A high clearance of Limousin bulls at Stirling was “very clearly” driven by commercial demand.
At a packed auction side, in anticipation of a healthy breed average, Limousin chief executive Iain Kerr said the sale had given the feel of meriting a “good, solid average” combined with a “decent clearance rate”, undoubtedly driven by a ringside of commercial buyers.
“The bulls with good length, good tops, width and shape sold well, giving a very clear signal of the style of Limousins that commercial purchasers are looking for,” Mr Kerr said.
He said the trade, which had an average of £5,247 for 70, and an 80% clearance, “felt like a good sale, offering a good atmosphere, plenty of buyers and a good show of bulls”.
This compared to 80 sold last year, to average £4,455.
Having led the trade for much of the early bidding, Mike Massie’s senior and reserve overall pre-show champion, Elrick Handsome, was knocked down for the top price of 12,500 gns.
The 22-month-old son of Craigatoke Dundee which in turn was sired by Haltcliffe Underwriter was bought by WF Cruikshank & Sons, Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey.
Got as the first calf from the Wilodge Vantastic daughter Elrick Emily, he was sold with a beef value of +38.
Topping this bull in the pre-sale show ring, but not bettering his price at auction, was the show leader from father and son Archie and John MacGregor (Allanfauld).
The MacGregors dubbed Allanfauld Highland Park “probably the best carcase bull” they have produced, and breed judge Gary Oag, from Brims Mains, Thurso, was in full agreement.
Placing the 20-month-old son of Haltcliffe Underwriter intermediate champion and then overall breed leader, Mr Oag was “hugely impressed” by Highland Park.
“He certainly stood out, principally because of his extreme carcase, but he also has some great style about him and he’s a great mover,” said Mr Oag
Bred for shape out of the Arbrack Taketime daughter Allanfauld Chelsea, he carries a beef value of +33 and sold to William R Baillie, of Orkney, for the third-top price, of 10,000 gns.
Second-highest price of the day went to Bob and Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, who sold their Rosecroft Duke-sired 19-month-old bull Newhouse Hartley for 12,000 gns.
He was bought by Robert McNee Ltd, of Over Finlarg, at Tealing, outside Dundee.
Bred out of Hudscales Bigboy daughter Newhouse Fay, Hartley offered a beef value of +46 and was second in his class during the pre-sale show.
Aiding the early trade, bidding rose to 8,500 gns for only the second bull into the auction, Dyke Highlander, offered by Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, of Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie.
He was knocked down to Malcolm Coubrough & Co, of Whelphill, Crawford.
The price was later matched by R Byas, of Middledale Heights, Kilham, Driffield, buying Anside Harry from Mr and Mrs Stephen Irvine & Sons, of Braehead Farm, Drummuir, Keith.
Anside Harry, sired by Derriaghy Enfield, topped his class in the pre-sale show ring.
The Irvines later sold Harry’s half-brother Anside Hancock for 7,200 gns. It was knocked down to J Lyon of Little Kilchatton, Kingarth, on the Isle of Bute.
Selling at 7,200 gns for John and Craig Connell, of Wanton Walls, Lauder, was Lauder Hilux, which is destined for Lochty Farm Ltd, at Arncroach, Anstruther.
Meanwhile, the Ridley family, of the Wigton-based Haltcliffe herd, sold Haltcliffe Hitman, by Cloughhead Umpire, for 7,000 gns to Cruickshank, Cockburn.
This matched the value of the sale of the reserve senior champion Spittalton Harrier, from J Burnett & Sons, of Upper Spitallton, Blairdrummond, to JP Clark, of Kinnahaird Farm, Contin, in Strathpeffer.
Champions:
Senior and reserve overall: MJ Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, with Elrick Handsome, by Craigatoke Dundee.
Senior reserve: J Burnett & Sons, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, Stirling, with Spittalton Harrier, by Spittalton Denzil.
Intermediate and overall: A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow, with Allanfauld Highland Park, by Haltcliffe Underwriter.
Intermediate reserve: J Burnett & Sons, Upper Spittalton, Blair Drummond, Stirling, with Spittalton Harley, by Lodge Equal.
Junior: Redpath Farms, Bowmont Court, Heiton, Kelso, with Redpaths Henry, by Virginia Andy.
Junior reserve: RM Adam & Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, with Newhouse Hamish,
by Rosecroft Duke.
Female: Cruickshank Normande, Cowford Far, Cleghorn, Lanark, with Normande Goya, by Moloskey Claus.
Female reserve: Cruickshank Normande, Cowford Far, Cleghorn, Lanark, with Normande Gilly, by Moloskey Claus.