- 60 Bulls average new Autumn Stirling record of £5,048 – up by £700
- Six more bulls sold on the year
- 14,000gns Burnbank bull sets new Limousin Top Price
- Five bulls make five figures; ten at over 8,500gns
- 69% Clearance of Bulls
- Sale grosses £302,880
A quality show of Limousin bulls lit up the Stirling Sales week on Monday 22nd October with sixty bulls averaging a new autumn breed centre record average of £5048, up by close on £700 on the year for six more bulls sold.
Leading the way at 14,000gns, a new Limousin centre record top price, was the well-known local herd of Dougie & Linda Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling with their powerful January 2011-born bull Burnbank Gigolo. In the pre-sale show, in front of judge Steven Priestley who runs the well-known Brontemoor Herd at Cracrop, Kirkcambreck, Brampton, Cumbria, this upstanding bull had placed as Senior Champion. By the AI sire Rainbow Simon and out of one of the herd’s top cows, Burnbank Undone, this bull had figures to match with a huge Beef Value of LM+50. Reflecting the day’s trade and demand, Burnbank Gigolo was purchased by commercial producers J&A Galloway Ltd, Lochlyoch Farm, Carmichael, Biggar, Lanarkshire.
Following on from the trend of the breed’s Carlisle Sale two days earlier, the Stirling Sale again saw a high quality line-up of bulls with length, shape, width and power that met with a ready demand from commercial producers. With the Autumn Sales being approached with some apprehension due to the tough weather and increasing feed costs, the Limousin breed has come through strongly at both its premier sales.
This point was picked up on by the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Chief Executive Iain Kerr, who said: “In just over seventy-two hours, the breed has sold 170 bulls at Stirling and Carlisle to gross just short of £1 Million. Both sales have seen numbers sold increase on the year and record averages at both centres which is reflective of the confidence in the breed. Commercial producers have choices in the market place and the ongoing demand for the Limousin breed is due to its proven profitability. There is a concentration on the costs of production and the breed’s strengths in calving ease, feed efficiency, fertility and carcase yield, all add up to performance, value and profit. The breeders again put on a great show of bulls here at Stirling.”
Five bulls made 10,000gns and over, with ten in all at 8,500gns and over. The sale grossed £302,880 for an acceptable 69% clearance of the 88 bulls forward.
Reserve Intermediate Champion, and second top price at 11,500gns, was the impressive Elrick Goliath from regular consignor and previous Championship winner Mr MJ Massie, Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt, Ellon. Elrick Goliath, got by AI, is a son of the 22,000gns bull Procters Commander and is out of Elrick Dandelion, a daughter of the herd’s most noted brood cow Goldies Isodora. Again a bull with shape and performance figures (Beef Value LM+37), Elrick Goliath was purchased by TW Oliver who run the Cawfields pedigree herd at Cawfields Farm, Haltwhistle, Northumberland.
Local breeders were very much to the fore and none more so than the Spittalton Herd of Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton, Blairdrummond, Stirling. From a fine pen, eight bulls in all went under the hammer to gross 44,000gns. Leading the herd’s trade was Spittalton General who had come through the Intermediate Section to take the Overall Supreme Championship at the pre-sale show. Full of pedigree, this February 2011-born bull is another by the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic and is out the 2005 born Spittalton Apple, a daughter of the herd’s 16,000gns stock bull Dyfri Tanner. Commenting on his pre-sale show Champion, the Judge Steven Priestley said: “This was a very stylish bull, just full of quality, and he really caught the eye the minute he came into the ring. He had length, thickness, plenty of shape and moved really well. He was what I’d call a proper Limousin type and was a very worthy Champion from what was a very good show of bulls.”
Of his first Supreme Champion at a Premier Limousin Sale, breeder Andrew Burnett said: “This is the first sale to be re-branded as United Auctions’ Stirling Sale and moving on from the Perth Sale name. As such, and as a local breeder, this has added to the day and I’m really chuffed to win this special Championship.” The Spittalton Herd presently comprises of seventy cows.
Snapping up the Champion bull at 11,000gns was JF & MB Teague, who run the Teague pedigree herd at Temple House, Buteland Farm, Balerno, Edinburgh. Other sales from the Spittalton Herd included the 6,500gns Spittalton Gold, sold to Michael Robertson, Fodderletter, Banffshire and the 5,500gns Spittalton Gaucho sold to AM Bell & Co, Towie Farm, Fraserburgh.
Selling at 10,500gns was the Reserve Senior Champion in the shape of the red-coated McLarens Black Glenogil from Messrs William McLaren, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir, Angus. This January 2011-born calf is the first bull calf by the herd’s 14,000gns stock sire Hudscales Darren. It is out of McLarens Black Duty whose pedigree features Greenwood Poll Homerun. Earlier this year, this stylish bull had taken the Reserve Junior Male Championship at the Royal Highland Show along with further titles at Kirriemuir, Banchory and Perth. Purchasing this bull, and one of two five-figure purchases, was the commercial herd of Messrs Wood & Hunter, Dalchirla Farm, Muthill, Crieff. Earlier this month the Dalchirla name was in the news when it sold a Blackie ram lamb for a record £90,000 at Dalmally. Dalchirla’s second purchase at 10,000gns was Dyke Galaxy from Messrs JR MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. A first prize winner, Dyke Galaxy is by Goldies Comet, the Wilodge Vantastic son who was also the sire of the Carlisle Champion two days earlier. April 2011-born, Galaxy is out of Dyke Cava, a daughter of Dyke Violet who herself was the mother of the 10,000gns Dyke Frosty. This bull also sported good figures and carried a beef value of LM+44.
The Dyke Herd, consisting of around 60 breeding females, is a prolific and consistent seller at the Stirling bull sales and they went on to sell Dyke Gambler for 9,000gns. This March 2011-born second prize winner is by Cloughhead Delboy and is out of the homebred Dyke Davinia. With a Beef Value of LM+41, Dyke Gambler was bought by the noted commercial producers at Cloquhat Farms, Wester Cloquhat, Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie.
Three bulls made 9,000gns at the sale. Also at this price was Messrs W&A Oag, Brims Mains, Forss, Thurso with their smart senior bull Brims Grand. Capping a fine 72 hours for the Oags, the sale of Brims Grand followed on from the herd’s trade at Carlisle which saw them make 14,000gns for Brims Gains. Brims Grand, a twin to a male, is by the AI sire Tehix. February 2011-born he is out of the Crowhill Muzard-sired Brims Cindy. This bull went to the islands when purchased by G McCormick, Claggan Farm, Bridgend, Isle of Islay.
The prolific herd of Mr J Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Newmains, Wishaw, was at it again when selling the Junior Champion, Maraiscote Galaxy for 9,000gns to commercial producer George MacFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer, Perth. April 2011-born, and with a Beef Value of LM+43, Maraiscote Galaxy is another by the 23,000gns stock bull Goldies Comet and is out of the Tyddyn Mei-sired Maraiscote Candy. Selling at 8,500gns was the April 2011-born Maraiscote Gatsby who had stood second in his class to the Junior Champion. Maraiscote Gatsby is by Virginia Andy, a previous Highland Show Champion, and is out of another Tyddyn Mei daughter, Maraiscote Sugar. Again going commercially, Maraiscote Gatsby was purchased by A Sime & Son, Bruceland, Elgin, Moray. On Saturday at Carlisle, the Maraiscote Herd had won the Supreme Championship and sold five bulls to gross over 50,000gns. This fine run continued at Stirling where the herd sold another five bulls to gross 29,400gns.
Fedneyhouse Granite made 8,500gns when selling for TJ Adams, Fedney House, Shot Lane, Banbridge, N Ireland. Another upstanding first prize winning bull out of the senior section, Fedneyhouse Granite had been housed in Scotland since March of this year. February 2011-born he is by the noted bull Ulm, and is out of the dam Lumbylaw Nellie. This bull sold to J&A Forsyth, Mid Bishopton, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.
A small show of Limousin females concluded the sale with a handy top price of 5,000gns attained. This was paid for Newhouse Black Folly from Messrs RM Adam & Son, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, Angus for their December 2010-born heifer Newhouse Black Folly. This heifer is by Tamarvalley Boscastle and is out of the Greenhaugh Utwo-sired Newhouse Ash. The purchaser was Lochend Farm, Carron Bridge, Denny, Stirlingshire.
Averages:
60 Bulls £5048
10 Heifers £1827
VIDEOS : View the Pre-Sale Judging and Top Priced Bulls in the Sale Ring via LimousinTV
Auctioneers United Auctions
A selection of informal photographs can also be viewed at the LIMOUSIN GALLERY
