Buyers travelled from as far afield as Orkney to Norfolk to attend the dispersal of the Carlhurlie Aberdeen-Angus herd on behalf of the executors of the late Rae Grieve, which took place at United Auctions, Stirling on Wednesday 7th December.
With such attendance it was no surprise to learn the sale was strong across the board with a top price of 11,500gns paid for an in-calf heifer and an average of £2946 for 87 lots.
Sale leader was the May 2014-born Carlhurlie Darcy P028. This Skaill Dido K309 daughter is out of a home bred Blelack Blackstock C737 daughter and sold PD’d in calf to the February Stirling champion and 24,000gns Tonley Evor P044. Buyers here were Alistair and Graeme Fraser for their Idvies herd, Forfar, Angus.
Next best was another in calf heifer, Carlhurlie Erstic P035. By Wedderlie Posse H565, she’s out of a Penguin Eldorado F254 daughter and sold again in calf to Tonley Evor P044 to S Raeburn, Letham, Angus.
Leading the maiden heifer offering at 7000gns was the April 2015-born Carlhurlie Quintessa R081. Another by Dido, this one is yet again out of a Blackstock daughter and sold to J and I Wilson, Cupar, Fife. Meanwhile, Shadwell Estate Co Ltd, Norfolk, paid 4500gns for Carlhurlie Eon R096, who has similar breeding to the last being a Dido daughter.
Of the mature cows, outfits topped at 8500gns with Donald Rankin of the Isle of Skye-based Kilmaluag herd paying 6500gns for Carlhurlie Elixir M889, a Penguin Eldorado F254 daughter out of a Blackstock dam and in calf to Balmachie Black Bard M135. Her bull calf at foot by Dido then sold for 2000gns to G Milne, Fife.
At 4500gns the Lane family of the Rosslayne herd, Lockerbie, Dumfries, secured the June 2010-born Carlhurlie Quieto K803, a Penguin Eldorado F254 daughter out of Carlhurlie Queen D421, herself a Skaill Express A407 daughter. She sold with her bull calf at foot by Black Bard and PD’d in calf to Tonley Evor P044.
The first in the money to head over to Northern Ireland selling for 3500gns and selling to Alan and Carol Armour for the Woodvale herd was the June 2013-born Carlhurlie Delight N959. This Wedderlie Posse H567 daughter sold with a Balmachie Black Bard M135 heifer calf at foot and back in calf to Evor.
James Porter of the Lisburn-based Old Glenort herd then paid 3200gns for one of the older cows in the catalogue, Carlhurlie Forth F335, a Blackstock daughter out of a home bred Skaill Dot Com A304 daughter. She sold with a bull calf at foot by Dido and back in calf to Black Bard.
Of the individual heifer calves the top price of 3200gns was paid by David Walker of the Galcantray herd, Nairn, for Carlhurlie Electress S113. This one is by Black Bard and out of Carlhurlie Elenor N992, a Skaill Dido K309 daughter.
Bulls saw a top price of 8500gns for the herd stock bull Balmachie Black Bard M125. He’s by Balmachie Black Bear H050 and is out of The Moss Mr Eshton D409 daughter, Netherton Blackbird H489 and sold to Messrs Henderson for the Culrain herd.
Next best in the bulls was a 5000gns from James Porter who purchased Carlhurlie Epic P021, a Skaill Dido K309 son out of a Blelack Eagle D895 daughter.
Averages: 35 cows and calves £2745.44; 11 cows in calf £1522.50; 15 heifers in calf £3934; 21 maiden heifers and heifer calves £2835; 5 bulls £5250 (United Auctions).