The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Strong demand for older Simmental bulls at sale
STIRLING: Society chief says breed still valued for producing suckler females
Although the average was back £500 on last year, Simmental bulls were still in demand at the Stirling Bull Sales yesterday with older animals particularly sought after.
The clearance rate of 63% reflects the number of younger bulls which remained unsold, and the average of £4,975 for 98 sold through the ring compares to £5,477 for 116 sold in February 2018.
Neil Shand, chief executive of the Simmental Cattle Society, said: “There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding Brexit but Simmental bulls are still sought after by commercial producers for producing suckler females.
“Money is tight which is why, I believe, senior bulls sold better; people would rather buy a bull able to serve 40 cows than 25. Also, the show of senior bulls was the best it has been for a long time.”
Stewart Stronach and son, also Stewart, who run 120 pedigree Simmentals and 80 commercial cows at Berryleys, Keith, enjoyed a cracking trade for their senior bulls, selling to a top of 14,000gn for Islavale Illusive by the 15,000gn Atlow Dixon, which was champion at Stirling in 2015 and has bred sons to 13,000gn previously.
He was sold to Irish breeder H Warnock, Carrowdore, Co Down.
Another by this sire, Islavale Input, made 10,000gn to David Mill, Shawsmill, Cardenden.
At 11,000gn, they sold Islavale Invincible, by Curaheen Giant 2, to Seamus O’Kane, Drumquin, Co Tyrone.
Curaheen Giant 2, an Irish bull bought for 8,000 euros, whose first two sons averaged 13,500gn in October, was also the sire of their overall champion Islavale Islander, which sold for 9,000gn to GM Mitchell and Son, Fernie Mill, Ladybank.
Billy and Anne MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, sold their third prize Blackford Island Warrior for 11,000gn to D and G Manson and Sons, Brodieshill, Alves.
They also sold Blackford Island Rock for the same price to A and B Munro, Wellhouse, Beauly.
Both bulls were sons of Blackford Galaxy which was reserve champion at the Highland Show in 2017 before being sold to the judge that day, Michael Barlow, who brought him out to win the Highland last year.
The third prize Denizes Impressive from Michael Barlow, Four Oaks, Leyland, made 10,000gn to fellow breeder JH Wood, Popes, Preston.
This son of Denizes Fantastic was junior male champion at both Agri Expo and Stars of the Future.
Delfur Farms, Rothes, Banffshire, paid 10,000gn for the junior and reserve overall champion, Woodhall Instinct by Islavale Frontier, from Geoff and Kate Anderson, Myreside, Elgin.
They also bought Innerwick Ivor by Curaheen Gold Digger for the same price, from the Moffat family at Dunbar.
The champion female sold for 13,000gn. Sterling FCUK Impuls, by Sterling Gino, was bought with her dam for 8,000gn at the Sterling dispersal by Jimmy McMillan, stocksman for the Sacombe herd in Hertfordshire.
She has had a successful summer with wins at the Highland, English National Show and Royal Welsh and was sold to Phil Simmers, Backmuir, Keith.