The reputation of the Stirling Bull Sales to draw potential buyers from the length and breadth of Scotland (and the rest of the UK) meant that there was an excellent level of interest in the Salers lines prior to the sale. The most encouraging aspect of this was the steady flow of enquiries from suckler farmers and pedigree breeders planning the change to Salers. The tough market conditions meant that the Salers, like all the main breeds, experienced selective bidding and lower clearance rates.
The top call of 2900gn came for Cumbrian Jolie 586, a Vaillant heifer out of a Cumbrian Thunderbird ET daughter, bred by Farmstock Genetics (Messrs Walling), Selkirk. She is in-calf to Ideal, a young bull recently imported from France and already Reserve Junior Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.
The two top priced bulls were consigned by Rigel Pedigree (Messrs Pye) from Yarm, North Yorkshire. First in the ring, and selling for 2800gn was Rigel Hector Poll, by the well known Rigel Othello Poll ET and out of a Bruno daughter. Othello sons have been exported to France and daughters to Germany. Hector is heading north to Messrs Stout, from Stronsay, Orkney. Next in the ring was Rigel Milton who sold for 2600gn to Mr Fraser, also from Stronsay. Milton is sired by Sagitaire out of Rigel Muse, a Vauban daughter.
The dispersal of the Beowulf herd of polled Salers from Mr Arthur Beevers followed. The Beowulf herd was founded in the early days of the breed in the UK. Initially the herd was based on French genetics including the elite cow, Captive. Recognising the growing requirement for cattle to be naturally polled, Mr Beevers imported a number of Canadian polled Salers in the ’90s. In 2008, the herd was placed under the management of Rigel Pedigree, where the development of polled Salers continued.
The top price of 2450gn was paid for the 4 year old cow Beowulf Polled Red Diamond, with twin polled bull calves at foot.
Red Diamond was sired by Rigel Othello Poll ET and is out of a Beowulf Montana cow. She joins the Leys herd of Messrs Gauld, Huntly, Aberdeenshire. Mr Gauld also purchased the 2011 born cow, Beowulf Polled Cyan also by Othello, and the Casimir sired in-calf heifer Beowulf Polled Red Chapa. Chapa was running with the homozygous polled bull, Rigel Munro Poll. As the foundation female in a new pedigree herd, Beowulf Polled Black Bar, an in-calf heifer with show potential made 2000gn to Mr Limond, Kirkmichael, Ayrshire. In-calf to Casimir, Black Bar is sired by Rigel Byron Poll and is out of Beowulf Polled Red Diamond. Mr Limond also purchased Beowulf Black Polled Voltige with a polled heifer calf at foot.
Averages: Pedigree Females £3045 (1/3), Pedigree Bulls £2765 (3/7)
Dispersal: Aged cows £1008 (2), Cows & calves £1811 (4), In-calf heifers £1785 (2)
