Top call of 25,000gns at Aberdeen-Angus February Stirling Sale

2020’s show and sale season kicked off at United Auctions in Stirling on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd February in what was a strong event for the breed to get the new decade underway. Monday’s sale saw 82 bulls sold to a top price of 25,000gns, matching the top call from the same event in 2019. Average was down £67 from last year at £5,820, with a clearance rate on the day of 60%.

The top selling bull at 25,000gns was Gordon Barney U334 from the Trustees of the Gordon Brooke Estate. Barney is out of Rawburn Joe Eric and by Linton Gilbertines Brandy, who is described as one of the best females in the herd. Barney was 1st in class at Sunday’s show which was judged expertly by Jim Ford and was sold to Messrs Fraser of the Idvies Herd of Aberdeen-Angus in Forfar, Angus.

Gordon Barney U334

Next best on Monday’s sale was WD Allen’s Stouphill Marcus Prince U251, a Duncanziemere Jigsaw son out of Stouphill Marsala Pearl. Marcus Prince was 2nd in class to sale-topper Gordon Barney in what was a strong class on the day and is headed to Northern Ireland-based breeder K McOscar of Cookstown in Co Tyrone for a sum of 17,000gns.

Stouphill Marcus Prince U251

Another 5-figure sum was realised for JR Galloway’s Cardona Jewel Eric U054, an April 2018-born bull by Nightingale Dunbar and from the excellent Jewel Erica line which has strong maternal rates and makes up approximately 40% of the Cardona Herd. Jewel Eric was also first in class on Sunday’s show and went to G&W Henderson of Culrain Mains in Sutherland for 13,000gns.

Cardona Jewel Eric U054

11,000gns was reached for Blelack Prince Charlie U931 of NF Massie & Sons, described by the breeder as a lump of a calf with excellent pedigree. Prince Charlie is by Tonley Jester Eric and out of Blelack Princess Carina, a two-year-old Hallington Principal heifer. 2nd in class on Sunday’s show, this one was sold to M&S Wilson of Newbank in Dumfriesshire. Neil Wattie’s 2nd in class bull Tonley Kasper U512 also sold for 11,000gns, split three-ways between Northumberland-based JHC Campbell & Sons, S&S Medley from North Yorkshire and Alan Lawson & Son from Newcastle Upon Tyne. Kasper is a Tonley Jester Eric first son out of Tonley Kay Pride.

Blelack Prince Charlie U931

Tonley Kasper U512

Two followed at 9,000gns on Monday’s sale, the first being NF Massie & Sons’ 3rd-in-class bull Blelack Prince Cooper U938, by Tonley Jester Eric and out of Blelack Princess Carina. From the same family as the 11,000gns Blelack Prince Charlie, this one also has the Carcase Bull RHS Champion Blelack Egotist K531 in his pedigree and is on his way to C&E McCombie of Auchincrieve in Aberdeenshire. At the same money was Sunday’s junior champion HW Black Barberesco U459 of the Highland Wagyu Herd based in Stirlingshire. Barberesco is by HW Fabulous and out of Balhaldie Black Beryl, and after catching the eye of judge Jim Ford in the showring on Sunday, was purchased by Seafield Pedigrees Ltd in Redditch.

Blelack Prince Cooper U938

HW Barberesco U549

8,500gns was paid for two bulls, the first being WD Allen’s overall reserve champion and class winner Stouphill Maximus Pride U238, a Duncanziemere Jigsaw son by Stouphill Marsala Princess. This impressive May 2019-born bull is on its way to WAL Lawson of the Scotsmill Herd from Alford in Aberdeenshire. 8,500gns was also paid for Martin McCornick’s McCornick Florida U540 who was 4th in a large class at RHS 2019 and 1st in class at Sunday’s show. Florida is sired by Skaill Dino and out of McCornick Fleur and was sold to Mitchell & Sons Ltd of Douglas, Lanark.

Stouphill Maximus Pride U238

McCornick Florida U540

Logie Defence U836 of AJR Farms Ltd was next best, selling for 8,000gns to Ross-shire-based breeder CW Brooke. Sired by Rawburn Enoch and out of Logie Delia, this one is a full brother to Logie Defiance T774 who was junior champion and reserve overall at Stirling in February 2019.

Logie Defence U836

In the female section of the sale, 15 females sold to an average of £2,307 with a top price of 3,100gns. The top price was paid for the female champion Tonley Eyrie U520, by Tonley Emperor and out of namesake Tonley Eyrie R179.

Tonley Eyrie U520