STOP PRESS: 10,000GNS ISLAVALE MARSHALL HEADS UP SIMMENTAL BREED RECORD AVERAGE AT ABERDEEN!

• Auchorachan bull at 9000gns
• Centre Simmental record average set of £6638
• 14 out of 15 sell to a 93% clearance rate
• Nine bulls at 6000gns and more

The demand from commercial producers for quality Simmental bulls continued at Aberdeen & Northern Marts Spring Show & Sale at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Wednesday 1^st March with a new Simmental centre record average set at £6638 for the 14 bulls sold.  Nine Simmental bulls sold at 6000gns or more with the sale seeing a 93% clearance rate.  The Thainstone sale followed hard on the heels of the Stirling Sale in the previous week which also saw a new Simmental breed record average of £7260 set for that fixture.

Leading the way at Thainstone was the 10,000gns Islavale Marshall from the prolific Stronach family at Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith, who topped the sale for the second year in a row.  This bull is by Corskie Highlander, who has had sons sell up to 18,000gns, and is out of the Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 EX94 daughter Islavale Hanya EX90.  Prior to the sale, this April 2021 born bull had been tapped out as the Overall Simmental Supreme Champion by the pre-sale show judge Gordon Mackay, Upper Ardnagrask, Muir of Ord.  With good figures for both calving ease and milk, combined with a depth of breeding, Islavale Marshall was purchased by J&M McConnachie, Midtown of Buchromb, Dufftown.

Selling at 9000gns, and getting the Simmental Sale off to a flying start, was the first bull in the ring in the shape of Auchorachan Lethal Weapon from D&R Durno & Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch.  September 2020 born, this calf is by Auchorachan Hercules 16 EX92, the most prolific sire in the Society’s herdbook in 2022, and is out of Auchorachan Gipsy EX92.  A bull with width and muscle, and with a +9 figure for Maternal (Milk), Lethal Weapon was bought by J&S Middleton, Cowfords, New Pitsligo. This latest sale top price for the Stronachs carried on from their strong sale at Stirling where ten Islavale averaged £7,245.

At 7200gns was Drumsleed Maverick from regular consignors Gerald & Morag Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk.  The April 2021 born Maverick is by the herd’s 11,000gns stock bull Wolfstar Gordy, and is out of Drumsleed Fuji, a Haystar Cracker 11 daughter.  Wolfstar Gordy is also the sire of Drumsleed Legacy, the Smiths bull who was crowned the online Simmental Champion of Europe in December last year.  When the hammer went down at Thainstone, Drumsleed Maverick was sold to Messrs Stephen Fraser Farms, Glenbernie, Dunphail.

The good trade continued through to the last Simmental in the catalogue, Blackford Marquiss, who made 6800gns for Mr WG MacPherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness.  This August 2021 born bull is entirely homebred and full of breeding being an ET calf by the noted Blackford Galaxy, a previous Highland Show Champion, and being out of Blackford Wagtail VG86, a Kilbride Farm Strabane daughter, and the dam of the record breaking Bel Dhu Capercaillie.  Buying this bull was D&J Smith, Fallow Farm, Inverkeillor.

Two bulls from Messrs C&M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, Ellon made 6500gns.  The first of these was Tillyeve Marcus Sired by Drumacritten Ian, this March 2021 born bull is out of Tillyeve Freda, a Grangewood Columbus daughter.  Semen tested prior to the sale, and sporting balanced performance figures, Tillyeve Marcus was knocked down to IW Hall, Home Farm, Rothienorman. Also at the 6500gns mark was Tillyeve Meldrum.  May 2021 born, Tillyeve Meldrum is by the Curaheen Apostle son, Overhill House Gandhi, and is out of Tillyeve Diamond.  This bull, who carried a top 10% figure of +4.8 for Calving Ease, was bought by Messrs Stephen Fraser Farms, Glenernie, Dunphail.  Again regular consignors to this Spring Sale, the Tillyeve herd topped the Aberdeen fixture in 2019 with their bull Tillyeve Invincible, who was a Curaheen Apostle son.