Limousins power ahead at Stirling bull sales

While an early power cut might have augered the beginning of a dark day for the Limousin breed at the Stirling bull sales yesterday, the market's generators ensured that the future remained at least reasonably bright for the breed.

Limousin bulls went under the hammer at the Stirling sales. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

While the sale average was back £24 on the year to stand at £4,601, the clearance rate was slightly up on the year for the 56 bulls sold. Breed chief executive Iain Kerr said that the day’s sale had seen a “solid selective trade” which had consisted primarily of business from commercial buyers.

The judges’ overall and junior champion from the morning’s show, Harestone Jim from Neil and Stuart Barclay, South Road, Insch, Aberdeenshire, topped the day’s trade at 10,000gns. This 20-month-old son of Fieldson Alfie went to Michael Cursiter’s Laga Farms, Evie, in Orkney. A bid of 9,000gns saw the 19-month-old Spittalton Jimbob from Andrew Burnett, Spittalton, Blairdrummond, Stirling, go to WC & MI Woods, Octofad, Port Charlotte, Islay, for 9,000gns.

Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Mousewald, Dumfrie, made 7,800gns for his intermediate and reserve overall champion, Goldies Jonjo, and again for his 20-month-old Goldies Black Jonah. The first bull went to G & M Porter, Carrabus, Islay, while the latter went to R Simpson & Son, Mains of Creuchie, Alyth.

Also selling at the same price was the champion in the senior classes, Homebyres Jardine, which came from John Logan, Homebyres, Kelso, going to Hugh Mackay, West Tomlean, Nairn.

Mary Fotheringham and Hazel McNee, Overfinlarig, Dundee, sold to 6,500gns for Westhall Black Justhtejob, this bull going to George Wordie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.