Phenomenal demand for Charolais bulls at the Stirling February sale ensured a record average of £12,153 and a record clearance of 99% – an increase of £3683 per head on the year, with more than half the bulls selling at five-figure prices.
Enjoying a fantastic start to his new role, recently appointed breed secretary, James Hudson, said: “This record trade comes on the back of exceptional prices for Charolais cross suckled calves and it is clear to see the remarkable confidence that the commercial buyer has in the Charolais breed, proving its position as the leading terminal sire.”
Such is that confidence, that many of the leading priced bulls sold to commercial buyers, including the sale topper at 36,000gns – believed to be a record price paid by a commercial buyer. Making that money was the first prize winner, Burradon Uranium, a 20-month-old from Chris Curry’s 40-cow herd in Thropton, Morpeth. He is one of the first crop of bulls off the French-bred Tweeddale Rio, which was imported as a calf after being spotted at Cercy-la-Tour calf show and purchased jointly with Jonathan Watson.
Out of the Clenagh Lyle daughter, Burradon Poppy, Uranium sold to suckled calf producer George Wordie, who runs a 240-cow herd at Cairnborrow, Huntly, with all the cows put to Charolais bulls. Commenting after the sale, he said: “You can’t beat the Charolais weight for age and that’s what the market wants at the moment. With store calves averaging over £2000, I was able to go a bit more to get the bull I wanted.”
Not far behind on the list of leading prices, the intermediate and overall champion, Harestone Uplift, from Neil and Stuart Barclay’s 80-cow Insch-based herd, sold at 35,000gns, catching the eye of Charlie Boden, for his Sportsmans herd in Cheshire, along with Kedzlie Farm, Swalesmoor, Halifax. He had been placed champion the previous day by judge John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, who described him as ‘pure class – big and long and perfect for today’s market.’ Brought out by stockman Eoin Cumming, Uplift is a son of the 24,000gns Goldies Oasis – sire of the top price bulls at the last three February sales from Harestone. The dam is the Inverlochy Ferdie daughter, Harestone Lyres.
Adding to the celebrations, the Barclays’ senior champion, Harestone Umpire, sold at 32,000gns, to John Jeffrey, Kersknowe, Kelso. His sire is the home-bred Harestone Lynx, which was sold at Stirling to the Wedderburn herd, before later being bought back to use themselves. The dam, Harestone Noelle, is by the 16,000gns Stirling champion, Thrunton Fearless.
Bulls from the Campbell family’s 70-cow Thrunton herd, at Alnwick, proved popular too, with eight bulls hitting the five-figure mark, to a top of 28,000gns for the reserve senior champion, Thrunton Uranus. Sired by the Stirling-bought Baillieston Orcadian and out of the Glenernan Northstar daughter, Thrunton Rebecca, that one was knocked down in a two-way split, to Allen Drysdale, for the Glenericht herd at Blairgowrie, and Robert Young, Mornity.
Another first prize winner from the same home, Thrunton Unionjack, sold at 20,000gns, to Ian Minto, Townhead, Dolphinton. He’s by the same Baillieston sire, while the dam, Thrunton Rosebud, is by Balmyle Dickler.
Selling at 19,000gns was Carwood Uist, a second prize winner from Colin and Fiona Wight, Carwood, Biggar. He’s by the 20,000gns Westcarse Ruler and out of the Ugie Goldcup daughter, Carwood Leona. Final bidder there was Murray Lyle, for his Loganbar herd at Mid Cambushinnie, Dunblane.
Another two from the Thrunton herd sold at 18,000gns apiece, including the reserve intermediate and reserve overall champion, Thrunton Ullapool. That one is by the 28,000gns Stirling purchase, Maerdy Jerusalem and out of Thrunton Nastasia, by Thrunton Gladiator. He went to W and A Strachan, Millfield, Turriff.
Also making 18,000gns was Thrunton Unison, a first prize winner by Baillieston Orcadian, out of another Gladiator daughter, Thrunton Otis. He was knocked down to M and J Hayhurst, Great Carr, Kirby Misperton, Malton.
At the same money, the reserve junior champion, Cretlevane Uzo, sold at 18,000gns for Allan McArthur, Cretlevane, Balfron. Sired by the 8500gns Harestone Rockafella and out of a Lochend-bred dam, he went to JH Anderson, Cloy, Fortrose.
The final bull at the 18,000gns mark was Burradon Undertaker, a first prize winner and part of the winning group of three from Chris Curry. He’s another by the French-bred Tweeddale Rio, while the dam is Burradon Ivy, by Gwenog Banjo. That one sold to A Smith, The Leys, Tarland & CA Smith, Wester Coul, Tarland.
The final member of the winning group of three was Burradon Unreal, a second prize winner in his class, which sold at 17,000gns to RB Millar, Prieston, Tealing. This Tweeddale Rio son is out of the Puntabrava daughter, Burradon Minnie.
Hamish Goldie’s consignment of bulls from South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell, sold to a top of 17,000gns, for Goldies Uplands. Sired by the 14,000gns Caylers Rocky, his dam is Goldies Michelle, by Goldies Formidable. He sold to DG and J Walker, Drumbuie, Sanquhar.
From the same home, Goldies Upgraded made 16,000gns, to A Wallace, Claycrop, Kirkinner. This second prize winner is also by Caylers Rocky, while the dam is Goldies Lexi, a Blelack Digger daughter.
Best from the Walter family’s Balthayock team, was the third prize winner, Balthayock Unicorn, a son of the 24,000gns Harestone Ronaldinho. Out of Balthayock Lorn, this one went at 16,000gns to FT Walton, Flotterton, Morpeth.
Two from Allen Drysdale’s Glenericht herd, at Blairgowrie, sold at 16,000gns each. First at that price was the third prize winner, Glenericht Ultimatam, which sold to T Howden and Son, Balleny, Balerno. He is by the home-bred Glenericht Limpet, which has previously sired bulls to 18,000gns, while the dam is Glenericht Perky.
Another third prize winner, Glenericht Uregreat, sold at 16,000gns to J and G Sinclair, Crookston, Heriot. He is by Caylers Oxford, sire of bulls to 20,000gns, and out of Glenericht Nimble.
Mike Massie received 15,000gns for Elrick Unionist, a fourth prize winner from his Auchnagatt-based herd. Sired by Ballinlare Phantom, he is out of Elrick Pansy, a cow that has previously bred bulls to 13,000gns. It went to C and G Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Midmar.
Making the same money was Falleninch Utopia, a second prize winner from Andrew Hornall, Stirling. Full of home breeding, he’s by Falleninch Soptif and out of Falleninch Reona, a Falleninch Imperator daughter. Final bidder on that one, at 15,000gns, was W and N Lawrence, Blackpots, Auchnagatt.
Also hitting the 15,000gns mark was Bombax Unionjack, from the Smeaton family’s herd at Cotton of Ovenstone, Inverarity. Another son of Harestone Ronaldinho, this one is out of the Tweeddale Matador daughter, Goldies Paula. He sold to Orkney buyers J and R Stanger, South Seatter.
Other leading prices:
14,000gns – Goldies Uncle, a second prize winner by Cayleys Rocky, to Strathisla Farms, Meigle
14,000gns – Thrunton United, a fourth prize winner by Baillieston Orcadian, to Grove Farms, Milton Hill
14,000gns – Balthayock Ulster, a fourth prize winner by Harestone Ronaldinho, to CA Jessop and Sons, Moorlands, Leicestershire.
14,000gns – Glenlivet Usher, a third prize winner by Balthayock Rudolph, to D Hyslop, Kilbrook House, Wamphray
14,000gns – Kersknowe Universal, a third prize winner by Balmyle Navarone, to D MacVicar, Middle Ballat, Balfron
14,000gns – Goldies Unruffled, a fourth prize winner by Caylers Rocky, to A Smellie, Posso, Kirkton Manor
14,000gns – Elgin Untouchable, a third prize winner by Falleninch Stormzy, to James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, Sorn
14,000gns – Glenernan Ursus, a second prize winner by Balthayock Muskateer, to Ross Farms, Wester Middleton
13,000gns – Thrunton Umpire, by Thrunton Pierre, to EM Purdon & Sons, Brownsbank, Biggar
13,000gns – Rogans Unimog, a second prize winner by Maerdy Dublin, to I & J Adams, Half Mark, Leswalt
13,000gns – Tweeddale Underwriter, Junior Champion, by Goldies Decider, to HD Thomson, Overton, Inverurie
12,500gns – Thrunton Ultimate, a fifth prize winner by Baillieston Orcadian, to G Allardyce, Eastown, Tarland
12,000gns – Kersknowe Utwo, a third prize winner by Glenernan Ohboy, to J Lawrie, Wester Clunie, Cupar
12,000gns – Goldies Unify, by Caylers Rocky, to Vince Corbett, The Gorther, Felindre, Knighton
12,000gns – Bombax Upmost, by Glenericht Ryder, to WS Stevenson, Drumburle, Maybole.
12,000gns – Hollywell Ubforty, a third prize winner by Nuthampstead Judas, to Donald Morrison, Ruaidheabhal, Oban
11,500gns – Formakin Uist, a first prize winner by Ravissant, to A Paton, Craig, Straiton
11,500gns – Solwayfirth Unicorn, a second prize winner by Glenericht Ralph, to WR and M Mill, Forsie, Thurso
11,000gns – Goldies Ubet, a second prize winner by Gretnahouse Heman, to J Wight & Sons, Midlock, Crawford
11,000gns – Kinclune Ucracker, by Goldies Rocky, to CS Fleming & Son, Strone, Forfar
11,000gns – Elgin Ultimate, a fifth prize winner by Thurso Paul, to Shorecroft Fishing, Culbokie
11,000gns – Goldies Unison, by Caylers Rocky, to RG Farries, Byrecroft, Dumfries
11,000gns – Elrick Uranium, a first prize winner by Westcarse Houdini, to J Irvine & Son, Inverlochy, Tomintoul
11,000gns – Glenericht Underwriter, a fifth prize winner by Elrick Predator, to ES & MA Spence, Beaquoy, Orkney
10,500gns – Marwood Union, a third prize winner by Hatenon, to A and R Paton, Easter Greenhill, Avonbridge
10,000gns – Allanfauld Upperclass, by Balthayock Lachlan, to A and B Kerr, Merrow, Cairnbog
10,000gns – Thrunton Umberto, a second prize winner by Baillieston Orcadian, to J Stewart, Nether Balfour, Rashenlochy
10,000gns – Glenericht Ulster, a fourth prize winner by Caylers Oxford, to W Dunlop & Son, Elmscleugh, Dunbar
10,000gns – Balthayock Uprise, a second prize winner by Harestone Ronaldinho, to JM & W Turnbull, Boghall, Kingsbarns
10,000gns – Glenericht Umpire, by Caylers Oxford, to T Linton, The Firs, Cleghorn
10,000gns – Solo Uracil, by Myerscough Phantom, to GM Barclay & Sons, Tullo, Laurencekirk
10,000gns – Glenericht Usain, by Caylers Oxford, to B Ridland, Aikerness, Orkney
10,000gns – Glenernan Uchamp, a third prize winner by Balthayock Musketeer, to W & J Coghill, Ackergill Mains, Wick