Black's the in colour for this season

Earlier in the week the Aberdeen Angus breed set several new record prices and yesterday when the Limousins were up for sale interest rose whenever any of the of the small entry of black-coated Limousins entered the ring.

They may have been outnumbered by the more traditional ruby red Limousins in the sale catalogue but they took four of the top six prices on an otherwise lacklustre day for the breed.

Despite having been around for the best part of a decade, these black-coated bulls are still relatively rare in the UK but they seem to be in demand, particularly so in Scotland.

Long-established breed enthusiast Drew Adam and his family, from Newhouse of Glamis, took the three top prices with his entry of black coated bulls all by a homozygous Canadian bull, Tamarvalley Boscastle.

The homozygous part is important as it ensures the black colour is passed on to any progeny.

Twice the bidding went to 12,000gn, the first time when Adams sold Newhouse Black Dominator to the McGregor family, John and George and son Alan, from Binn Farm, Glenfarg for use on their commercial herd.

He then sold Newhouse Black Denver to Irish buyers, Corries, of Newtonards for their commercial herd.

These were the only five-figure sums of the sale but Adams also sold Newhouse Black Dakota at 9,000gn to Cumbrian breeder, Brian Marr, of Cockermouth. In total he sold six black-coated bulls for a total of 53,130 giving Newhouse an average of 8,855.

Speaking after the sale, Adams remarked that Scots seemed to like the black-coated bulls although he did not know why. He was then less than complimentary about the breed society saying that it seemed they had a grudge against black cattle.

The Newhouse average was well above the sale level for the breed, which saw 68 bulls selling at an average of 4,376. Twelve months earlier, 77 bulls sold at an average of 4,267.

Breed society chief executive Iain Kerr admitted the overall sale entry may not have had the quality required. However, he maintained: "Whenever the right type of bull came into the ring, there was a premium."

He did not wish to be drawn into any discussion on the position of black-coated bulls in the society other than state that he was delighted to see a market for Limousin bulls regardless of the colour.

Kerr did not comment but it is generally accepted that Carlisle market has become the centre for selling top Limousins. With many commercial breeders in Cumbria and the north of England, there is a big demand in that locality.

There is a breed sale at Carlisle next week, and many of the top breeders have consignments ready for that sale.

The best of the ruby red bulls yesterday saw Peter Alexander, Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie, pay 8,500gn for Mariascote Diego from Ian Nimmo, Bogside, Wishaw, Two deals were conducted on the 7,500gn level with Bruce Goldie selling his top bull to commercial producers D&C Davidson, Sinsharne, Huntly, and then the reserve overall show champion from W&A Oag, Brims, Thurso, going to another north-east producer, Ewanson, from Keith.