THE SALE of Simmental bulls at Stirlng started slowly but by the time it came to the best of the intermediate and junior bulls trade had picked up with commercial producers vying with the pedigree breeders for the best of the offering.
By the end of the sale 79 bulls had changed hands for an average of £5,641.
This is back £165 on the year and represents a 63% clearance rate.
Robin Tough, joint managing director of United Auctions, said: “Well grown good strong bulls were selling well throughout.”
Simmental Catle Society chief executive Neil Shand agreed, adding: “It was obvious that people were bidding to a budget today.
“For many of the commercial buyers 4,500 to 5,000gns seemed to be their ceiling. But we still managed to have the breed’s second highest average for an October sale.”
The top price of 18,000gns went to veteran Northern Ireland consignor Billy Robson but not for his overall champion Kilbride Farm Detroit.
Instead it was his stablemate Kilbride Farm Doubleaction which led the way.
Doubleaction is a son of Kilbride Farm Warren, since sold for 9,500gns and out of Kilbride Farm Eustice.
Doubleaction is off to join Anne MacPherson’s herd at Blackford, Croy.
The next best was not far behind at 1,7000gns selling to Brian Grant, Dellfield.
This was another from Northern Ireland, this time from father and son Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, Ballymena.
Richard works full-time as a building contractor but still finds time to work with the family’s 75 pedigree cows.
Hiltonstown Dominic is by Dirnanean Jacob son Auroch Amos and out of Hiltonstown Wallis, a granddaughter of Woodhall Premier.
The pre-sale senior champion and reserve overall made 13,000gns for Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse, Irvine.
His 21-month-old Annick Dalwhinnie came with show history having been the breed champion at Ayr Show this year.
His sire, Skerington Visa, has a track record too having bred the February 2013 Stirling intermediate champion which went on to make Mr Quarm 11,000gns.
Dalwhinnie is out of Annick Brackens Primrose, also the dam of the 20,000gns Annick Talisman.
The purchaser yesterday was J Barclay and Son, Ardiecow, Fordyce, Banff.
There was to be another 13,000gns transaction with Stewart Stronach, Berryleys, Keith selling Islavale Daz to A Wright, West Lundie, Argaty, Doune.
Daz is by Chestermann Varney, a successful stock bull at Islavale and a senior champion at the last Perth bull sale where he was bought for 7,500gns.
The judge, Alister Clark, Stratheast, Holm, Orkney backed his judgement by buying the reserve senior champion for 12,000gns.
This was Corrick Dictator from Cecil McIlwaine, Corrick, Newtonstewart, Northern Ireland. Dictator is an AI son of Drumlone Anchor, a 10,000gns Stirling champion in 2010.
Mr McIlwaine was notching up his sixth bull sales championship with Dictator and made it seven when he collected the junior championship with Corrick Dunedin.
Billy Robson was also a vendor at the 12,000gns mark for another Kilbride Farm Warren son, Kilbride Farm Duke.
This one is heading for pedigree duties with the Henry Widdecombes Starline herd in Devon.
Other leading bull prices:
11,000gns John Dykes, South Slipperfield, West Linton to Mr Farland Northern Ireland for Mendick Delboy.
11,000gns Cecil McIlwaine to DN Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Thurso for junior champion Corrick Duneden.
9,000gns Finlay McGowan, Incheoch, Alyth to Blair Castle Estate, Blair Atholl for Dirnanean Diplomat.
8,500gns Gordon Clark, Broombrae, Auchtermuchty to JW Smith, Gladhill, Garmouth, Fochabers for Broombrae Dollar.
8,500gns Hector Macaskill, Woodhall, Dunbar to B Scott, Nistigar, Westray, Orkney for Woodhall Dynasty.
Simmental females There was nothing between the female champion and the reserve when it came to the sale ring.
Both made 4,000gns and went to the same buyer, J Innes and Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly.
The champion, Ben-Nant Cadi from BT Raymond, Nantymab is a 31-month-old in-calf heifer by Hirwaun Rooney and out of Ben-Nant Whitney. The reserve, Magheragrigan Clare from TW Abraham, Irvinestown, Ballymena is also 31 months old and was sold in-calf to Curraheen Bossman.