Perth Spring Sale – Simmentals sell 95 per cent of bulls at record average price

Strong demand for Simmental bulls at the Perth Bull Sales on Tuesday 18 February 2003 saw 131 bulls find new homes at an average price of £3737.

The clearance level was 95 per cent of the bulls on offer which reflected the increasing demand for the breed.

Northern Ireland ‘Triple Top’

Top price of £12600 secured Corrick Major for Jimmy and Vikki Wood’s Popes herd near Preston, Lancashire.

Major was bred by Cecil McIlwaine from Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland who became the first breeder to bring out three Perth Champions in the process.

This is an incredible achievement that was augmented by the McIlwaine’s also receiving a First Prize with Corrick Monarch that was purchased by former Scotland rugby star, John Jeffrey, at a price of £7150.

The McIlwaine entry was completed by Third Prize winning Corrick Marksman, making £7350 to Messrs Aitken Brothers from East Lothian.

The sire of all three bulls is Carnkern Titan and all are also in the Top 10% of the breed for Beef Value. Equally, both animals meet the Societies recommendations for Calving Value and 200 Day Milk.

Not surprisingly, this entry won the RH Carter Group of Three Trophy.

Northern Ireland breeders were well represented with no less than 8 bulls topping the £5000 sale barrier.

Omorga Nasser, a very young son of Blackford Explosion, born on 16 February 2002, led the rest at £10500 for Mr H Moore, Cookstown Co Tyrone.

WH Robson and Sons brought out four bulls, achieving a top price of £7350 for Kilbride Farm Mark that is going to Snaigow Estates, Blairgowrie where a successful three-way cross breeding programme based around the Simmental is being practiced. Mark was yet another Titan son.

Also going to Northern Scotland is Kilbride Farm Millar, purchased by Billy MacPherson of Blackford, Inverness for £6825. This Cleenagh Flasher son also combines conformation with the desirable combination of Performance Records.

Kilbride Farm Montana is set for the Caithness herd of Messrs Swanson at a price of £5460. A son of Dovefields Gallant, Montana was placed 4th in the show ring.

Leslie Weatherup completed the high price successes from the Province with Lisglass Marvel, another Blackford Explosion son, making £6300 to Messrs Morris and Partners, Blairgowrie.

North of England Buy and Sell at Top Prices.

In addition to the £12600 paid by the Woods family for Corrick Major, it was Michael Barlow, Leyton, Lancashire who paid £10500 for Omorga Nasser to come into his Denizes herd.

Cheshire based breeder, Hugo Arnold, led the selling stakes from England with £10500 for Hockenhull Matthew. This 2nd Prize winning son of Blackford Harvester is in the Top 1% Performance Recorded Simmentals with a Beef Value of SM40.

Purchaser was John Dykes, Society Vice President, for his Mendick herd in Peebles-shire.

Three of the Hockenhull string of Five bulls breached the £5000 mark with Hockenhull Merlin travelling back to the Shropshire herd of Messrs Griffiths and Sons for £7140. Merlin is a Wroxall Fortune son with exceptional Performance Records for both Calving Value and Milk, as well as a Top 25% Beef Value.

Another valued purchaser was Warter Estates, York securing three bulls, all above the £5000 level. With two purchases from the Woodhall prefix of Hector Macaskill, plus aTorran entry from Brian Ross, Inverness, all these bulls were well within the Top 10% Beef Value.

Scottish Buyers Take the Majority
From the total sale of 131 Simmental bulls, no less than 113 remain in Scotland, including ten off to the Orkney Islands.

Female Flyer
Prior to the Bull Sale, the trade for Simmental females was also exceptionally good.

Top prices of £3150 were paid for Tillymaude Tulipe 45 form the Aberdeenshire herd of Messrs Argo and Family. Purchasers were Messrs Hinde and Son, Harrogate.

Matching this price was Pasturefields Princess Regina with her bull calf, Pasturefields Nemesis at foot. This pair is set for the Harestone herd of Neil Barclay, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, having been brought to the sale by Staffordshire breeder, Roger Birch.

Forty three female Lots form the Reduction Sale of Tom Gillespie,s South Park herd also attracted keen bidding to average £1204.

Top price of ££2100 was paid by Lindsay Currie, Girvan for South Park Prinz Lilie 2 , a fourth-calf cow with a Top 10% Beef Value and Milk Performance Records.

Auctioneers: United Auctions
Tel: 01738 626183