Delays to farm subsidy payments have been blamed for a poor clearance rate for Beef Shorthorns at the Stirling Bull Sales.
The breed society’s chief executive, Frank Milnes, said only 50% of the bulls forward went under the hammer yesterday.
He said: “People are struggling with money because they have not got their subsidy payments.”
In total 34 bulls sold to an average of £4,348.
This compares to a 63% clearance rate in February 2015 when 56 bulls sold to an average of £5,066.
A top price of 9,500gn was paid for a fifth-prize winning bull from The Hon. Gerald Turton, The Grange, Upsall, Thirsk.
April-2014 born Hussar of Upsall, which is an AI son of Broughton Park Thunder out of August X822 of Upsall, sold to Antrim Estates, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, for Glenarm Shorthorn Beef.
Next best at 8,500gn was a July-2014 born lot from Major John Gibb of Glenisla House, Blairgowrie.
Glenisla Hooch is by Glenisla Excalibur and out of Glenisla Starlet. He sold to Paul Coutts, Carlisle.
Major Gibb also sold a second-prize winning lot for 7,500gn.
Glenisla Hallmark is an April-2014 born son of Glenisla Foxhound, out of Glenisla Waterloo Andrea. He sold to A & C Farms, Langham, Rutland.
Thereafter the overall show champion sold for 8,000gn.
Judge Liam Muir, of Upper Onston, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney, said the champion had “a style about him and tremendous fleshing”.
April-2014 born Poyntington Himself was put forward by Tracy Severn and her husband Mark from Brick Green Farm, Scammonden Road, Barkisland, West Yorkshire.
This one, which was bred in Dorset by Penny Cave, is by Meonhill Foreman and out of Poyntington Sharon Stone.
He sold to Stuart Currie, Beautry House, Rathmell, Settle, North Yorkshire.
The reserve overall champion, from the Stanford Park Partnership, Rose Cottage, 26 Bow Road, Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire, sold for 7,800gn.
Heir Apparent of Longfield is a home-bred son of Lowther Eclipse, out of Tarrant Xerodraba. He sold to Messrs Staunton, County Galway, Ireland.
RESULTS: Beef Shorthorn parade of champions – overall champion and intermediate champion – Tracy Severn, Brick Green Farm, Scammonden Road, Barkisland, West Yorkshire, with Poyntington Himself, by Meonhill Foreman.
Reserve overall champion and junior champion – Stanford Park Partnership, Rose Cottage, 26 Bow Road, Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire, with Heir Apparent of Longfield, by Lowther Eclipse.
Reserve intermediate champion – Robert McAlister, Langalbuinoch Farm, Kingarth, Isle of Bute, with Langalbuinoch Highlander, by Newfield Tarquin.
Reserve junior champion – Jim Frame, Little Galla, Wiston, Biggar, with Galla Hercules, by Kidston Rambo 1st. Senior champion – Douglas McMillan, Moneydie Roger, Luncarty, Perth, with Coldrochie Hattrick, by Chapelton Winsome.
Reserve senior champion – David and Rosemary Dickie, Knockenjig, Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, with Knockenjig Harvester, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin.
Female champion – John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, with Elliot Roxburgh Lass, by Sull GNCC Salute. Reserve female champion – Jack P. Ramsay, Millerston Farm, Mauchline, with Millerston Primrose Hill, by Millerston Einstein.