Top price of 26,000gn for Simmental at bull sales

Strong demand for Simmental bulls at Stirling ensured an 82% clearance and a top price of 26,000gn, with 64 bulls averaging out at £6,482 – an increase of £1,443 on the year.

Leading the trade was the Welsh-bred Pistyll Kingsman, a 19-month-old bull from the Francis family’s Carmarthen herd.

A son of Woodhall Ferrari, out of the Omorga Volvo daughter, Woodhall Evangeline, this one has been residing in Scotland since December, with Richard and Carol Rettie, at Methven, Perth. He was knocked down at 26,000gn to Richard McCulloch, for use on his Overhill House herd at Armadale.

Next best, at 15,000gn, was one from Philip Simmers and sons, Reece and Andrew, Backmuir, Keith. Their 22-month-old, Backmuir Kraken, by Islavale Hamilton and out of Starline Kreole, sold to Yorkshire buyer AR Bulmer, Coultas Farm, Malton.

Another strong team from the Stronach family’s Islavale herd, at Keith, was led by an 11,500gn bid for Islavale Kacy, a Corskie Highlander son, out of a home-bred Curaheen Bandit daughter. He went to C and G Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Midmar.

The Smiths’ Drumsleed consignment, from Fordoun, peaked at 11,000gns, for Drumsleed Kingsman, a son of the 2019 Scottish National Show winner, Drumsleed Hivy, and out of show cow Drumsleed Farina. He sold to S and K Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen.

Selling at 10,000gn to Caithness buyers WM Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar Farm, Watten, was Knockreagh Kilroy, a Dermotstown Delboy son from Northern Ireland breeders Val and Conrad Fegan, Newry. The final bull to hit the five-figure mark was Blackford Kirk, a Blackford Galaxy son from Billy and Anne MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, which also made 10,000gn.

Michael Durno’s team of bulls from Auchorachan, Glenlivet, sold to a top of 9,000gn and other leading prices included Glenlossie Kingsman from AD Sutherland and Sons, Connachie, Kellas, which sold at 7,500gn, while Kate and Alan McNee received 7,000gn apiece for two bulls from their Finlarg herd at Tealing, Dundee.

HIGHLIGHT: Pistyll Kingsman, from the Francis family’s Carmarthen-based herd.