Charolais lead the autumn trade at Stirling at 40,000gns

Charolais took the top price of 40,000gns at Stirling bull sales this week (22 and 23 October) and made the highest average, with 80 bulls going under the hammer to average £6,785.63 – up £706 on the year.

Overall, 12 bulls made five-figure sums. A further 31 sold for 5,000gns and above.

British Charolais Cattle Society chief executive Peter Phythian commented: “We are delighted with the trade, especially considering the issues with beef prices and the drought during the summer.”

Leading trade was one of the youngest lots in the sale, Maerdy Newman from Esmor Evans, Flintshire. This June 2017-born son of the 10,000gns Stirling reserve senior champion, Blelack Fabulous, and Maerdy Dynamite-sired Maerdy Junco was snapped up by Boden & Davies, Stockport, Cheshire. Mr Evans sold five bulls, averaging £13,860.

Maerdy Newman © Tim Scrivener

See also: Beef Shorthorns peak at 12,000gns at Stirling

Next in the trade stakes was another 15-month-old, this time from society president Archie MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow. Allanfauld Neptune was knocked down to R McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian, for 20,000gns. His impressive breeding includes the 11,000gns sire and Carlisle reserve junior champion, Balmyle Jasper, and dam Royal Highland Show class winner Allanfauld Heiress, a daughter of the 11,000gns Woodpark Elgin.

Allanfauld Neptune © Tim Scrivener

The supreme and senior champion, Anside Nightrider, was the next-highest priced, at 18,000gns, selling to Billy Turner, Skelton in Ure, North Yorkshire. This January 2017-born son of Woodpark Elgin and the 30,000gns Balmyle Bollinger daughter Anside Geisha is no stranger to show success, having secured the Nairn Show championship earlier in the year for breeders and consigners Anside Livestock, Keith, Banffshire.

Anside Nightrider © Tim Scrivener

Selling for 15,000gns to T Smith & Sons, Alford, Aberdeenshire, was the first of three top-priced lots from Bill Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire: 17-month-old Balmyle Nucleus. He is sired by the French imported Maerdy Gouverneur and out of Balmyle Heyday, a 9,500gns Maerdy Egret daughter.

Balmyle Nucleus © Tim Scrivener

Just behind, at 14,000gns, was Mr Bruce’s next lot, Balmyle Navarone. Another 17-month-old sired by Maerdy Gouverneur but this time out of the Royal Highland show champion Balmyle Eclipse-sired Balmyle Garland, he was purchased by J Jeffrey, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

Balmyle Navarone © Tim Scrivener

Society chairman Chris Curry’s Northumberland-born reserve junior champion, Burradon Noah, made 13,000gns. His sire is the 14,000gns Stirling junior champion, Blelack Imperialist, and dam Burradon Ivana is by the 10,000gns Puntabrava Federico. Buyer was J Warnock & Sons, Biggar, Lanarkshire.

Burradon Noah © Tim Scrivener

Securing a price of 12,000gns was the reserve supreme and junior champion Coolnaslee Nolan, from Jonathan Crawford, Maghera, County Derry. A son of the 50,000gns Stirling reserve supreme champion, Balthayock Justice, and Clogher Show reserve female champion Coolnaslee Gillian, a daughter of 55,000gns Balmoral Show interbreed champion Sportsmans Columbo, this May 2017-born lad caught the eye of purchaser JI Stout, Stronsay, Orkney.

Coolnaslee Nolan © Tim Scrivener

Making 10,500gns and selling to GL Foulger & Son, Billinghurst, West Sussex, was red ticket winner Firhills Nimrod, bred by Jim Muirhead, Arbroath, Angus.

Firhills Nimrod © Tim Scrivener

Three lots made 10,000gns.

The first was Elgin Neuer from Roy and Matthew Milne, Lhanbride, Morayshire. This March 2017-born son of the 11,000gns Woodpark Elgin and Rumsden Samurai-sired Elgin Ultra went to work in Killearnan, Muir of Ord, for WJ Jack & Sons.

The next 10,000gns lot was class winner Brampton Nutella, from the aforementioned Billy Turner, who earlier purchased the sale supreme champion. Nutella, which was purchased by A O’Rouke, Newry, County Down, is among the first bulls to sell by Cumbrian-bred Border Jamboree.

The final 10,000gns lot was Hamish Goldie’s June 2017-born Goldies Notable from Ruthwell, Dumfries. He is sired by the 15,000gns Gretnahouse Heman and is out of Goldies Dignity, which goes back to the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister. Buyer was WF Mill, Thurso, Caithness.

Averages

80 bulls: £6,875.63

Clearance rate: 81%

(United Auctions)