Top prices of 25,000gns, 22,000gns and 13,000gns twice were paid for Beef Shorthorns at United Auctions' Stirling Bull Sales, where a first prize bull from The Hon Gerald Turton's Upsall herd, Thirsk, led the trade.

Selling at 25,000gns was the April 2020-born roan, Palmerston of Upsall, purchased by the Scott family, Fearn, Tain, who get for their money a bull in the top 1% of the breed for 200, 400 and 600-day growth and top 1% for both terminal and self-replacing indexes. Brought out by George and Maureen McCulloch, Palmerston is backed by the best of genetics, being sired by Dingo of Upsall, which has bred sons to 13,000gns, and out of the Ex90 Tessa of Upsall – the dam of a junior stockbull for the 100-cow herd.

Caithness breeders, Stuart and Lynn Macadie, also enjoyed their best sale to date, taking 22,000gns for the unplaced bull, Perfection of Skaillhouse, from telephone bidder, James Porter, buying for his Uppermill herd from Northern Ireland. Living up to his name, this March 2020-born entry is the first son sold by the 4000gns Chapelton Lionheart, and bred from the Glenisla Faust daughter, Millie Floss 11 of Skaillhouse GP80.

The reserve senior, Podehole Patriot, proved a star attraction for Peterborough breeders, Charles and Sally Horrell and son Harry, when selling for 13,000gns. This two-year-old is a son of retained bull, Podehouse Magician and out of home-bred heifer by the Australian sire, Royalla Rockstar. Final bidder was Iain Green, Corskie, Fochabers.

Later in the day, Dumfriesshire-based brothers, David and Tom Bradley Farmer's Meonside Peroni, a white June 2020-born son of Willingham Kensington, matched that 13,000gns bid when selling to Page Farming, Rookwith, Skipton. His dam is Coldrochie Grace Beauty purchased at the herd dispersal for 6500gns.

Overall, 56 bulls sold to average £5743, down £384 on the year for two more sold and with a 71% clearance.

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