Royal Highland 2025
Both the temperature and the quality were high in the Charolais ring, at what turned out to be an extremely successful Royal Highland Show for the breed.
Allen Drysdale of the Glenericht herd in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, was tasked with judging a strong turnout on day one of the four-day event and he gave the overall title to the male champion, Falleninch Tommy, ensuring a third Highland Show championship for Andrew Hornall, Falleninch, Stirling. Highland Show 2025
Balmoral Show 2025
It was a successful Balmoral Show for the Charolais breed, with a top-quality line-up, turned out to perfection in the sunshine, for judge David Barker, of the Caylers herd in Nuthampstead.
Taking the overall championship award was the two-year-old, in-calf heifer, Stranagone Uncanny, from Robert McWilliams, Maghera, Co Londonderry. She is sired by the home-bred Blelack Digger son, Stranagone Jones, while the dam, Harestone Panjai, is a heterozygous polled daughter of Harestone Jaquard, bought at a Harestone online sale. As a calf, Uncanny was reserve junior female champion at the Future Stars Calf Show at Swatragh.Balmoral Show 2025
Carlisle May 2025
The confidence in the Charolais breed was clear at the Carlisle May sale, with a new breed centre record average and top price, plus a near total clearance of 98%. In all, 30 bulls sold to average £11,582 – up by a phenomenal £5506 on the year – with trade peaking at 55,000gns and a further 13 bulls hitting the five-figure mark, while females topped at 14,000gns.
The pre-sale show was judged by Robbie McNeill, of the Douneside herd near Stirling, and it was his choice of reserve overall champion which went on to make the top price of the day. That was Goldies Unbeatable, a Gretnahouse Heman son, out of Goldies Icequeen, from Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell. Following on from highly successful sales for the herd at Stirling in October, February and earlier this month, this sale saw the three Goldies entries reach five-figures, with the pen averaging out at £28,700. Carlisle May 2025
Stirling May 2025
RECORDS were smashed at the United Auctions’ May sale of Charolais bulls at Stirling, with a highest ever price of 30,000gns and a record average for that fixture, when 38 bulls sold through the ring to level at £11,481 – an increase of £4692 per head on the year.
Reflecting on this phenomenal trade and demand, which saw 20 bulls break the five-figure barrier, Charolais breed Secretary James Hudson said: “It echoes what’s happening in the store cattle ring – with the shortage of beef cattle pushing prices up, finishers are prepared to pay a premium. The Charolais ability to deliver weight for age puts the breed in a very strong position and that’s not likely to change.”
Achieving the day’s top price of 30,000gns was the reserve junior champion, Goldies Upperclass, a 17-month-old from Hamish Goldie’s 80-cow herd at Mouswald, Dumfries. He is one of the first batch of sons to be sold off Falleninch Stormzy, the bull bought jointly for 28,000gns at Stirling in 2022. The dam, Goldies Niece, is a daughter of Gretnahouse Heman. Upperclass was knocked down to two pedigree herds – Allen Drysdale, Glenericht, Blairgowrie, and Robert Young, Mornity, Alyth. Stirling May 2025
Welshpool April 2025
The exceptional demand for quality Charolais bulls continued at the Welshpool spring show and sale, where averages rose by £3289 on the year, resulting in a centre record average of £8749 for 40 bulls sold.
The pre-sale show was judged by Andrew Adam of the Newhouse and Glamis herds in Perthshire, and it was his choices of champion and reserve that later claimed the top two prices, selling at 14,000gns apiece. Taking the overall champion ticket was the 18-month-old Solo Unwin, from C and R Currell, Brynawelon Farm, Meidrim. Sired by Myerscough Phantom, and out of the Tweeddale Lookout daughter, Solo Olympia, he was knocked down to Evans Corfield and Son, Pervin Farm, Ludlow. Welshpool April 2025
Swatragh April 2025
A 90% clearance was met at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club’s April show and sale at Swatragh Mart, where 18 bulls sold to average £5868 – an increase of £936 on the same sale last year – and trade peaked at 8800gns.
Hitting that top spot was Drumacritten Vance, a third prize winner by Noble Prince, from George Nelson, Rosslea. His dam is Drumacritten Molly, a Pirate daughter. He sold at 8800gns to Messrs Williams and James Causey, Cookstown.
Trevor Phair, Enniskillen, had another successful sale with a son of his 2021 purchase, Grinshill Roger. Selling at 8000gns was the reserve overall champion, Brogher Vantastic, a 13-month-old, out of the Plexus daughter, Brogher Olga. He was knocked down to Tommy Whiteside, Greysteel. Swatragh April 2025
Exeter Sale April 2025
A small but select show and sale of Charolais at Exeter saw a top bull price of 6,000gns, with 10 bulls selling to average £5397 and three females levelling out at £3080.
Leading the trade, at 6,000gns, was Lovistone Ultimate, from BR Nancekivell and Son, Huish, Okehampton. This 21-month-old is sired by Cove Parkranger and out of the Woodpark Fearless daughter, Lovistone Lilac. He sold to LC and CA South, Farley Water, Brendon.
Welcome to the British Charolais Cattle Society
We are a registered charity – a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, to serve the public by promoting and improving the Charolais breed.
Since 1962, we’ve been making the case for Charolais because no bull works harder for the farmer, the plate and the planet.
Charolais offers a bright future for British beef. Charolais is the best breed for British farmers, because it’s more sustainable and profitable, due to its:
- Continued improvement to calving ease
- Unrivalled growth rates
- Outstanding carcass quality
- Killing out percentages
Charolais-sired suckled calves can be:
- Sold as weanlings, commanding top prices and regularly topping markets up and down the country.
- Stored through the winter and finished off the farm at 12-15 months on a forage and grain-based diet.
- Brought through the winter on a maintenance diet and finished off with grass the following summer, depending on the farm’s system.
The Charolais breed is renowned for crossing into profit due to its outstanding attributes.
By collaborating with the cattle farming community, the British Charolais Cattle Society is driven to minimise costs and maximise the efficiency of British cattle farming.
Find out more about the Society here.