After a long Winter period of hard work and preparation, the 2018 show and sale season got off to a great start this week with the February 2018 Stirling Bull Sales at United Auctions in Stirling. Here is your weekly round-up of all Society activity over the past seven days.
Stirling Bull Sales – February 2018
We brought you all the coverage from the show and sale days at Stirling at the start of the week, with live video and results action from the ring during the show, and the top sale prices as they happened on Monday’s sale. We hope you all enjoyed the coverage and news, which is still accessible on the Society Facebook page and website.
In terms of the events at Stirling, there was a good demand for Aberdeen-Angus Bulls on Monday, after the show which departing Society President Alex Sanger described as one of the strongest shows of Aberdeen-Angus cattle to be at Stirling for many years. We can be happy with a steadily strong day for the breed, where a top price of 15,000gns was realised by the 1st in its class Thrunton Panther S922. in addition to seven further bulls selling for 10,000gns or more. The breed saw similar figures at the same time last year, while the 2018 average of the 101 bulls sold was £5,746 at a clearance rate of 72%, up £11 on last year. To view the full report from Stirling, visit: http://aberdeen-angus.co.uk/news/february-2018-stirling-sale-tops-at-15000gns-on-a-steady-day-for-the-breed/.
This week we also shared some great photography from the Stirling show and sale on the website. If you missed that the first time, you can look out for yourself in the crowds at: http://aberdeen-angus.co.uk/news/gallery/february-2018-stirling-bull-sales-and-annual-prize-giving/.
New Chief Executive Barrie Turner was present on the Sunday and Monday at the bull sales, and was delighted to meet so many of the membership and have the opportunity to chat with you all. Barrie formally started in his position on Tuesday of this week, and everyone at the Society is looking forward to working with him to continue to drive the breed forward positively.
2018 AGM
On the Sunday of the bull sales, we held our annual AGM for Council and members. Firstly, we’d like to thank everyone who attended and put forward their valued input. Several members voiced what is an undoubted universal opinion that the Presidential team, along with all members of Council and the staff at the office in Perth, must be thanked for their efforts over the past year. The Presidential Team from the last 12 months would also like to extend their thanks to the local clubs whose efforts were greatly appreciated in what was a big year for the Society.
The AGM was very focused on the future of our breed, and how we can move things in a forward direction, all pulling in the same way to work together to provide the platform our breed needs to continue as the world leader. A number of matters were raised which will be discussed by the Council in due course, with all developments communicated as appropriate.
As part of the AGM, Angela McGregor was appointed as the new President of the Society, with Paul Jeenes taking the role of Senior Vice President and Alan Cheney as Junior Vice President. In reaction to becoming Society President, Angela has said:
‘’I feel very privileged to become president of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, following some great breeders whom I have grown up admiring incredibly. As a President we are in an honoured position, but it’s those around you that make being on Council worthwhile. It’s the work that happens every day in the office and on the farm, plus at the sales and shows that helps develop the business and breed. You meet many interesting people, learn a huge amount that is going on in industry and the world of science and can see that the future is very exciting.‘’
A selection of members were also brought on to the Council for moving in to 2018. Those members were Ken Howie, Ben Marsden, John James, Terry Ives and Louis Byrne. The updated Presidential and Council team can be viewed at: http://aberdeen-angus.co.uk/the-society/the-council/.
Annual Prize Giving and Drinks Reception
On Sunday evening after the AGM, we held a great drinks reception and prize giving ceremony at Dunblane Hydro. We’d like to thank everyone who attended a lovely informal evening, where we got the chance to chat, relax and celebrate some of the well-deserved prize winners from the past year. You can see some photography from the ceremony in the Stirling album at: http://aberdeen-angus.co.uk/news/gallery/february-2018-stirling-bull-sales-and-annual-prize-giving/.
From all at the Society, we wish you a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing many of you at Dungannon next week!