PEDIGREE BULLS sold to 5000 guineas yesterday at the Perth May multi-breed show and sale, writes farming editor Ewan Pate.

The top price was reached twice, once for a Charolais and once for a Simmental, at a sale which is more commercial in nature than the much larger October and February Perth sales.

The top Charolais, the 21-month-old Thrunton Bluechip, from Colin Campbell and sons Ian and John, of Thrunton, Alnwick, was by their renowned stock bull Burradon Talisman.

In February 2006 the Campbells sold 10 sons of the 15,000 guineas Talisman for an average of just over £15,000, including Thrunton Voldemort which was knocked down at 55,000 guineas.

Bluechip is out of Thrunton Michelle and had a useful terminal sire index of 30.

The purchaser was K. M. Fraser, (Pitcairlie), Wester Lumbennie, Newburgh, Fife.

The joint sale topper was the Simmental bull Corskie Teezer from Morayshire farmer and haulage contractor Iain Green, Corskie, Fochabers. The buyer of this first-prize winner was A. and A. Duncan, Balkemback, Tealing, Dundee.

The August 2006-born Teezer is by Ballinalare Farm Nightrider and his dam Corskie Alexis is by Ballinalare Farm Gascoigne.

Mr Green sold another Nightrider son for 4800 guineas to John Young, Skerrington Mains, Kilmarnock.

The top-price Aberdeen Angus sold for 3800 guineas to A. Struthers, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, Morayshire. This was for Blelack Blackcock, a Blelack Lord Hornblower son from Neil Massie, Blelack, Dinnet, Aboyne.

Limousin bulls sold to a top of 4300 guineas for the show breed champion for Howhall Bailea, the single entry from Mr A. Renton, Tannage Brae, Duns.

This 21-month-old was an embryo transfer sired by AI from Bailea Olympia and out of Ronick Rose.

Speaking after the sale United Auctions chairman David Leggat said, “It was a useful day and I was pleased to have a nice show of bulls to sell.

“Buyers today were mostly commercial producers needing a bull to run with herds following a trend to late spring calving.”

In total, 61 bulls sold. Aberdeen Angus (12) averaged £2292.50, (-£292.50 on the year). Limousin (14) averaged £2805 (+£453.44), Simmental (18) averaged £3292.92 (+£411.72), and Charolais (17) averaged £2884.41 (+£777.45).