The annual premier show and sale of pedigree and commercial Salers was held at Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th November 2021 and was kindly sponsored by the Farmers Guardian.
There was a strong demand for the easy calving, low maintenance Salers especially from breeders from Northern Ireland. They were keen to secure females from both the pedigree and commercial sections with 29 commercial heifers and 10 pedigree females being purchased. M Fleming of Magherafelt, Northern Ireland alone purchased the overall male champion and overall show champion Kaimburn Playboy, along with six commercial in calf heifers and a further 29 commercial bulling heifers.
The show took place on Friday and was judged by Johny Wright of Trayboyack Salers, Ayrshire. Johny had originally been asked to judge in 2020 but COVID restrictions had led to the cancellation of the main show, leaving him with only the commercial section to assess. He was therefore invited back in 2021 making history by being the first to judge the show twice, in consecutive years.
In the led pedigree female section Johnny found his champion in Rigel Valentina from Rigel Pedigree. She was a Lascaux sired daughter, in calf to Rigel Oligarch and was born in March 2020. She won the McClymont Cup and went on to sell for the top led pedigree female price of the day 2,300gns to L Howat, Cumnock Ayrshire. In reserve was another from Rigel Pedigree, Rigel Maisie Poll, another March 2020 heifer by Lascaux, and in calf to Rigel Oligarch who won the Tullyneddie Cup for the best polled animal. She sold for 1,700gns to R Milne, North Bethelnie, Old Meldrum.
There were two pedigree production drafts forward from Allison Devereux Farms, Weardale, County Durham and Patrick and Judith Boyd, Drumaglea, Isle of Tiree.
Topping the production sale was Patrick and Judith Boyd with a Baron sired daughter Drumaglea Paula born in April 2020 and out of Drumaglea Blusher who had also bred Drumaglea Outstanding who sold for 7,200gns in Stirling in February 2021. She was sold in calf to Hibou to J Martin & Sons, Swinlees, Dalry for 3,500gns. J Howatson, Risk, Newton Stewart paid 3,200gns for Drumaglea Opal a Beguin sired female in calf to Hibou and new breeders Andrew Orr and Lyndsay Wight from Lawhead, Tarbrax purchased Drumaglea Orla a Baron sired heifer, in calf to Icare for 2,900gns. Andrew Kennedy, Mileview, Northern Ireland bought Drumaglea Okra a Sancy sired female for 2,700gns and Drumaglea Patsy a Beguin daughter for 2,000gns. Retiring Area 4 representative Seamus Connell added Drumaglea Oyster to his Ballykeel herd of pedigree Salers for 2,500gns, she was sold in calf to Baron.
The Allison Devereux Farms draft hit 2,600gns twice, first for Harperley Miss Oli born in March 2019 by Oliver and out of Ninette imported from Messiurs Missiel. She along with Harperley Fo Mist 2 and Harperley Gobi Mist 3 who were purchased for 2,000gns and 1,900gns respectively by Andrew Orr and Lyndsay Wight, Lawhead, Tarbrax. The second lot at 2,600gns was purchased by the judge Johny Wright, Trayboyack Salers who added Harperley Mey Van to his pedigree herd. She was a Vanlooy daughter out of Nadia, born in March 2019 and in calf to Jericho. Northern Ireland farmer S Thompson, Omagh, purchased three Harperley females. He paid 2,100gns for Harperley Rab Mist sired by Mistral, born in March 2019, Harperley Rab Miste for 2,000gns and Harperley Miss Mist 2 for 1,850gns.
There was 100% clearance in the pedigree female section.
20 in calf heifers achieved a top price of 3,500gn and an average of £2359.88.
4 pedigree bulling heifers realised 2,000gns and average of £1758.74.
2 Cows and calves topped at 2,300gns and averaged £2362.50.
Leading the senior bull class and taking the top price of the day in the sale on Saturday was the Reserve Overall Champion of the Great Yorkshire Show 2021, Approach Farm Olly from Angus and Kerry Gowthorpe. This Beguin sired, February 2019 born bull was used on heifers by the Gowthorpe family in 2020 and was purchased by R A Austin, Boreland of Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet for 8,000gns. The Reserve Senior Male Champion, Bacardi 007 from Roy and Adam Crockett, a Seawell Kitemark son born in December 2019 whose dam Bacardi Miss Money Penny won Reserve Interbeed Champion in Northumberland and Stirling shows in 2019 was also purchased by R A Austin, Boreland of Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet for 5,800gns.
There was a strong line up of nine intermediate bulls put in front of judge Johnny Wright and he found his Intermediate Champion in Rednock Phoenix from Rednock Estate. This March 2020 bull also lifted the Reserve Overall Show Champion title and sold to Hair & Brewis, Drumbreddan, Stranraer for 6,500gns. Rednock Pheonix was by the 12,000gns bull Drumaglea Kes. Standing as Reserve Intermediate Champion was Darnford Powerful by Cammock Mormo out of Darnford Mellony. He sold for 3,000gns to G Evans, Grofft Farm, Powys.
Demand was exceptionally strong for junior bulls where trade peaked at 6,200gns and a further four bulls achieved 6,000gns. The top priced bull was Bacardi PDiddy from Roy and Adam Crockett, PDiddy was the first son offered for sale by Seamore Nitro and sold to A R Lee, Lumbylaw, Alnwick. The winner of the junior bull class was Kaimburn Playboy from Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd, brought out by Neil Ralston. Kaimburn Playboy lifted the Fisher Trophy for the Junior Male Champion, The Cuil Cup for the Overall Male Champion and the Jack Boyes Trophy for the Overall Show Champion. Stockman Neil Ralston also won the G McKnight Cup for the Best Stockman. Kaimburn Playboy sired by Bacardi Ladysman and out of Kaimburn Lucky was born in April 2020 and sold to M Fleming, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland for 6,000gns. The Livesey family realised 16,000gns for three bulls in the junior section, the first Cleuchhead Pathfinder, by homebred sire Cleuchhead Dick Dastardly sold for 6,000gns to J Laurie, Cupar Fife. Next up was Cleuchhead Pumba a Nobel sired bull out of Nadia who also sold for 6,000gns to J R Rankin, Badenheath Farm, Cumbernauld and finally Cleuchhead Pharaoh sold for 4,000gns to W T Evans, Awhirk Farm, Stranraer. Pat and Judith Boyd from the Isle of Tiree also sold a junior bull at 6,000gns to pedigree breeders W Aitken, Scotstounbank Farm, Blyth Bridge.
Sixteen bulls sold with a clearance rate of 73% and a top price of 8,000gns to an average of £4889.06 +£412.24 on 2020.
In the commercial section of the sale there were 184 females forward and demand was exceptionally strong for in calf females.
R A Austin, Boreland of Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet had a tremendous trade selling ten in-calf heifers to a top of £2300 to John Young & Sons, New Cumnock Ayrshire and averaged £2140. A R Lee, Lumbylaw, Alnwick sold nine in-calf heifers to a top of £2050 to S Brash, Kirkston Manor, Peebles and averaged £1883.33. J Martin & Son, Swinlees, Dalry sold five in-calf heifers to an average of £1,880 and a top price of £2000 to March & Lobban, Borgue, Kirkcudbright and Rusko Farm, Pulcree & Upper Rusko, Gatehouse of Fleet sold ten to an average of £1,850 and a top price of £2,100 to D Howat, Enoch, Girvan.
The bulling heifers peaked at £2,050 for the Champion Pen of Commercial Salers (Willie Davidson Trophy) from G S McClymont, Cuil, Palnure and sold to M Fleming, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland and he also purchased the Reserve Champion Pen of Commercial Salers for the second highest price of the day for bulling heifers again from G S McClymont, Cuil, Palnure for £1800 apiece.
Heifers stirks made a top price of £1,600 from Firm of Andrew M Brown, Drumhumphry, Corsock, they sold to J W Bonner & Sons, Whitfield House Farm, Whitfield.
184 commercial females were forward and sold with 100% clearance
15 heifer stirks sold to a top of £1,600 and an average of £1193.33
34 In-Calf Heifers sold to a top of £2,300 and an average of £1,948.53
135 Bulling heifers sold to a top of £2,050 and an average of £1,340
Pedigree Section
| 1 | RIGEL PEDIGREE | HFR IN CALF | 1700 | 1785 | R MILNE | INVERURIE | ABERDEENSHIRE |
| 2 | RIGEL PEDIGREE | HFR IN CALF | 2300 | 2415 | L HOWAT | CUMNOCK | AYRSHIRE |
| 5 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 2600 | 2730 | R ORR | TARBRAX | LANARKSHIRE |
| 7 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 2600 | 2730 | A & J WRIGHT | TRAYBOYACK | AYRSHIRE |
| 8 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 2100 | 2205 | S THOMPSON | COUNTY TYRONE | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 9 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 2000 | 2100 | S THOMPSON | COUNTY TYRONE | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 10 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 1350 | 1417.5 | J GREENWOOD | MOOR MONKTON | NORTH YORKSHIRE |
| 11 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 2000 | 2100 | R ORR | TARBRAX | LANARKSHIRE |
| 12 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 1900 | 1995 | R ORR | TARBRAX | LANARKSHIRE |
| 13 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 1600 | 1680 | J GREENWOOD | MOOR MONKTON | NORTH YORKSHIRE |
| 14 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 1850 | 1942.5 | S THOMPSON | COUNTY TYRONE | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 15 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | HFR IN CALF | 1650 | 1732.5 | J GREENWOOD | MOOR MONKTON | NORTH YORKSHIRE |
| 16 | P A BOYD | COW & BULL CALF | 2300 | 2415 | BEOCH FARMERS | BEOCH | STRANRAER |
| 17 | P A BOYD | COW & BULL CALF | 2200 | 2310 | R A AUSTIN | GATEHOUSE OF FLEET | DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY |
| 18 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 2900 | 3045 | R ORR | TARBRAX | LANARKSHIRE |
| 19 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 2200 | 2310 | A KENNEDY | MILEVIEW | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 20 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 2100 | 2205 | C ATKINSON | MICKLETON MILL | BARNARD CASTLE |
| 21 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 2700 | 2835 | A KENNEDY | MILEVIEW | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 22 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 3200 | 3360 | J HOWATSON | RISK | NEWTON STEWART |
| 23 | P A BOYD | BULLING HFR | 1400 | 1470 | G A MCCALL | ARMAGH | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 24 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 2500 | 2625 | S CONNELL | COUNTY DOWN | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 25 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 2200 | 2310 | R ORR | TARBRAX | LANARKSHIRE |
| 26 | P A BOYD | BULLING HFR | 1700 | 1785 | R A AUSTIN | GATEHOUSE OF FLEET | DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY |
| 27 | P A BOYD | BULLING HFR | 2000 | 2100 | A KENNEDY | MILEVIEW | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 28 | P A BOYD | BULLING HFR | 1600 | 1680 | R ORR | TARBRAX | LANARKSHIRE |
| 29 | P A BOYD | HFR IN CALF | 3500 | 3675 | J MARTIN & SON | SWINLEES | DALRY |
| 31 | A & K GOWTHORPE | BULL | 8000 | 8400 | R A AUSTIN | GATEHOUSE OF FLEET | DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY |
| 33 | ALLISON DEVEREUX FARMS | BULL | 2100 | 2205 | W TEMPLETON & SON | AULDGIRTH | DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY |
| 34 | CROCKET | BULL | 5800 | 6090 | R A AUSTIN | GATEHOUSE OF FLEET | DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY |
| 36 | A & K GOWTHORPE | BULL | 3500 | 3675 | H E POWELL & CO | BRECON | POWYS |
| 37 | DAVID WATSON | BULL | 3000 | 3150 | G EVANS | GROFFT FARM | POWYS |
| 38 | REDNOCK ESTATE | BULL | 6500 | 6825 | HAIR & BREWIS | LOCHANS | STRANRAER |
| 40 | FARMSTOCK GENETICS | BULL | 3000 | 3150 | D MCCLEMENTS & SONS LTD | COUNTY DOWN | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 41 | FARMSTOCK GENETICS | BULL | 3000 | 3150 | L E SIMMONS & PARTNER | UMBERLEIGH | DEVON |
| 43 | FIRM OF K MACKENZIE | BULL | 2000 | 1995 | J FINLAYSON | IRONGRAY | DUMFRIES |
| 45 | R & K LIVESEY | BULL | 4000 | 4200 | W T EVANS | LOCHANS | STRANRAER |
| 48 | EDGERSTON TRADING (2006) | BULL | 6000 | 6300 | M FLEMING | COUNTY LONDONDERRY | NORTHERN IRELAND |
| 49 | R & K LIVESEY | BULL | 6000 | 6300 | J LAURIE | CUPAR | FIFE |
| 50 | R & K LIVESEY | BULL | 6000 | 6300 | J R RANKIN | CUMBERNAULD | NORTH LANARKSHIRE |
| 51 | P A BOYD | BULL | 6000 | 6300 | W AITKEN | BLYTHE BRIDGE | WEST LINTON |
| 52 | CROCKET | BULL | 6200 | 6510 | A R LEE | LUMBYLAW | ALNWICK |
| 55 | FIRM OF K MACKENZIE | BULL | 3500 | 3675 | J MITCHELL & CO | GREENLAW | BERWICKSHIRE |
