Palmerston of Upsall tops Stirling Shorthorns at 25,000gns

However, while a strong demand from pedigree breeders bolstered the top end of the trade, with an increased number of bulls forward, overall averages slipped £384 on the year to level at £5743 for 56. This represents a 71% clearance with two more sold compared to February 2021.

Breed president, Charles Horton, Glocs, was nevertheless relatively pleased with the outcome. "Considering the uncertainty within the market, I would say we've had a pretty good sale. We had a good number of pedigree breeders looking to buy top end bulls and our membership and registrations remain steady.

"What many people don't realise is, Morrisons are actively looking to buy more Beef Shorthorn beef to sell in their stores, and when they're paying premiums of up to 35p per dwkg all year round it comes to a lot of money. My last load of finished 15-month-old steers averaged 444p and I've had heifers selling at the same price.

"Beef Shorthorns tick all the boxes when the females make for some of the best, easy kept cows that are quiet to handle and last longer than most breeds and crosses, and the finished product attracts some of the highest premiums available," said Mr Horton.

Such was the demand for pedigree bulls that the sale witnessed the third highest price paid in recent times, when Palmerston of Upsall sold for 25,000gns. The bull from Gerald Turton's 100-cow herd from Thirsk, managed by George and Maureen McCulloch, not only boasts the best of bloodlines but also extremely notable figures.

A red ticket holder from the pre-sale show, this April 2020-born roan is by the Broughton Park Thunder son, Dingo of Upsall which has sired sons to 13,000gns and daughters to 7000gns. The dam, Tessa of Upsall, an Ex90-classified female by Belmore Patriach, is also the mother of the herd's junior stock bull.

Read more: Beef Shorthorns sell to 25,000gns and 22,000gns at Stirling

Palmerston which boasts figures in the top 1% of the breed for 200, 400 and 600-day growth and top 1% for both terminal and self-replacing indexes, sold to John Scott and Partners, Fearn, Tain.

"I was looking for a bull that would produce good quality cattle off grass and I was most impressed by his tremendous breed characteristics, capacity, depth of rib and figures," said Mr Scott.

Unfortunately Mr McCulloch was unable to attend the sale due to poor health, but he is now home from hospital. Son John was however there to assist.

The Macadies sold Perfection of Skaillhouse for 22,000gns Ref:RH070222100 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Caithness breeders, Stuart and Lynn Macadie, who run just 32 cows at Skaill, Thurso, also had plenty to celebrate when their aptly named, Perfection of Skaillhouse, a rising two-year-old roan that failed to make the short leet at the pre-sale show, made 22,000gns to Northern Ireland breeder, James Porter, buying for the Uppermill herd from Lisburn, Co Antrim.

Mr Macadie, a maintenance manager at Dounreay, who has previously sold bulls to 6500gns, hit gold with the first son sold by the 4000gns Chapelton Lionheart, while the dam is Millie Floss 11 of Skaillhouse GP80, a heifer by Glenisla Faust.

Harry Horrell sold Podehole PAtriot for 13,000gns Ref:RH070222106 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Another two bulls sold for 13,000gns with the first being the reserve senior and runner up overall from Charles and Sally Horrell and son Harry's Peterborough-based Podehole herd. Selling at this price was the two-year-old bull, Podehole Patriot, a roan that boasts some different Australian bloodlines on the dam's side in Podehole Dora Love ET GP80. A heifer's calf, the dam is the result of a flush from Marvellan Dora and by Royalla Rockstar. Patriot is also the first bull sold by the retained sire, Podehole Magician, a Chapelton Clansman son. He goes out to work in Morayshire having been purchased by Iain Green and family, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers.

Meonside Peroni from D and T Bradley Farmer sold for 13,000gns Ref:RH070222111 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Later, Dumfriesshire breeders, brothers, David and Tom Bradley Farmer, received the same money for Meonside Peroni, an all white bull that was equalling the 13,000gns white record paid for Podehole Drummer. Peroni is by Willingham Kensington, a bull bought for 10,000gns that also produced last year's 27,000gns record priced Meonside Nidavellir, and out of Coldrochie Grace Beauty, a Fearn Godfather daughter bought at the herd dispersal for 6500gns. Page Farms Partnership, Rookwith, Ripon, were the final bidders on this 20-month-old.

The Lowthers sold Lowther Picasso for 8500gns Ref:RH070222103 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Charles Lowther's Lowther herd from Askham Hall, Askham, enjoyed a firm trade with bull sales to 8500gns and 8000gns. Dearest was Lowther Picasso, a rising two-year-old roan and the first son sold by the Glenisla Zetor son, Lowther Konan, a bull which bred heifers to 10,000gns in October.

Stanford in the Vale-based breeder, T Russell, The Old Dairy, Stanford Park, forked out the cash for this unplaced entry out of Lowther Special K, a GP82-classified female and former junior champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, by Blelack Rupert.

Lowther Pegasus from C Lowther sold for 8000gns Ref:RH060222221 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Mr Lowther who owns the Askham Hall Hotel Collection, produced the senior and overall champion too, in Lowther Pegasus, a 23-month-old red which went on to sell for 8000gns to Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Orkney. Bred from the same cow family, Pegasus is by Castlemount Kubota, a bull bought privately from Andy Ryder, and out of different home-bred Special K by Willingham Denebola.

LJ Townsend sold Coxhill Patrick for 8000gns Ref:RH070222110 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Cindy Townsend's Coxhill herd from Moffat, was another in the money with sales at 8000gns and 7000gns. Making 8000gns was Coxhill Patrick, a June 2020-born red and white by Ballylinney Glenn, purchased by Messrs Evans and Price, buying for their Llwynhywel herd from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. His dam is the Chapelton Alamo-sired cow, Largyvale Alamo Menna GP82.

Earlier, Coxhill Pegasus, a rising two-year-old from the same home, made 7000gns. Heading up to Aberdeenshire with J and J Green, Wrangham, Colpy, Insch, is a roan son of Millerston Kasper, bred from the Uppermill Rotary daughter, Coxhill Wheat.

Matching that 7000gns sale was the August 2020-born Glenisla Pioneer, a red and white from Major Gibb and his daughter Catriona, Glenisla House, Blairgowrie. Home-bred genetics are behind this lad with the sire being the Chapelton Glen Clova son, Glenisla Munroe, onto Glenisla Waterloo Andrea VG85, by Glenisla Artic Storm. Pioneer sold down to Wales with Keith Jones, Pantycetris, Talgarrey, Ceredigion.

Meonside Broadhooks Paisley from D and T Bradley Farmer sold for 4500gns Ref:RH070222112 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

A cracking show of females sold to 4500gns to average £2879 for 12.

Sale leader here was David and Tom Bradley Farmer's white heifer, Meonside Broadhooks Paisley, a third prize winner by Willingham Kensington. This 21-month-old which is a full sister to the 3800gns Meonside Nella, is bred from the Elliot Salute daughter, Meonside Broadhooks Lobelia and sold to Northern Ireland breeder and well known commentator Libby Clarke, Springfield, Armagh.

Meonside Millicent Piper from D and T Bradley Farmer sold for 4200gns Ref:RH070222114 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Just behind on 4200gns, the female champion, Meonside Millicent Piper, from the same home, was purchased by Orkney breeder, Michael Cursiter, Laga Farms. Another similarly aged heifer by Kensington, this roan is from the same family as the 6500gns Meonside Ninet, being out of Meonside Jemima.

Bill and Jane Landers and son Bobby's Cairnsmore herd from Newton Stewart, sold to 3400gns and 3000gns. The former, Cairnsmore Polly D, a 22-month-old roan by the 15,000gns Coldrochie Jurassic, was bought by R Coles, Ringmer, East Sussex.

The latter, Cairnsmore Patricia, a May 2020-born red by Redhill Lord Thunder, heads south with Brenda Wear, Hilltop Farm, Bristol.

LEADING awards

Bulls born on or between February 14 and March 7, 2020 – 1 and reserve senior champion, H Horrell's Podehole Patriot, by Podehole Magician, 13,000gns to WJ and J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers; 2, JW Biggar's Chalepton Pablo, by Balnabroich Kermit, 4000gns to Ormsary Estate, Lochgilphead; 3, C Macadie and Sons' Plutonium of Skaillhouse, by Chapelton Lionheart, 3200gns to RI and SA Little, The Bogue, Dalry, Castle Douglas; 4, D Welsh's Westbroad Pascal, by Shawhill Leroy, unsold; 5, N and A Hunter's Derwentwood Polaris, by Ballylinney Hawk, 2600gns to H Reid and Son, Contractors, Merryridge, Beith.

Bulls born on or between March 8 and March 27, 2020 – 1, senior champion and supreme, C Lowther's Lowther Pegasus, by Castlemount Kubota, 8000gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Orkney; 2, C Macadie and Sons' Paragon of Skaillhouse, by Chapelton Lionheart, 5500gns to Exmoor Forest Farms, Minehead, Somerset; 3, C Macadie and Sons' Playboy of Skaillhouse, by Chapelton Lionheart, 3500gns to J and J Gibb, Glenisla House, Glenisla, Blairgowrie; 4, G Te Lintelo's Mayfield Phoenix, by Mayfield Maximus Primus, 6500gns to A Thompson, High Wheelton, Chorley; 5, The Hon G Turton's Panther of Upsall, by Firefox of Upsall, 5000gns to NB Taylor and Son, Low Howgill, Milburn, Penrith.

Bulls born on or between March 28 and April 7, 2020 – 1 and intermediate champion, G Te Lintelo's Mayfield Pharaoh, by Mayfield Maximus Primus, 5500gns to MacGregor Farming Partnership, Mill Farm, Great Witchinham, Norwich; 2 and reserve intermediate champion, R Paisley's Westmoor Prophet, by Eurosceptic of Upsall, unsold; 3, R Paisley's Westmoor Prospero, by Eurosceptic of Upsall, 3500gns to Kincaple Farm, St Andrews, Fife; 4, N Shand's Knockenjig Prospero, by Fearn Jumpstart, unsold; 5, H Horrell's Podehole Perseus, by Knockenjig Hercules, unsold.

Bulls born on or between April 8 and April 16, 2020 – 1, D and T Bradley Farmer's Meonside Pandemic, by Willingham Kensington, 5000gns to D Slone, Pieldview Bungalow, Biggar Village, Walney Island, Cumbria; 2, H Horrell's Podehole Poacher, by Knockenjig Hercules, unsold; 3, Mr and Mrs B Landers' Cairnsmore Powerhouse, by Redhill Lord Thunder, 3500gns to AHA Morgan, Noss, Wick; 4, D and T Bradley Farmer's Meonside Prince of Lancaster, by Willingham Kensington, 5000gns to E Innes and Son, Deskie, Glenlivet; 5, Mr and Mrs J Redpath's Knowehead Powerhouse, by Nearhouse Kane, 5000gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston.

Bulls born on or between April 17 and April 27, 2020 – 1, The Hon G Turton's Palmerston of Upsall, by Dingo of Upsall, 25,000gns to J Scott and Partners, Fearn, Tain, Ross-shire; 2, MG Bailey's Craigeassie Pierce, by Podehole Lincoln, 6200gns to A and C Farms, Langham Lodge, Langham, Rutland, Leics; 3, A Haigh's Willingham Paragon, by Willingham Lieutenant Commander, 3000gns to Sleightholme Dale Lodge, Fadmoor, York; 4, NJ and AM Barrett's Glenariff Prendergast, by Glenisla Ghillie, unsold; 5, D Baillie's Calla Officer, by Glenisla Krakatoa, 3000gns to R Paterson, Watsonhead, Newmains, Wishaw.

Bulls born on or between April 28 and May 31, 2020 – 1 and junior champion, D and T Bradley Farmer's Meonside Pavarotti, by Meonside King Kong, 4200gns to P Turnbull, West House Farm, Kildale, Whitby; 2 and reserve junior, Mrs LJ Townsend's Coxhill President, by Millerston Kasper, 5000gns to P and A Watt, Birkenburn, Keith; 3, MG Bailey's Craigeassie Phoenix, by Podehole Lincoln, 3800gns to M Atkinson, Yeoman's Farm, Briercliffe, Burnley; 4, GL Riby's Stonehills Paw Patrol, by Stonehills Michelin Star, 5500gns to D Nesbitt, Woodhow, Wasdale, Seascale; 5, J Currie and Sons' Miltonlockhart Pierre, by Balgay Journeyman, 3000gns to C Rowberry, Lodgeford Hill, Lower Chaddesley, Corbett, Kidderminster.

Bulls born on or after June 1, 2020 – 1, Mrs LJ Townsend's Coxhill Patrick, by Ballylinney Glenn, 8000gns to Messrs Evans and Price, Llanilar, Aberystwyth; 2, NJ and AM Barrett's Glenariff Patrick, by Glenisla Ghillie, unsold; 3, D Welsh's Westbroad Powell, by Shawhill J-A-T, 5000gns to MG Bailey, Craigeassie House, Forfar; 4, AJ Gibson Farming's Cutthorn Plumber, by Tofts Prince Grenadier, 4000gns to T and T Hamilton, High Cairn, Kirkconnel, Sanquhar; 5, Major JPO Gibb's Glenisla Pioneer, by Glenisla Munroe, 7000gns to K Jones, Pantycetris, Talgarrey, Ceredigion.

Heifers born on or after March 1, 2020 – 1 and female champion, D and T Bradley Farmer's Meonside Millicent Piper, by Willingham Kensington, 4200gns to Laga Farms, Evie, Orkney; 2 and reserve female, LEP Farms' Meonhill Secret Kerry, by Coldrochie Kensington, 2800gns to S Ryder, Holme House, Dale, Ainstable, Penrith; 3, D and T Bradley Farmer's Meonside Broadhooks Paisley, by Willingham Kensington, 4500gns to L Clarke, Springfield, Lurgan, Co Armagh; 4, Major JPO Gibb's Glenisla Eva Broadhooks, by Millerston Jamboree, 2500gns to R and P McAlister, Langalbuinoch, Kingarth, Bute; 5, Balnabroich Farms' Balnabroich Lovely Pretty Woman, by Fearn Lord, 1800gns to D Bull, Stapelton Grange, Annan.

OTHER LEADING prices

Bulls – 22,000gns – C Macadie and Sons' Perfection of Skaillhouse, by Chapelton Lionheart, to James Porter, Uppermill, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

13,000gns – D and T Bradley Farmer's Meonside Peroni, by Willingham Kensington, to Page Farms Partnership, Rookwith, Ripon

8500gns – C Lowther's Lowther Picasso, by Lowther Konan, to T Russell, The Old Dairy, Stanford Park, Stanford in the Vale.

7000gns – Mrs LJ Townsend's Coxhill Pegasus, by Millerston Kasper, to J and J Green, Wrangham, Colpy, Insch.

6500gns – Mrs F Davidson's Fordie Panther, by Coxhill Luke, to D Hardie, Gates of Birselawsie, Midmar, Aberdeen.

6200gns – Mr and Mrs J Redpath's Knowehead Producer, by Nearhouse Kane, to Leggat Farming Partnership, Shannoch and Saddlebank, Saddlebank, Logiealmond, Perth; MG Bailey's Craigeassie Pierce, by Podehole Lincoln, to A and C Farms, Rutland, Leics.

6000gns – A Haigh's Willingham Pallas, by Willingham Lieutenant Commander, to T Severn, Brick Green, Scammonden Road, Halifax.

Heifers

3400gns – Mr and Mrs B Landers' Cairnsmore Polly D, by Coldrochie Jurassic, to R Coles, Ringmer, East Sussex.

3200gns – JW Frame's Galla Pixie Floss, by Tamhorn Highlander, to T Staunton, Lough Curra, North Kinvara, Co Galway, Eire.

3000gns – Mr and Mrs B Landers' Cairnsmore Patricia, by Redhill Lord Thunder, to B Wear, Hilltop, Blagdon, Bristol.