A NEW record price of 100,000gns was set for a Charolais bull at Stirling yesterday, when Dutch investment banker Jan Boomars, who has farming interests in Kent, sold Vexour Garth to American genetics company Livestock Capital Company.
This son of Dingle Hofmeister, brought out by Fraser Cormack, was in the top 1 per cent of the breed for his figures and while he will remain in the UK, his semen will be exported worldwide.
This has been a landmark year for the breed as it celebrates 50 years since the first Charolais cattle were imported to the UK, and auctioneer David Leggat said it was exciting to see genetics going from here to America.
The six-figure bull helped the breed average to a new record of £7,699 for 89, £1,400 up on the year, whuke a 71 per cent clearance rate saw bulls sell well with 11 at 10,000gns or above.
Veteran breeder Major David Walter, Balthayock, Perth, received 17,000gns from Danny Sawrij, who runs the Swalesmoor herd at Lockerbie, for Balthayock Gunner.
Anne MacPherson’s Blackford Gladiator from Blackford, Inverness, made the same sum to J & W Kellas, Raws, Dufftown.
Elrick Gallant from Mike Massie, Mains of Elrick, Ellon, sold for 15,000gns to Mr Jones, Carmarthen, while, at 14,000gns, the Newark & Notts Show champion Ashby Gucci, from D Noton, Grimsby, went to Jack Anderson, Cloy, Fortrose.
Also at 14,000gns, Welsh vet Esmor Evans from Mold sold Maerdy Gent to Jarka Robinson, Shamleys, Worcester.
The reserve junior champion, Glencoe Galliant, from Northern Ireland couple Paddy and Valerie McDonald, Newry, went for 13,000gns to Keith Eunson, Braebuster, Orkney.
Also at 13,000gns the reserve intermediate champion from the Campbell family at Thrunton, Alnwick, sold to W J Whyte, Hindstones, Fraserburgh. Thrunton Gabriel was one of three five-figure prices for Ian and John Campbell. They also sold Thrunton Galaxy for 12,000gns to John and Jenny Rix, Colchester, and Thrunton Goldsmith for 10,000gns to R T Watkins, Abergavenny.
Neil Barclay, of Insch sold his second-prize bull Harestone Glenlivet for 12,000gns to John Jeffrey, Kersknowe, Kelso.
DUMFRIES – The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 26 prime cattle at an average of 206.9p. Bullocks sold to 220.5p and £1,392.38, heifers to 220p and £1,204.63. Also sold were 50 OTM cattle, selling to £1,236.25 or 189p. The firm also sold 1,859 prime lambs, selling to £79 or 208p, averaging 159.7p, and 684 cast ewes and rams selling to £91.50.