Charolais bulls achieved the top average, with the most bulls sold and the highest clearance of all the breeds at the October round of Stirling Bull Sales. Overall, 15 bulls hit the five-figure mark and 65 sold to average £7977, a 77% clearance.
Society chairman, Jeremy Paynter, said: “With the highest average and highest clearance rate, it’s clear to see the strong commercial demand for Charolais bulls. Charolais are reaping the rewards of achieving top suckled calf and store prices across the country, ensuring customer satisfaction for the commercial producer. Many thanks to our judge, Andrew Clark and shadow judge, Millie McKenzie.”
Two bulls hit the day’s top price of 16,000gns, with the first at that money being the reserve intermediate and reserve overall champion, Goldies Unity, from Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell. He is sired by Caylers Rocky, a bull bought at Carlisle in 2021 for 14,000gns, which has previously sired sons to 11,000gns. Out of the Gretnahouse Heman daughter, Goldies Miranda, Unity sold to J Hodge, Dykes Farm, Auchinleck, for pedigree and commercial use.
Goldies Unity
Matching the 16,000gns top price was Huttonend Ubelter, another intermediate bull which had stood third in a strong class. Achieving a herd best price for Sean Mitchell, who runs just five pedigree cows at Grassknop, Skelton, he’s an AI son of the 70,000gns Barnsford Ferny. His dam, Allanfauld Ozzy, had been bought at Stirling in February, 2020, after securing the female championship. Reserve male champion at this year’s Royal Welsh, he caught the eye of Bill Bruce, who bought him for his Balmyle herd at Meigle, Perthshire.
Later in the sale, another third prize winner, Marwood Ullapo, from the Blyth family’s Hartlepool-based herd, was the first of two bulls to make 14,000gns. He’s sired by the home-bred Marwood Odin, a son of Balthayock Lineup, while the dam, Marwood Libby, is by Burradon Goldenballs. Carrying no myostatin genes, this one went to the Warnock family, for commercial and pedigree use at Dreva, Biggar.
The other at 14,000gns was the first prize-winner, Hollywell Unclebob, from John and Sandra Middleton’s 26-cow herd in Fraserburgh. This one is a son of Nuthampstead Judas, a bull bought at the Westcarse dispersal, which has already sired a 16,000gns bull for the herd in February and a 10,000gns one last October. Out of the Clenagh Lyle daughter, Hollywell Rouge, he sold to Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill, Devon.
Next best, at 13,000gns, was the 18-month-old bull, Elgin Usain, from the Milne family, Kennieshillock, Elgin, which had stood third in a strong class that saw four of the eight entries make five-figure prices. Breed champion at the Black Isle show and reserve at Grantown, he is sired by Thurso Paul, which the Milnes bought a half share of privately. Out of the Woodpark Elgin daughter, Elgin Megan, this shapely bull sold to James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, Sorn.
Also hitting the 13,000gns mark was Balthayock Ushant, a second prize winner from the Walters’ Perth-based herd, brought out by Tracey and Davie Nicol. His sire is the 24,000gns Harestone Ronaldinho, bought at Stirling two years ago, while his dam is the Balthayock Imp daughter, Balthayock Petronella. Sporting Terminal Sire and Self Replacing Indexes of +90, this one sold to Andrew McNee, Woodend, Armadale.
Two bulls sold at 12,000gns apiece, including Hollywell Utah, another from John and Sandra Middleton, again by Nuthampstead Judas. Out of the Whitecliffe James-sired Hollywell Orla, he was knocked down to R and E Chapman, West Cockmuir, Strichen.
The intermediate and overall champion, Balmyle Uranus, also made 12,000gns. Securing a first overall championship for Bill Bruce’s herd, based at Meigle, Perthshire, this son of Balmyle Jasper, out of the Balmyle Eclipse daughter, Balmyle Madam, sold to commercial producers, Thomas Smith and sons, who run 240 cows at Netherton Farms, Whitehouse, Alford.
The Smeaton family – Tom and sons Grant and Mark, sold two five-figure bulls, including Bombax Unit, which went at 11,000gns to JM Fisher, Meikle Larbrax, Stranraer. Brought out by Kim Brown, this one is another by Harestone Ronaldinho, the bull they share with Balthayock. The dam, Bombax Matilda, is one of 30 cows in the Forfar-based herd, on the family’s mixed arable and livestock farm.
Later in the sale, the first-prize winner, Balthayock Ultimatum, another Harestone Ronaldinho son from the Balthayock team, out of Balthayock Olala, sold at 11,000gns to pedigree and commercial producer Ross Farms, Wester Middleton, Gorebridge.
The senior champion, Newlogie Unreserved, from AJR Farms, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, was the first of five bulls to make 10,000gns. Sired by the 26,000gns Maerdy Amontillado, and out of Newlogie Ohdream, he had stood reserve junior male at the Royal Highland show in June. Buyer was GT Wordie, Mains of Cairnborrow, Huntly.
Matching that price, Joseph Speak and Jordan Tipping, sold their Gretnahouse Uhtred at 10,000gns to W Templeton, Glenlaugh, Auldgirth. He’s sired by Lochend Nighthawk, the bull that made 28,000gns at the Gretnahouse dispersal, while his dam is Gretnahouse Masweety. His full brother, Gretnahouse Topper, made 16,000gns at Stirling last October.
Bombax Uber, another from the Smeaton family’s consignment, by Harestone Ronaldinho, sold at 10,000gns to M Leslie, Keithmore, Dufftown. His dam is the privately bought Mornity Orla, a daughter of Balmyle Magnate.
Also at 10,000gns was Elgin Ullapool, another Thurso Paul son from the Milne family’s Elgin-based herd. Breed champion at Nairn show and reserve at Keith, he is out of the Westcarse Houdini-sired Elgin Libby, one of 45 pedigree cows in the herd. That one sold to JM Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland, Thurso.
The final five-figure price came at the end of the sale, with Balthayock Ulex selling at 10,000gns to J and R Stranger, South Seatter, Sandwick, Orkney. That one is sired by the home-bred Balthayock Regal, a Barbican Lancer son, while the dam is Balthayock Robyn, by Balthayock Ferdinand.
Another full of home-breeding was Peter and Allen Drysdale’s first prize-winner, Glenericht Untouchable, a Glenericht Limpet son, out of Glenericht Idyll, which made 9500gns to Burnton Farms, Laurencekirk.
Females sold to 11,000gns, for a cow and calf unit from Andrew Burnett, Upper Spittalton, Blairdrummond. That was Spittalton Nikita, a seven-year-old Whitecliffe Highlight daughter, and her March-born bull calf at foot, Spittalton Vogue, by Goldies Oasis. The pair sold to C and C Farming, Flotterton, Morpeth.
Auctioneer: United Auctions
CLASS RESULTS
Heifer Class
1st – WJ Kingaby, Utopia Unique
2nd – JHC Campbell & Sons, Thrunton Tamar
Class 1 – Bulls Born Between 21 October 2022 & 2nd February 2023
1st – AJR Farms, Newlogie Unreserved
2nd – R A & J Blyth, Marwood Universal
3rd – AJ Taylor, Briarbank Union
4th – RA & J Blyth, Marwood Ultimate
5th – AB Hornall, Falleninch Tommy
Class 2 – Bulls Born Between 3rd February & 18th March 2023
1st – H Goldie, Goldies Umpire
2nd – J Irvine & Son, Inverlochy Usher
3rd – C Smeaton & Sons, Bombax Ultimate
4th – J Jeffrey, Kersknowe Ultimate
5th – J Jeffery, Kersknowe Upgrade
Class 3 – Bulls Born Between 18th & 27th March 2023
1st – McMurrich Partnership, Formakin Uist
2nd – WK & P Drysdale, Glenericht Uber
3rd – J Jeffrey, Kersknowe Usain
4th – S Gilleard, Gilleard Upshot
5th – AJR Farms, Newlogie Undercover
Class 4 – Bulls Born Between 27th March & 4th April 2023
1st – H Goldie, Goldies Unity
2nd – H Goldie, Goldies Ulex
3rd – RA Milne, Elgin Usain
4th – J & S Middleton, Hollywell Utah
5th – W & N Milne, Glenernan Uranus
Class 5 – Bull Born Between 5th & 11th April 2023
1st – WP Bruce Ltd, Balmyle Uranus
2nd – WK & P Drysdale, Glenericht Unstuck
3rd – RA & J Blyth, Marwood Usk
4th – Ross Farm Co Ltd., Roscoe Unstoppable
5th – JHC Campbell & Sons, Thrunton Urquart
Class 6 – Bulls Born Between 12th & 26th April 2023
1st – WK & P Drysdale, Glenericht Untouchable
2nd – DE Evans, Maerdy Underdog
3rd – S Mitchell, Huttonend Ubelter
4th – DFWH & NR Walter, Balthayock Upbeat
5th – RA & J Blyth, Marwood Usher
Class 7 – Bulls Born Between 27th April & 6th May 2023
1st – WP Bruce Ltd., Balmyle Utmost
2nd – Boden & Davies Ltd, Sportsmans Uefa
3rd – WK & P Drysdale, Glenericht
4th – DFWH & NR Walter, Balthayock Unison
5th – RA Milne, Elgin Ullapool
Class 8 – Bulls Born Between 7th & 16th May 2023
1st – J Irvine & Son, Inverlochy United
2nd – R & N Barclay, Harestone Upshot
3rd – A B Hornall, Falleninch Ulysses
4th – MJ Massie, Elrick Unique
5th – JHC Campbell & Sons
Class 9 – Bulls Born Between 17th & 31st May 2023
1st – DFWH & NR Walter, Balthayock Ultimatum
2nd – D F W H & N R Walter, Balthayock Ushant
3rd – RA & J Blyth, Marwood Ullapo
4th – MJ Massie, Elrick Ugie
5th – R & N Barclay, Harestone Universe
Class 10 – Bulls Born After 1st June 2023
1st – J & S Middleton, Hollywell Unclebob
2nd – Messrs Curry, Burradon Uppercrust
3rd – DFWH & NR Walter, Balthayock Ulex
4th – Boden & Davies Ltd., Sportsmans Usher
5th – Messrs Curry, Burradon Umph
Senior Championship
Champion – AJR Farms, NEWLOGIE UNRESERVED
Reserve – RA & J Blyth, MARWOOD UNIVERSAL
Intermediate Championship
Champion – WP Bruce Ltd, BALMYLE URANUS
Reserve – H Goldie, GOLDIES UNITY
Junior Championship
Champion – J Irvine & Son, INVERLOCHY UNITED
Reserve – R & N Barclay, HARESTONE UPSHOT
Overall Championship
Champion – WP Bruce Ltd., BALMYLE URANUS
Reserve – H Goldie, GOLDIES UNITY
Categories: News, Sales, Stirling Sales