Stirling Beef Shorthorn bulls smash breed records

27,000gns; £6,127 average, + £1,347; 54 lots sold; 79% clearance

Beef Shorthorn established two new breed records; 27,000gns for males and a £6,127 average - up £1,347 on the year for 54 lots sold and with 79% clearance in Stirling on 21 February, where entries met an insatiable demand at the Society’s official sale. Furthermore, females sold to 7,500gns, a record February sale price tag.

Meonside Nidavellir 27,000gns

Meonside Nosty 12,000gns

“We were thrilled to see trade undiminished by Covid restrictions, instead it’s massive strength was fuelled by buyers demonstrating vision,” commented breed society president, Cathryn Williamson. “They were aware that Beef Shorthorn genetics will fit future systems, providing a solution that will deliver a low input, low cost, modern functional suckler cow – one that’s milky, hardy, fertile, forage based, with a quiet temperament and great longevity. And they are also aware that Beef Shorthorn cross steers are continuing to find a ready market influenced by Morrisons Shorthorn Beef scheme.”

Sale leader at 27,000gns was the 20-month-old dark roan Meonside Nidavellier who was in the breed’s top 5% with a TI +45, SRI +50, MI +27. Sired by the 10,000gns Stirling champion, Willingham Kensington he was bred by D and T Bradley Farmer, Parkgate, Dumfriesshire and knocked down sold to LJ Townsend, Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway.

Minutes before the Bradley Farmers offered Meonside Nosty TI +52, SRI +55, MI +26, another 20-month-old dark roan by Kensington. He was secured for 12,000gns by JF Irving and Son, Yarrow, Selkirkshire.

Meonside Millicent Ninet 6,800gns

Meonside Broadhooks Nella 3,800gns

Muiresk Northern Dancer 14,000gns

Glenariff Nearctic 9,000gns

The vendors’ success continued through to the female trade when Meonside Broadhooks Ninet TI+49, SRI +49, MI +27, a 20-month-old roan Kensington daughter commanded the section’s second highest 6,500gns call from T Russell, Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire. The same buyer also went to 3,800gns for Meonside Broadoaks Nella TI +41, SRI +32, MI +19, a rising two-year-old by Kensington.

The day’s second leading bid of 14,000gns went to Muiresk Northern Dancer TI +36, SRI +47,

MI+26, a 22-month-old roan from Stuart Mair and Sons, Turriff, Aberdeenshire. Sired by Alvie Galaxy, he sold to A J and A Barrett, Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

The Barretts recouped more than their investment when they offered two entries by the 5,000gns Glenisla Ghillie. First to go at 9,000gns was the 20-month-old roan, Glenariff Nearctic TI +46, SRI +51, MI+27, to C Williamson, Kingussie, Invernesshire, whilst Glenarriff Nathaniel TI +47, SRI +52, MI+27, a rising two-year-old roan made 7,500gns to GH Stirling and Sons, Galashiels, Selkirkshire.

Glenisla Nobleman 10,000gns

Glenisla Nitro 9,500gns

Two entries each sold for 10,000gns. First was Glenisla Nobleman TI +30, SRI +38, MI+30, a two-year-old roan by Broughton Park Thunder from Major JPO Gibb, Blairgowrie, Perthshire to GL Riby, Bridlington, East Yorkshire. The same vendor offered Glenisla Nitro TI +24, SRI +24, MI+23, a 23-month-old roan by the 12,000gns Millerston Jamboree for 9,500gns to William Young and Son, Kirkcaldy, Fife, whilst Major Gibb’s third and final entry, the same way bred Glenisla Nicholas TI +44, SRI +53, MI+29, a 23-month-old red and little white made 7,000gns to Ian Fleming, Duns, Berwickshire.

Major Gibb invested some of his takings when he paid 6,500gns for the Glenisla Excalibur sired Bleaton Protest TI +34, SRI +38, MI+29, a 20-month-old roan from James Wightman and Emma McAlister, Maddiston, Falkirk.

Chapelton Nearco 10,000gns

Chapelton Novar 8,000gns

The day’s second 10,000gns call was made by W Landers, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire for Chapelton Nearco TI +41, SRI +39, MI+20, a 23-month-old red and white by the 15,000gns Balnabroich Kermit from the late DJ Biggar, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway. Later on, the Landers family recouped some of their spend when their Cairnsmore Nasri TI +28, SRI +34, MI+25 a 21-month-old roan by Redhill Lord Thunder sold for 6,800gns to A and F Skene, Brechin, Angus.

Chapelton Novar TI +51, SRI +39, MI+19, a red same age entry from the same vendor, this time a son of the 9,000gns Fergus of Upsall, made 8,000gns to A Morton, Denny, Stirlingshire.

Podehole Nordic 9,000gns

Coxhill Norseman 7,200gns

Dunsyre Nebula 7,000gns

Glenariff Nathaniel 7,500gns

A 9,000gns bid secured Podehole Nordic TI +44, SRI +45, MI+21, for James Porter, Lisburn, County Antrim. Bred by Harry Horrell, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, he was a 23-month-old red and little white by the 9,000gns Klondyke of Upsall.

Coxhill Norseman TI +39, SRI +42, MI+24, a 22-month-old roan son of the 20,000gns Millerston Kasper from LJ Townsend, Moffatt, made 7,200gns to Pitkindie Farms, Abernyte, Perthshire.

Three more entries each sold for 7,000gns. First to go was Dunsyre Nebula TI +37, SRI +35, MI +23, a 23-month-old red and little white Belmore Uptown son from Carey Coombs, Carnwath, Lanarkshire to RG Elliot and Son, Brockhall, Northamptonshire.

Next at 7,000gns was Miltonlockhart Noble, from William Allan, Rosebank, Lanarkshire. A 22-month-old red and little white Balgay Journeyman son, he sold to D Hodgson and Son, Chathill, Northumberland.

The final 7,000gns call was made by Rattray Estates, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire for Willingham Nautilus TI +38, SRI +37, MI+24, a 20-month-old roan Willingham Lieutenant Commander son.

A string of entries from Hon G Turton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire was led at 6,500gns by Numero 1 of Upsall TI +40, SRI +46, MI+27, a 21-month-old dark roan by King David of Upsall. The buyer was John White and Sons, Selkirk, Roxburgh. Another King David son, this time the 20-month-old roan Nehemiah of Upsall TI +31, SRI +28, MI+28 made 6,000gns to McDowell Habost, Lochs, Isle of Lewis.

A 22-month-old red Grenadier of Upsall son, Nebuchadnezzar of Upsall TI +34, SRI +36, MI+25 secured a 6,000gns bid from G Gunn, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, whilst the final 6,000gns call went to North Easter of Upsall TI +19, SRI +25, MI+23, a 21-month-old roan Firefox of Upsall son. The buyer was W MacPherson, Carbost, Isle of Skye.

The Coldrochie Legend sired Cowford Nipper TI +32, SRI +37, MI+27, an 18-month-old dark roan from Thistledown Cowford Farm, Stanley, Perthshire made 6,000gns to S Brigdale, Ennis, County Clare.

Glenisla Nicholas 7,000gns

21Stirling Cowford Nipper 6,000gns

Females

Millerston Iranian Marilyn TI +26, SRI +21, MI+20, commanded a new 7,500gns record February female price tag for Grace Ramsay, Mauchline, Ayrshire. A rising three-year-old roan by the 6,000gns Glenrinnes Goliath, she was sold in calf to Cairnsmore Landmark. The buyers were A and C Farms, Rutland, Leicestershire who also went to 3,500gns for the roan Millerston Augusta Meryl TI +20, SRI +15, MI+19 another same age and same way bred heifer.

Grace Ramsay offered a string of seven, 2018 born heifers, each in calf to Landmark, to average £3,915, with the next best at 4,500gns, Millerston Gretta Mandy TI +37, SRI +39, MI+23, a Meonhill Charlie Chaplin daughter selling to MA Lawrie, Kirriemuir, Angus.

Averages: 54 bulls £6,127.00; 18 females £3,029.00

Auctioneers: United Auctions