Another phenomenal trade was witnessed at United Auctions, Stirling, on Monday 16 February, where Charolais, Simmental, Salers and Luing bulls went for auction.
Over 220 bulls exchanged hands at the sale, with Charolais and Simmental making up the majority of sales.
Commercial and pedigree breeders competed fiercely across the board to acquire bulls for the upcoming breeding season.
Charolais
Prices peaked at 75,000gns (€90,198) for the much-admired Charolais bull Goldies Vance from Hamish Goldie.
Tapped out as intermediate and supreme overall champion in Sunday's pre-sale show, this double F94L carrier is a son of the herd's impressive stock bull Caylers Rocky, which is bred from the Irish-bred bull Rosanna Jupiter, while his dam Goldies Red Lady is a daughter of Tweeddale Matador.
With a calving figure of +0.2 and terminal and replacement indexes in the top 10% of the breed, the June 2024-born bull was quickly snapped up by the Bombax and Balthayock herds.
Reserve senior champion Charolais Glenericht Vespar, which sold for 60,000gns. \ Emily Davis
Powering his way to 60,000gns (€72,158) was the reserve senior champion Glenericht Vespar, the property of Alan Drysdale in Perthshire.
Born in April 2024, Vespar is a son of the herd's easy calving stud bull Glenericht Limpet.
His dam, the Maerdy Hwre daughter Glenericht Mystique, has previously bred bulls to 15,000gns. Ranking in the top 30% of the breed for a number of traits and +9.1 on calving, he was purchased by the Swalesmoor and Sportsmans herds in England.
Pedigree breeders outbid commercial farmers on a number of the highest-priced lots, as the Glenericht and Thrunton herds secured Maerdy Veture from Esmor Evans at 45,000gns (€54,119).
A son of the fantastic French bull Leopard RS, Veture's dam Maerdy Paith is a daughter of Goldies Linford.
A third-prizewinner in the youngest class of bulls, this September 2024-born bull impressed with his size and presence, which coincided with a single copy of the profit gene and a nice spread of indexes.
Trading at 38,000gns (€45,700) was Allanfauld Vanhalen from the Macgregor family based outside Glasgow.
Having stood reserve intermediate champion to the overall champion under judge Andrew Stott, this July 2024-born bull is a son of Harestone Oscar, while his mother Allanfauld Rubytini is a daughter of Kenaghan Ozzy.
Packing a calving figure of +1.2, a copy of the Q204X gene and an intramuscular fat (IMF) index in the top 5% of the breed, he was knocked down to Robb and sons in Ayrshire.
In total, 104 Charolais bulls averaged £11,760 (€13,469), with an incredible 41 bulls selling for five-figure sums.
Simmental
But the breed selling the most bulls and achieving the highest average sale price ever recorded at the Stirling bull sales was the Simmental.
A staggering 106 Simmental bulls retailed to an average of £12,294 (€14,081), up £2,462 on the same sale last year.
A clearance of 92% and 66 bulls selling for five-figure sums highlights the demand from both commercial and pedigree enterprises.
Leading their prices was two bulls at 30,000gns (€36,079) - Islavale Rocketman and Grangewood Romeo 24.
Islavale Rocketman sold for the joint-highest Simmental price of 30,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Bred by the Stronachs in Keith, Rocketman is a May 2024-born son of Islavale Mccoist and Islavale Harper, a cow which has already produced sons to 28,000gns. Above average for most replacement and terminal indexes, he will now join Michael Durno's pedigree enterprise in Ballindalloch.
Grangewood Romeo 24 went away with the same price tag, selling to Delfur Farms in Banffshire.
Bred and exhibited by the Leedhams in Mauchline, this second-prizewinning bull is a son of the 16,000gns Overhill House Neil, while his dam Grangewood Polly's Hermoine EX91 is bred from Omorga Alonso.
With a calving index of +5.2 and a self-replacing index of +110, this tremendous-headed bull was a hit with many around the ring.
Grangewood Romeo 24 sold for the joint-highest Simmental price of 30,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Up next at 28,000gns (€33,674) was the reserve intermediate champion Backmuir Red Rum 24 from Reece and Andrew Simmers in Keith.
Sired by the homebred stock sire Backmuir Kingsley 19, this June 2024-born bull's mother is a daughter of Corrick Hayden 16.
Despite being below average on a number of traits, he caught the eye of the McCullochs in West Lothian.
The Simmers also received 22,000gns (€26,458) for the senior and reserve overall champion Backmuir Ralf 24, a March 2024-born son of Wolfstar Jackaroo 18.
Going back to a long line of Starline Kutz cows, his dam is a daughter of Islavale Hamilton 16.
Like his stable mate, Ralf ranked below breed average on calving, but packed some impressive 200-,400- and 600-day weight figures. He found a new abode at Castlewigg Farm in Newtown Stewart.
Also realising 22,000gns (€26,458) was Coltfield Richard 24, an April 2024-born bull from JC Maciver in Moray. Sired by Scotland Hill Invader, Richard's dam line has bred bulls to 10,000gns and although negative across a range of traits, he joined Strathisla Farm's pedigree operation in Perthshire.
Claiming the overall junior championship and going on to take the supreme champion of the show under judge Neil McGowan was Innerwick Royal Star.
Exhibited by the Moffats in East Lothian, this classy young bull is a son of Wolfstar Jimmy Choo and was just 16 months old on sale day. Ranking in the top 20% of the breed for replacement and terminal indexes, he was bought by Peter Donger in Foxley for 20,000gns (€24,052).
Salers
In the Salers section, it was a remarkable day for Rob, Kath, Iain and Rory Livesey of Cleuchhead Salers, as they picked up both the champion and reserve champion Salers, before going on to claim the two highest prices.
Reserve champion Salers Cleuchhead Unique, which sold for the highest price of 16,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Leading the way at 16,000gns (€19,242) was the reserve champion Cleuchhead Unique.
Born in March 2024, he is a son of Essil Olly and the homebred dam Cleuchhead Corolle 1338.
After some spirited bidding, he sold to pedigree breeders K MacKenzie, Fortrose, for their Whitebog herd.
Supreme champion Salers Cleuchhead Ultra, which sold for 15,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Taking top honours in the showring and lifting the overall championship was his herdmate Cleuchhead Ultra.
This horned bull, which was born in April 2024, is by Cleuchhead Rockefeller and out of Havane (Nana) (IMP).
Having been successfully used across 15 heifers at home, he was knocked down at 15,000gns (€18,039) to the Rusko herd of N and D Austin based at Gatehouse of Fleet.
Overall, trade for Salers was rocking, as all 15 bulls on offer sold to an average of £8,211 (€9,404), up £2,698 on 2025.
Just six Luing bulls traded on the day, topping out at 20,000gns (€24,052) and averaging £12,250 (€14,030).
Another phenomenal trade was witnessed at United Auctions, Stirling, on Monday 16 February, where Charolais, Simmental, Salers and Luing bulls went for auction.
Over 220 bulls exchanged hands at the sale, with Charolais and Simmental making up the majority of sales.
Commercial and pedigree breeders competed fiercely across the board to acquire bulls for the upcoming breeding season.
Charolais
Prices peaked at 75,000gns (€90,198) for the much-admired Charolais bull Goldies Vance from Hamish Goldie.
Tapped out as intermediate and supreme overall champion in Sunday's pre-sale show, this double F94L carrier is a son of the herd's impressive stock bull Caylers Rocky, which is bred from the Irish-bred bull Rosanna Jupiter, while his dam Goldies Red Lady is a daughter of Tweeddale Matador.
With a calving figure of +0.2 and terminal and replacement indexes in the top 10% of the breed, the June 2024-born bull was quickly snapped up by the Bombax and Balthayock herds.
Reserve senior champion Charolais Glenericht Vespar, which sold for 60,000gns. \ Emily Davis
Powering his way to 60,000gns (€72,158) was the reserve senior champion Glenericht Vespar, the property of Alan Drysdale in Perthshire.
Born in April 2024, Vespar is a son of the herd's easy calving stud bull Glenericht Limpet.
His dam, the Maerdy Hwre daughter Glenericht Mystique, has previously bred bulls to 15,000gns. Ranking in the top 30% of the breed for a number of traits and +9.1 on calving, he was purchased by the Swalesmoor and Sportsmans herds in England.
Pedigree breeders outbid commercial farmers on a number of the highest-priced lots, as the Glenericht and Thrunton herds secured Maerdy Veture from Esmor Evans at 45,000gns (€54,119).
A son of the fantastic French bull Leopard RS, Veture's dam Maerdy Paith is a daughter of Goldies Linford.
A third-prizewinner in the youngest class of bulls, this September 2024-born bull impressed with his size and presence, which coincided with a single copy of the profit gene and a nice spread of indexes.
Trading at 38,000gns (€45,700) was Allanfauld Vanhalen from the Macgregor family based outside Glasgow.
Having stood reserve intermediate champion to the overall champion under judge Andrew Stott, this July 2024-born bull is a son of Harestone Oscar, while his mother Allanfauld Rubytini is a daughter of Kenaghan Ozzy.
Packing a calving figure of +1.2, a copy of the Q204X gene and an intramuscular fat (IMF) index in the top 5% of the breed, he was knocked down to Robb and sons in Ayrshire.
In total, 104 Charolais bulls averaged £11,760 (€13,469), with an incredible 41 bulls selling for five-figure sums.
Simmental
But the breed selling the most bulls and achieving the highest average sale price ever recorded at the Stirling bull sales was the Simmental.
A staggering 106 Simmental bulls retailed to an average of £12,294 (€14,081), up £2,462 on the same sale last year.
A clearance of 92% and 66 bulls selling for five-figure sums highlights the demand from both commercial and pedigree enterprises.
Leading their prices was two bulls at 30,000gns (€36,079) - Islavale Rocketman and Grangewood Romeo 24.
Islavale Rocketman sold for the joint-highest Simmental price of 30,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Bred by the Stronachs in Keith, Rocketman is a May 2024-born son of Islavale Mccoist and Islavale Harper, a cow which has already produced sons to 28,000gns. Above average for most replacement and terminal indexes, he will now join Michael Durno's pedigree enterprise in Ballindalloch.
Grangewood Romeo 24 went away with the same price tag, selling to Delfur Farms in Banffshire.
Bred and exhibited by the Leedhams in Mauchline, this second-prizewinning bull is a son of the 16,000gns Overhill House Neil, while his dam Grangewood Polly's Hermoine EX91 is bred from Omorga Alonso.
With a calving index of +5.2 and a self-replacing index of +110, this tremendous-headed bull was a hit with many around the ring.
Grangewood Romeo 24 sold for the joint-highest Simmental price of 30,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Up next at 28,000gns (€33,674) was the reserve intermediate champion Backmuir Red Rum 24 from Reece and Andrew Simmers in Keith.
Sired by the homebred stock sire Backmuir Kingsley 19, this June 2024-born bull's mother is a daughter of Corrick Hayden 16.
Despite being below average on a number of traits, he caught the eye of the McCullochs in West Lothian.
The Simmers also received 22,000gns (€26,458) for the senior and reserve overall champion Backmuir Ralf 24, a March 2024-born son of Wolfstar Jackaroo 18.
Going back to a long line of Starline Kutz cows, his dam is a daughter of Islavale Hamilton 16.
Like his stable mate, Ralf ranked below breed average on calving, but packed some impressive 200-,400- and 600-day weight figures. He found a new abode at Castlewigg Farm in Newtown Stewart.
Also realising 22,000gns (€26,458) was Coltfield Richard 24, an April 2024-born bull from JC Maciver in Moray. Sired by Scotland Hill Invader, Richard's dam line has bred bulls to 10,000gns and although negative across a range of traits, he joined Strathisla Farm's pedigree operation in Perthshire.
Claiming the overall junior championship and going on to take the supreme champion of the show under judge Neil McGowan was Innerwick Royal Star.
Exhibited by the Moffats in East Lothian, this classy young bull is a son of Wolfstar Jimmy Choo and was just 16 months old on sale day. Ranking in the top 20% of the breed for replacement and terminal indexes, he was bought by Peter Donger in Foxley for 20,000gns (€24,052).
Salers
In the Salers section, it was a remarkable day for Rob, Kath, Iain and Rory Livesey of Cleuchhead Salers, as they picked up both the champion and reserve champion Salers, before going on to claim the two highest prices.
Reserve champion Salers Cleuchhead Unique, which sold for the highest price of 16,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Leading the way at 16,000gns (€19,242) was the reserve champion Cleuchhead Unique.
Born in March 2024, he is a son of Essil Olly and the homebred dam Cleuchhead Corolle 1338.
After some spirited bidding, he sold to pedigree breeders K MacKenzie, Fortrose, for their Whitebog herd.
Supreme champion Salers Cleuchhead Ultra, which sold for 15,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Taking top honours in the showring and lifting the overall championship was his herdmate Cleuchhead Ultra.
This horned bull, which was born in April 2024, is by Cleuchhead Rockefeller and out of Havane (Nana) (IMP).
Having been successfully used across 15 heifers at home, he was knocked down at 15,000gns (€18,039) to the Rusko herd of N and D Austin based at Gatehouse of Fleet.
Overall, trade for Salers was rocking, as all 15 bulls on offer sold to an average of £8,211 (€9,404), up £2,698 on 2025.
Just six Luing bulls traded on the day, topping out at 20,000gns (€24,052) and averaging £12,250 (€14,030).
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