Charolais from Graeme Leggat’s Bonnykelly herd at Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, paved the way at the annual multi-breed show and sale of pedigree bulls at Thainstone yesterday.
Sale topper at 5,200gn was Bonnykelly National, a 22-month-old son of Gretnahouse Ivory, whose first six sons have sold to average 6,300gn, including one bull at 9,500gn and another at 6,800gn.
Bred out of the Goldies Bulldozer-sired Bonnykelly Eleanor and third in its class, he sold to Michael Still, Denhead of Muiresk, Turriff.
Graeme and son Mark, also received 5,000gn for Bonnykelly Narrator from Ian and Jamie McIntyre, Milton of Cullerlie, Echt.
This similarly aged bull by the same sire is out of the Newhouse Challenger dam, Bonnykelly Frisky.
The overall champion, a May, 2017-born Limousin bull from Mike Massie’s 50-cow Elrick herd at Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon, sold for the next best price of 4,200gn.
This was Elrick Neutron, one of the first sons by Elrick Jethro, which sired the senior Limousin champion at the Stirling Bull Sales in February. He sold to J Boyne, Whinnyhaugh, Garmouth, Moray, and is bred out of one of the best cows in the herd, Elrick Eve.
Mr Massie also received 3,800gn for the reserve Limousin champion, Elrick Nenuphar.
Selling to J Philip and Son, Broadgreens, Turriff, he is a 17-month-old son of Foxhillfarm Impecabull, bred out of Elrick Fiona.
Three bulls came under the hammer for 4,000gn including the reserve Charolais champion, Glenernan Naughtyboy from Billy Milne, Ernan, Waterside, Strathdon.
By Elgin Jagger, out of Glenernan Finesse, he sold to Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Orkney.
Shannas Nixon from John and Margaret Penny’s Limousin herd at Clola, Peterhead, also made 4,000gn selling to G Ross and Co, Coralhill, Lonmay, Fraserburgh.
This 24-month-old bull is by Goldies Emperor, out of Shannas Fame.
A similarly aged son of Dinmore Hitman from Mr and Mrs Penny made the same money when snapped up by Robert Dinnie, Birsebeg, Abyone. This was Shannas Neptune, bred out of Shannas Ginger.
Also selling with a 3,800gn price tag was an unregistered Limousin bull from Jim and Sandy Hunter, Wedderburn, Bainshole, Huntly. Born in October, 2017, he sold to R and D Farquhar, Tewel Farm, Stonehaven.
The champion Aberdeen-Angus bull from Wendy Willox, Broadmyre, Clatt, Huntly, made 3,200gn to Liam Muir, Orkney.
This was the 25-month-old bull named Strathinver Master Bryden, by Mountjoy Poldark, and out of Strathinver Miss Bramble.
Harestone Issac from Neil and Stuart Barclay, stood Simmental champion and realised 3,200gn to J and R Allan, Gillock Mains, Gillock, Wick. This 18-month-old son of Drumsleed Calgary is out of Islavale Carrie.
The Barclays also stood any other breed champion with the British Blue bull, Harestone Munro.
Born in July 2017, he is an ET-bred bull by Dafydd d’Ochain, out of Droit Joy and was knocked down to Monzie Farms, Estate Office, Gilmerton, Crieff.
In total, 25 bulls sold to average £3,494.40 – down from £3,602.61 last year for the same number sold.
Meanwhile, in the show and sale of commercial breeding cattle, a Limousin cross British Blue heifer and its heifer calf from Craig and Teen Malone, Pitcairn, Lochgelly, Cardenden, Fife, sold for the top price of £4,700 to Dunbeath Farms.
This heifer was originally bought as a bulling heifer from Moir Livestock, Fraserburgh, while the heifer calf is by Lodge Hamlet.