The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Scottish breeders to the fore at show and sale of Aberdeen-angus cattle
Carlisle: Event’s supreme champion fetches 10,000gn for Alford family
Scottish breeders were out in force at the spring show and sale of Aberdeenangus cattle at Carlisle.
The sale leader at 10,000gn was the supreme champion from the pre-sale show – Tonley Ernie from the Wattie family at Mains of Tonley, Alford. This two-year-old is a home-bred son of Blelack Evor and out of Tonley Ester. He sold to J Gray, Alnwick.
The Watties also achieved 6,800gn when they sold June 2016-born Tonley King Giovanni, by Tonley Essien, to John W Weir, Galashiels.
Other leading prices included 6,000gn for April 2017-born Duncanziemere Scorpion, by Rawburn Jester Eric, from A Clark & Sons, Avisyard Farm, Cumnock. He sold to Wendy Willox, Broadmyre, Clatt, Huntly.
Entries from the Blelack herd, which is run by father and son duo Neil and Graeme Massie at Firmarron, Aboyne, topped at 5,200gn.
The bull at this price, selling to J Drinkall Ltd, Chorley, Lancashire, was October 2016-born Blelack Topcat, by Blelack Prince Consul.
The Massies also achieved 5,000gn selling Blelack Topgrade, by the same sire, to A&A Kirkpatrick, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
In the female sale, a top price of 1,600gn was paid for an entry from the Rettie family’s Retties herd at Methven, Perth.
This was 22-month-old Retties Annie, by Billinge Magic Jack Eric and out of Gordonhall Ava. In-calf to Gretnahouse Blackpot, she sold to DW Clement & Son, Castle Douglas.
In total, 56 bulls sold to average £4,331.25 and three served or maiden heifers to an average of £1,043.
Meanwhile, auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington also sold various other breeds at their pedigree beef day.
Salers bulls sold to a top of 4,000gn for Seawell Lincoln, by Denver, from PM & SM Donger, Towcaster, Northants. He sold to Orkney breeders Terry and Sheena Coghill of Birsay.
Another Salers bull – Rednock Louis from the Pye family at Rednock Estate, Port of Menteith, Stirling – sold for 3,000gn to W & AM Aitken, West Linton, Peebleshire.
Beef Shorthorn bulls topped at 7,000gn for Coxhill Kirk from L Townsend, Coxhill Farm, Moffat.
Other top prices included 5,500gn for Glenisla Keystone, by Glenisla Hornblower, from Major Gibb, Glenisla House, by Blairgowrie. He sold to FW Graham, Ripon, North Yorkshire.