Aberdeen-Angus bulls sold to a record average at Stirling.
Strong bidding throughout, apart from a quieter spell during the sale of the intermediate bulls, saw 82 changing hands to average £6,107. With 113 on offer this represents a 73% clearance rate.
Last February 103 sold to average £5,182.
Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society chief executive Ron McHattie said: “The top end of the trade today was very strong, with commercial producers bidding up to 11,000 gns.
“Above that, pedigree breeders were competing strongly and quite a few had to go home empty handed.”
The Aberdeen-Angus run of trade correlated with the prize list of the day before in a way that is rarely seen.
The top price of the day went to the overall and junior champion from Tom Arnott, Haymount, Kelso, with his Haymount Precursor selling to Alisdair Houston, Gretna House, Gretna, for 18,000 gns.
Mr Arnott had earlier said that this was the most stylish bull he had ever bred.
Precursor is by the 10,000 gns Blelack Black Carl.
His dam Haymount Progina is by Tonley Elgin, and her sons include Haymount Wergin, the October 2011 reserve overall at Stirling.
The reserve overall and senior champion from the Tilsons at Wedderlie, Gordon, nearly matched the champion, stopping just short at 17,000 gns.
The buyer was Des Donegan, Doon House, Galway.
The 23-month-old Wedderlie Ebsolution is by the privately purchased Nightingale El Paso.
Ebsolution’s half brother Wedderlie Ebrilliant has been retained at Wedderlie as a stock bull.
The intermediate reserve champion also made 17,000 gns, selling to Andrew Hodge, Rulesmains, Duns. Hallington Edition, from Alan Lawson & Son, Hallington, Newcastle, is an AI son of Nightingale Proud Jake and out of Blelack Ebolass, dam of sons which have sold to 8,500 gns and grand dam of bulls which have sold to 12,000 gns.
The intermediate champion, Cardona Fergus, from Robbie Galloway, Cardona, Doune, fetched 8,500 gns.
This one is by stock bull Nightingale Dunbar.
His dam Cardona Fiona made the top price of 13,000 gns at the recent Cardona reduction sale.
The buyer on Tuesday was Neil Gillanders, Hatton, Peterhead.
Messrs JF Lascelles, from Balmachie, Carnoustie, saw some lively bidding for their senior reserve champion before it was knocked down to pedigree breeder Rae Grieve, Carhurlie, Leven, for 15,000 gns.
Balmachie Black Bard is by Balmachie Black Bear and out of Netherton Blackbird.
There was a second transaction at 15,000 gns within minutes, with Macmerry based wholesale butcher John Gilmour selling the reserve junior champion Belhaven Perthshire to WS Robson & Co, Yatesfield, Otterburn, Newcastle.
Perthshire is a May 2012 born AI son of Oakchurch Field Marshall and out of Belhaven Perfect Polly.
Tom Arnott and his sons Jack and John were back in the fray later in the sale with Haymount Walarlo, another son of Blelack Prince Carl.
This September 2012 born youngster was smartly bid up to 14,000 gns before being secured by Ken Howie, Cairnton, Lumphanan. Walarlo’s dam, Haymount Waluma, is by Old Gleort Kallum, a former Perth junior champion.
Among the senior bulls the first prize winner from Denny and Michael Tait, Inkstack, Barrock, Thurso, sold for 12,000 gns to Alistair Fraser and son Graeme, Newton of Idvies, Letham.
Instack Ely has been used as a junior herd sire already. He is by Rawburn Elysium and out of Instack Edwina.
John and Marion Tilson and daughter Wanda Hobbs gained from another five-figure transaction, with their Wedderlie Ermaster son Wedderlie Eboman knocked down to G&J Archibald, Craigens, Islay, for 11,000 gns.
The final five-figure sale of the day came from Alan Lawson, Hallington, selling Hallington Justice Eric to Harcus, Quantrerness Farm, St Ola, Orkney, at 10,000 gns.
Eric is by Nightingale Proud Jake, the same sire as Mr Lawson’s 17,000 gns intermediate reserve.