Auctioneers work hard for five-figure Charolais sales

While the auctioneers had to work for their money as the Charolais went through the ring at the Stirling bull sales yesterday, their efforts were repaid with 13 bulls selling into five figures.

Buyers were selective, but 13 bulls sold into five figures at Stirling

However, despite this, the breed average price fell by £815 on the year to £6,006. Breed chief executive David Benson said that while buyers were being selective, both the commercial and the pedigree trade were still willing to pay good money for top quality bulls.

Commenting on the overall trade at the sales, United Auction’s executive chairman, David Leggat said that the lack of farm support payments had definitely led to some buyers holding back, but added that it had also been noticeable that others had been keen to invest in better genetics for their herds.

The top price of 26,000 guineas in the Charolais ring was made by Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Dumfries with his bull which had stood second in its class to the junior champion. The 19 month old Goldies Jerry was by the farm’s stock bull and was sold to the Bowden and Davies Sportsman herd, Stockport.

A Goldie bull also picked up the second top price of 23,000 gns, this time with the reserve intermediate champion, Goldies Jasper, which went to Redhead and Watson, Tweedale, Berwick on Tweed.

Roy Milne, Kennieshillock, Elgin sold to 17,000 gns for Elgin Jagger which went to W Milne, Edenglassie, Strathdon and to 13,500 gns to J D K Lindsay, Cairnbeath, Kirriemuir.

The Adams of Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar, made 16,000 gns for their junior champion, Newhouse Jupiter, which went to Co Londonderry. T and S Gatherer, Barnsford, Inchinnan, Paisley sold their intermediate and overall champion for 14,000 gns.