Stirling market is full to bursting with the biggest ever selection of the UK’s best bulls and females ahead of a bumper week of pedigree livestock sales.
UA executive chairman David Leggat said the cattle numbers had been boosted by dispersal sales of four noted Angus, Charolais and Simmental herds which had attracted considerable interest from all across the country.
Leading the Aberdeen Angus show line up was the supreme champion, Drumhill Lord Hatfield, a 19-month-old son of Nightingale Proud Jake, from Northern Ireland breeders Jonathan and Lisa Doyle of Cookstown.
Breeding Angus bulls is a hobby for civil engineer Jonathan who said after the judging that he’d have been happy just to have his bull placed. Another of his sires, Drumhill Lord Hampton won the senior championship.
“I’ve reached the pinnacle of breeding success and I’m just loving the moment,” he said.
“We founded the herd eight years ago and we now have 40 females, with breeding coming from the Blelack, Nightingale, Rawburn and Deveron herds and we’ve had a bit of success in Ireland with six or seven championships including one at the prestigious Balmoral bull sales in February.”
The judge, Dunfermline breeder Robin Orr, described the champion as a great example of a modern, smaller type of Angus bull.
“I liked his cleanness and ample depth,” he said. “He has length, a good top and a great backside. He’s maybe a bit smaller than some would like but I believe we need to appease the supermarkets and get the stock to market weight without being penalised.”
The reserve supreme champion was Linton Gilbertines Masterpiece, a 19-month-old from the Gordon Brooke Estate at Upper Huntleywood Farm, Earlston, shown by farm manager John Elliot.
Masterpiece is a son of 40000gns Rawburn Black Hawk and a half brother of this year’s Royal Highland Show male champion. His dam is from the famous Miss Annie line of breeding.
Alloa breeders Richard and Carol Rettie took the female championship with their two-year-old heifer Retties Diana. This daughter of Retties JFK was described by the judge as having great character.
“She hit me as soon as she came into the ring,” said Mr Orr.
“She has cocky lugs, the right width between the eyes and not too long a face. He sparkled.”
Mr Orr described his two-year-old reserve female champion, Vexour Kwik Kit from Kent merchant banker Jan Boomaars as “very sweet and correct”.
