Stirling’s Bull Sales end on a real high
At the final week of United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales, thousands of farmers witnessed top prices and a record breed sale average with Stirlingshire breeders hitting some of the high notes.
Held at Stirling Agricultural Centre, the prestigious two-week event kicked off on February 4 and 5 and continued on February 18-20.
The Stirling Bull Sales are supported by all-year sponsor Galbraith, the independent property consultancy.
Week two shone the spotlight on the continental pedigree breeds of Simmental, Salers and Charolais. Along with UK-wide buyers, breeders and their teams of helpers descended on Stirling to settle their livestock and pass the mandatory cattle inspection before preparing them for judging on Sunday ahead of Monday’s and Tuesday’s sales.
And it was on the very last day that the event’s biggest prices were achieved as the Charolais bulls went under the hammer of sales director and auctioneer David Brown.
Five-figure prices were bid no less than 21 times, setting a new breed sale average of £7635, up £1514 on the year.
Leading the charge at 46000gns (£48,300) was the supreme champion Charolais bull Balthayock Minstrel from Perthshire’s Major Walter of The Garden House. He sold to joint buyers WP Bruce, Balmyle, Meigle and NR Barclay, South Road, Insch.
Next best at 19,000gns was for Balthayock Manifesto, also from Major Walter, selling to Donger, Seawell Grounds, Foxley, Northamptonshire.
It was a good day for Stirlingshire’s Charolais breeders too.
Andrew Hornall of Falleninch Farm, Stirling reached one of the high notes, selling his entry, Falleninch Mars, for 12,000gns to Angus breeder Strachan of Clochie, Lethnot, Brechin.
Dunblane farmer, DM Lyle of Mid Cambushinnie Farm, sold all five of his bulls forward. The top three prices fetched were: 1000gns for Loganbar Magnum bought by Wilson, Kirkmabreck, Creetown, Newton Stewart; 8000gns for Loganbar Morocco, sold to Paterson and Co, Hartbush, Amisfield, Dumfries; and 6500gns for Loganbar Maximum who went home with Robertson and Son Ltd, Lathrisk Farm, Cupar, Fife.
Robertson and Son Ltd also paid 6200gns for Burnbank Monarch from Blairdrummond’s J and J Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm.
In all 114 Charolais bulls sold with a clearance rate of 88 per cent. Charolais females sold to a top 7000gns averaging £3654 for five sold.
John Roberts, United Auctions’ Group Sales Director, said: “Week two has been terrific with busy ringsides, bustling pens, high clearances, and finishing with top prices for the Charolais on Tuesday.
“Commercial buyers are recognising the progeny of the breed and their value in the store ring so demand for Charolais is high. The senior bulls were so good, including the 46000gns bull which sold early on, that the sale started on a high and just kept getting higher.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see Stirling, out of all the spring sales, setting the new breed sale average this year.”
The Stirling Bull Sales will return in May.