Centre records for an Aberdeen-Angus bull were smashed on the first of United Auctions' Stirling Bull sales, when Neil and Graeme Massie sold their intermediate champion, Blelack Dean Martin, for a whopping 38,000gns.

The bull is the first son sold at auction by the 14,000gns Kilmaluag Eriskay, while the dam is the Weeton Diamond Mine daughter, Blelack Diamond Mist ET. Dean Martin was paraded by free-lance stockman Gordon Fraser and sold to John Tilson, buying for the Campbell family's Wedderlie herd based Gordon, Berwickshire.

Second top price was 30,000gns paid for the reserve senior, Duncanziemere Jacobite, from Alistair Clark and sons Brian and Alister, Cumnock. Producing a personal best for this 60-cow herd was one of the first sons of the 13,000gns Carlisle purchase, Auchincrieve Exodus. The dam, Auchincrieve Jody, is a daughter of the top Highland show winner, Duncanziemere Jody. He sold in a two-way split to Ballindalloch Estate, managed by David and Susan Johnston and Alastair and Graeme Fraser, Newton of Idvies, Forfar.

Duncanziemere also received 11,000gns for their third prize winner, Duncanziemere Mr Bond, by the same sire.

On the income side, Alastair and Graeme Fraser, received 16,000gns for the May 2020-born bull, Idvies Pink Prodigy, a Thrunton Panther son bred from the same line as the £8000 Idvies Pink Parston, sold to Germany and the 9000gns Idvies Pinky Petal sold at the Angus Fever sale. Robbie Galloway, buying for his Cardona herd from Doune, forked out the cash.

A further sixbulls sold at five-figure prices, to help bolster the overall average to £6533 for 95, a rise of £34 on the year for 17 more sold and with a 74% clearance.

Next best at 13,000gns was the second prize winner, Tonley Potter, a June 2020-born son of Tonley Jester Eric, from Neil and Mark Wattie's Aberdeenshire-based unit at Mains of Tonley.

The father and son duo also received 11,500gns for their junior champion and reserve overall, Tonley Alba, a son of Tonley Royal Legend.

Cheshire-based vet, Owen Tunney, took 12,000gns for the April 2020-born Morpheus Kodiak, a son of the American sire, HF Alcatraz.

Three bulls came under the hammer for 10,000gns to include the overall champion, Gretnahouse Blacksoap from Gretna House Farms, Gretna.

Matching that price Matthew and Heather Currie, Skewbridge, Dumfries, sold the unplaced junior bull, Kingholm Risotto, an ET, bred from Weeton Rosebud and sired by Quaker Hill Dead Centre.

Also making 10,000gns was the reserve intermediate champion, Ewen Brewis' Eastfield Black Banjo, from Kelso. He is by Linton Gilbertines Elgin.

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