Stirling Beef Shorthorn bulls smash records at 26,000gns
New 26,000gns breed record; new £5,914 breed record average for 65 bulls; 87% clearance
Beef Shorthorn bulls smashed two new records at the society’s official spring sale in Stirling on Monday 6 February. The breed achieved a new 26,000gns breed top call and a new average of £5,914 - up £1,566 on the year, for 65 entries sold representing 87% clearance, whilst a record eight entries sold for five figures. Furthermore, females achieved 100% clearance with 33 selling to average £3,016, up £1,100 on 2016.
Beef Shorthorn Society president, Sally Horrell commented: “Today’s strong trade was fuelled by suckler producers continuing their insatiable demand for genetics that will deliver a functional suckler cow – milky, hardy, fertile, forage based, with a quiet temperament and great longevity. They were also aware that the by-product steers are continuing to find a ready market influenced by Morrisons Shorthorn Beef scheme.”
The 26,000gns leading bid went to Glenisla Jackpot, a roan 23 month old by the Australian bred Broughton Park Thunder and out of the homebred Glenisla Desire from Major John and Catriona Gibb, Blairgowrie, Perthshire. Jackpot was in the breed’s top 5% with an SRI +24. The buyer was James Porter, Lisburn, Co Antrim.
Mr Porter was in the limelight earlier in the day when his two-year old roan, Uppermill Supreme TI +18, SRI + 14, a Carrock Chalkie son, was awarded senior and overall reserve titles and sold for 6,000gns to G Hunt, Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
The Gibb’s also secured 7,000gns from Strathisla Farms, Blairgowrie, Perthsire for Glenisla Jester TI +27, SRI +30, a 22-month old roan by Glenisla Excalibur who went back to Broughton Park Thunder. The father and daughter team went on to invest some of their takings in Millerston Jamboree TI + 20, SRI +18, the intermediate and overall supreme champion, from Jack and Grace Ramsay, Mauchline, Ayrshire. They paid 12,000gns for this 21-month old roan by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin.
The Ramsays were in the money for two more same way bred, 22-month old roan Charlie Chaplin sons. Millerston Jukebox TI +27, SRI +23 was secured for 10,000gns by SS Horton and Sons, Cirencester, Gloucestershire whilst Millerston Jasper TI +25, SRI +22 made 6,000gns to Grove Farms, Irongray, Dumfriesshire.
The day’s second highest call of 15,000gns was made by Bill and Jane Landers, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire for the reserve junior champion, Coldrochie Jurassic TI +18, SRI +19, a 20-month old roan by the 12,000gns Knockenjig Foremost from Douglas McMillan, Luncarty, Perthshire.
Two more Foremost sons were sought after. A bid of 10,000gns secured the 22-month old roan, Coldrochie Jeronimo TI +22, SRI +21 for Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown, Banffshire, whilst Coldrochie Jack TI +22, SRI +19, a 19-month old roan made 6,500gns to WJ and J Green, Fochabers, Morayshire.
Jason of Upsall TI +34, SRI +28, a 23-month old roan by the 4,000gns Glenisla Zetor from Gerald Turton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire commanded a 14,000gns bid from Geoff Riby, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.
Three entries from Duncan McDowell, Newtownards, County Down and each by the Canadian bred Elliot Matrix were in demand. The junior champion, Castlemount Jetliner TI +15, SRI +8, a 19-month old roan made 13,000gns to E and T Richardson, Preston, Lancashire; the red and white 20 month old Castlemount Junior TI +16, SRI +11 was secured for 8,500gns by Page Farms Partnership, Bedale, North Yorkshire, whilst Castlemount Joshua, a same age red and white made 7,000gns to JP Gray, Alnwick, Northumberland.
Fearn Jumpstart TI +25, SRI +30, a 20-month old roan by Fearn Godfather from John Scott and Partners, Tain, Invernesshire was bid to 10,000gns by David and Rosemary Dickie, Sanquhar, Lanarkshire who recouped more than their spend after offering two red and white sons by the 8,000gns Tofts Whisky. The reserve senior champion, Knockenjig Jetstream TI +27, SRI +23, a roan 23-month old was bid to 6,500gns by W and W Patterson, Appleby, Cumbria whilst Knockenjig Judge TI +24, SRI +19 made 6,000gns to GHB Bulmer, Rhoscolyn, Anglesey.
The Drayton Farm Partnership, Petersfield, Hampshire offered their highest entry at 9,500gns to Smallburn Farms, Elgin, Morayshire. Meonside Javelin TI +18, SRI +18 was a 21–month old roan by Ballylinney Grant.
The Chapelton Glen Garry sired Miltonlockhart Jolly Rodger TI +27, SRI +26, a 21-month old roan from William Allan, Crossford, Fife commanded an 8,000gns bid from P and J Bailey, Appleby, Cumbria.
Chapelton Julius TI +24, SRI +26 a dark roan 23-month old from Donald Biggar, Castle Douglas changed hands for 6,800gns with WSL Muir, Stromness, Orkney. Julius was by the 9,0000gns Fergus of Upsall. Next at 6,500gns was Mountbenger Jacob TI +11, SRI +6 a 23-month old Chapelton Destiny son from JF Irving and Son, Yarrow, Selkirkshire to WA Wilson, Ettrick, Selkirkshire.
Priestland Con 5 TI +12, SRI +9, a 22 month old roan Craigfaddock Everest son from David Alexander, Ballymena, County Down was secured for 6,000gns by Alan Mowat and Sons, Halkirk, Caithness.
Also making a successful trip across the water was the 22-month old roan, Burnside Judge TI +19, SRI +17, by the Canadian bred Paintearth from William and Jill McAllister, Ballymena, commanded a 6,000gns bid from Smallburn Farms, Elgin, Morayshire.
The final of the day’s seven, 6,000gns calls came from GH Stirling and Sons, Galashiels, Selkirkshire for Balgay Judas TI +14, SRI +9, a 21 month old roan Meonhill Highland Fortress son from Balgay Farm, Inchture, Perthshire.
Females
Trade was led at 6,600gns by Castlemount Matrix Foxglove Flake TI +11, SRI +8, a roan 21-month old from Duncan McDowell, Newtownards. Sired by Elliot Matrix and scanned in calf to Meonhill Firefox she went home with Ross Withers, Truro, Cornwall.
Next at 4,800gns was Galla Julie Wildeyes TI +13, SRI +11, a little red and white 20-month old from JW Frame, Biggar, Lanarkshire. Sired by Kidston Rambo she was secured by Eamonn McCormack, Strokestown, County Roscommon.
Two entries attracted a 4,500gns bid. First to go was the female champion, Lancaster Liz 21 of Skaillhouse, a 23-month old roan from C Macadie and Sons, Thurso, Caithness. A Glenisla Faust daughter, she was sold to S and J Hodgson, Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Westbroad Daisy 2, an 18-month old red and white commanded the second 4,500gns bid. An Hallsford Dominic daughter bred and exhibited by D Welsh, Kilmarnock, Lanarkshire, she went to Thomas Staunton, North Kinvara, Galway.
Chapelton Nettle TI +21, SRI +14, a 22-month old red Stonehills X Factor daughter led a string of heifers from Donald Biggar at 4,200gns. The buyer was Cherryvalley Farms, Crumlin, County Antrim.
Averages: 65 bulls £5,914; 33 females £3,016.
Auctioneers: United Auctions