Charolais bulls met a flying trade from commercial beef producers throughout in Perth on Thursday 27 October. Trade peaked at 16,000gns, over 40 entries sold for 5,000gns or more and an average of £4,380 was achieved for 150 lots traded, a figure representing 75% clearance. Furthermore Charolais once again recorded the highest average and the highest number of lots of any breed coming under the hammer sold during the week's autumn multi-breed sales.

The event witnessed a tremendous leap in faith in the Charolais breed by commercial beef farmers who have seen Charolais cross calves attracting a premium in the marketplace at the autumn round of sales, commented British Charolais Cattle Society chief executive, David Benson. "Demand for these calves from finishers has been unprecedented because they are more and more aware of their ability to finish quicker and more efficiently than any other cross. Furthermore, it was an especially satisfying trade when we have recently seen a big swing to spring calving.

Sale leader at 16,000gns was Balmyle Vagabond CH29, an 18 month old who 24 hours earlier had secured the reserve junior championship for Bill Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire. Sired by the 10,000gns Maerdy Othello, he was out of the Dingle Hofmeister sired Balmyle Oregana whose half brother had sold for 14,000gns. Vagabond who was among the 37 entries who qualified for the Northern Ireland Elite Beef Quality Initiative, a venture that identifies bulls within the breed's top 1% for Muscle Score and Muscle Depth, sold to William McAllister, Kells, Ballymena who commented: "This bull had three very strong bloodlines, he was very clean and stylish, he had good muscling together with plenty of power and bone.

Balmyle Veto CH36 (March 2004), another Elite Hofmeister son from Bill Bruce made 7,500gns to M Smyth Colleraine, County Derry, while his Maerdy Othello sired Balmyle Viceroy CH36 made 6,000gns to G Henry, Harry, Orkney.

The day's second highest call of 12,000gns went to the event's overall supreme and senior champion, Cargriff Victorious CH30, a much admired March 2004 born Moyness Lincoln son from Griff and Carolyn Morris's 50 cow herd based at Llanstephan, Carmarthen. "Victorious was an easy winner, commented judge, Steve Nesbitt, of the County Durham based Alwent herd. "He was the most complete bull in the show; he had great length, power and shape Ð a pedigree man's ideal bull. For the Morris, claiming the supreme award was realizing a long term ambition, for their stockman, Stewart Bett a great triumph, and for Victorious, a fitting end to a highly successful season. Three months ago, he led the field at the Royal Welsh where he was interbreed beef champion and also winner of the M&S Elite Charolais junior bull award.

"Winning Perth was absolutely tremendous, we have been travelling to the event for 14 years, virtually since we founded the herd, and never before had a red ticket with a bull, Griff explained. "However, we knew Victorious was something special since he was a twinkle in his grandmother's eye. His maternal granddam was Blelack Carmen whose noted progeny included Cargriff Jackyoung who sold to Genus. Reclaiming a slice of action were father and son team, Neil and Graeme Massie who secured Victorious to join their 100 cow Blelack herd based at Dinnet, Aboyne. "He is a very balanced bull, he is well grown for his age with tremendous depth of fleshing and a good Calving Value, commented BCCS president, Neil Massie.

Two lots were bid to 11,000gns apiece. First to go was Moyness Vichy CH34, an April 2004 born Moyness Saltire son and out of a Glenleary sired homebred dam from Sandy Innes, Auldearn, Nairn. He returned to the north east with JA Wilson and Sons, Kinclune, Glenkindie, Alford.

The second 11,000gns bid secured the overall reserve supreme and junior champion, Edenhurst Vancouver CH34 for Richard Melville, Crieff, Perthshire. Bred by Peter Vasey, Wetherall, Carlisle, this 17 month old was no stranger to the ring having won two interbreed titles this season on the regional interbreed show circuit. He was another Dingle Hofmeister son and out of the Fleets Vibrant sired Edenhurst May whose five sons have so far sold to average 6,000gns. Peter Vasey who was enjoying his best ever week at Perth in more than 20 years, also went on to claim the coveted champion group of three award. His new herd manager, Andrew Stott teamed up Vancouver with two more Hofmeister sons, Edenhurst Victorious CH30 who sold for 5,800gns to WD Adams and Son, Wigtown, Newtown Stewart, and Edenhurst Vermont CH41 who commanded a 4,000gns bid from J Baird, Darvel, Ayrshire.

The Staffordshire based Mallaber Partners, Peter, John, Keith and Andrew, of Drakelow, Burton-on-Trent made a highly successful debut trip to Perth with Newroddige Venture CH38, the first bull to be born in to their newly established five cow herd which runs alongside the brothers' 240 pedigree cow Holstein herd. Venture collected the reserve intermediate championship and went on to make 10,000gns to Jim Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries who initially spotted the bull demonstrating Ôlength, character and class' at the Royal in July where he collected the junior breed and interbreed championships, and the M&S Beefbreeder interbreed award. Sired by Doonally Olmeto and out of the celebrated Burke trophy winner, Mowbraypark Gigi, Peter Mallaber claimed their early success to be Ôa big boost to a young enterprise.'

Two more bulls shared a 10,000gns bid. First to go was the Irish bred 18 month old Clooncommon Val who was purchased in Carrick back in April by his vendors, Northern Ireland based Victor Bothwell and Harold Stubbs who cited the lengthy youngster's potential. On Thursday he travelled to Orkney with Keith Eunson, Deerness to run with his 250 cow suckler herd, one of the biggest commercial enterprises on the island to both rear and finish cattle.

The third 10,000gns call came late in the day for another bull from across the water, this time from Peter Brown, of Hilltown, Northern Ireland. His sole entry was the July 2004 born Shanlieve Verdict CH48, a Doonally New son and out of Glenleary Racquel who was secured in a private deal. Verdict who was this year's supreme champion at the NI National Charolais Show, Fintona, was Racquel's second son to qualify for the NI Elite Beef Quality Initiative, however he remained in Scotland with buyer, JA Ewing, Annan, Dumfries.

The much admired 19 month Elite Beef Quality Initiative qualifier, Coolnaslee Valetta CH32 made a return trip across the Irish Sea. Valetta who returned from the Balmoral Show with the interbreed Marks & Spencer Performance championship and the junior breed championship, was bred by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, and he changed hands for 9,500gns to S McCrystal, Magherafelt, County Derry. Another Elite entry from the same breeder, Coolnaslee Valour CH25, a 19 month old Allanfauld Superscot son who carried off the interbreed titles at Limavady and Ballymoney Shows was knocked down sold for 8,500gns to Brian Gubbin, Coads Green, Launceston, Cornwall.

Three lots shared a 9,000gns price tag. First to come under the hammer was Logan Viceroy, a second class prize winner from Ewan Hyslop, Castle Douglas. A January 2004 born Baggrave Minstrel son, and out of the veteran brood cow Logan Fiona, he sold to NI breeders, Tom and Libby Clarke and Gordon McWilliam, Springfield, Lurgan.

Brampton Vampire CH20, the 18 month old Great Yorkshire interbreed junior champion and one of the first sons to be offered by the Bassett Pearlyking sired Brampton Temperature, commanded the next 9,000gns bid for Billy Turner, Ripon, North Yorkshire, from Rick and Sue Vale, Kidderminster, Worcester. Twenty four hours earlier, Vampire was awarded the intermediate championship, adding to the string of Perth wins already secured by his breeder, including three times overall supreme champion.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Turner reinvested the majority of his takings in Kelton Valiant CH38. . Bred by Gelston Castle Farms, Castle Douglas, he paid 8,000gns for this May 2004 born Balmyle Magnate son who was out of a Maerdy Empereur sired homebred cow.

The final 9,000gns call was made by Peter Foulger, Billinghurst, West Sussex for Maerdy Vamp CH37, the leading entry from Flintshire based vet, Esmor Evans, Mold. This 17 month old youngster was sired by Nectargerc and out of a Jupiter sired homebred cow.

Heading a handful of entries from the Campbell family, Ian and John and father, Colin, of Thrunton, Alnwick was their first class prize winner, Thrunton Viscount CH40 making 8,500gns to AC Austin, Dumfries. Viscount was by their 25,000gns Mowbraypark Orlando who has sired three supreme Perth champions, and his granddam, Thrunton Icicle is one of the 120 cow herd's best breeding females. Viscount showed tremendous promise earlier in the season when he collected the junior and overall male championship at the Scottish National Charolais Show. The Campbell's second best price of 7,000gns was paid by A and D Rodger, of Duns, Berwickshire for the Orlando sired Thrunton Victorious CH28, a 19 month old who secured the top interbreed award at the Berwickshire County Show.

Shelling out 7,500gns was D Morrow, Coleraine, County Antrim for Balmaud Vincent CH29, a 19 month old Allanfauld Superman and out of a Kinclune bred cow from breed newcomers, Wilson and Gerardine Strachan, King Edward, Banff who were selling their first ever offering through Perth.

Father and son team, John and Peter Howells, made a 860 mile round trip to Perth from Llanybydder, Ceredigion, their first since they made their debut exactly two years ago and creamed off the supreme championship and leading 31,000gns price. This time they offered Gwenog Victorious CH24 for 7,200gns to RB Millar, Tealing, Dundee. A June 2004 born youngster, Victorious was by their 18,000gns Derryharney Outstanding and was placed in the winning group of three at the Royal Welsh.

However, the previous day that the Howells once again scored success with Derryharney Outstanding sired progeny when they offered their first ever females in the ring. Gwenog Vogue CH25 the reserve junior Royal Welsh champion, who a few hours earlier had claimed the supreme female championship, took the section's leading 5,500gns call to breed newcomer, Sarah Burton, Rempstone, Loughborough. Her stable mate and reserve female champion, Gwenog Velvet CH29 made 4,200gns to Cyril Millar, Coleraine, County Londonderry. Cumbrian breeders, David and Marjorie Stobart, of Wigton offered their May 2004 born Stobarts Visa CH49, another Elite entry for 7,000gns to ON Wilson, Dungiven, County Derry. Visa was by their Perth senior champion, Thrunton Scania and out of a Tillbrook bred cow.

Another Welsh breeder in the money at 6,500gns was Alwyn Rees, Pennal, Machynlleth with his Royal Welsh reserve junior champion, Pennal Victorious CH27. A Mowbraypark Orlando son, he was knocked down sold to G Smith and Sons, Alnwick.

Balthayock Viceroy CH45 an entry from Major David Walter, Perth made 6,500gns to WC Heenan, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. The March 2004 born Viceroy was by Dingle Hofmeister, out of the noted Balthayock Gelatin and qualified for the NI Elite Beef Quality Initiative.

Forking out the third 6,500gns bid was Fawdon Farms, Powburn, Alnwick for Bleasdale Viking CH28, an 18 month old Allanfauld Vagabond son from the Goosnargh, Preston based Kelsall and Marsden based partnership.

Averages: 150 bulls £4,380.00; 10 females £1,863.75

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