Stirling Beef Shorthorn peak at 12,000 gns
Beef Shorthorn met a level demand with bulls selling to a top of 12,000gns and females peaking at 5,000gns to achieve 89% clearance at the breed society’s official autumn sale at Stirling on Monday 22 October.
“Trade remained relatively strong throughout despite suckler producers feeling extremely uncertain about their future post Brexit, in particular the beef trade. They have also suffered one of the most difficult farming seasons,” commented breed society secretary, Joanna Bailey. "However, their demand for a functional suckler cow remained undiminished attracting buyers from as far afield as Orkney, Hampshire and Antrim; they’re aware that Beef Shorthorn fits the bill and they also have peace of mind that the steers will find a ready market influenced by Morrisons Shorthorn Beef scheme.”
Leading the trade at 12,000gns was the male champion, Shawhill Leroy TI +25, SRI +21, a roan 19-month-old by the homebred bred Shawhill Henderson from Thomson, Roddick and Lawrie, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. The buyer was DJ Welsh, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.
Next at 6,000gns was Meonhill Leader TI +29, SRI +24, a red and white 21-month-old Elliot Danny Boy son from LEP Farms, Chidden, Hampshire to JP Gray, Alnwick, Northumberland.
A bid of 5,200gns secured Charlesbury Mr Mackai TI +18, SRI +15 for A&C Farms, Langham, Rutland. A roan 19-month-old by Creaga Kai Ie, he was bred and exhibited by Park, Baird and Hamilton, Charlton, Wiltshire. The partners invested some of their takings later in the day when they paid 3,000gns for Gordon Millicent 187 TI +14, SRI +11, a roan 14-month-old Elliot Matrix daughter from GR Brooke Estate, Earlston, Berwickshire.
Burnside Lad TI +27, SRI +27, a red and white 32-month-old by the 10,000gns Dakota of Upsall from William and Jill McAllister, Ballymena, County Antrim commanded a 5,000ns bid from JW Taylor, South Ronaldsay, Orkney.
Mrs and Mrs J Redpath, Alyth, Perth and Kinross offered their roan two-year-old, Knowehead Kestrel TI +9, SRI +4 by Coldrochie Echo at 4,500gns to HG Murray, Bonar Bridge, Sutherland.
Heading the female trade at 5,000gns was Gordon Millicent 166 TI +26, SRI +19, a roan 18-month-old heifer by the 13,000gns Chapelton Braveheart from GR Brooke Estate. She went to Evans and Price, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.
Top entry at 4,800gns from the annual draft from Major JPO Gibb, Blairgowrie, Perthshire was Glenisla Foxglove Flake L228, TI +33, SRI +29, a roan 19-month-old heifer by the 7,500gns Chapelton Glen Clova. She sold to Walker of Netherwood, Banknock, Stirlingshire.
Other leading heifers from Major Gibb included Glenisla Waterloo Naomi TI +21, SRI +20, another same age roan by Glen Clova selling for 3,800gns to James M Hay and Son, Brechin, Aberdeenshire.
Next at 3,500gns was the roan Glenisla Foxglove Flake L273 TI +22, SRI +22, a 19-month-old by the 7,000gns Flight Lieutenant of Upsall to Thomas Cheetham, Retford, Nottinghamshire. Another Flight Lieutenant sired heifer, the 18-month-old roan Glenisla Eva Broadhooks L292 TI +22, SRI +19 made 3,000gns to Ian Stewart, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.
Two Elliot Matrix daughters from D McDowell, Newtownards, County Down were each bid to 4,600gns. The roan 17-month-old and female champion, Castlemount Matrix Margo TI +14, SRI +10 went to T and J Linton, Biggar, Lanarkshire whilst the red and white Castlemount Matrix Strawberry TI +18, SRI +16 was knocked down sold to Evans and Price.
A bid of 3,800gns secured Knockenjig Tessa TI +19, SRI +19 for I Tennant, Lanark. A dark roan 19-month-old, she was by Glengoy Geronimo and bred and exhibited by David and Rosemary Dickie, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire. The same breeders offered Knockenjig Duchess TI +23, SRI +22 at 3,000gns. A red and little white 18-month-old, she was by Glenisla Explorer and sold to R Brown, Fintray, Aberdeenshire.
The 15-month-old Ballyvaddy Heathermaid TI +26, SRI +26, a red and white by the 10,000gns Dakota of Upsall from T and K Madden, Ballymena, County Antrim commanded 3,500gns from R Pettit, Buckie, Banffshire.
Shawhill Foxglove Linnet TI +19, SRI +17, a roan 18-month-old Burnside Elite daughter from Thomson, Roddick and Lawrie made 3,000gns to GA Francis, Abergorlech, Carmarthenshire.
The annual Dunsyre draft from Carey Coombs, Carnwath, Lanarkshire peaked at 3,000gns twice for 18-month-old heifers by the homebred Dunsyre Hamlet. First to go was the dark roan Dunsyre Hyacinth 23 TI +27, SR +23 to A Haigh, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, and the second, Dunsyre Venus Opal TI +17, SRI +12, a red and little white went to R and P McAlister, Kingarth, Isle of Bute.
Averages: 15 bulls £4,487; 32 females £2,487. Drafts: Glenisla, 11 heifers £2,396; Dunsyre, 8 heifers £2,113.
Auctioneers: United Auctions
Show results
Judge: John Scott
Here are the results of the various classes:
Bulls born on or between 1 October 2016 and 10 March 2017
1st Meonside Kilimanjaro (P) - T & D Bradley Farmer
2nd Knowehead Kestrel (P) - Mr & Mrs J Redpath
3rd Portnadoran Logan (P) - Miss Audrey T MacDonald
4th Birselawsie Kozmo (P) - D & J Hardie
5th Knowehead Lord Scott (H) - Mr & Mrs J Redpath
Bulls born on or after 11 March 2017
1st Shawhill Leroy (P) - Thomson, Roddick & Laurie
2nd Charlesbury Mr Mackai (P) - Messrs Park, Baird & Hamilton
3rd Castlemount Loverboy (P) - D McDowell
4th Faughhill Lenny (P) - Messrs Maxwell
5th Castlemount Lester (H) - D McDowell
Heifers born on or between 10 April 2016 and 31 March 2017
1st Shawhill Beatrice Lottie (P) - Thomson, Roddick & Laurie
2nd Balgay Drinking Song L604 (P) - Balgay Farm
3rd Knockenjig Tessa L1956 (P) - David & Rosemary Dickie
4th Gilven Butterfly Lexi (P) - R S & G Johnson
5th Knockenjig Duchess L1962 (H) - David & Rosemary Dickie
Heifers born on or between 1 April and 2 May 2017
1st Shawhill Foxglove Linnet (P) - Thomson, Roddick & Laurie
2nd Gordon Millicent 166 (P) (ET) - G R Brooke Estate
3rd Castlemount Matrix Kyla 2 (P) - D McDowell
4th Shawhill Lavina (P) - Thomson, Roddick & Laurie
5th Knockenjig Duchess L1971 (P) - David & Rosemary Dickie
Heifers born on or after 3 May 2017
1st Castlemount Matrix Margo (P) - D McDowell
2nd Ballyvaddy Heathermaid L864 (H) - T & K Madden
3rd Gordon Millicent 187 (P) (ET) - G R Brooke
4th Ballyvaddy Tessa L863 (P) - T & K Madden
5th Castlemount Matrix Strawberry 3 (P) - D McDowell
Male champion
Champion Shawhill Leroy (P) - Thomson, Roddick & Laurie
Reserve Charlesbury Mr Mackai (P) - Messrs Park, Baird & Hamilton
Female champion
Champion Castlemount Matrix Margo (P) - D McDowell
Reserve Ballyvaddy Heathermaid L864 (H) - T & K Madden
Best two bulls
Knowehead Kestrel and Knowehead Lord Scott - Mr and Mrs J Redpath