Bull breaks record at Castle Douglas

A new record price for a Luing bull was set when Nunnerie Xenon sold for 25,000gn at the breed’s spring sale at Wallets Mart Castle Douglas.

Put forward by the Macarthurs at Nunnerie, Elvanfoot, Biggar, Xenon is an April 2018-born son of the 17,000gn Finlarg Tornado, out of a dam by Nunnerie Magnus.

He sold to T Renwick & Sons, Craig Douglas, Selkirk.

Other leading prices included 14,000gn for Benhar Xerox from Robert Mcnee Ltd, Woodend Farm, Armadale.

An April-2018 son of Benhar Lennox, he sold to the Simmers at Backmuir, Keith.

Next best at 10,000gn was April 2018born Finlarg Xplosion, by Lammermuir Tremendous, from Robert and Hazel Mcnee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee. He sold to Kedzlie Farms, Galashiels.

In all, a clearance rate of 94% was achieved in the bulls section and 31 sold to average £6,158 – up from £5,944 for 28 sold in February last year.

Meanwhile, the champion pair of in-calf heifers, as judged by Alan Cowens, Philiphaugh, Selkirk, was awarded to a duo from Robert Mcnee’s Behard herd. They sold to SK & S Brown, Woodmarsh, North Bradley for 2,500gn.

The top price in the in-calf heifers section was 2,600gn for another entry from Robert Mcnee, also selling to SK & S Brown.

The average for 31 lots was £1,700 – this is down from £2,296 for 22 sold at last year’s sale.

In the bulling heifers section, the prize for the champion pair was awarded to D & A Barr, Milkieston Farm, Eddleston, Peebles. They went on to sell for 2,400gn to the Simmers at Backmuir.

The reserve champion prize went to a pair from Messrs W Graham, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar, Dumfries. They sold for the top price of 2,600gn to M Halligan & Burke, Stewartson.

In total 85 bulling heifers sold to average £1,691 – up from last year’s sale when 160 sold to average £1,275.

Nunnerie Xenon sold for 25,000gn.