A small show of Beef Shorthorn bulls sold selectively at Stirling Bull Sales yesterday, with the top price of 6,500gns going to Donald Biggar, Grange, Castle Douglas, for the 26-month-old roan Chapelton Festival.
A third-prize winner in the pre-sale show, Festival is by the 6,800gns Glenisla Banquo and out of the Dunsyre North Star daughter Chapelton Duchess.
Banquo sons from the 75-cow Chapelton herd have previously sold to 10,000gns.
The buyers yesterday were Mr and Mrs D Calder, Braes of Grandtully, Aberfeldy.
Douglas McMillan from Moneydie Roger, Luncarty, sold Coldrochie Factor, a roan-coated LS Zeus son, for 5,500 gns to Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth.
LS Zeus was bought at the Royal Highland Show six years ago and, after working at Moneydie, was sold on to the Craigeassie herd at Forfar.
Coldrochie Factor has good show history having been senior breed champion at last year’s Stars of the Future at Stirling, male champion at Alyth and reserve breed champion at the sational show at the Great Yorkshire.
Mr McMillan moved to Perthshire from the south 4 years ago and has changed the prefix of his long-established herd from Colnvalley to Coldrochie.
Robert and Paula McAlister, Langalbuinoch, Isle of Bute, saw their 24-month-old show champion Langalbuinoch Future sell to Mark Little Farms, Hilliclay, Thurso for 5,000 gns.
This red-coated AI son of Tofts Atlas was second in his class at the Royal Highland Show and champion of champions at Bute Show this summer.
Jim Frame, Little Galla, Biggar, sold the reserve champion, the white-coated Galla Gold, for 3,500 gns to JS McLaren & Son, Dalcapon, Ballinluig.
Glenisla Gladiator from Major John Gibb, Glenisla House, Blairgowrie, came under the hammer at 3,000gns, selling to Sandy Smith, of Haughton, Glenkindie.
In all, the clearance rate for Shorthorn bulls was a disappointing 41%, with 13 selling to average £3,651 (-£654 on the year).
Females were in stronger demand, with 90% of those through the ring finding buyers to average £2,172 (-£45 on the year).
Heifers sold easily, with auctioneer David Brown not having to look far for bids.
The breed has had a lift of late with Shorthorn-sired calves fetching a 30ppk premium offered by the Morrisons Traditional Native Beef scheme.
Major Gibb and daughter Catriona led the trade, with twin calves Glenisla Eva Broadhooks G934 and Glenisla Eva Broadhooks G933 making 4,200 gns and 4,500gns.
J & D Haigh, Ashgrove, Market Rasen, bought both.
These 20-month-old roan heifers were got by AI from Belmore Fuel Injected and are out of Glenisla Eva Broadhooks C691.
The female champion from Andrew Hall and Lisa Done, Breconside, Moffat, was quickly bid to 4,200 gns before being knocked down to Highland Wagyu, Burnside of Balhaldie, Dunblane.
The 18-month-old Housebyres Georgiesheergorgeous is by Holmeere Horatio and out of Cairnsmore Desire Sheergorgeous.
This is the first female to be sold from the recently founded Housebyres herd and was sixth in a strong class at the Great Yorkshire.
Jim Frame, Little Galla, Biggar, sold two heifers at 3,800gns, both going to Mr Kirkpatrick, Dalry. Galla Guinevere and Galla Gina are both by Kidston Rambo.
Charles Lowther, Nord Vue Farms, Lowther Cumbria, sold 17-month- old roan heifer Lowther Magic for 3,500gns to an unidentified buyer.
An LS Eagle daughter, she has been served by Blelack Minstrel.
Also at 3,500gns Thomson, Roddick & Lawrie, of Eaglesfield, Lockerbie sold Shawhill Florence Gertrude to JDM Thomson, Laga Farms, Evie, Orkney.
By Dunsyre Duke and free of the bull, this 18-month-old roan stood second in class at Agri Expo, Stars of the Future and the Royal Highland.
Douglas McMillan sold Coldrochie Catriona Rosebud at 3,200gns.
Carey Coombs, Dunsyre, Carnwath, sold Dunsyre Vatersay at the same price.
Shorthorn champions:
Male: Robert and Paula McAlister, Langalbuinoch Farm, Kingarth, Isle of Bute, with Langalbuinoch Future by Tofts Atlas.
Reserve: Jim Frame, Little Galla, Wiston, Biggar, with Galla Gold by Kidston Rambo 1st.
Female: Andrew Hall and Lisa Done, BreconsideCottage, Breconside, Moffat, with Housebyres Georgiesheergorgeous by Holmeere Horatio.
Reserve: Thomson, Roddick & Lawrie, Newlands, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, with Shawhill Florence Gertrude by Dunsyre Duke.