It was the Shorthorn breed which set the Stirling Bull Sales alight yesterday with a new record price of 26,000gn and a record average for the breed.
Breed society president, Sally Horrell said the sale was “a flyer” with 65 bulls sold to average £5,914, a massive £1,566 up on the year for almost double the number sold.
She said: “There is an insatiable demand for a suckler cow which is docile, fertile and easy calving, while the Morrison’s premium for Shorthorn steers is under-pinning the trade.”
The new record was set by Major Gibb’s aptly named Glenisla Jackpot by the Australian bull, Broughton Park Thunder and out of Glenisla Desire.
The Glenisla herd of 70 cows was established in the mid 1970s but this price eclipses his previous best of 10,000gn. James Porter, Dromore, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, bought this bull for his Uppermill herd.
Immediately after receiving his record price, Major Gibb was straight back in the ring to buy the supreme champion, Millerston Jamboree from Jack Ramsay, Millerston, Mauchline, for 12,000gn.
This intermediate bull was by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin and Major Gibb said he was keen to introduce some of these bloodlines into his herd.
Perthshire-based breeder Douglas McMillan who runs the Coldrochie herd at Moneydie Roger, Luncarty, was thrilled to receive 15,000gn and 10,000gn for two of his bulls. Both were by the 12,000gn Knockenjig Foremost, which has produced heifers to a top of 11,000gn and to average 5,200gn.
The top bull, Coldrochie Jurassic, which was reserve junior champion went to Bill and Jane Landers’ Cairnsmore herd at Bargaly, Newton Stewart, who had earlier missed out on the record-priced bull. Coldrochie Jeronimo was bought by Glenrinnes Farms, Banffshire.
Immediate past president of the Society, Geoff Riby, Low Stone Hills, East Yorkshire, paid 14,000gn for Jason of Upsall by Glenisla Zetor from the Hon G Turton, The Grange, Thirsk.
The junior champion from Duncan McDowell, Newtonards, Co Down, was Castlemount Jetliner, a prolific show winner in Ireland. He made 13,000gn to E and T Richardson, Sturzaker House Farm, Lancashire.
Another Millerston bull sold for 10,000gn – Millerston Jukebox was reserve male champion at Stars of the Future in 2015 and sold to S S Horton and Sons, Poulton Fields, Cirencester.
The same buyers also paid 10,000gn for Fearn Joker by Podehole Fenman from John Scott of Fearn, Tain, who enjoyed a good trade, selling another for the same price; Fearn Jumpstart by Fearn Godfather was bought by D M Dickie, Knockenjig, Sanquhar.
Females sold to a top of 6,600gn for a two-year-old in-calf heifer, Castlemount Matrix Foxglove Flake by Elliot Matrix from Duncan McDowell, to Cornish breeder, Ross Withers, Probus.