A disappointing show of Aberdeen Angus bulls resulted in 23 selling to average £6076 – down £623 on the year for two less – and with only 50% of those forward finding new homes.
Taking the top price of 13,000gns was the March 2023-born bull, Drumhill Exchange Rate from Northern Ireland breeders, Jonathan and Lisa Doyle, Drumhill. A son of the 15,000gns Stirling purchase, Galcantray Jedi Eric, this is the third son to be sold at public auction having bred bulls to 16,000gns in February. The dam, Drumhill Evora, is a daughter of Wedderlie Tarquin. Taking this second prize winner home were Neil and Mark Wattie of the Tonley herd, Alford.
The pre-sale champion, Rulesmains Pedro from Andrew and Emma Hodge, Duns, later realised 10,000gns when selling to Angus Neish, Rodmead, Warminster. This 19-month-old is sired by the private purchase, Blelack Prince Camelot, and out of Rulesmains Princess, which is by Duncanziemere Judge. Reserve breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, his full brother made £9500 in February.
On the same money was the junior champion, Tonley Evoke, from Neil and Mark Wattie, Tonley. This April 2023-born bull is a son of Tonley Jester Eric, which has bred bulls and females to 24,000gns and 20,000gns respectively. The dam, Tonley Ester, was sold for 10,000gns. Evoke stood reserve junior male champion at the breed’s National show at the Border Union in July, and was knocked down to Messrs Muir and son, Gorn, Shapinsay, Orkney.
Another by the same sire, Mccornick Estimate made 5800gns when selling to the Scottish Government Bull Stud, Knocknagael. This April 2023-born bull is out of the Blelack Evolve daughter, Mccornick Esther.
Alistair Clark and sons, Brian and Alistair, Avisyard, Cumnock, Ayrshire, were next in the money at 8500gns. Selling at this price was the January 2023-born bull, Duncanziemere Echo. Backed by home-bred genetics he is by Duncanziemere Sportsman, which has bred to 20,000gns, whilst the dam, Duncanziemere Edwina, is by Rawburn Jester Eric. A fourth prize winner, he sold to Willie Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso.
Two March 2023-born red bulls from George and Nikki Taylor, Mosshall, Blackburn, West Lothian, realised 6800gns and 5800gns. Both are sons of Mosshall Red Legacy, and both sold to David and Neil Austin, of Boreland of Girthon and Rusko Farms, Gatehouse of Fleet.
Dearest of the two was Mosshall Red Bonanza, the reserve intermediate, which is out of Riis Red Bra.
His stable mate, Mosshall Red Matedor, out of Mosshall Red Millie stood fourth in his class.
Retanach Pacman made 6000gns for Jackie Strathdee and son Philip, North Retanach, Rothiemay, Huntly. This February 2023-born bull is sired by Mccornick Dazzle and out of Retanach Prilly, which goes back to Blelack Proud Chalenger. He was knocked down to J Garioch, Rivestone, Huntly, having stood fifth in his class.
Just behind on 5800gns was the third prize bull, Idvies Erdon, from Alastair and Graeme Fraser, Newton of Idvies, Forfar. He is from the first crop of sons to be sold at public auction from the 30,000gns Duncanziemere Jacobite, and bred from Idvies Ermine. This March 2023-born bull sold down to Castle Douglas with T Miller and Son, Balannan, Ringford, Castle Douglas.
The reserve female champion, Duncanziemere Edwina Y508, again from the Clark family went on to top the female trade at 5500gns. A two-year-old heifer, she is a full sister to the 8500gns bull sold earlier by the family. She sold scanned in calf to Hillfoots Eldorado to AE and C Bishop, Church Farm, Wokingham.
Just eight females sold to average £3426.
Neil and Mark Wattie were also back in the money among the females selling their pre-sale female champion for 5000gns up to Orkney with Alton Copland, Harray, Orkney. This November 2022-born Kilmaluag Eriskay daughter is out of Tonley Princess and has been running with Gretnahouse Krack Light.
Leading Awards
Bulls born Dec 22 to Feb 2023 – 1 and reserve senior, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Elite Y685, by Duncanziemere Jacobite W374, 5000gns to Scottish Government Bull Stud; 2, K Rennie’s Fiddlehall Epic Z051, by Tonley Jester Eric S315, unsold; 3, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Fernando, by Rosemead January, unsold; 4, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Echo Z510, by Duncanziemere Sportsman W357, 8500gns to W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso; 5, J and A Strathdee’s Retanach Pacman, by Mccornick Dazzle W714, 6000gns to J and S Garrioch, Rivestone, Huntly.
Bulls born Feb to Mar 2023 – 1, senior champion and overall supreme, A S Hodge’s Rulesmains Pedro Z819, by Blelack Prince Camelot W017, 10,000gns to AW Neish, Rodmead, Warminster; 2, J and L Doyle’s Drumhill Exchange Rate Z194, by Galcantray Jedi Eric V287, 13,000gns to NA Wattie, Mains of Tonley; 3, AJR Farms’ Logie Echo Z424, Blelack Prince Cornelius S661, 4000gns to FT Walton, Flotterton; 4, Firm of G Gray’s Ettrick Gordy Z327, by Linton Gilbertines President S021, unsold; 5, G Massie’s Alderfen River Z731, by Shadwell Edge W179, unsold.
Bulls born Mar 14 to 31, 2023 – 1, intermediate champion and reserve overall, FJ Fraser and son’s Idvies Eurostar Z138, by Duncanziemere Jacobite W374, unsold; 2 and reserve intermediate, G and N Taylor’s Mosshall Red Bonanza Z555, by Mosshall Red Legacy U863, 6800gns to RA Austin, Boreland of Girthon; 3, FJ Fraser and Son’s Idvies Erdon Z128, by Duncanziemere Jacobite W374, 5800gns to T Miller and Son, Balannan, Castle Douglas; 4, G and N Taylor’s Mosshall Red Matedor Z546, by Mosshall Red Legacy U863, 5800gns to RA Austin, Boreland of Girthon; 5, R Macgregor’s Raddery Jules Eric Z301, by Raddery Excel W250, unsold.
Bulls born April 1 to 27, 2023 – 1 and junior champion, NA Wattie’s Tonley Evoke Z058, by Tonley Jester Eric S318, 10,000gns to Messrs Muir, Gorn, Orkney; 2, K Rennie’s Fiddlehall Eagle Z058, by Rulesmains Knight X580, 4000gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Orkney; 3, A N Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Energy Z024, by Weeton Evolution R447, unsold; 4, NA Wattie’s Tonley Jonas Z167, by Gretnahouse Krack Light W221, unsold; 5, Mosston Muir Farm’s Mosston Muir Eroco Z464, by Balmachie Ranald T223, unsold.
Bulls born April 28, 2023 – 1 reserve junior, MR McCornick’s Mccornick Empower Z072, by Wedderlie Valentine W217, 10,000gns to PC Stovold, Lydling, Shackleford, Surrey; 2, D Cooke’s Gretnahouse KP Z530, by Rodmead Primero R746, unsold; 3, MR McCornick’s Mccornick Korker Z052, by Mccornick Evening Express T379, unsold; 4, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Jura Z531, by Auchincrieve Exodus U285, unsold; 5, MR McCornick’s Mccornick Estimate, by Wedderlie Valentine W217, 5800gns to Scottish Government Bull Stud.
Heifers born Nov 2022 – 1 and female champion, NA Wattie’s Tonley Princess Y022, by Kilmaluag Eriskay, 5000gns to A Copland, Orkney; 2 and reserve female, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Edwina Y508, by Duncanziemere Sportsman W357, 5500gns to AE and C Bishop, Church Farm, Wokingham; 3, Brailes Livestock’s Brailes Black Belle Z301, by Tonley Ronald, 4000gns to TA Roberts, Conwy; 4, NF Massie Jnr’s Morven Kristina Z077, by Skaill Donnas Traveler W336, unsold; 5, NF Massie Jnr’s Morven Domino Z079, by Skaill Donnas Traveler W336, 3000gns to Rainheat, Parbroath.
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