The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Neptune commands top price of 13,000gn at Charolais sale
Carlisle: Breeder from Perthshire leads charge at spring show
Perthshire breeder Bill Bruce led the charge at the Charolais spring show and sale of bulls and females at Carlisle.
Mr Bruce who farms at Balmyle, Meigle, took home the top two prices with entries from his Balmyle herd.
The sale leader at 13,000gn was rising 14-month-old bull Balmyle Neptune – an AI son of the 28,000gn Brampton Nacador, out of Balmyle Imagine – selling to WF Palmer, Trenstrall Farm, Truro, Cornwall.
Next best at 11,000gn was February 2017-born Balmyle Nugget, by the 31,000gn Whitecliffe Highlight and out of Balmyle Juliet. He sold to Ross Farms & Co Ltd, Wester Middleton, Gorebridge, Midlothian.
Thereafter, the Milne family, which runs the Elgin herd at Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin, sold to a top price of 10,000gn.
Their sale-topper was October 2016born Elgin Marvel, by Westcarse Houdini and out of Elgin Isobelle. He sold to AJ Macgregor, Relief Farm, Ecclefechan, Lockerbie.
Two other entries sold for 10,000gn to farmers in the north-east.
First selling to DG Mckenzie, Aberdeen, was the reserve supreme champion – January 2017-born Allanfauld Napoleon, by Dingle Hofmeister, from the Macgregor family at Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow.
The other, selling to C & E Mccombie, Auchencrieve Farm, Knock, Huntly, was March 2017-born Mornity Nimbus by Westcarse Houdini, from Jack Nicoll Farms Limited, c/o Todpark Farm, Alyth, Blairgowrie.
Other leading prices included 7,500gn for November 2016-born Gretnahouse Ming, by Wesley Equinox, from Alasdair Houston, Gretna House, Gretna Green. He sold in a two-way split to JH Christie & Son, West Carse Farm, Stirling, and JW Millar, Lochend Farm, Port of Menteith, Stirling.
Orkney breeders Terry and Sheena Coghill, of Muce, Birsay, paid 7,000gn for rising two-year-old Solwayfirth Mailman, by Solwayfirth Hannibal, from IT Goldie, Greenfield, Cummertrees, Anna, Dumfriesshire.
In total, auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington sold 60 bulls to an average of £5,838.88 – up £225.75 on last year’s sale.