Perth Charolais Peak at 14,000gns
21/02/08

55 entries at 5,000gns or more; 166 lots traded: average £4,408

Charolais bulls commanded a solid trade from the commercial sector at the breed society’s official spring sale in Perth, on Wednesday 20 February. Bidding peaked at 14,000gns, 55 entries sold for 5,000gns or more and166 lots traded to average £4,408. That figure represented the highest number of bulls of any breed coming under the hammer sold during the centre’s spring multi-breed sales and a 70% clearance.

Dartonhall Brandy sold for 14,000gns

“Trade was underpinned by suckler producers who were seeking in particular bulls that will leave bigger, growthy calves and ultimately a higher return,” commented the British Charolais Cattle Society’s David Benson. “It was apparent that buyers were now using BCCS’s new performance indices to identify bulls; the Terminal Index (TI) for out and out cross breeding programmes, and both pedigree and commercial men were referring to the Self Replacing Index (SRI) for selecting bulls to leave replacement females.” 

The day’s leader at 14,000gns was Dartonhall Brandy, a 20 month old from Sean McGovern, Clogher, County Tyronne who purchased him in Dungannon last year for 7,500gns. Brandy was sired by Mr McGovern’s Royal Highland Show champion, Ashleigh Victor, an Irish bred bull who was initially purchased for €11,000 at Tullamore by Brandy’s breeder, John Erskine, Killylea, County Armargh. Brandy who was a second class prize winner and also a qualifier for Beef Quality Initiative funding, was knocked down sold to Gregory Donnelly, to join his 50 cow herd based at Ardmore, County Derry. For Sean McGovern who was accompanied by his daughters, Eimear and Clodagh, the deal added to a handful of five figure leading bulls he has sold through Perth since starting to trade through the centre in the last six years.

Woodpark Bishop sold for 13,000gns

Close behind at 13,000gns was another Irish bred bull, this time the class winner, Woodpark Bishop from Will Short, Omagh, County Tyronne who was enjoying his best ever price at Perth in 10 years of traveling over the water. An 18 month old by the privately purchased Rumsden Tsar, Bishop was out of Woodpark Rene, a member of the 30 cow herd and bred from one of its leading cow families. The buyer was David Stobart who admired Bishop’s ‘extreme muscle, shape and soundness of leg’. He went to join the 60 cow Stabarts pedigree herd based at Cracrop, Brampton.

Later in the day Mr Short offered his 15 month old Doonally New son, Woodpark Barnaby who was in the breed’s top 25% with a Terminal Index (TI) of 23, at 6,000gns to JM Nisbet, Mauchline, Ayr.

Next at 12,000gns was the 19 month old Newhouse Benson TI 24, from father and son team, Drew and Bob Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Angus. Sired by the 24,000gns Perth reserve senior champion, Mowbraypark Torpedo and out of a homebred dam from their 40 cow herd by the 30,000gns Silver Joss, Benson was knocked down sold to Mr and Mrs Andrew White’s Balbithan herd, Worth Matravers, Swanage. “This bull was fleshy, he had style, equally important Torpedo is breeding very consistent progeny,” commented herd manager, Jane Haw.

That consistency was reflected in Glamis Benefactor TI 27, who minutes later commanded a 10,000gns bid from G Davie, Denny, Stirling. Benefactor who was offered by Andrew and James Adam, the fourth generation of Charolais breeders at Newhouse of Glamis, was a July 2006 born Torpedo son, out of a homebred cow going back to Balnuith Ringleader and 24 hours earlier had been placed first in his class.

A third Torpedo son, this time the 17 month old Newhouse Buckaneer and out of a homebred cow by the 27,000gns Brampton Nacodar made 7,000gns to MJ Clarke, Alyth, Blairgowrie.

Goldies Bulldozer, a 16 month old who is in the breed’s top 1% with a TI score of 40 and backed by the highest set of recorded performance data in the catalogue, made 11,000gns to Bob Leggat, and his son, Graeme New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh. Bred by Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries, he was by the 34,000gns Perth champion, Goldies Uppermost and out of one of the restocked herd’s foundation cows combining a blend of Dingle Hofmeister and Moelfre genetics.

The next best from the same breeder at 7,000gns from WJ Fraser and Sons, Gleenlivet, Ballindalloch was Goldies Bruno, a 19 month old by the 10,000gns Balthayock Ulex and out of a Kinclune bred cow. Minutes before, Goldies Bandit TI25, another same way bred 19 month old commanded a 6,000gns bid from Messrs McIntosh, Dunragit, Stranraer. Just 24 hours earlier Bandit had been placed reserve intermediate and overall reserve champion by judge, Iain Millar, Port of Menteith, Stirling who described him as ‘big and powerful and full of flesh’. He said however there was very little between Bandit and the intermediate champion, Thrunton Bonjovi, who after a five hour judging stint Mr Millar awarded the supreme championship title. “Bonjovi had all the attributes of a modern Charolais, he had power, presence and length and he had good locomotion,” he explained.

Supreme Champion Thrunton Bonjovi TI 21

Bred by the Campbells, Ian and John and their father, Colin, of Thrunton, Alnwick, the 20 month old Thrunton Bonjovi TI 21, secured for the family its fifth Perth supreme champion title. “Perth is the most difficult award to win and we’re delighted to receive it again,” said Ian. Bonjovi was one of the first six sons to be offered in Perth by the 11,000gns Carlisle reserve senior champion, Solwayfirth Union, who was chosen to join Thrunton for his shape and potential to deliver easy calved progeny. His dam was homebred from the family’s 120 cow herd and goes back to the 11,000gns Haymount Jetstream.

Bonjovi, who was a BQI qualifier, was knocked down sold for 10,000gns to Harold Stubbs to run with his 20 cow herd based at Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh. “I first saw this bull as a calf while on a herd visit to Thrunton and he stood out from the rest. More than a year on and he continued to impress me when I saw him in the ring this week. He’s a big long stretchy bull with plenty of muscling, and I was determined to take him home,” said Mr Stubbs who is usually to be inside the Perth ring having sold three, five figure bulls in the last five years.

The Campbells sold a string of 10 bulls to average £4,683, with their next best, Thrunton Bullet, a second class winner, at 9,000gns. This 17 month old who is in the breed’s top 1% with a TI value of 38, was by the 15,000gns Burradon Talisman who sired the 55,000gns centre record price intermediate Perth champion, Thrunton Voldemort, and he was out of a homebred cow by Jetstream. Bullet went home with A Provan, Douglas, Lanark.

Two more lots were bid to 9,000gns a piece. First to go was Baillieston Bobby, an April 2006 born from Ronnie, Toab, Deerness, Orkney to Colin Wight, Carwood, Biggar, Lanark. Sired by the 17,000gns Mowbraypark Umpire, he was out of a homebred cow going back to Fleets Rascal.

The day’s third 9,000gns call went to Fury Breeze TI25, a second class prize winner and sole entry from part time builder, Pat Hackett who runs a 10 cow pedigree herd at Clogher, County Tyrone. This 17 month old by Domino was out of an Oldstone Egbert sired homebred dam who goes back to one of the herd’s foundation cows by Brampton Fourstar. Breeze changed hands to Kenneth Sutherland to run with his 350 cow suckler herd based at Stainland, Thurso. “This bull had a good top, good conformation, good legs and he was backed by good performance data,” said Mr Sutherland whose Charolais cross calves are consistently within the day’s top 10% prices at Thurso mart.

Father and son team, Neil and Graeme Massie, Dinnet, Aboyne offered two lots at 8,000gns a piece. First to go was Blelack Bellringer, a Blelack Roger son and one of twins. He sold to SNFU vice president, Stewart Wood, Garson Farms, Sandwick, Orkney, while Bellringer’s twin, Blelack Badger made 6,000gns to fellow Orkney producer, G Fergus, Westray.

Hamish Goldie invested some of his day’s takings when he forked out 8,000gns for the Massie’s Blelack Blackberet TI39, an August 2006 born second prize class winner by the 25,000gns supreme Perth champion, Thrunton Socrates and out of a homebred cow going back to Bassingbourn Ralph. Another Socrates son, this time the 21 month old Blelack Boomtime who is within the breed’s top 1% at TI48, made 6,500gns to GB Grieve, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh.

The junior championship title was awarded to Balnuith Titus, a September 2006 born youngster bred and exhibited by Neil and Sandra Caul, Liff, Dundee. Sired by the £30,000 Moyness Vivacious and out of an Ellern bred cow by Killadeas Jack, Titus was secured in a two way bid of 8,000gns from near neighbours, Mornity Farms, Alyth, Blairgowrie and WK and P Drysdale, Blairgowrie.

Mold, Flintshire based vet, Esmor Evans, offered his best from a string of entries at 8,000gns. Maerdy Bronx, a much admired 20 month old who stood in his class immediately below the supreme champion, was a Maerdy Super son and out of a homebred cow going back to Maerdy Paddy. He was knocked down sold to MA Evans, Llanrhaedr, Denbigh.

Falleninch Balig, a July 2007 born entry from Andrew Hornall, Stirling commanded 8,000gns from C Harron, Crumlin, County Amargh. Balig was by Mortimers Tebay, whose dam was the 16,000gns celebrated Burke Trophy winner, Mowbraypark Gigi.

County Fermanagh breeders, F and A Elliot, Florencekirk, offered their top lot, Mullaghbane Brett for 7,500gns to G Sordy and Sons, Whittingham, Alnwick. The July 2006 born Brett who was by Doonally New and out of a Fleets Vibrant sired home bred dam was no stranger to the ring having taking the reserve junior male title at the NI National Charolais Show, Fintona.

Heading a handful of entries from John Irvine and his son, Raymond, Toumintoul, Ballindalloch, was their first class prize winner, Iverlochy Beefeater, an 18 month old Glenlivet Singlemalt son. He made 7,000gns to neighbours, WJ Fraser and Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch.

Iain and Dot Goldie, Cummertrees, Annan offered their best ever in Perth since restocking when their 20 month old Solwayfirth Bucaneer made 7,000gns after securing the reserve senior championship 24 hours earlier. Another Maerdy Restful son, Bucaneer was out of a Moyness bred dam from the couple’s 25 cow herd. He travelled to Orkney with J Smith, Stromness.  

The third 7,000gns bid went to Elgin Berlin TI29, in a two way split made by Stranraer producers, JM Fisher, Leswalt and JL Hair, Ardwell. Bred by the Milne family, Llanbryde, Elgin, Berlin was a 14 month old youngster by Rumsden Samurai and out of a Westmarden bred cow by Maerdy Hamburg.

Two entries had a 6,500gns price tag. First in the ring was Duncan MacGregor’s (Kilsyth, Glasgow) Corrie Bigbrother TI29, a Harestone Tadorne son and out of a Farleycopse Independent sired Cyglen bred dam. The buyer was E Parsons, Laxey, Isle of Man.

The second 6,500gns call went to Moyness Brutus TI35, the day’s leading entry for Sandy Innes, Auldearn, Nairn. This 18 month old was a Fairway Vandieman son and out of a homebred cow going back to Glenleary lines. He sold to D Young, Waverton, Wigton. Minutes later, Mr Innes attracted a 6,000gns bid from J Hepburn, Hawick for Moyness Bucaneer, a June 2006 born Moyness Saltire son.

At 6,200gns, Govals Bicardi TI23, a 19 month old bred by David Cooper, Kincaldrum, Forfar and by the 18,000gns Ballindalloch Upmost was knocked down sold to Lour Farms, Ladenford, Forfar.

Overall the event attracted a dozen bids of 6,000gns. Among the first was to go was Newroddige Bonanza, a rising two year old from Newroddige Charolais, Edingale, Tamworth to C and R Currell, East Harptree, Bristol. The previous day, Bonanza had teamed up with his two full brothers by Simpsons Gregg and out of Maerdy Twain to win the supreme champion group of three.

Bill Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire offered Gretnahouse Bomber TI30, the Houston bred two year old by Derryharney Outstanding for 6,000gns to Ian McClean Livestock, Rochester.

Piatroon Brigadier TI23, a 20 month old by Mowbraypark Paramount from Harold Forster and Sons, Humshaugh, Hexham made 6,000gns to L Dawson, Huntley, Aberdeen. Cromar Barney, a June 2006 born Janos Ubet son and out of an Airdlin bred cow from A Smith Tarland, Aboyne commanded 6,000gns from HM Murray, Turriff, Abderdeen.

Peter Vasey, Wetheral, Carlisle sold his highest, Edenhurst Bobby at 6,000gns to RB Millar, Tealing Dundee. A 17 month old, Bobby was by the homebred Edenhurst Titus, who goes back to Knockane Pilot and out of an Oldstone Egbert sired homebred cow.

John Nelson, Parton, Castle Douglas shelled out 6,000gns for Balthayock Bravado TI45 from Major David Walter, Balthayock, Perth. Bravado was an October 2006 born Penfold Seaanchor son and out of a homebred cow going back to Dingle Hofmeister.

The reserve junior champion, Allanfauld Bobo was among the final lots in the ring and made 6,000gns to G Mitchell, Tomintoul, Ballindaloch. Bred and exhibited by Archie MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow, this 15 month old youngster was by Allanfauld Vangogh who goes back to Moyness Lincoln.

The Barker family, of Nuthampstead, Royston took their first ever major award in 20 years of exhibiting at Perth when their 21 month old Caylers Blake secured the senior championship. Sired by the 6,500gns Maerdy Uniroyal and out of a homebred heifer by Killadeas Prunty, he made 5,200gns to CG Greig (Farms), Gateside, Fife.

Females met a ready trade on Tuesday 19 February, selling to a top of 4,200gns for Thrunton Vixon TI27, one of a draft from the Campbell family, Thrunton, Alnwick. Sired by the 15,000gns Burradon Talisman, and out of a homebred cow going back to Blanerne Fearless, she was offered with her August 2007 born heifer, Thrunton Celena by the 11,000gns Solwayfirth Union. The buyer was CH McDowell, Billesdon, Leicester.

Vixon was one of twins, and her full sister, Thrunton Vikki made 2,500gns to Clova Farms, Pitlivie, Carnoustie. Vikki was accompanied by her six month old heifer, Thrunton Castanet, again by Union. Another heifer and calf pair, Thrunton Venice, by Talisman and sold with her Union bred six month old heifer, Thrunton Constance made 2,400gns to JH Paton, Kinross.

Murray Lyle’s (Mid Cambushinnie, Dunblane) draft was led at 3,400gns by Loganbar Annabelle, a rising three year old heifer by Caithness Torpedo and scanned in calf to Maerdy Ulterior. She sold to Stewart Bett, herdsman to the Llanstephan, Carmarthen based Cargriff herd. Loganbar Aganeiska TI31, another Torpedo daughter in calf to Ulterior commanded 3,000gns from FB Sangster, Buchlyvie, Stirling.

Heading a draft from Esmor Evans, Mold at 2,600gns was Maerdy Ammonia, a two year old heifer by the 28,000gns Perth champion, Maerdy Primeminister. She went to join Jan Boomaars herd based at Woldingham, Surrey.

Averages: 166 bulls £4,408.58; 46 heifers £1,551.03; eight cows and calves £2,237.81.

Auctioneers: UA

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