Charolais and Simmentals both enjoyed a solid clearance and peaked at 8,500gn at United Auctions’ May bull sale at Stirling, with the Charolais breed selling 33 to average £5,676, while 29 Simmentals sold to level at £4,439.
In the sale ring, the champion from the previous day’s show made the top Charolais price of 8,500gn, selling to T Howden and Son, Balleny, Balerno.
That was McCornick Nesquik, a rising two-year-old from Martin McCornick and daughters Gemma and Kate, at Boreland, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart. This one is by the 6,000gn Thrunton Hermes.
The McCornick’s reserve champion, also by the Thrunton bull, sold at 6,500gn, to RM Mackay and Sons, Greenvale, Dunnet.
The Campbell family’s Thrunton consignment, from Alnwick, peaked at 8,000gn, for Thrunton Norseman, a son of the home-bred Thrunton Gladiator, which bred the 13,000gn Thrunton bull sold at Stirling in February.
Out of the Burradon Talisman-sired Thrunton Ellie, he sold to J and J Strain, North Garphar, Ballantrae.
Three bulls hit the 7,800gn mark, including the senior champion from last year’s Stars of the Future event, Westcarse Nimrod, from John Christie, West Carse, Stirling. He is sired by Mortimers Highlandfling, a bull bought for 4,000gn and shared with the Lochend herd. Buyer was JW Moir, Auchorties, Keith.
The next bull in the ring, Harestone Nelson, from Neil and Stuart Barclay’s Insch-based herd, also made 7,800gn, selling to the Scottish Government’s bull stud at Inverness. He is a son of Knockmahon Ireland, out of a home-bred Harestone Ronsard daughter.
For the same money, Iain Millar, Lochend, Port of Menteith, sold Lochend Noelle, a Blelack Blackberet son, out of the Mortimers Highlandfling daughter, Lochend Jinglebell. He went to W Young and Sons, Polquhairn Farm, Ochiltree.
From the same herd, later in the sale, Lochend Orator, a son of Highlandfling, sold at 7,200gn to MS McCarlie, Wester Hassockrigg, Harthill, Shotts.
Top for Major Walter’s Balthayock bulls from Perth was a 7,500gn bid for Balthayock Neville, a Balthayock Influence son, which sold to TRC Logan, Holehouse Farm, Kilbirnie.
Selling at 7,000gn was Kersknowe Neil, from John Jeffrey, Kersknowe, Kelso. This Burrodon Insomniac son, out of Kersknowe Hazel, sold to G Wilson and Son, Fichlie, Glenkindie.
At the same price, Inverlochy November, a Kilbine 1 Instigator son from Johnny and Raymond Irvine, Tomintoul, sold to Glenkiln Farms, Bettyknowes, Crocketford.
Trade was similar in the Simmental ring, with a top call of 8,500gn for the reserve champion, Jaw Instagram, from the Maxwell family at Jaw, Fintry. An AI son of Woodhall Ferrari, he is out of Jaw Dakota, one of 20 cows in the Jaw herd, established in 2006. Buyer was Brian Soutar, Peasiehill, Arbroath.
Next best, Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, received 6,000gn for Finlarg Ivan, a Team Drambuie son, out of Benhar Clover. He was knocked down to Islay Estates, Bridgend.
