THE PERTH February bull sales opened yesterday in an atmosphere of quiet optimism, writes Ewan Pate, farming editor.

The upward movement in finished cattle prices may be modest but it should be enough to generate interest in good breeding stock.

Aberdeen Angus were first into the judging ring and with over 190 bulls forward judge Donald Biggar had plenty of choice.

The QMS chairman said he would be looking for plenty of flesh on good frames but that ability to walk well would be paramount.

It turned out to be a day to remember for Berwickshire breeders Jenny Campbell and John and Marion Tilson showing from the family partnership’s J. & J. Campbell Wedderlie herd.

Not only did they win the overall championship but bloodlines from their 220-strong herd permeated the top end of the prize lists.

Their junior and overall champion was the August 2006-born Wedderlie Blackdown, an embryo transfer of pure Canadian origins.

Sourced from Doug Robertson’s Coldstream herd in Alberta he is by Coldstream Bonnie Doon and out of Coldstream Blackbird.

Blackdown is the half brother of the Campbells’ stock bull Wedderlie Black Boss. Mr Tilson said, “He was a stylish calf from the time he was a fortnight old. He just looked like a champion.”

The reserve overall and reserve junior, Ettrick Katmandu from the Ettrick herd of Texel sheep breeder Gordon Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, had Wedderlie genetics exclusively on both grand sire and grand dam lines.

The intermediate champion was also from the J. & J. Campbell entry.

Wedderlie Kansas by Wedderlie Blackadder is from a consistently good line.

He is a half brother to Wedderlie Kanterbury, which sold for 11,000 guineas.

His dam, Wedderlie Kansue, was an embryo transfer calf originating in New Zealand.

However, the Border breeders weren’t to have it all their own way. The intermediate reserve came all the way south across some rough seas from Orkney with immediate past pesident of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, Colin Davidson, Skaill, Sandwick, Orkney.

His Skaill Duke is a son of Blelack Blackstock, a bull which he shares with Aberdeenshire breeeder Neil Massie.

Duke’s dam is Skaill Diana, out of one of the top female lines in Mr Davidson’s 40-strong herd.

Lord and Lady Glendyne, Craigeassie, Forfar, produced the senior champion, Hurdcott Elgar. Again the Wedderlie influence was to the fore as Elgar is a son of former Craigeassie stock bull Wedderlie Ebtide.

A second calf out of Hurdcott Erica Fay, Elgar was shown extensively last summer and won first prize tickets at Fife, Alyth and Kirriemuir.

The reserve senior champion came from Mr and Mrs Quayle, Ballavitchel, Isle of Man. A March 2006 bull he is by Coldstream Dominator and out of Ballavitchel Corona.

The Aberdeen Angus bulls will be sold later today but the females led the way in impressive style yesterday.

The female champion from Hamish Sclater, Denhead Farms, Dunlugas, Turriff, sold for 4000 guineas to T. Hodge, Rulesmains, Duns. Deveron Proud Imogen is by Gigginstown Toy Boy and out of Deveron Proud Imogen.

The reserve female champion, Linburn Emma, a daughter of the 6000 guineas Halbeath King Kong, from Matthew Stevenson, Linburn, Erskine sold for 3000 guineas to Mr Jones, Cullompton, Devon.

However, inevitably the top price honours were to go to Wedderlie.

The best of a 13-strong draft sold at 7000 guineas to David Walker, Galcantray, Nairn.

This was for a 28-month-old heifer, Wedderlie Ellana, by Wedderlie Blackbest, with her heifer calf at foot.

Another two heifers, both Wedderlie Blackadder daughters with calves at foot, went under the hammer at 5000 guineas each, one to Mr Walker and the other to Mr J. Best, Newry, Northern Ireland.

A draft of 14 from Mrs Eileen Davison, Mushroom Cottage, Drumsturdy Road, Broughty Ferry, sold to a top of 4000 guineas.

This was for a six-year-old in-calf cow, Mushroom Favourite by Idvies Proud Imran.

Donald Biggar was back in the limelight later in the day, not as a judge but as a winner.

His March-2006 Chapelton Zodiac was to emerge as overall champion.

This Chapelton Typhoon son was a first prize winner at the 2007 Highland Show and junior male champion at the Royal Show.

Playfair Farms, Morebattle Tofts, Kelso, produced the reserve overall, the may 2006-born Tofts Regent by Tofts Captain.

The Shorthorn female sale was led by an entry from Danny and Jane Wyllie, Pessal Farm, Tamworth.

Their female champion, Tamhorn Zara, a 27-month-old heifer by CCS Equity’s Charmer, sold for 5000 guineas to Gerry Henchey, Northern Ireland.

The Wyllies are new to the shorthorn breed and run only five cows along with their 55-strong pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd.

Aberdeen Angus heifers (26) averaged £1752.69. Aberdeen Angus cows with calves at foot (19) averaged £2884.74.

Shorthorn heifers (16) averaged £2069.72. Shorthorn cows with calves at foot (7) averaged £1732.50.