Beef Shorthorn female records were smashed in Stirling on Monday 22 October with a new 13,000gns top and £2,110 average for 81 lots sold at the breed’s official show and sale.
“Trade for females was solid throughout driven by commercial producers’ awareness that Beef Shorthorn is meeting an insatiable demand for a modern functional suckler cow, while trade for steers is being fuelled by
Morrisons native breeds’ scheme,” commented the breed society’s Frank Milnes.
Sale leader at 13,000gns was Chapelton Honeysuckle 3719, an18 month old roan within the breed’s top 5% with a TI +26, SRI +24, and scanned in calf to Dunsyre North Star. Sired by the 6,800gns Glenisla Banqo she was out of one of the most noted families from Donald Biggar’s 80 cow herd based at Grange, Castle Douglas. Mr Biggar who also holds the 15,000gns male breed record achieved in Stirling earlier this year, said: “It was fantastic to achieve the extra recognition at a time when the Beef Shorthorn’s popularity is increasing so rapidly.”
Honeysuckle went to join Alan and Helen Haigh’s 10 cow herd based at North Willingham, Market Rasen. “She was just one of two heifers we’d selected for their genetics and colour together, and they were the highest Breedplan recorded females in the catalogue. We were prepared to go all the way for this one,” he said. The Haighs recouped some of their spend earlier in the day when their sole entry, Willingham Sally Broadhooks E162 TI +16, SRI +17 made 3,200gns to Geoff Riby, Fraisthorpe, Bridlington. A roan 19 month old, she was by Alta Cedar Perfect Storm and out of a Glenisla bred dam.
Another two Banqo daughters, both 17 month olds and in calf to Stonehills X Factor, were in the money for Donald Biggar. A bid of 2,200gns secured Chapelton Veronica L3660 TI +20, SRI +20 for D Fraser and Son, Strathpeffer, while Chapelton June L3631 TI +24, SRI +21 made 2,000gns to Messrs Burns.
Second leading female at 6,000gns was the much admired 19 month old Glenisla Eva Broadhooks E819 TI +28, SRI +29. Sold in calf to Glenisla Drum Major, both her sire, Glenisla Blizzard and homebred dam went back to Fearn Wyvis. Bred and exhibited by Major John Gibb and his daughter Catriona, Blairgowrie, Perth, the buyer was Laga Farms, Evie, Orkney. The roan Broadhooks was one of a draft of 13 entries from the Gibb’s 65 cow herd, which were sold in their working clothes to average £2,495.
A string of Glenisla heifers followed by Holmeere George. Glenisla Margo E855 TI +20, SRI +15, a 17 month old roan made 3,600gns to M Clough, Stape, Pickering. Glenisla Waterloo Naomi D734 TI +16, SRI +15, a two year old in calf to Glenisla Artic Storm sold for 2,400gns to Adam Chantry, Thorington, Saxmundham who also paid 2,600gns for the white Tofts Lovely D623 TI +13, SRI +9, a two year old by Tofts Atlas from Playfair Farms, Kelso.
A bid of 2,300gns secured the 19 month old in calf Glenisla Foxglove Tansy E818 TI +24, SRI +18 for Messrs Oliver. Glenisla Crocus E820 TI +18, SRI +14 an in calf 19 month old made 2,200gns to H and M Sloan, Oxton, Lauder and the in calf 19 month old Glenisla Waterloo Naomi E789 TI +16, SRI +19 sold for 2,000gns to Messrs Syttington. Glenisla Foxglove Flake E848 TI +8, SRI +2, an in calf Glenisla First Solution daughter was knocked down for 2,500gns by Messrs McAllister.