Simmental bulls sell to 16,000gns at Stirling
Trade for Simmental bulls topped at 16,000gns at Stirling on 23 October, with 69 bulls averaging £6,187 – an increase of £467 with eight more bulls sold on the year.
Society chief executive Neil Shand described trade as “buoyant” and said the majority of the sale had been unpinned by very strong commercial trade.
He added: “We saw some people that had gone and tried some other maternal breeds coming back to us.
“People were looking for health status and semen-tested bulls – those two things would have been more important than EBVs,” he added.
See also: Beef Shorthorns peak at 12,000gns at Stirling
Eight bulls made five-figure sums.
Sale leader was (lot 788) Islavale Irish 17 from Mr WS Stronach, Grange, Keith. Sired by Curaheen Giant 2, this 19-month-old is out of the Clonagh A Super Star daughter Islavale Damsel Ex90. Buyer was Blackmuir Livestock, Keith, Morayshire.
Lot 788 Islavale Irish 17 © Tim Scrivener
Next-best and selling for 14,000gns was Gary and Angela Christie’s 18-month-old Rockytop Invader 17 (lot 817), from their farm in Huntly, Aberdeenshire. Sired by Kilbride Farm Fearless 14, he is out of the Corskie Wham daughter Burytown Belvina. Successful bidder was J and M MacIver, Forres, Morayshire.
Lot 817 Rockytop Invader © Tim Scrivener
At the same money was the next lot into the ring, (lot 818) Saltire Impressive 17 from J and G Houliston, North Berwick. Sired by Woodhall Ferrari 14, this April 2017-born bull is out of a home-bred dam and went home with Kilpatrick, Banbridge, Co Down.
Lot 818 Saltire Impressive © Tim Scrivener
Just shy of this at 13,000gns was Blackford Iolair 17 (lot 770), from WG MacPherson, Inverness. Sired by Kilbride Farm Doubleaction 12, this March 2017-born bull is out of the Kilbride Farm Strabane daughter Blackford Waxwing and caught the eye of Robin Brunton, Angus.
Lot 770 Blackford Iolair © Tim Scrivener
C and M Bruce from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, purchased the overall male and junior champion Drumacritten Ian 17 (lot 832) from WE Nelson and GE Nelson, Rosslea, Enniskillen, for 11,000gns. Sired by the Kilbride Farm Newry son Dermotstown Delboy, he is out of the Dripsey Super King daughter Drumacritten Bella and has an SRI of +98 and TSI of +83.
Lot 832 Drumacritten Ian © Tim Scrivener
Blackmuir Livestock were back in the bidding at 11,000gns, buying the reserve junior champion Islavale Imperial 17 (lot 813) from WS Stronach. Sired by Curaheen Giant 2, he is out of Islavale Bethany Ex90 by Popes Laird. He won reserve overall male champion at the Scottish National Show.
Lot 813 Islavale Imperial © Tim Scrivener
Two more bulls sold for five-figure sums. The first was the Islavale Ferrari 14 son Drumsleed Iceberg 17 (lot 744) from GW Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk, which caught the eye of Balbirnie Home Farms, Fife, at 10,500gns. Next at 10,000gns was Scotland Hill Invader 17 (lot 791) from Thomas Hill, Wadworth. Buyer was Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, Morayshire.
Lot 744 Drumsleed Iceberg © Tim Scrivener
Lot 791 Scotland Hill Invader © Tim Scrivener
Averages: 69 bulls: £6,187
Clearance rate: 79%
(United Auctions)