Females rule at sales as bull numbers plummet

Aberdeen Angus females stole the show at the Stirling bull sales yesterday when a cow and calf from the Halbeath dispersal made a record combined price of 33,000gns and later a cow and calf from John elliot’s rawburn herd at Kelso made 26,000gns.

robin and Caroline Orr, of Halbeath, dunfermline, were thrilled with their trade which saw 64 females averaging £3,854. Halbeath Pam sold for 21,000gns in a joint deal to richard rettie, Forestmill, Alloa, and donald rankin, Kilmaluag, Isle of Skye while her heifer calf made 12,000gns to Alastair Fraser, Idvies, Forfar.

Gordon brooke, of Upper Huntleywood, earlston, paid 26,000gns for rawburn Joy erica and her April-born heifer calf.

Spring has become the preferred time for calving in Scottish suckler herds which means that the number of bulls coming forward for the October sale in Stirling has dramatically dropped in recent years.

The chief executive of the Aberdeen Angus Society, ron McHattie, said numbers were disappointing, but the small selection of 19 Aberdeen Angus bulls sold to a top of 12,000gns and averaged £5,466 compared to £4,012 for 38 in 2012. The top price was for a fifth-placed bull from retired engineer Gordon brooke for Linton Gilbertines rocco, brought out by richard rettie and purchased by John elliot.

Champion and best junior bull was Warrenho elite from Alan and rob bishop’s herd at Wokingham. A first prize winner at the national show in Perth last summer, this one sold to Angus neish, of rodmead, Wiltshire, for 11,000gns.

The same herd produced the reserve junior and reserve overall champion in Warrenho emperor, which was knocked down for 9,000gns to neil Wattie, of Tonley, Alford .

Prior to the sale, Alastair Fraser, of Idvies, Forfar, was disappointed to have his bull turned out because it was lame from being recently trimmed. He later said he sold Idvies Fusion for 10,000gns to former Scotland rugby captain david Sole, of Glenbuchat, Strathdon.

Shorthorn bulls also sold to a top of 12,000gns, this time for the champion from Jamie and Cathryn Williamson, of Alvie, Kincraig. Alvie elton was reserve male champion at the Highland Show this summer and was purchased by Moshin Al Tajir, of Highland Wagyu, blackford Farms.

The reserve champion, Langalbuinoch Fantastic from robert and Paula McAlister’s herd on the Isle of bute, made 9,000gns to J Wink & Sons, of bainshole Farms, Huntly.

Overall, 16 Shorthorn bulls averaged £4,305 compared to £4,047 for 11 last year.