The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
BSE scare fails to worry farmers
Confidence high incident was isolated as industry figures gather at Stirling for opening day of sales
Pedigree cattle breeders and commercial farmers from across the UK and Ireland gathered at United Auctions in Stirling yesterday for the opening day of the Stirling Bull Sales.
Pre-sale shows of Aberdeen-Angus, Beef Shorthorn and Limousin cattle were eagerly watched and farmers did not seem concerned about last week’s news Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) had been found in Scotland for the first time in a decade.
They said they were confident the case, on a farm in Aberdeenshire, was an isolated incident and nothing to cause concern.
In the Aberdeen-Angus show, the overall champion was the senior leader – January 2016-born Rulesmains Egbert from the Hodge family at Rulesmains Farm, Duns.
An AI son of the 17,000gn Hallington Edition, he stood junior male champion at the Highland.
Judge Noel Hooke, who works for the Drumhill herd in Northern Ireland, described the champion as “a big bull with very good locomotion”.
He awarded the reserve overall title to the junior champion – April 2017born Tynet Pegasus – an AI son of Warrenho Dalmigavie, from first-time bull sale exhibitors Hugh and Cara Thomson.
The couple established the Tynet herd, based at Burnside of Tynet Farm, Clochan, near Buckie, with Hugh’s mother Lorna in 2014.
The reserve senior Angus champion was Weeton Rogue, by Netherallan Peter Pershore, from the Massies at Firmarron, off Ballater Road, Aboyne, while the reserve junior champion was Cairnton Blackbeard from the Howie family at Cairnton, Lumphanan, Banchory.
The intermediate champion was Duncanziemere Jason, by Rawburn Jester Eric, from A Clark & Sons, Avisyard Farm, Cumnock. Reserve was Duncanziemere Judge, by the same sire and same home.
Meanwhile, in the Beef Shorthorn section the overall male champion title went to March 2017-born Shawhill Leroy, by Shawhill Henderson, from Thomson, Roddick & Laurie, Newlands, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie.
He was champion Beef Shorthorn at AgriExpo and Stars of the Future last year.
Judge John Scott, of Fearn Farm, Tain, said he was “a really well-balanced and easy-fleshed bull”.
He awarded the reserve award to March-2017 born Charlesbury Mr Mackai by Irish import Creaga Kai, from Messrs Park, Baird & Hamilton, Moor Farmhouse, Charlton, Wiltshire.
Lastly, in the Limousin show the top title went to the junior champion from Albert and George Howie’s Knock herd at West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead.
Brought out by William Moir of Home Farm, Cairness, May-2017 born Knock Nicol is by the 22,000gn Goldies Godather and out of Knock Hopscotch.
Judge Michael Robertson of Mid Fodderletter, Tomintoul, said he was a bull with “power, width and good character”.
He awarded the reserve title to the intermediate champion – April-2017 born Lodge Nevada, by Apertaine Elgin, from Ian and Wendy Callion, Bolfornought Farm, Stirling.
Reserve junior was Homebyres Nistleroy, by Fairywater Haig, from Messrs J Logan, Homebyres, Kelso. Reserve intermediate was Maraiscote Nula, by Macschoice Chris, from Wishaw breeder Ian Nimmo.
The senior champion was Strawfrank Nevada, by Ballinloan Jaegerbomb, from Lanark breeder Allan Campbell, while reserve was Newhouse Nash, by Millington Ferrari, from the Adam family at Newhouse of Glamis, near Forfar.