Well, Stirling bull sales certainly kicked the week off with a bang. Positive across all the breeds and plenty of commercial buyers around.

As always it was great to catch up with like-minded folk, plenty of which were in attendance at the Shorthorn dinner on Sunday evening. It was particularly interesting to listen to two of the long-standing breeders, Major Gibb of the Glenisla herd and the Hon Gerald Turton of the Upsall herd, who both oozed with a wealth of experience and knowledge. If only we could bottle this passion and insight from characters like these to pass on to the next generation.





We didn't leave Stirling empty-handed. We were lucky enough to bring home a right shapely Shorthorn bull, Castlemount Kubota. He's settled in already and seems very much at home.

The part dispersal of the Coldrochie Shorthorn herd had a belter of a sale where one of their stock bulls made 20,000gns, a bull calf made 7,000gns and the cracking outfits that were on offer saw some tremendous prices.

Beef Shorthorn bulls seemed to be increasing in popularity with plenty of keen buyers around the ring.



I managed to catch Millerston Kasper making 20,000gns - head over to our Facebook page - FG Shows and Sales to watch the action!





Limousins recorded the highest average and the highest clearance with 62 bulls levelling at £5,814, up £712 on the year for an 81 per cent clearance. Topping the trade at 13,000gns was the intermediate champion, Dyke Macbeth, consigned by Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, Glasgow. It sold to R. Dunlop and Son, Girvan.

Aberdeen-Angus met a steady if unspectacular trade with commercial buyers out in force. Prices peaked at 15,000gns with 101 bulls averaging £5,746 up +£11 on the year for 16 less sold. Sale leader was Thrunton Panther from J.H.C Campbell and Sons, Alnwick. The buyers were Alastair and Graeme Fraser, Newton of Idvies.

Prime and store cattle trade still seems good and hogg prices are continuing to creep up, while dairy trade seems a bit depressed with is unsurprisingly considering the recent milk price cuts.

Sales coming up this week Friday, February 9 – Wright Marshall will be holding a dispersal sale of 236 pedigree and unregistered Holsteins from the Avery herd on behalf of M.R and N.J Brassington at Beeston Castle Auction Saturday, February 10 – Harrison and Hetherington will be hosting a show and sale of 123 North Country Cheviot in-lamb females at Lockerbie Mart  Saturday, February 10 – Mitchells will be holding a machinery sale on behalf of J and M Sanderson to include a range of tractors, bikes and equipment at Woodside within Mitchells Lakeland Livestock Centre Tuesday, February 11 – Caledonian Marts will be holding the 127th spring show and sale of Highland Cattle on behalf of the Highland cattle Society at Oban Livestock Centre

Until next week,

Steph