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.
It was a day to remember for the Goldie team, with their seven bulls selling to average £17,175 and the consignment including five at five-figure prices. Next best was another Stormzy son, Goldies Unionjack, a second prize winner which sold at 20,000gns to Bill Bruce, Balmyle, Meigle. His dam is Goldies Jinny, a Goldies Uppermost daughter which had a full sister sell at 10,000gns.
Matching that 20,000gns price, the Smeaton family, Cotton of Ovenstone, Inverarity, sold their second-prize winner, Bombax United, to commercial producer GT Wordie, Cairnborrow, Huntly, achieving a best ever price for the 25-cow herd. He is by the 24,000gns Harestone Ronaldinho, whose sons had so far averaged £12,000 prior to this sale. Brought out by Kim Brown, this one is out of Bombax Macey, a Blelack Imperialist daughter.
Another from Hamish Goldie’s entry, Goldies Uppercrust, by Gretnahouse Heman, sold for 17,000gns, to James Brown, Cardon, Broughton. A full brother to the 26,000gns Goldies Romeo, Upper crust is out of the Goldies Formidable-sired Goldies Marion.
At 16,000gns, Goldies United sold to JO and R Struthers, Greenfield, Cobbinshaw. He’s by Caylers Rocky, the bull that sired the 16,000gns top price at Stirling in October, 2024. The dam is a Gretnahouse Heman daughter, Goldies Sarah.
The overall champion, selected by Orkney judge Magnus Baillie, made the next best price of 15,000gns. That was Ouston Unwin, bred by Ouston Farms, Tyne and Wear, and consigned by Richard and Carol Rettie, Dyke Farm, Slamannan. This rising two-year-old, described by the judge as ‘a long, clean bull with power’, was born as an embryo calf, sired by Major and out of Ravensworth Jasmin, a Thrunton Florida daughter. He went home with W Stevenson and Son, Auchenflower, Ballantrae.
Also at 15,000gns was Thrunton Ultrabrite, from the Campbell family, Thrunton, Alnwick. A fourth prize winner, he’s by Rutherston Sonny, out of Thrunton Marguerita, a Thrunton Gladiator daughter. That one sold to PM and SM Donger, Seawell, Foxley.
Not far behind, the reserve champion, Silvermere Vortex, a Wesley Equinox son from Michelle Hanson and Darren Irvine, Upper Drakemyres, Keith, went at 14,000gns to JA Wilson and Son, Kinclune, Glenkindie. This AI son of Wesley Equinox is a heifer’s calf, out of the Allanfauld Neptune daughter Silvermere Solitaire.
The final Goldies five-figure seller was Goldies Unstoppable, a third prize winner which made 13,000gns to Rhindhu Farm, Chapeltown, Glenlivet. Another by Falleninch Stormzy, he is out of Goldies Molly, by Goldies Jetset.
Leading Neil and Stuart Barclay’s Harestone entry, from Insch, was Harestone Unionjack, by Harestone Romeo, which made 13,000gns, and was another to sell to the Dongers at Seawell. The dam of this third prize winner is the Thrunton Fearless daughter, Harestone Matilda.
For the same money, Louise McArthur, Cretlevane, Balfrom, sold her Harestone Rockafella son, Endrick Vulcan, for 13,000gns to Colin Macmillan, Tallant, Bowmore, Islay. Reserve junior male champion at the Stars of the Future show in November, this Harestone Rockafella son is out of Mortimers Pachamama.
Bombax Upshot, another by Harestone Ronaldinho, from the Smeaton family, sold at 12,000gns to Frazer Goldie, Yondercroft, Darvel. His dam is the Westcarse Houdini daughter, Bombax Orchid.
Best for AJR Farms, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, was Newlogie Utwo, which sold at 11,000gns to J Melville and Sons, Ardwell, Girvan. He is sired by the Highland Show and Great Yorkshire champion, Maerdy Morwr, while the dam is Newlogie Opale, a cow that has previously produced bulls up to 13,000gns.
Michelle Hanson and Darren Irvine, Upper Drakemyres, Keith, sold another at five-figures, Silvermere Ultimate, which made 11,000gns to the Firm of Forbes, Little Kildrummie, Nairn. Reserve senior champion at the show, this Falleninch Memo son is a maternal brother to the 22,000gns Silvermere Tesla.
The Campbell family’s Thrunton Urien also made 11,000gns, selling to D and J Peebles, South Baldutho, Arncroach. A son of Baillieston Orcadian, he is out of Thrunton Jubilant.
Abbie Anderson, Easter Knox, Arbirlot, received 11,000gns for Rutherston Uno, a Balmyle Oscar son, out of the Harestone Oscar-sired Elgin Robin. He was knocked down to A Shand, Cortiecram, Auchnagatt.
Junior bull, Douneside Vesca, from Robbie McNeill, Doune, sold at 10,500gns to WR Kirk, Hall of Drumpark, Irongray. This Tonley Ranald son is out of Skysea Serenade, by Foxacre Memnon.
Thrunton Uranium, a two-year-old from the Campbells, was the first of three bulls to make 10,000gns. Sired by Baillieston Orcadian and out of Thrunton Rene, he sold to P and M Watson, Darnford, Durris.
At the same price, David Timm, Seaton Ross, York, sold Wensleydale Unit, a Balthayock Nominee son, out of Hillviewfarm Margaret, which went to A and W Orr, Mossplatt, Cleghorn. His full brother sold in February 2024, for 16,000gns.
The other at 10,000gns was the first prize winner, Inverlochy Unionjack, from Johnny and Raymond Irvine, Tomintoul. By Caylers Napoleon and out of Inverlochy Olivia, he sold to A and J Craig, Craigton, Castle Douglas.
The dispersal of Andrew and Jo Morris’ Olrig herd, from Logie Farm, Newburgh, topped at 8500gns for the stock bull, Firhills Rex, with five cow and calf units averaging £4641, four maiden heifers levelling at £3071 and two in-calf heifers at £3413.
SHOW RESULTS:
Judge – Magnus Baillie, Orkney
Senior Classes
Class 1 – Bulls born on or between 21 May & 9 October 2023
1st – Lot 4 Ouston Unwin, R&C Rettie
2nd – Lot 10 Silvermere Ultimate, Miss MT Hanson
3rd – Lot 3 Harestone Unionjack, R&N Barclay
4th – Lot 5 Wensleydale Unit, Mr D K Timm
5th – Lot 7 Formakin Ulysses, McMurrich Partnership
Class 2 – Bulls born on or between 10 October & 13 November 2023
1st – Lot 18 Inverlochy Unionjack, J Irvine & Son
2nd – Lot 19 Bombax United, C Smeaton & Sons
3rd – Lot 25 Bombax Upshot, C Smeaton & Sons
4th – Lot 15 Thrunton Ultrabrite, J H C Campbell & Sons
5th – Lot 16 Harestone USB, R&N Barclay
Junior Classes
Class 3 – Bulls born on or between 14 November & 3 December 2023
1st – Lot 37 Goldies Upperclass, Mr H Goldie
2nd – Lot 32 Goldies Unionjack, Mr H Goldie
3rd – Lot 34 Goldies Unstoppable, Mr H Goldie
4th – Lot 27 Goldies United, Mr H Goldie
5th – Lot 36 Inverlochy UFO, J Irvine & Son
Class 4 – Bulls born on or after 4 December 2023
1st – Lot 49 Silvermere Vortex, Miss MT Hanson
2nd – Lot 45 Rutherston Viceroy, Miss A Anderson
3rd – Lot 48 Douneside Vesca, Mr R McNeill
4th – Lot 44 Endrick Vulcan, Louise McArthur
5th – Lot 46 Harestone Victor, R&N Barclay
Senior Championship
Champion
Lot 4 Ouston Unwin, R&C Rettie
Reserve Champion
Lot 10 Silvermere Ultimate, Miss MT Hanson
Junior Championship
Champion
Lot 49 Silvermere Vortex, Miss MT Hanson
Reserve Champion
Lot 37 Goldies Upperclass, Mr H Goldie
Overall Champion
Lot 4 Ouston Unwin, R&C Rettie
Reserve Overall Champion
Lot 49 Silvermere Vortex, Miss MT Hanson
Categories: Sales, Stirling Sales