Cattle society’s deja vu with Luing bull

THE Luing Cattle Society held its 52nd annual premier sale at Wallets Mart, Castle Douglas, on February 10.

With quality stock on offer, a packed ring of both new and established bidders were ready to do business.

The pre-sale show saw judge Leslie Robson, Buckholm, Galashiels, choose a pen from Robert McNee Ltd, Benhar, Armadale, as champion pair of in- calf heifers. They went on to sell for 3,000gns to Mr D McFadzean, Balado, Kinross. The Benhar herd averaged £2,695 for 12 sold.

The reserve pair from Steven and Elaine Murray, Rockcliffe, sold for 1,850gns to new breeder Mr A Robinson, Windmill, Hexham. Rockcliffe, the herd averaging £1,681 for 23 sold.

This gave the in- calf heifers an average of £2,029 for 35 sold, up £111 on the year.

Messrs W Graham and Son, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar, took the rosette for the champion pair of bulling heifers, selling for 2,500gns to M G Halligan and A C Burke, Newton Stewarton Farm, Eddleston. Craigdarroch, and sold six to an average of £1,855.

The reserve pair went to Prof W A Penny CBE, per Mr N Anderson, Harehead, Duns, to same buyer, giving an average of £1,393 for 24 sold.

Other sellers included Robert McNee Ltd, Benhar, 13 to average £1,543. C C MacArthur and Co, Nunnerie, Biggar, 20 to average £1,420. Torwoodlee and Buckholm Estates Co Ltd, Buckholm, Galashiels, 10 to average £1,407. Mrs L E Porritt, The Lampert, Brampton, eight to average £1,345, D and A Stunners, Low Chesterhope Farm, Hexham, 15 to average £1,337 and Messrs D and A Barr, Milkieston, Peebles, 16 to average £1,313.

Bulling heifers saw 136 sell to average £1,372 up £114 on the year.

This year, 26 bulls were forward with 23 selling to average £4,967 up £125 on the year.

For a second year in a row the top price of 17,000gns was reached, this time by Filner Tornado.

This April 2015-born bull out of homebred Filner Bounty and homebred sire Filner Pedro weighed in at 926kg, measuring 56in at the shoulders with a scrotal circumference of 40cm. Bred by Hazel and Robert McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Angus, he sold to C C MacArthur and Co, Nunnerie, Biggar. H and R McNee also sold Finlarg Thunder for 3,500gns to Mr C Brook, Brookstone Farm, Wrexham, and Finlarg Torpedo to Marshall Farms, Kingswells, Aberdeen.

Robert McNee Ltd, Benhar, Armadale, also had a successful day with Benhar Typhoon selling to 9,000gns to D & A Stanners, Low Chesterhope Farm, Hexham.

Benhar Tweed 5,500gns to D and A Barr, Milkieston, Peebles. Benhar Texas 5,000gns to Mrs LE Porritt, The Lampert, Brampton. Benhar Tokyo 3,000gns to Mr A Lyth, Sheephouse Farm, Higher Greens, Bacup.

Others: Craigdarroch Torres from Messrs W Graham and Son, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar, sold to W W Dunlop and Son, Commonside, Hawick, for 6,800gns. Harehead Telfer, Prof W A Penny CBE, Harehead, Duns to J Beattie, Auchantaggart, Sanquhar for 5,500gns.