SUNDAY, February 28, saw United Auctions host its annual Sp-ring Bull Sale, where Charolais, once again,
came out on top.
With current Government guidelines still in place, there was a good mixture of people buying in person, online and over the phone.
Top price peaked at 16,000gns, which levelled out to the average price of £7,121, up by £347 per head on the previous year. Some 93 animals were put forward with a 71 per cent clearance rate.
British Charolais Cattle Society CEO Peter Phythian said he was pleased with the strong commercial trade on the day, with the Charolais breed still in high demand.
Ballinlare Phantom was the top seller of the day, reaching a top price of 16,000gns.
This 20-month-old lad is
bred by J H Wilson and Sons of Newry. Phantom’s sire, Balthayock Justice, was Reserve Supreme Champion and was the top sale price at 50,000gns at Stirling in 2015.
His dam Ballinlare Isis is sired by Goldies Carnival. The winning bidders, in a two-way split, were R M Adam & Son of Glamis, Angus, and M J Massie from Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Second top price of the day at 14,000gns was Solwayfirth Peterpan, bred by I & D Goldie in Annan, Dumfriesshire. This
17-month-old lad is sired by the 11,000gns Glenericht Ma-jestic, his dam Solwayfirth Charity is the daughter of Maerdy Restful. He will be joining the herd at Hafod Yr Esgob Uchaf in Bala at the farm of G M Jones.
A trio of bulls sold for the next highest price of 12,000gns.
First to reach 12,000gns was Elgin Pele from Mr R A Milne in Elgin, Morayshire. Described as “one of the better bulls in the yard,” the 22-month-old bull is by the easy calving Westcarse Houdini.
His dam, Elgin Electra, is a full sister to the 20,000gns Elgin DaVinci and a daughter of Harestone Tyrol. The successful bidder was James Moir of Auchorties Farm, Banff.
The second bull to reach 12,000gns was Elrick Patriot,
sired by Maerdy Gouverneur and bred by Mr M J Massie from Ellon in Aberdeenshire. Patriot, out of Elrick Lass, a daughter of Thrunton Fearless, the 2011 Inter-mediate and Supreme Champ-
ion who sold for 16,000gns at Stirling. Patriot will be making the journey to his new home with J & W Kellas at Raws Farm, Keith.
The final bull to reach 12,000gns was also from the same stable of Mr M J Massie. Twenty-month-old Elrick Pol-
dark is the full brother to Elrick Outlaw, who sold for 25,000gns and is the son of the easy calving Maerdy Gouverneur. His dam, Elrick Florida, is a daughter of 11,000gns Maerdy Dublin. He is going home with Glass & Smith, Mills of Folis, Aberdeenshire.
Four bulls went on to make 10,000gns. The first one to secure the bid was Thrunton Plato, bred by J H C Campbell & Sons of Alnwick, Northumberland.
This 22-month-old Plato is sired by the 28,000gns Maerdy Jerusalam and is out of Thrunton Jessie J, a daughter of Burradon Garibaldi, who sold for 26,000gns at Stirling in 2013. He will be joining the farm of W Pringle and Son of Yorkston Farm, Mid Lothian.
The next to sell at 10,000gns was Aultmore Phantom from the farm of W Patterson & Son from Keith, Bannfshire. Phantom is a very stylish bull from an easy calving line. His sire, Westcarse Houdini, sold for 14,000gns in 2013. His dam is Aultmore Lassie, a daughter of Aultmore Gladiator.
The men behind the money were R O Chandler & Co from Skirrid Farm, Abergavenny.
E & M Fairhurst & Son from Bankend Farm, Lancaster, secured the next successful bid at 10,000gns who take home Falleninch Paco, a 21-month-old bull bred by Mr A B Hornall from Falleninch Farm, Stirling. Paco is fully parent verified and is sired by Falleninch Memo, out of Falleninch Libby, a daughter of Dereskit Fernando.
The final bull to make 10,000gns was Goldies Paul, who comes from the farm of Mr H Goldie in Dumfries. This outstanding 18-month-old lad is out of Goldies Jo, a daughter of the easy calving Blelack Digger.
His sire is Balthayock Marquis, who is known for easy calving. His new owner is J S Fraser from Toir Mains Farm, Ross-Shire.
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