Averages were way up at the Stirling bull sales in Scotland on Monday 2 February, as the Angus, Shorthorn, Limousin and Hereford breeds held their shows and sales at United Auctions.
It was an incredible day's selling, as both the Angus and Shorthorn breeds witnessed a phenomenal demand, producing record prices at the venue, as well as achieving record averages.
Having fallen behind their continental counterparts in recent years, the Angus breed made an emphatic surge on Monday, as 83 bulls retailed to an average of £10,745 (€12,449), up almost £3,020 on last year's sale.
Angus
A total of 24 Angus bulls made it into five-figure sums, with a top price of 60,000gns (€72,989) paid for the junior and supreme champion Duncanziemere Jet A590.
Bred and exhibited by Alistair Clarke and sons in Ayrshire, he is a son of Duncanziemere Sportsman W357 and the homebred dam Duncanziemere Jody Y495, a first-calved heifer which traces back to the herd's famous line of Jody cows.
Despite being negative on a number of traits within the Angus breed, Jet attracted interest from some of the leading herds in Scotland, before eventually settling with David Walker of the noted Galcantray Angus herd.
Jet made it two in a row for the Clarke family at the Stirling bull sales, after Duncanziemere Jenson won the overall title at the same venture in 2025.
Staplegrove Livestock in Devon forked out 42,000gns (€51,092) for the intermediate and reserve overall champion Massies Patriot A008 from Graeme Massie in Aberdeenshire.
Overall junior champion at the Black Beauty Bonanza in 2024, Patriot goes back to the original Princess line at Blelack and is sired by Blelack Equinox X115.
The April 2024-born bull ranked in the top 10% of the breed across a number of terminal traits, including 200-, 400- and 600-day weights, as well as showing a terminal index value of +52.
Massies Patriot was intermediate and reserve supreme champion Angus and sold for 42,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Next up at 38,000gns (€46,226) was Thrunton Premier A815, a June 2024-born bull from Messrs Campbell and sons in Northumberland.
A son of Tonley King Paco X812 and out of the Blelack Duke daughter Thrunton Princess U156, Premier was plus on calving and ranked in the top 20% of the breed for both replacement and terminal.
Adding him to their pedigree fold in Perthshire was the Cardona Angus herd.
Mayen Farms then paid 35,000gns (€42,577) for 19-month-old Tonley Ezra, brought out by Neil and Mark Wattie in Aberdeenshire.
Sired by Idvies Eric S735 and out of Tonley Eyrie W773, this powerhouse of a bull ranked in the top 5% of the breed for 200-, 400- and 600-day weights, as well as sitting in the top 5% for carcase weight.
Hitting 28,000gns (€34,061) early on in the sale was Brotherton Phobos A018 from David Alexander in Angus.
A son of Blelack Jumping Jackflash X160 and out of Tynet Princess Y118, this April 2024-born bull was a first-prizewinner in his class under judge Andrew Hodge in Sunday's pre-sale show.
The last bull to cross the 20,000gns mark was Drumhill Explosive Force A953 from Jonathan and Lisa Doyle in Northern Ireland.
Having claimed the reserve intermediate championship in the pre-sale show, this May 2024-born bull is a son of the 15,000gns Galcantray Jedi Eric and sold to the Rulesmains herd for 26,000gns (€31,628).
Shorthorn
Records were blitzed in the Shorthorn ring, as 55 bulls sold to an average of £9,234 (€10,698), up £2,758 on last year's sale.
Setting a new breed record was Backmuir Vodka PP, a full polled bull from Reece Simmers in Keith.
Tapped out as intermediate and reserve supreme champion in Sunday's show by judge George Irving of the Mountbenger herd, this outstanding 23-month-old bull was the go-to bull for most pedigree and commercial herds in the yard.
A son of Glenisla Saturn PP and the Glenisla Jackson daughter Greenwall Yvette Izzy (P), he was acquired by Aucheneck Estate in Glasgow for an incredible 40,000gns (€48,659).
Backmuir Vodka PP was reserve supreme champion Shorthorn and sold for a record of 40,000gns.
It was a great day for the breed, as 16 bulls hit five-figure sums.
Next best at 24,000gns (€29,195) was Cutthorn Vision (Pp), a full polled bull from AJ Gibson Farming in Newcastle.
Sired by the herd's successful stock bull Cairnsmore Phenomenal (P) and out of Cutthorn Meldoy Loki (P), this rising two-year-old stud displayed a positive calving ease figure of +2.6 and an intramuscular fat (IMF) index in the top 10% of the breed. Having the final call on Vision was Leggat Farming Partnership in Perth.
The first-prizewinning beef Shorthorn Cutthorn Vision sold for 24,000gns.
Selling at 22,000gns (€26,773) was the much-fancied Balquhadly Vanguard from the Haigh family in Dundee.
Secured by Wester Parkgate Farm in Dumfries, this stylish white roan bull was shown successfully all year, victorious on outings to Fife and Perth shows.
Born in July 2024, he is a son of Eastmill Laird (H) and the Fearn Wyvis daughter Willingham Eva Broadhooks L311.
Two bulls shared the price tag of 17,000gns (€20,680). The first bull to get into that money was the first-prizewinner Glenisla Venture (P) from J and J Gibb in Perthshire.
Homebred on both sides of his pedigree and sired by Glenisla Sunrise (PP), Venture displayed some impressive figures, ranking in the top 10% of the breed for gestation, scrotal size, terminal and replacement indexes.
Adding him to his well-known Uppermill pedigree enterprise in Co Antrim was James Porter.
Following Venture at the same price was Portnadoran Viscount (Pp) brought out by Audrey MacDonald in Inverness.
Sired by Portnadoran Sandman (P) and out of HW Regal Princess (P), this May 2024-born bull stood overall junior male champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2025. He will now join Bargaly Farm in Wigtownshire.
Limousin
Also racking up an impressive average of £9,744 (€11,289) for 55 bulls sold was the Limousin breed, increasing its overall average from last year by £2,411.
A total of 18 Limousin bulls sold for 10,000gns or more, with a top price of 20,000gns (€24,330) paid for one of the youngest bulls on the day, Anside Vulcan.
Exhibited by Martin Irvine and family from Banffs, this tremendous 19-month-old bull is a son of the Royal Highland Show champion Deveronvale Razzledazzle and the Haltcliffe Vermount daughter Procters RDiamante.
Plus on a range of terminal traits, he was the choice lot of the McConachie' s in Aberlour.
Anside Vulcan was the highest-priced Limousin at 20,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Trading at 18,000gns (€21,897) was the black Limousin bull Westhall Vince from the Fotheringham and McNee duo based in Dundee.
Sired by Newhouse Overfinlarg and out of Westhall Rubyruby, this heterozygous polled bull carries two copies of the F94L profit gene and was knocked down to the commercial enterprise of Walker and son in Ayrshire.
Westhall Vince was the second-highest-priced Limousin at 18,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Not far behind at 17,000gns (€20,680) was Dyke Vulcan, the property of the MacGregors from Glasgow.
A son of Whinfellpark Ohagan, this double F94L carrier was snapped up by Steel and Co in Lanark.
Also trading at 17,000gns (€20,680) was the junior and supreme champion Goldies Vavavoom from Bruce Goldie from Dumfries and Galloway.
A son of the herd's popular herd sire Ampertaine Opportunity and the homebred dam Goldies Pianist, he carries one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes and will now head south with Staplegrove Livestock in Devon.
Read all about the first weekend of sales at Stirling in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
Averages were way up at the Stirling bull sales in Scotland on Monday 2 February, as the Angus, Shorthorn, Limousin and Hereford breeds held their shows and sales at United Auctions.
It was an incredible day's selling, as both the Angus and Shorthorn breeds witnessed a phenomenal demand, producing record prices at the venue, as well as achieving record averages.
Having fallen behind their continental counterparts in recent years, the Angus breed made an emphatic surge on Monday, as 83 bulls retailed to an average of £10,745 (€12,449), up almost £3,020 on last year's sale.
Angus
A total of 24 Angus bulls made it into five-figure sums, with a top price of 60,000gns (€72,989) paid for the junior and supreme champion Duncanziemere Jet A590.
Bred and exhibited by Alistair Clarke and sons in Ayrshire, he is a son of Duncanziemere Sportsman W357 and the homebred dam Duncanziemere Jody Y495, a first-calved heifer which traces back to the herd's famous line of Jody cows.
Despite being negative on a number of traits within the Angus breed, Jet attracted interest from some of the leading herds in Scotland, before eventually settling with David Walker of the noted Galcantray Angus herd.
Jet made it two in a row for the Clarke family at the Stirling bull sales, after Duncanziemere Jenson won the overall title at the same venture in 2025.
Staplegrove Livestock in Devon forked out 42,000gns (€51,092) for the intermediate and reserve overall champion Massies Patriot A008 from Graeme Massie in Aberdeenshire.
Overall junior champion at the Black Beauty Bonanza in 2024, Patriot goes back to the original Princess line at Blelack and is sired by Blelack Equinox X115.
The April 2024-born bull ranked in the top 10% of the breed across a number of terminal traits, including 200-, 400- and 600-day weights, as well as showing a terminal index value of +52.
Massies Patriot was intermediate and reserve supreme champion Angus and sold for 42,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Next up at 38,000gns (€46,226) was Thrunton Premier A815, a June 2024-born bull from Messrs Campbell and sons in Northumberland.
A son of Tonley King Paco X812 and out of the Blelack Duke daughter Thrunton Princess U156, Premier was plus on calving and ranked in the top 20% of the breed for both replacement and terminal.
Adding him to their pedigree fold in Perthshire was the Cardona Angus herd.
Mayen Farms then paid 35,000gns (€42,577) for 19-month-old Tonley Ezra, brought out by Neil and Mark Wattie in Aberdeenshire.
Sired by Idvies Eric S735 and out of Tonley Eyrie W773, this powerhouse of a bull ranked in the top 5% of the breed for 200-, 400- and 600-day weights, as well as sitting in the top 5% for carcase weight.
Hitting 28,000gns (€34,061) early on in the sale was Brotherton Phobos A018 from David Alexander in Angus.
A son of Blelack Jumping Jackflash X160 and out of Tynet Princess Y118, this April 2024-born bull was a first-prizewinner in his class under judge Andrew Hodge in Sunday's pre-sale show.
The last bull to cross the 20,000gns mark was Drumhill Explosive Force A953 from Jonathan and Lisa Doyle in Northern Ireland.
Having claimed the reserve intermediate championship in the pre-sale show, this May 2024-born bull is a son of the 15,000gns Galcantray Jedi Eric and sold to the Rulesmains herd for 26,000gns (€31,628).
Shorthorn
Records were blitzed in the Shorthorn ring, as 55 bulls sold to an average of £9,234 (€10,698), up £2,758 on last year's sale.
Setting a new breed record was Backmuir Vodka PP, a full polled bull from Reece Simmers in Keith.
Tapped out as intermediate and reserve supreme champion in Sunday's show by judge George Irving of the Mountbenger herd, this outstanding 23-month-old bull was the go-to bull for most pedigree and commercial herds in the yard.
A son of Glenisla Saturn PP and the Glenisla Jackson daughter Greenwall Yvette Izzy (P), he was acquired by Aucheneck Estate in Glasgow for an incredible 40,000gns (€48,659).
Backmuir Vodka PP was reserve supreme champion Shorthorn and sold for a record of 40,000gns.
It was a great day for the breed, as 16 bulls hit five-figure sums.
Next best at 24,000gns (€29,195) was Cutthorn Vision (Pp), a full polled bull from AJ Gibson Farming in Newcastle.
Sired by the herd's successful stock bull Cairnsmore Phenomenal (P) and out of Cutthorn Meldoy Loki (P), this rising two-year-old stud displayed a positive calving ease figure of +2.6 and an intramuscular fat (IMF) index in the top 10% of the breed. Having the final call on Vision was Leggat Farming Partnership in Perth.
The first-prizewinning beef Shorthorn Cutthorn Vision sold for 24,000gns.
Selling at 22,000gns (€26,773) was the much-fancied Balquhadly Vanguard from the Haigh family in Dundee.
Secured by Wester Parkgate Farm in Dumfries, this stylish white roan bull was shown successfully all year, victorious on outings to Fife and Perth shows.
Born in July 2024, he is a son of Eastmill Laird (H) and the Fearn Wyvis daughter Willingham Eva Broadhooks L311.
Two bulls shared the price tag of 17,000gns (€20,680). The first bull to get into that money was the first-prizewinner Glenisla Venture (P) from J and J Gibb in Perthshire.
Homebred on both sides of his pedigree and sired by Glenisla Sunrise (PP), Venture displayed some impressive figures, ranking in the top 10% of the breed for gestation, scrotal size, terminal and replacement indexes.
Adding him to his well-known Uppermill pedigree enterprise in Co Antrim was James Porter.
Following Venture at the same price was Portnadoran Viscount (Pp) brought out by Audrey MacDonald in Inverness.
Sired by Portnadoran Sandman (P) and out of HW Regal Princess (P), this May 2024-born bull stood overall junior male champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2025. He will now join Bargaly Farm in Wigtownshire.
Limousin
Also racking up an impressive average of £9,744 (€11,289) for 55 bulls sold was the Limousin breed, increasing its overall average from last year by £2,411.
A total of 18 Limousin bulls sold for 10,000gns or more, with a top price of 20,000gns (€24,330) paid for one of the youngest bulls on the day, Anside Vulcan.
Exhibited by Martin Irvine and family from Banffs, this tremendous 19-month-old bull is a son of the Royal Highland Show champion Deveronvale Razzledazzle and the Haltcliffe Vermount daughter Procters RDiamante.
Plus on a range of terminal traits, he was the choice lot of the McConachie' s in Aberlour.
Anside Vulcan was the highest-priced Limousin at 20,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Trading at 18,000gns (€21,897) was the black Limousin bull Westhall Vince from the Fotheringham and McNee duo based in Dundee.
Sired by Newhouse Overfinlarg and out of Westhall Rubyruby, this heterozygous polled bull carries two copies of the F94L profit gene and was knocked down to the commercial enterprise of Walker and son in Ayrshire.
Westhall Vince was the second-highest-priced Limousin at 18,000gns. \ Isla Campbell
Not far behind at 17,000gns (€20,680) was Dyke Vulcan, the property of the MacGregors from Glasgow.
A son of Whinfellpark Ohagan, this double F94L carrier was snapped up by Steel and Co in Lanark.
Also trading at 17,000gns (€20,680) was the junior and supreme champion Goldies Vavavoom from Bruce Goldie from Dumfries and Galloway.
A son of the herd's popular herd sire Ampertaine Opportunity and the homebred dam Goldies Pianist, he carries one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes and will now head south with Staplegrove Livestock in Devon.
Read all about the first weekend of sales at Stirling in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
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