Modest selection of pedigree bulls averages almost £4,000

A small selection of pedigree bulls at the Christmas Classic event at Thainstone, Inverurie, averaged £3,934 for 15 head with seven Charolais levelling at £3,675, five Limousin £4,557 and three Simmental £3,499.

Top price was 6,000gns for the reserve champion Charolais from Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt.

His sale topper, Elrick Mac, is a 20-month-old son of the 16,000gns Thrunton Fearless.

His sons include the champion at the Stirling bull sale in October and four have sold for 12,000gns.

Buyers yesterday were J Barclay and Sons, Ardiecow, Fordyce, Banff.

David Stubbs of AJR Farms, Mains of Collieston, Ellon, sold his Charolais winner, the 20-month-old, Logie Monarch, by Goldies Golddust, for 3,600gns to J and L Shepherd, Cowieshillock, Insch.

The overall and Limousin champion, the two-year-old, Harestone Limit, by the French sire, Ideal, and out of the 24,000gns cow, Glenrock Impulse, from Neil Barclay, Harestone, Crathes, Banchory, sold for the second highest price of 5,800gns to WJ Morrison, Fairburn, Langmanhill, Banff.

This was followed at 4,800gns by a bid by DN Barclay, Tullo, Garvock, Laurencekirk, for the reserve champion, Limousin, Ronick Lazyboy, from Jock Mcirvine.

The same price was paid by PA and P Duncan, Northfield, Gamrie, for the second prize, Shannas Modem, a 20-monthold son of Ampertaine Hitman, from John and Margaret Penny, Shannas, Mintlaw.

Mr Massie was also in the money with his Limousin herd, taking a first prize ticket with the 20-month-old, Elrick Magnum, by Foxhillfarm Impecabull, which he went on to sell for 4,400gns to B Kerr and Son, Ladymill, Alford.

Simmentals sold to 4,800gns for the champion, the 21-monthold Aultmore Highlander, by Banwy Bonzo, from Bill and Garry Patterson, Aultmore, Keith, which sold to A and E Wyness, Midtown of Barras, Stonehaven. Two full brothers of this bull have sold for 16,000gns and 11,000gns.