Idvies Pink Profit leads to healthy profit for the Fraser Family.

An exceptional lineup of bulls forward at the United Auctions February Stirling Bulls Sales saw a top price of 32,000gns for Idvies Pink Profit Z149.

 The United Auctions Stirling February Bull Sale saw an exciting and exceptional trade for Aberdeen-Angus bulls, with a standout top price of 32,000gns for Idvies Pink Profit Z149 from Alistair and Graeme Fraser, Idvies, Forfar, making it the second-highest price ever achieved at Stirling.  A total of 11 bulls surpassed the 10,000gns mark, driving a record-breaking Aberdeen-Angus average at the centre of £7,727, an impressive £1,542 increase on last year. The sale also made history with a new UK record price of 11,000gns for a Red Aberdeen-Angus bull, Mosshall Red Earl Z575 from the Taylors at Mosshall.

Idvies Pink Profit Z149, with exceptional Terminal Index of +60 (top 1%) and Self-Replacing Index of +64 (top 15%), is sired by Duncanziemere Jacobite W374 and out of Idvies Pinky Paula W933. He sold jointly to Jonathon and Lisa Doyle of the Drumhill Herd, Cookstown, and the Wattie Family of the Tonley Herd, Tonley, for 32,000gns, breaking the previous Idvies Stirling record of 20,000gns. The Frasers also took Reserve Senior champion in Sunday’s show with Idvies Panama Z144, also sired by Duncanziemere Jacobite W374 and out of Idvies Parba V870. Panama went on to sell at 11 000gns and is away to Orkney. The Idvies Herd had further success in Sunday’s show winning the Haymount Cup for Best Pair of Bulls, the Peebles Cup for Best Three Bulls by one Sire, the Islabank Trophy for Best Group of Four Bulls by one Sire and the Downsbragh Trophy for Best Group of Five Bulls.

After their spend on Pink Profit, the Doyles went on to have a sensational day with their Junior and Reserve Overall Champion bull, Drumhill Kristoff Z566. Sired by Glenade Drumshanbo T379 and dam Nightingale Kristina N690, Kristoff was knocked down at 28,000gns to the Hodge Family of the Rulesmains Herd, Duns. This 2023 May born bull has Terminal Index of 49, top 10% for the breed. 

Third top price in the sale was 14,000gns for Messrs Alan R Lawson & Son’s Hallington Epic Z833. Epic is another high Index bull with Terminal Index of +57 (top 5%) and Self Replacing Index of +76 (top 5%). This Tonley Elmo X805 sired bull sold to Hamish Sclater of the Deveron Herd, Turriff, Aberdeenshire. This price was closely followed by McCornick Ecosse Z088 at 13,500gns. Out of McCornick Kaiser V573 and McCornick Evening Star S242, Ecosse also carries impressive Terminal and Self Replacing Indices of +52 (top 5%) and +56 (top 15%) respectively. He sold to the Gilbert family’s Nantyglasdwr Farms, Hay on Wye in Wales.

Following this was 11,500gns for the Senior Champion Deveron Elliot Z923 bred by Hamish Sclater, sired by Rawburn Braw Lad R041 and out of Deveron Estorella T588. This senior bull was male champion at Turriff Show, reserve male champion at the Winter National and reserve yearling champion at the Black Beauty Bonanza and sold to the Scottish Government Bull Stud. Two further bulls reached 11,000gns, one of these being Mosshall Red Earl Z575 from the Taylors at Mosshall who also set a new UK record price for a Red Aberdeen-Angus. Mosshall Red Earl Z575 is sired by Mosshall Red Ferdinand U922 and out of Mosshall Ellen Erica R595 and goes home to Fife for pedigree work in the St Fort herd.  The other bull reaching the 11,000gns mark was Hamish Sclater’s Deveron Major Bellamy Z936. This bull has exceptional scrotal size, coupled with excellent eye muscle and scanned top of the Deveron Herd 2023 crop for both traits. Sired by Rawburn Braw Lad R041 this bull was sold to the Mitchells at Ferniemill in Fife.

Three bulls made the 10,000gns mark. Duncanziemere Jenson Z535, sired by Auchincrieve Exodus U285 and out of Duncanziemere Jody V306 was Overall Male Champion and a haul of trophies including the Fordhouse Cup, City of Perth Perpetual Trophy, Breeders Champion Challenge Cup, Braemer Cup and Sainsbury Cup. Jenson is away to work for the Mackays at Skitten in Caithness. The second bull to reach this price was the Reserve Junior Champion, Tonley Endpart Z105. By Duncanziemere Jetstream V322 and out of dam Tonley Elma P108 this Tonley Bull was also yearling bull champion at the Black Beauty Bonanza and sold to the Duke of Fife’s Elsick Estate at Stonehaven. The final bull to reach 10,000gns was Blelack Hill Black Lightening Z041 by  Kilmaluag Eriskay T203 and out of Blelack Beautiful Lady T883. Bred by the Calcotts at Blelack, Black Lightening sold to the Messrs JH Campbell, Thrunton.

Females also had a solid trade with the Alford’s topping the prices at 8,000gns and 6,000gns. Foxhill Diamond Mist Z253 has already had a remarkable year on the show circuit winning numerous championships, including Junior Champion and Native Interbreed Champion at Stars of the Future, 1^st in her class at Black Beauty Bonanza and Heifer Calf Champion at the Royal Highland Show. Foxhill Diamond Mist is sired by Linton Gilbertines President S021 and out of Weeton Diamond Mist M351 and sold to Keith Eunson at Braebuster, Orkney. The Flemings at Falnash paid 6,000gns for the Alford’s other heifer, Foxhill Princess Caroline Z184 sired by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203 and out of Blelack Princess Caroline T867.

Cairnton Blackbird Z508 and Duncanziemere Edwina A565 both reached 5,000gns.  The Howie’s Cairnton Blackbird Z508, sired by Blelack Lachlan X101 and out of Cairnton Blackbird U429 sold to Coull Farm on the Isle of Islay. Duncanziemere Edwina A565 out of Duncanziemere Sportsman W357 and Duncanziemere Edwina S210 and bred by the Clarks sold to the Foubister family at Netherton in Orkney.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our judge, Stephen Wallace of the Baronagh Herd in Northern Ireland, for his time and expertise. Stephen reflected on his experience saying:

“As a lifelong Aberdeen Angus breeder, it was a privilege to be asked to judge the 2025 Stirling Bull Sales, and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. On the day, I selected very correct bulls and heifers with good breed character, clear functionality, and a balanced profile. The Championship lineup showed people the type of pedigree animal I consistently look for. I attend the Stirling Bull Sales regularly, and this year the quality of bulls on offer was very high, certainly one of the best line-ups I have seen in recent years. I congratulate the breeders for the excellent turnout on the day and wish the purchasers every future success.”

Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society President Alan Morrison commented that:

“An excellent display of quality Aberdeen Angus bulls with easy fleshed bulls with good conformation in demand by both Pedigree and commercial customers. 

It was fantastic to see the increase in our sale average and with 11 bulls selling over 10000gns and setting a new auction record for a Red Aberdeen Angus bull. 

I would like to congratulation the prize winners, sale toppers and to all exhibitors for turning out one off the best displays of Aberdeen Angus bulls that have been forward for sale in recent times.”

STATISTICS

BULLS

Top Price £33,600

Average £7,727

Clearance 74%

FEMALES

Top Price £8,400

Average £4,326

Clearance 83%