Simmental bulls sold steadily at Stirling on the opening day of the second week of the February sales.
The average of £5,276 was down £398 on the year, but the clearance rate held up at 83%.
By the end of the sale 119 bulls had changed hands, which is only two fewer than last year.
British Simmental Society chief executive Neil Shand noted that although there was some pedigree buying, the trade was very much underpinned by commercial producers.
“Although there is much speculation that a lot of people are going out of beef production, I feel that those that are staying in are breeding their own replacements and that is where the Simmental comes in,” he added .
“The native breeds here two weeks ago had improved averages but for fewer sold, whereas we sold almost exactly the same number.
“That leads me to believe that the Simmental market share is increasing.”
One of the first bulls through the ring was quickly bid up to 16,000 gns. The second-prize-winning Kerseknowe Dandy from John Jeffrey, Kerseknowe, Kelso, is by stock bull Starline Apollo, a 12,000 gns Stirling purchase three years ago.
This is Mr Jeffrey’s highest ever price for a Simmental.
Dandy has good performance figures, with a Self-Replacing Index (SRI)of +91 and a Terminal Sire Index (TSI) of +71.
The buyer was pedigree and commercial producer Brian Soutar, Peasiehill, Arbroath.
Mr Jeffrey later sold another Starline Apollo son, Kerseknowe Deputy, for 10,000 gns to DC and JJ Marshall, Beeches, Broughton, Biggar.
The senior reserve champion from Stewart Stronach, Berrieleys, Keith, was next but one through the ring and sold for 14,000 gns to Adrian Ivory, Strathisla Farms, Meigle.
The dark red Islavale Donald is one of the first calves offered for sale by stock bull Curaheen Bandit, an 8,500 euro purchase in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Ivory said he was attracted by the bull’s dark colour and its shape.
Its figures were also attractive, with a TSI of +83 and an SRI of +91.
Mr Stronach was back in the action much later in the sale but this time as a buyer. He had to bid up to 15,000 gns to secure Atlow Dixon, the junior and overall champion from David Donnelly, Atlow House, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Dixon is by last year’s breed national show male champion Lisglass Barnabus and out of Kilbride Farm Dora, a reserve champion at the Elite Female Show in 2010.
A half-brother of last year’s Stirling sale leader and breed record holder, the 45,000 gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie, was bid to 11,500 gns before being knocked down to commercial producer Sandy Strachan, Clochie, Brechin.
The fifth-prize Bel Dhu Drummer from father and daughter Billy and Anne MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, is out of Capercaillie’s dam Blackford Wagtail and by Drumlone Anchor, a previous Perth supreme champion.
Dorothy Moffat, Innerwick, Dunbar, saw her sole entry make 11,000 gns to Professor Penny, Harehead, Duns. Innerwick Dougal is by Castlegate Titan and has an impressive SRI of +106 and a TSI of +93.
Andrew Ryder, Black Hamilton Farm, Carlisle, also made a five-figure price for his Ryden Darthvader by Clonagh Tiger Gallant. The purchaser at 10,000 gns was Macfarlane Farms, Quixwood, Duns.
There was only one other five-figure transaction, with Michael Barlow, Four Oaks, Preston, fetching 10,000 gns for his intermediate fourth-prize winner Denizes Dictator by Ashland Tornado.
Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, sold his junior bull Corskie Data for 9,500 gns to Elsick Estate, Newtonhill, Stonehaven. Data is by the 22,000 gns Dirnanean Bradley.
Inverurie producer Ian Mather, Wardes, bid to 8,500 gns to secure Dirnanean Destiny from Finlay and Neil McGowan, Incheoch, Alyth.
Destiny is by Arkmill Franklyn and out of Hockenhull Girlie, dam of five Dirnanean bulls which have sold to average 7,650 gns.
Simmental females sold steadily with two making 4,800 gns to top the sale and both coming from drafts. The McGowans from Incheoch sold the 23-month-old heifer Dirnanean Calypso at the price to David and Lesley Sapsed, High Heath, Hitchin.
The second at 4,800 gns was a nine-year- old cow from William Young, Skerrington Mains, Kilmarnock. Skerrington Rhona was Royal Highland breed champion last year and breed champion and interbreed reserve in 2012.
The buyer was Jimmy Wood, Popes Farm, Preston.
The female champion from WE and GE Nelson sold for 4,000g ns to CR Fovargue, Coleville Leicester.
Judge John Rixon,Lopemede Farm, Thame, Oxfordshire
Champions were as follow.
Senior David Lowry, Newsteadings, Lanark with Keeldrum Darius by Ode Hole Aztec.
Senior reserve- Stewart Stronach, Berryleys, Keith with Islavale Donald by Curaheen Bandit.
Intermediate – Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran, Tempo, Co Fermanagh with Coolcran Dazzler by Kilbride Farm Agohill.
Intermediate reserve – HJW andJC Moore , Coolesker, Beragh, NI with Omorga Danube by Omorga Volvo.
Junior and overall David Donnelly, Atlow House,Ashbourne, Derbyshire with Atlow Dixon by Lisglass Barnabus.
Junior reserve and overall reserve Noel and Mei (CORR) Kilpatrick, Dromore Bridge, Banbridge, NI with Ballymoney David by Derwentwood Nero.
Female- Mr WE Nelson and Mrs GE Nelson, Drumacritten, Enniskillen with Drumacritten Delia by Drumlone Anchor
Female reserve- Mr WE Nelson and Mrs GE Nelson, with Drumacritten Dianna by Drumlone Anchor.
Meanwhile, an entry of seven Salers bulls sold to average £4,725, with the top price of £7,800 going to A McKenzie, Whitebog, Fortrose, for the 25-month-old Whitebob Hulk by Seawell Diplomat.
The buyer was Vestrafold Farm, Sandwick, Orkney.
There were four British Blue bulls sold to average £4,673.
The top price of 5,000 gns was shared with Neil Barclay, South Rd, Insch, selling to Liam Muir, Stennness, Orkney, and JE Bellas & Son selling to A&P Munro, Caplich, Alness.