Charolais bulls in demand with dozen hitting five figures

With the breed average up almost £800 a head, Charolais bulls met a cracking trade at the Stirling Bull Sales yesterday.

A total of 73 bulls sold to average £6,979 – up £798 on the year – on the second day of United Auctions’ October sale with a top price of 40,000gns and a total of 12 making a fivefigure price.

Topping the table was the 16-month-old Maerdy Newman from veteran Welsh breeder Esmor Evans, selling in a two-way split to Cheshire breeder Charlie Boden and Neil and Stuart Barclay for their Harestone herd at Banchory.

Archie Macgregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, made the second top price of the day of 20,000gns with his June-2017 born Allanfauld Neptune, this one going to Richard Mcculloch, Overhill House, Armadale.

Coming in at 18,000gns, the breed overall champion from the Irvines at Braehead Farm, Drummuir, Keith, went to the Brampton herd in Ripon, Yorkshire.

Perthshire breeder Bill Bruce saw his top earner of the day from the Balmyle herds knocked down at 15,000gn to the Smiths at Netherton of Invereddie, Peterhead, while a half brother sold for 14,000gns to the Jeffrey family’s Kersknowe herd at Kelso.

Next best at 13,000gn was Making 13,000gns, the reserve junior champion, from Morpeth breeder Chris Curry went to Jim Warnock, Dreva Farm, Broughton, Lanarkshire.

Simmentals also met a good trade at the sale, with 69 selling to average £6,187 – up £467 on last year – and eight making five-figures.

Topping the sale at 16,000gn the Stronach family from Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith, sold to Backmuir Livestock, Keith. 14,000gn was paid twice – first for the bull from Gary and Angela Christie, Birchfield, Glass, going to Cameron Maciver, Wester Coltfield, Forres. The second at this price sold to Noel Kilpatrick, Co Down, came from J and G Houliston, North Berwick.