed a dream come true for the family as they clinched their first ever February supreme championship and sold to a herd best of 24,000gns.
Their sale leader was Tonley Evor P044, an April 2014-born son of herd stock sire Belack Evor H929, out of the Hurdcott Elixier E215 daughter, Tonley Elma K755. He was knocked down to Rae Grieve for his Carlhurlie herd, Leven, Fife. Evor carries a Terminal Sire Index of +44 and a Self Replacing Index of +48.
Recently elected society president, Tom Arnott and his son Jack, Haymount, Kelso, also enjoyed a good sale with two of their consignments selling for 10,000gns.
The first of these was Haymount Eversmith P474, a son of Gretnahouse Blacksmith L500 and out of a Windyhill Equinox Y039 daughter. This one went to Alex Sanger of Rosemount Farms, Montrose, Angus.
The second from the Arnott family’s string of 14 bulls to trade at 10,000gns was Haymount Geresso P489, a son of Skaill Darkness L460 out of a Lorabar Blackstar G290 daughter. With a Terminal Sire Index of +51 and Self Replacing Index of +66 he headed to Stanley, Perth, for Hugh Hodge’s Wyddial herd.
Gretna Green’s Alasdair Houston celebrated a 10,000gns sale with Gretnahouse Blackpot P685, another by Blacksmith, this time out of a Blelack Blackgem G721 daughter. With an SRI of +58, he was bought by John and Teena Gilmour for use within their Belhaven herd, Macmerry, East Lothian.
The second placed Linton Gilbertines Black Prince P865 from the Trustees of the late Gordon Brooke, also traded at 10,000gns selling to Messrs Johnston, Stromness, Orkney. Home bred on both sides, this Linton Gilbertines Rowan K414 son is out of a Rawburn Ravavo F517 daughter and carries an eye muscle figure of +6.8.
The fifth bull at this money was Blelack Mr Braveheart P411 from Neil and Graeme Massie. By Warrenho Emperor M425, which is owned in partnership with sale leaders Neil and Mark Wattie, this one heads to Northern Ireland with K McOscar, Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
The second youngest bull in the catalogue, Duncanziemere Jetset P124, from A Clark and Sons, Cumnock, sold for 9,000gns to the Eastern Greys herd, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. By the 2014 Royal Highland Show interbreed champion Rawburn Jester Eric J034, he’s out of a The Moss Mr Eshton D409 daughter.
Females
Meanwhile, female trade was steady across the board with a top price of 7,500gns paid for one of the youngest of the shown heifers, Comlongon Jody R043, from Colin Rodger. By Liley Elder M073, this one is out of a home bred Ankonian Elixier daughter and was reserve heifer calf champion at the Winter National Show. She was knocked down to Adrian and Penny Johnson, Brandsby, York, for their Yearsely herd.
Two females then traded at 5,000gns; the first being the female champion, Skaill Diana P998, from Colin Davidson. By Skaill Double Willieboy K392, this one sold AI’d to Rawburn Boss Hogg to H W Angus, Dunblane, Perth.
The second at that money was John Elliot’s March 2014-born heifer Rawburn Gammer P863, a daughter of Rawburn Dublin K218 and in calf to Rawburn Rainy. She sold to F McDaid, Luton, Bedfordshire.
Averages: 93 bulls, £5804 (70% clearance); female averages to come.
2015: 109 bulls, £5260 (64% clearance); 20 females, £2,840.
(United Auctions).