Aberdeen-Angus trade topped at 25,000gn for a first-prize junior bull at the Stirling Bull Sales.
Averages were back slightly on the year with 82 bulls selling to average £5,820 with a 60% clearance rate. This compares to an average of £5,887 for 88 sold in February 2019.
The sale leader, selling to Forfar breeders Alastair and Graham Fraser for their Idvies herd, was September 2018-born Gordon Barney from the trustees of the late Gordon R Brooke, Upper Huntlywood Farm, Earlston. He is by Rawburn Joe Eric and out of Linton Gilbertines Brandy.
Next best at 17,000gn was the bull which stood second to the sale leader in his class – September 2018-born Stouphill Marcus Prince from the Allen family at Humbleheugh, Alnwick.
By Duncanziemere Jigsaw, and out of Stouphill Marsala Pearl, he sold to Northern Ireland breeder Kevin McOscar for his Island Farm herd.
Thereafter a first-prize senior bull sold for 13,000gn to the Hendersons for their Culrain herd at Culrain Mains, Ardgay, Sutherland. This was April 2018-born Cardona Jewel Eric from Robbie Galloway’s Cardona herd at Doune. He is an AI son of Nightingale Dunbar, out of Cardona Jewel Erica.
Other leading prices included 9,000gn for the junior champion, selling to Attwell Farms, Redditch, Worcestershire. This was HW Black Barbaresco, by HW Fabulous, from Highland Wagyu, Burnside of Balhaldie, Dunblane. The overall champion sold for 7,500gn to T A & P Johnson, Clarence House Farm, Brandsby, North Yorkshire. This was McCornick Pathfinder, by Skaill Dino, from Newton Stewart breeder Martin McCornick.
Meanwhile, beef shorthorn bulls topped at 20,000gn twice. First at this price was the overall champion –April 2018-born Coxhill Magnum, by Ballylinney Glenn out of Ballylinney Graduate, from the Townsends at Coxhill Farm, Moffat. He sold to Thistledown Cowford Farm Ltd, Stanley, Perth.
The other, selling to Thomas Staunton, Lough Curra, Co Galway, was the reserve intermediate champion from the Page Farms Partnership at Rookwith, North Yorkshire.
Next best at 11,000gn, selling to Balgay Farms, Inchture, Perth, was a first-prize intermediate bull from Major John Gibb’s Glenisla herd at Blairgowrie. This was Glenisla Macleod, by Millerston Jamboree, and out of Glenisla Sally Broadhooks.
Also at 11,000gn, selling to Gates Farming, Cold Overton, Leicestershire, was Meonside Mufasa, by Elliot Salute, from D & T Bradley Farm, Wester Parkgate Farm, Dumfries.
Other leading prices included 8,000gn for the senior champion from Sanquhar breeders David and Rosemary Dickie. Knockenjig Morpheus, by Fearn Jumpstart, sold to the Green family at Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers.
In all, 53 shorthorn bulls sold to average £4,780 with a clearance rate of 61% – up £104 on last year when 41 sold.
