There was a drop in averages in the Aberdeen-Angus ring at Stirling Bull Sales, with society chief executive Ron McHattie blaming the last 11 months of depressed beef prices for a drop in the average of more than £1,000 on the year.
He said the continued shift to spring-calving makes this a difficult time of year to sell bulls.
A clearance rate of 66% saw 32 bulls sold to average £4,472, compared to 18 bulls last year which averaged £5,466.
Mr McHattie was encouraged by a good trade for females, with 19 averaging £2,553.
Highlight of the sale was Neil Wattie’s junior champion Tonley Pato, which went on to take supreme of the show and the day’s top price of 12,000gns to pedigree breeder Jan Boomars, Heathdown, Woldingham.
This son of the 8,000gns Blelack Evor and out of Tonley Princess was reserve champion at Turriff Show in the summer.
Judge Ian Mathers, Wardes, Kintore, said his champion was easy to find but ultimately it was the overall reserve from Alastair and Graeme Fraser, Idvies, Forfar, which he bought for 6,500gns, having described him as “a lean bull which will be a good beef breeder when it is older”.
Idvies Johnston Eric is by Kirriemuir Show champion Shadwell Black Broughton and out of Idvies Juana Erica.
Another to make 6,500gns was Victor Dobson’s Water End Payton, by Blelack Evergreat out of Water End Prudence.
The Dobsons only run 10 cows at Water End Farm near York, and this one has been at livery at Richard and Carol Rettie’s for the summer, coming second at the Great Yorkshire Show.
He was bought by pedigree and commercial breeder Charlie Gorn, Weddell, Burray, Orkney.
JAC First Class a first-place bull by HF El Tigre and out of Netherton Frances from A Cuthbertson & Son, Wester Balgair, Balfron made 6,200gns to the Scottish Government’s bull stud based at Knocknagael near Inverness.
The senior champion from Bill Bruce, Logie, Ellon, made 6,000gns to James Hamilton, Headsmuir, Carluke. Logie Prize Bruce was by the 12,000gns Glenbuchat Bruce, which was senior champion at Perth three years ago.
Orkney buyer Neil Rendall, Holland, Pappa Westray, paid 5,800gns for reserve junior champion Cairnton Blackcap by Blelack Kanasta Lad from Ken and Margaret Howie, Cairnton, Lumphanon, Banchory.
A small draft from John Elliot’s Rawburn herd at Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, saw females sold to 6,000gns, with a further three at 5,000gns or above, which helped boost the female average.
The top price was for Rawburn Ella, a 30-month-old heifer by Rawburn Double Oseven. In-calf to Rawburn Boss, she went in a joint deal to Highland Wagu, Dunblane and Alastair and Graeme Fraser, Newton of Idvies, Forfar.
Young breeder Stephanie Dick, Westerton, Cowie, paid 5,200gns for Rawburn Ellen Erica, a two-year-old heifer by Oakchurch Field Marshall and in-calf to Skaill Eddie.
The Provan family at Parkhall, Douglas, paid 5,000gns twice for Rawburn Ebony and Elliot Ellen Erica, both by Rawburn Evolution and both due in February to Skaill Eddie.
Aberdeen-Angus champions were as follow.
Overall champion and junior: Neil Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, with Tonley Pato, by Blelack Evor.
Reserve and intermediate: Alastair and Graeme Fraser, Newton of Idvies, Forfar, with Idvies Johnston Eric, by Shadwell Black Broughton.
Senior champion: Bill Bruce, Logie, Ellon, with Logie Prize Bruce, by Glenbuchat Bruce. Reserve: Victor Dobson, Water End Farm, Holme-on-Spalding, York, with Water End Payton, by Blelack Evergreat.
Intermediate reserve: AJ and WM Norrie’s Wrae Proud Innsbruck,from Wrae Farm, Turriff.
Junior reserve: Ken and Margaret Howie, Cairnton, Banchory, with Cairton Blackcap, by Blelack Canasta Lad.
Female: Henk Rennie, Westfield of Ardoyne, Insch, with Ardoyne Royal Lavender, by Blelack Black Rod. Reserve: Gordon Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, with Ettrick Rachel, by Rawburn Elmer.