Beef producers pledged their allegiance to Charolais in Perth on Thursday 15 November where bidding peaked at 30,000gns and 124 lots were traded for an average £4,564.00. Those figures represented the highest price, the highest average and the highest number of bulls of any breed coming under the hammer sold during the week’s autumn multi-breed sales.

Balmyle Bollinger - 30,000 guineas

“Trade was underpinned throughout by commercial producers who in the last few weeks have reaped very welcome rewards from their Charolais cross calves which have attracted premium prices from finishers at the autumn store sales,” commented British Charolais Cattle Society chief executive, David Benson. “These suckler men have realized that when their whole farm enterprises come under pressure, then complacency is not an option; they can pin their faith in Charolais to produce fast growing calves which achieve that notable weight for age, together with good conformation and quiet temperament.”

The top day’s 30,000gns call came literally at the close of the five hour stint. Last in the ring was the much admired Balmyle Bollinger, a 16 month old youngster from Bill Bruce, Balmyle, Meigle, Perthshire who described him as ‘classy, with a tremendous amount of muscle.’ Sired by Dingle Hofmeister, he was out of one of Balmyle’s best breeding cows who goes back to the 10,000gns junior Perth champion, Maerdy Othello. Bollinger is scheduled to work across four herds with a total of 100 cows after being knocked down sold to a consortium of north east breeders: Roy, Jim, Matthew and Sam Milne, Lhanbryde, Elgin; John and Raymond Irvine, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch; and relative breed newcomers, Martin Irvine, Drummuir, Keith and Andrew Stevenson, Anstruther, Fife.   

“Bollinger offered the full package,” commented Jim Milne. “He had the classic Balmyle head, great conformation, width, character and style. What’s more, he was one of the best catalogued entries in terms of accompanying Breedplan data, in particular for growth rate with a 400 day weight within the breed’s top 10%.”

Other entries to come under the hammer bred from Balmyle’s 80 cow herd included Balmyle Brinston, a 17 month old by the 28,000gns Brampton Nacodar for 9,000gns to WJ Crawford, Haddington, East Lothian, while Norm Innes, Finhorn, Forres made a 9,500gns bid for Balmyle Broadside, a 20 month old by the 30,000gns Pedr Thumper.  

The event’s second highest price of 22,000gns was made for Newhouse Bigal, a 21 month old from father and son team, Bob and Drew Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Angus. The sale was the highest achieved by the family in more than 30 years of exhibiting at Perth. Bigal, a first class prize winner, offered a superb blend of genetics. He was by the 24,000gns reserve senior Perth champion, Mowbraypark Torpedo and out of Newhouse Ragbag who goes back to Brampton Nacodar, and the 30,000gns Silver Josh. Bigal was knocked down sold to the Campbell family, Ian, John and their father, Colin, of Thrunton, Alnwick and is destined to run with their 120 cow herd. “Bigal met with the main criteria we were seeking in a bull; he has the conformation, the breeding background and the Breedplan data to match,” said Ian.

The Campbells recouped more than their spend by selling six lots to average 5,400gns. Their leader at 11,000gns was the 17 month old reserve intermediate champion, Thrunton Bombadier to fellow north east breeder, Snowdon Oates to run with his 60 cow Ouston herd based at Pelton, Chester-le-Street. “Bombadier demonstrates quality, he is clean and an extremely well balanced bull,” he said. Sired by the 15,000gns Burradon Talisman, he was out of a homebred cow by the 20,000gns Maerdy Location and who is sister to the 25,000gns Perth champion, Thrunton Socrates.  Another April born Talisman son, this time Thrunton Bellringer attracted the Campbell’s next best at 6,000gns from George Wordie, Huntly, Aberdeen.

The event’s reserve senior champion, Goldies Banker from Hamish Goldie attracted a 14,000gns call from the judge, Jimmy Wilson, Mintlaw, Peterhead. This March 2006 born Oldstone Egbert son, was out of Goldies Umble, an outstanding heifer in the Dumfries based 50 cow herd and half sister to the 25,000gns Perth champion, Goldies Unbeatable.

Twenty four hours earlier, Mr Wilson had placed his junior and overall supreme championship in Killadeas Barney, a 15 month old youngster which he described as a ‘dream’ bull. “He had width, he had meat where it counts, he was clean through the belly and he had character,” he said. For Barney’s exhibitors, father and son team, Stuart and David Bothwell, the accolade marked 15 years of frequent trips across the water from Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh. “Claiming the supreme slot after knocking on the door on several occasions has got to be a dream come true for us,” commented David. Barney was by the Tullamore junior champion, Dunlon Ulick and out of a homebred heifer by the 10,000gns Harestone Nighthawk. He was no stranger to the ring having already been awarded the supreme male championship title at the NI National Charolais Show, Fintona earlier this year. Barney was secured for 13,000gns in a two way bid between Don Marshall, Scropton Derby and Peter Donger, Foxley, Towcester whose respective Cotehouse and Seawell herds amount to more than 200 cows.

Standing below Barney in the overall line up for the supreme junior championship was fellow Irish bred entry, Ratoary Bond from Sean McGovern and his 12 year old daughter, Eimear, of Clogher, County Tyrone. This 18 month old Oldstone Egbert son made his debut appearance on Scottish soil earlier this year when he claimed the Royal Highland junior male championship and the M&S Beef Breeder award. He was knocked down sold to Jim Innes, Huntley, Aberdeen to run with his 800 cow suckler herd.

Gwenog Banjo, the highest Welsh bred entry at 12,000gns and a member of the champion group of three was bred by father and son team, John and Peter Howells who were making one of their frequent and highly successful 1,000 mile round trips from Llanwenog, Llanybydder to Perth. Banjo who secured the Royal Welsh reserve junior interbreed championship, was by the 16,000gns Blelack Tycoon and out of a homebred cow whose full sister’s sons have sold twice to 10,000gns. He was purchased by a consortium of three Northumbrian breeders, Chris Curry, Thropton, Morpeth; Alan Lawson and Son, Hallington Newcastle and Harold Forster and Sons, Humshaugh, Hexham. Gwenog Beano, one of Banjo’s two stable mates by Tycoon, sold for 5,500gns to T Howden and Son, Balerno, Midlothian, while the third entry, Gwenog Braveheart attracted a 5,200gns call from Northern Ireland breeder, P Hammond, Sandholes, Cookstown.    

Two lots went to 8,000gns each. First to go was Elgin Bonnieprincecharlie, a March 2006 born Harestone Uruguy son and out of a homebred cow going back to Coolnaslee Prospect. Bred by the Milne family, Elgin he sold to James More, Gargunnonk, Stirling. Minutes before, the same vendors had offered Elgin Bono, another Uruguy son this time for 6,500gns to I Macrae, Tignabruaich, Argyll.

The Milne family also enjoyed success in the female section the previous day when their two year old heifer, Elgin Amy, by Rumsden Samuri was awarded the supreme female title and commanded the leading 4,000gns bid from John Rix, Nayland, Colchester. Another Samuri daughter, the July 2005 born Elgin Astrid made 3,000gns to R Nicol, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

The second 8,000gns call went to Coolnaslee Bonanza, a 19 month old by Allanfauld Superscot and out of a Brampton Embark sired homebred dam from Gilbert Crawford’s 70 cow herd based at Maghera, County Derry. The buyer was MA Williamson, Leys Castle, Inverness.

Six entries shared a 7,000gns price tag. They included two Pedr Tennessee sons from Aberdeenshire breeder, Michael Massie, Auchnagatt, Ellon: the May 2006 born Elrick Bombardier to G McGinnon, Alyth, Blairgowrie and Elrick Byron, an 18 month old to Nether Balfour Home Farm, Drumoak.

Graeme Massie and his father, Neil, of Dinnett, Aboyne offered their highest entry of the day at 7,000gns to WD Mundell and Son, Clovenfords, Galashiels. Blelack Brigadeer was a March 2006 born Bassingbourn Ralph son and out of a hombred cow by Thrunton Damien.

A 7,000gns bid was made by CA Smith, Durris, Banchory for Marwood Buffalo from the Blyth family, Ray and Jean, their son, Neil and daughter in law, Kirsty, of Elwick, Hartlepool. This 18 month old was out of a homebred cow by the 15,000gns Perth intermediate champion, Inverlochy Passport.

Tedd Braveheart, the sole entry from S Hunter and Harold Stubbs, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh made 7,000gns to Ross Farms and Wester Middleton, Gorebridge, Midlothian. This 19 month old who had collected the reserve senior champion title at the NI National Charolais Show was by Prime Roberto and out of an Oldstone Egbert sired homebred cow.

Leading a string of entries at 7,000gns from Flintshire based vet, Esmor Evans, Mold was Maerdy Boom, an April 2006 born Maerdy Padirac selling to JA Wilson and Sons, Alford, Aberdeen. His next highest lot at 6,000gns to Bill Bruce, Balmyle, Meigle was Maerdy Barbican, a 16 month old Maerdy Sinndar son and out of a homebred cow going back to Lamberhurst lines.

Another Welsh entry in the money at 6,800gns was Cargriff Bouncer, a February 2006 born Moncur General son from Griff and Carolyn Morris, Llanstephan, Carmarthen. Bouncer was no stranger to the ring having scooped the junior interbreed championship at the Royal Welsh together with the M&S Elite junior bull award. He went home with T Smith and Son, Alford, Aberdeen.

A second 6,800gns call was made this time for Fairway Bangon, an April 2006 born Fairway Soprano son from David Fattorini, Tockwith, York. The buyer was LD Carr, Higham Ferrers, Northampton.  Kersknowe Bard, a 19 month old by Elrick Solution from Jim Jeffrey, Kersknowe, Kelso sold for 6,200gns to Dalswinton Estate, Dumfries.

Females met a ready trade on Wednesday 14 November. Following on from the champion and leading 4,000gns call, Esmor Evans sold his best at 3,600gns to J Wilson, Newry, County Down. Maerdy Alder was a two year old heifer by Ballybrown Toby and out of a Maerdy Grimaldi sired homebred dam.

A draft from John Christie, Stirling was headed at 2,500gns by Westcarse Valetta, a three year old heifer sold with her January born heifer calf at foot by Burradon Talisman. The buyer was Jim Kennedy, Maybole, Ayrshire who was seeking to expand his newly established herd. Exactly 12 months ago, he bought his foundation cow sold with her bull calf at foot, Thrunton Baldrick who returned to Perth this week, secured the intermediate championship and sold for 4,500gns to Klondyke Farms, Moniaive, Thornhill. 

Two heifers from David Walker, Cawdor, Nairn led his herd’s dispersal sale bidding. At 2,100gns, Galcantray April, a Farleycopse Turbo daughter went to Messrs Mckay, Connon Bridge, Inverness, while the Maerdy Rembrandt sired Galcantray Vickie made 2,000gns to Newroddige Charolais, Edingale, Tamworth.   

Averages: 124 bulls £4,564.00; 54 females, £1,502.27

Auctioneers: United Auctions

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