A move to directly market pedigree bulls following the cancellation of Stirling Bull Sales has been hailed a success.
The sale’s organisers, United Auctions, were forced to cancel the May instalment of the sales due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Rather than carrying out an online timed auction, the firm launched a direct marketing service whereby auctioneers negotiate a price for individual bulls with prospective buyers.
“All those involved are confident that the right customers have found the right bulls to best suit their individual needs,” said United Auctions auctioneer Raymond Kennedy.
He said 121 bulls had been sold so far and the current sale topper at 9,000gn is Aberdeen-Angus bull Retties Lazy River from Perthshire breeders Richard and Carol Rettie.
Lazy River is a two-year-old embryo transfer (ET) son of Rawburn Elysium.
He sold to Turriff breeder Karl Scott for his Foggie herd. Other leading Aberdeen-Angus prices included 7,200gn for McCornick Panther, by McCornick Evade, from Newton Stewart breeder Martin McCornick. He sold to the Blairs at Little Inch, Wormit, Newport-on-Tay.
Simmentals topped at 7,600gn for November 2018-born Islavale Jammydodger from the Stronach family’s Islavale herd at Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith. An AI son of Team Celtic, he sold to Rhys Grenham, Boars Head Farm, Sussex.
Other leading Simmental prices included 6,500gn and 6,200gn for other Islavale bulls. The dearest, selling to JR Rendall, Whitehow, Orkney, was Islavale Jordi, by Corskie Highland. The other, selling to Islay Estates, was Islavale Javelin by Ranfurly Confederate.
Meanwhile, Limousins sold to 7,250gn for May 2018-born Dyke Orlando, by Netherhall Gilbert, from the MacGregors at Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. He sold to D Keay and Son, East Balloch, Kirriemuir.
Other Limousin prices included 6,000gn for Wedderburn Pele, by Foxhillfarm Jenson, from Huntly breeder Jim Hunter.
He sold to C McMillan, Ardbeg, Isle of Islay.Charolais topped at 7,200gn for October 2018-born Harestone Oblivion, by Wesley Equinox and out of a home-bred daughter of the 25,000gn Inverlochy Ferdie, from Banchory breeders Neil and Stuart Barclay. He sold to A Smith, Leys, Tarland.
Other Charolais prices included 7,000gn for Allanfauld Oscar, by Allanfauld Lachie, from the MacGregors at Allanfauld, Kilsyth. He sold to C Addison, Chapelpark, Ellon. Salers topped at 5,000gn for Rednock Nevis from Port of Menteith breeders Malcolm and Gill Pye, while Shorthorns topped at 4,000gn for Monsoon of Upsall from North Yorkshire breeder Gerald Turton.
The averages were: Aberdeen-Angus, 29, £4,842.67; Simmental, nine, £4,814.15; Limousin, 40, £4,451.97; Charolais, 23, £5,176.29; Salers, three, £4,025; and Beef Shorthorn, five, £3,030.50.