Worldwide cattle breeders in Aberdeen-Angus pilgrimage

ForfAr: Dunlouise herd auction attracts bidders from as far afield as Australia and Uruguay

Aberdeen-Angus breeders travelled from across the globe yesterday to compete for a slice of rare AberdeenAngus heritage in a green Forfar field.

Breeders from Uruguay, Texas, Montana and Australia joined hundreds of locals gathered round a tiny wooden ring to lead the bidding for 56 lots of small native females, bulls and embryos from Geordie Soutar’s Dunlouise herd at Kingston Farm.

Prices reached a high of 16,000gns for Dunlouise Newman, a 14-month-old bull who was bought by Harrison O’Connor from Saddle Butte Ranch, Geyser,Montana, although live animal export restrictions mean the sire will never leave Scotland.

The same was true of many of the females which were bought to live and breed in Scotland then have their embryos exported around the world.

Mr O’Connor also bought two cows and calves, including Dunlouise Rose for 7,000gns.

After the sale ended he said he could not believe the native bloodlines were not more appreciated in Scotland.

“I went to the Highland Show to look at the Aberdeen-Angus and felt terrible for the Scots,” he said.

“Breeders here haven’t respected the origins of the breed, and they’ve spoiled it. They’ll regret what they’ve lost.

“Animals like the type we’re seeing sold here today deserve more attention than they’ve been getting in this country.”

Mr O’Connor said he would breed the cow and bulls to create embryos then import them to the United States.

A sale highlight came near the end when Bill and Yvonne Woods from Woodstone Angus, New Ulm, Texas spent 39,000gns on six frozen embryos from Dunlouise Red Nessie.

The under bidder was an Australian rancher from Queensland who was reportedly on the phone from his beach house.

The Woods also bought two embryos at 3,700gns apiece.

More offers came down the line from across the United States at a sale which one United Auctions spokesman said had attracted more phone bids than a Sotheby’s art auction.

Australian breeders Geoff and Joy Howley of Alto Angus at Caramut, Victoria, bought 11 embryos and said they believed native Angus cattle would grow in popularity.

Mrs Howley said: “We’re seeing a big change in the market to grass-fed beef and premium beef in Australia, and these natives convert grass more efficiently than modern Angus.

“There has also been a shift in understanding in Australia that profit is more important than weight gain when you’re producing beef.”

The Bontharambo Aberdeen-Angus stud in Wangaratta, Victoria, paid 9,000gns jointly with Woodstone Angus for the 15-month-old bull, Dunlouise Curve Bender and, more locally, Ken and Eva Brown from Craigomill, Kinross paid 7,000gns for a cow.

Some cattle were bought for export to France, and Sebastian Olaso Aguirre from Montevideo, Uruguay, said he had already bought several Dunlouise cattle privately because their moderate size suited his type of land.

He said: “For us the American and Canadian cattle are too big and require too much food. We’ll certainly be back to buy more genetics in future.”

Geordie Soutar, the man who had the foresight to preserve the rare remnants of native Angus and forge links with international buyers was thrilled with the success of his trade.

“Animals like the type we’re seeing sold here today deserve more attention than they’ve been getting in this country. HARRISON O’CONNOR

Would-be buyers clustered round the tiny wooden ring.

Pictures: Ron Stephen. The first lot through the sale ring.