By Ewan Pate, farming editor

THE SECOND day of the October Perth bull sales made a slow start yesterday, with buyers casting a very selective eye over a generally good-quality entry.

Auctioneer David Leggat, using all his legendary skills, had to work hard to prise bids from commercial buyers who are obviously very aware of sluggish returns from their beef businesses.

However, there was a good demand for bulls with real style and length, with good performance figures.

The first to hit its stride went straight to 4500 guineas.

From Dougie Edgar, Fellside, Penrith, this AI son of Ludo went to Mr Petrie, Woodhill, Ballintuim.

Also amongst the senior bulls, Abbeyford Vincent from Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, fetched 5200 guineas to C. McMillan, Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Islay.

The overall Limousin champion, Homebyres Viduka, from John Logan, Homebyres, Kelso, made 6500 guineas and will now make the long journey to Orkney with buyers J. and I. M. Sinclair, Shapinsay.

This bull is a son of Balnacraig Supreme, a private purchase at 13,500 guineas and is out of a 12-year-old cow.

This is Mr Logan’s second championship at Perth and he was delighted because it marks his and his wife’s ruby wedding this week. The Logans run 70 pedigree Limousins.

The reserve champion was also to sell at 6500 guineas to D. and R. Cornthwaite, Balgray Hill, Lockerbie.

This was for Dyke Vitalspark, from Jimmy and Donald McGregor, Dyke, Kilsyth. This was out of a home-bred heifer and was got by AI from Ryedale Paragon.

The McGregors were to better this later in the sale with a bid of 6800 guineas from Glenkilrie Farm Partnership, Blacklunans, Blairgowrie, for a son of Haltcliffe President.

Best price of the day, however, was to go to a third prize winner in its class.

From Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Elrick Victorious was sired by Ryedale Paragon and out of Goldies Isodora. It sold for 8000 guineas.

It must be a breeding combination which works, because two full brothers have previously sold at 6200 guineas and 5700 guineas.

Yesterday’s top price taker was heading for Orkney under the new ownership of Michael Cursiter, Laga, Evie.

The average was £3382 for 56 sold compared to £3273 for 75 sold in 2004, up £109 on the year.

The clearance rate was 58%, and although some would regard this as disappointing, Iain Kerr, chief executive of the British Limousin Cattle Society, described it as a “solid” performance.

“Remember,” he said after the sale, “this is an October sale and there has been a big move back to spring calving.

“Also, there is the state of the beef industry and uncertainty about subsidy payments.

“Between Perth and Carlisle 166 bulls have been sold at an average of £3600, so the message is that quality bulls are selling readily.”

It may be, as one observer noted, that buyers are now aware of the need to go for sires that will leave quality calves, now that beef special premium is at an end.

“It is not enough to have a calf now, it has to be a good one” he said.

A small sale of Limousin females sold to 3800 guineas for the female champion from Bob and Drew Adam, Newhouse of Glamis.

This was for Newhouse Vommy, a 21-month-old daughter of Ronick Shapely, which the Adams bought in Carlisle four years ago for 8500 guineas.

It was sold to Northern Ireland cattle breeder and business man Bernard Mair.

The reserve female, also from Newhouse and by the same sire, sold at 1700 guineas to A. C. Fotheringham, Ballinloan, Dunkeld.

The average for 11 females sold was £1702.

Simmental females took centre stage in the late afternoon.

In front of a packed ringside. W. J. and J. Green, Corskie, Fochabers, sold their female champion for 3400 guineas to Mr Webster, Skipton, Yorkshire.

The next in the ring sold for almost as much, making 3200 guineas. From Booth and Bell, Crackley, Kenilworth, their heifer Crackley Cornelia is to make the even longer journey back to Milton Keynes and its new owners C. G. Bonner.

Altogether, the Simmental females were to make an almost total clearance.

On Monday evening 90 Shorthorn females, again virtually the entire entry, sold to average 1500 guineas.