Woodhall Simmentals top at 8000gns

A well represented selection of breed enthusiasts and new breeders packed Perth Auction Mart on Friday to see the spring calving portion of Hector Mackaskill’s Woodhall herd, gross over £200,000 for the 92 animals sold.

The sale peaked half way through when when Northern Irish breeder Leslie Weatherup bought Woodhall Sonata for 8000gns. By Woodhall Porter, a son of Mackney Hector and out of Woodhall Pixie, she sold with her March heifer calf by Camus Brandy. She had been running with Annick Talisker, a bull bought from Lachlan Quarm’s Annick Herd at Perth in the spring for 20,000gns.

Four lots earlier, another Northern Ireland purchaser, R and R Rogers, Portglenone, Co Antrim gave 7000gns for a daughter of Mackney Hector, Woodhall Sadie, whose breed lines go back to Carnkern Titan on the dam side. She sold with her May heifer calf Woodhall Wakeisha who is by Ballinalare Farm Rival.

While Northern Ireland breeders featured highly in the sale, Scottish breeders were not to be outdone. Near neighbours Lindsey and Dorothy Moffat, Innerwick, Dunbar, took Woodhall Marjorie at 6500gns, an ET daughter of Woodhall Hannah, with her bull calf Woodhall Warbuton by one of the current stock bulls, Corrick Nebraska.

Iain Green of Corskie, Fochaber, Moray, purchased Woodhall Romance, a 2004 daughter of Mackney Hector and again with Titan breedlines on the dam side, for 5500gns. She sold with Woodhall Wrendi at foot, a daughter of Corick Kentucky Kid. He also added Woodhall Margot to the Corskie herd for 3000gns, with her bull calf Woodhall Watson at foot.

Stuart Stronach, Grange, Keith, parted with 5000gns to take Woodhall Mistress, a six year old cow by Javan and out of Woodhall Baroness, by Camus Volunteer. Her outstanding four month old bull calf which went with her is by Kentucky Kid.

Lachlan Quarm bought back a little part of his 20,000gns sale of Annick Talisker when he bought Woodhall Saffron who sold for 4800gns with her bull calf Woodhall Walton at foot.

Woodhall Sherbet, another daughter of Mackney Hector and out of Woodhall Kim, sold to P McDiarmid, Lawers, Aberfeldy for 3800 gns. Her Ballinalare Farm Rival bull calf Woodhall Wexford went with her.

Three lots made 3200gns, the first to S Smith, Turriff when he purchased Woodhall Petuna and her Kentucky Kid bull calf. The second 3200gns purchase came from a telephone bid from Joe Wilson, Newry, Co Down who bought Woodhall Pastel a Javan daughter with her Kentucky Kid heifer calf at foot.

Heifers were a sound trade topping at 3800gns three times. Firstly Mr Smith added to his previous purchase with Woodhall Tina, another Mackney Hector daughter in calf to Nebraska. Clive Houldey waited to the third last lot in the ring to secure his choice of maiden heifers, Woodhall Virtue. By Corrick Nebraska she is an October 2007 born calf out of a Woodhall Praline by Corrick Kingtson.

Averages: 46 cows £2707.17; 46 heifers £1659.46 (United Auctions).