It was boom time for the Aberdeen-Angus breed at Perth on Tuesday (February 7) as prices for Aberdeen-Angus bulls hit a new all-time high.

Top prices of 38,000gns and 36,000gns - the highest for 40 years - eight five-figure prices, 21 prices of 5000gns and over, the first export sales for more than 10 years and a strong home commercial demand saw the average price for the 123 bulls sold soar by £781 to a record £4455.

This compares with £3674 for 158 bulls last year and the previous record of £4177.50 for 147 bulls two years ago.

Frenetic bidding by leading pedigree herds seeking new stock bulls set the pace but demand from commercial beef producers was also solid, reflecting the continued strong demand and premium prices for Aberdeen-Angus prime and store cattle.

But buyers were highly selective and 63 bulls remained unsold when bidding failed to reach sellers’ expectations.

“Bulls meeting the requirements of the market in terms of scale and performance were keenly sought after,” said Ron McHattie, chief executive of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society. “Bulls must have kilograms as it is weight that pays. Bulls without scale and presence were not wanted.”

The top price came early in the day when the supreme and senior champion, Cardona Jewel Eric D276, from Robert Galloway, Cardona, Doune, Perthshire, was sold for 38,000gns to David Walker, Galcantray, Nairn, a member of the famous Walkers Shortbread family, for his 150-cow herd.

The bull gave Mr Galloway his first-ever supreme championship at Perth the previous day and was described as one of the longest and heaviest bulls ever bred at Cardona. He was sired by Lockerley Eastern Cruz A093, reserve champion at Perth in 2003 when purchased for 6500gns, and recorded pluses for liveweight gain, milk, eye muscle area and retail beef yield, with a terminal sire index of +24.

Mr Galloway and his father, Ian, are owners of Scotland’s leading meat company, Scotbeef Ltd of Bridge of Allan, suppliers of Aberdeen-Angus beef to Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.

Minutes earlier, a first prize bull from veteran breeder, John Moores, North Moss, Formby, Liverpool, realised the first record price of the day of 36,000gns to give Mr Moores - a member of the Littlewoods football pools and retail stores family - his most successful day at Perth in 40 years of showing.

“Have you ever felt drunk without having any alcohol?” asked a delighted Mr Moores after a spirited bidding dual for his much-admired bull. “That’s how I feel!”

An opening bid of 10,000gns from leading breeder, Willie McLaren, Netherton, Blackford, Perthshire, stunned the packed ringside and bids came fast and furious before Mr McLaren’s final bid secured the bull - packed with top North American breeding - for his Netherton herd in a joint purchase with Northern Ireland house builder, Bill Porter and his son, James, Old Glenort, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim.

The bull’s dam, DMM Miss Essence 22B, has twice been show female of the year in Canada, and was selected as an embryo donor cow by Kevin Moores and his farm manager, Angus Baillie, during a visit to the Miller Wilson ranch. They then selected for a sire the top American bull, Vermilion Dateline 7078.

A full brother from the same embryo flush recently sold privately to the Drumdow herd of Willie Brown, Laigh Drumdow, Turnberry, Ayrshire, and another sold at Perth for 4800gns.

Mr McLaren’s W and D McLaren family farming partnership went on to sell their own junior champion, Netherton Kular D318, by Netherton Royal Sovereign A072, at 7500gns to Bernard Mairs, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Mr Galloway was at the other end of the next highest transaction when he paid 20,000gns for a second prize bull, the 22 month old Eastfield Fusilier D373, by Lockerley Kruz Z310, from Ewan Brewis, Eastfield of Lempitlaw, Kelso, Roxburghshire. The Eastfield herd is no stranger to the high spots at Perth having sold their champion, Elevate of Eastfield, for the then record price of 25,000gns as far back as 1959.

One of the most consistent trades of the day was enjoyed by father-and-son, Neil and Graeme Massie, Blelack, Dinnet, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, who stood reserve for both the supreme and senior and the intermediate championships and went on to sell 10 bulls for an average of £6237.

Top price was 16,000gns for their reserve supreme and reserve senior champion, Blelack Eagle D895, from the first crop by Nightingale Ernie B133. This bull was reserve yearling bull champion at the Black Beauty Bonanza in December. Buyer was Rae Grieve, Carlhurlie, Lundin Links, Fife, who had earlier been underbidder on the 38,000gns top priced bull.

The Massie’s also sold a second prize bull, Blelack Protigy D039, by the home-bred Blelack Blackstock A227, at 10,500gns to Geoffrey Minter, Sandside Estate, Reay, Caithness, and their reserve intermediate champion, Blelack Lord Harold D009, by the 2003 Perth supreme champion, Blelack Lord Hornblower A243, at 6000gns to Andrew Shepherd, Orbliston, Fochabers, Morayshire.

Another Border herd was next in the batting order at 14,000gns paid by David Ismail, Dinar Estate Management Ltd, Fordel, Glenfarg, Perth, for the fourth prize, Wedderlie Kentucky D714, by Tui Eric Y003, from John and Marion Tilson, Wedderlie, Gordon, Berwickshire.

First time exhibitor, Jeremy Price, Oakchurch Farm, Staunton-on-Wye, Hereford, claimed the next highest price of 11,500gns for a first prize bull, Oakchurch Dynamite D011, a son of Netherton Fabulous Cruz Y300. This bull’s dam, the Northern Ireland bred, Ballyheather Dolly Z682, was champion at the Perth October show and sale in 2002 when purchased for the top price of 4200gns.

The only other five figure price was 10,500gns received by first time exhibitor, Alex Sanger, P B Scanlan and Partners, Prettycur, Hillside, Montrose, Angus, for the first prize, Rosemount Black Knight D464, by Blelack Prince Consort A286. Buyer was Frank Bursill, Whinbush, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire.

This was followed at 9000gns for the fifth prize, Mosston Muir El Krugerrand D081, by F A R Kruggerrand, from Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir, Guthrie, Forfar, Angus. Buyer was Caly Estates, Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie, Perthshire.

The reserve junior champion realised the next highest price of 8500gns to AI Services, Northern Ireland. The bull, Cheeklaw Eirwyn D165, by Tweedside Jewgal Eric Z083, was exhibited by David Lucas, Cheeklaw, Duns, Berwickshire.

The intermediate champion, Duncanziemere Edwin D148, another by Rawburn Transformer, from Alistair Clark, Duncanziemere, Lugar, Cumnock, Ayrshire, sold for 8000gns to John and Donna Stark, Aiten, Ardersier, Inverness. This bull was first prize junior yearling at the Royal Highland Show last year.

Another at 8000gns came late in the sale when Bryan and Linda Ronan, Jerusalem, Colby, Appleby, Cumbria, sold their first prize junior bull, Jerusalem Darwin D087, by Dalrene Cruz 11F, to A S Hogg and Partners, Birkenside, Earlston, Berwickshire.

Females sold to a top of 3800gns for the fourth prize, Kinaldy Jewel Erica D032, by Lady Croft Punch A064, from George Milne, Kinaldy, St Andrews, Fife, to Ian Anderson, buying on behalf of Mrs J Gardner, Manor Farm, Manor Road, Eckington, Worcester.

This was followed at 3000gns for the first prize, Cherrybank Edwina D825, by Rawburn Transformer, from George and Aileen McFadzean, Braeview, Drumharvie, Crieff, Perthshire, to Stewart Barclay, Harestone, Banchory, Kincardineshire.

The female champion, Craigour Eurevine C045, a two year old daughter of Evoke of Monkwood, from Cavan O’Dwyer, Craigour, Glassel, Banchory, sold for 2200gns to Ivan Jobb, The Diamond, Dunamona Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, who also took a second prize winner from the Castle of Mey herd at 1700gns.

The reserve champion, Mosston Muir Beautiful Megan, by Nightingale Regent R27, from Tom Rennie, realised 1500gns to Paragon Pedigree Herds, Teasdale Cottage, Slalely, Hexham, Northumberland.

A draft from Neil and Graeme Massie sold to 3000gns for the five year old cow, Blelack Jury Erica A209, by Aberan DMM Decision 26H, to Alasdair Fletcher, Laighhatton, Bishopton, Renfrewshire, and 2700gns for the six year old, Blelack Blackbird Y467, by Royal Added Value 19D, to John Lascelles, Balmachie, Carnoustie, Angus.

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