The 32nd annual premier show and sale of pedigree and commercial Salers was held at Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November 2023 and was kindly sponsored by the Farmers Guardian.
In charge of judging the strong pedigree line up was Mr Peter Donger, Seawell Salers. Seawell grounds extends to 1400 acres of which 800 is arable, 400 acres permanent grass and the balance is made up of maize, beans, short term lays and woodland and new for this year fodder beet! The Donger family have two pedigree herds, Charolais and Salers. Charolais were introduced during the 1980’s and Salers in 2002. The Salers’ are now the predominant breed with some 300 breeding females plus 150 pedigree Charolais females.
Any stock man or woman nearing the end of their career would be delighted to look back on achievements such as winning the young handlers interbreed class at the Royal Highland Show as a youngster, bringing out a Royal Highland breed champion and winning reserve junior female champion at the Royal Highland with a homebred heifer but at just sixteen years of age Lewis Ralston not only has those wins under his belt but put the icing on the cake at the premier show and sale at Castle Douglas this weekend by winning the senior female championship, female championship and overall championship as well as realising the joint top female price this year of 5,000gns with Jedforest Roxy, a Cuil Marvin daughter out of Seamore Nicole Kidman, PD’d in-calf to the imported French sire ‘Tibet’. This March-2021 female who was the reserve junior female champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2022 sold to pedigree breeders Fiona & Colin Wight, Carwood, Lanarkshire for their Carwood herd.
Sharing the equal top female price was another exceptionally memorable lot Rednock Ukraine who was very kindly donated to the sale by Gill and Malcolm Pye, Rednock Estate. All commission on this lot was waivered by the Society and the market and all proceeds for this very special prize-winning stylish heifer was donated to Forth Valley Welcome charity supporting refugees and children of Ukraine. Rednock Ukraine was junior female champion, overall junior champion and reserve overall champion at the Great Yorkshire Show 2023 and junior female champion and reserve overall female champion at the Royal Highland Show 2023. At the pre-sale premier show this year she lifted the junior female champion title, she was sired by Rigel Officer, out of Rednock Odessa and she sold to H Limond, Dromore, Kirkpatrick.
Rednock Estate were triumphant and led in the auction ring achieving the top price of the day 8,000gns for the intermediate champion, Rednock Salvador a March-2022 bull by Baron, out of Rednock Peru. Earlier in the year this bull won the junior male and overall male championship titles at the Royal Highland Show and sold to pedigree breeders Malcolm and Kyle Fleming, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland for their Killyboggin herd. The Flemings also purchased Salvador’s stable mate, Rednock Tinky Poll for 2,500gns, she won the Tullyneddie Cup for the best polled animal in the show and was sired by Drumaglea Kes and born in June-2022.
Reserve junior female champion Rigel Paradise from Jane and Terence Pye was a Lascaux daughter out of Rigel Parisienne Blk Poll. She went to her new home in Wales with E J W Griffiths, Church Farm, Powys for 1,800gns.
Flying to the top in the pedigree bull classes was Bacardi Superman from father and son duo, Roy and Adam Crockett, Bacardi Salers. This April-2022 born Seamore Nitro son is out of Bacardi Matilda who this year won interbreed titles at Northumberland County and Border Union show and reserve interbreed titles at Stirling and Berwickshire County as well as the breed championship at the Great Yorkshire Show. He returns to the Scottish Borders to the home of Society members James Morton & Son, Kaeside, Melrose for 4,500gns.
The senior male champion and reserve male champion was the Lower Hall Spartan son out of Drumaglea Molly, February-2021 born Traboyack Rooney from Johnny Wright & family, Girvan. He had been placed first in his class and formed part of the winning group of three at the Royal Highland Show 2023. Standing as reserve senior champion was Judith & Patrick Boyd’s Drumaglea R-Tic, a September-2021 Baron son out of Drumaglea Alice who has produced bulls to 12,000gns, 9,000gns and 6,5000gns respectively. He sold to I & J Adams, Half Mark, Leswalt, Stranraer for 4,800gns.
The reserve intermediate champion travelled from Church Preen in Shropshire, home of Fred and Bryn Robinson. Preenbank Samson by Preenbank Oggy-Oggy out of Preenbank Ismina who produced the 8,500gns Welshpool 2021 sale topper Preenbank Orsino. Samson was born in February-2022 and sold to local breeders N & D Austin, Rusko Farms, Gatehouse of Fleet for 4,500gns.
R A & J Blyth’s reserve intermediate champion Marwood Spartan also sold for the same money 4,500gns again to the Austin family, this time for their Girthon prefix at Boreland at Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet. Spartan is a April-2022 Murphy sired son out of Marwood Jellybaby who has bred sons to 9,500gns.
Other leading bull prices came for 3rd prize junior bull Drumaglea Stan a Halley sired son out of Drumaglea Corinne who sold to the McConchie Partnership, Mossyard Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet for 4,800gns. P J Maginn’s 3rd prize senior bull who was male champion at Balmoral Show, May-2023 and overall champion at Saintfield in June-2023, was snapped up by K C Heard & Son, Okehampton, Devon for their Yes Tor herd at 4,800gns. The Livesey Farming partnership secured 4,500gns for a half-brother to last year’s reserve champion who sold for 7,000gns. This Noble sired son Cleuchhead Saracen an April-2022 born bull out of Cleuchhead Gentle 33rd was purchased by G Ritchie & Sons, Montallt Farm, Dunning, Perth.
Topping the two production drafts was Judith and Patrick Boyd from the Isle of Tiree who commanded a top price of 4,600gns for a Baron daughter Drumaglea Riff born in August-2021. She went to the pedigree herd Lisnamaul owned by P J Maginn and sons. The newly appointed Society President Andrew Sleigh, Newseat of Tolquhon, Tarves purchased the second highest price production female Drumaglea Rula an Icare daughter out of Drumaglea Arabella who sired the 12,000gns Drumaglea Kes. He paid 3,600gns for this female who was sold in-calf to Baron and went on to pay 2,400gns for Drumaglea Sybil again in-calf to Baron, this time sired by Halley. A & F Baillie, Glasnick, Kirkcowan paid 2,900gns for October-2021 Drumaglea Robust who was in-calf to Hibou and 2,700gns for April-2022 born Hibou daughter Drumaglea Sharon who was in-calf to the reserve senior bull champion Drumaglea R-Tic. Logan Howat, Darroch Salers, Coylton purchased an April-2022 born Icare daughter, Drumgalea Sacha in calf this time to Lorenzo.
Rigel Pedigree’s leading lots came from Lot 7 & 8 who sold to new Society members EWG (Scotland) Ltd, Hearthstanes Estate, Biggar. In-calf to Rigel Powerhouse Poll, Rigel Dazzle Poll was a Lascaux sired daughter out of Rigel Diamond Poll born in March-2022 and Rigel Camilla Poll was out of Cleuchhead Mhairi by Rigel Orlando Poll born in April-2022 and in-calf to the same sire.
Ian Stark, South Ballo, Ayrshire purchased four Rigel lots, the first two Lascaux daughters at 2,300gns a piece were Rigel Tilly out of Rigel Tabitha Poll born in March-2022 and Rigel Dienne Poll out of Rigel Dieppe Poll, both in-calf to Rigel Powerhouse Poll. Rigel Gracie Poll by Rigel Odell Poll born in April-2022 and Rigel Selena Poll by Rigel Orlando Poll had been running with Rigel Rex Poll and were purchased at 1,900gns each.
There was 100% clearance in the pedigree female section.
2 pedigree bulling heifers realised 5,000gns and an average of £3937.50, (+£1745.62 on 2022)
19 in calf heifers achieved a top price of 5,000gns and an average of £2829.47, (-£205.98 on 2022)
The clearance rate of pedigree bulls matched 2022 at 79%
15 pedigree bulls sold and a top price of 8,000gns to an average of £4,732 (-£453.33 on 2022)
Leading the overall commercial trade was A R Lee, Lumbylaw at £2600 for three heifers in-calf to Bacardi P-Diddy the top priced bull at Castle Douglas in 2021, they were snapped up by G Jones, Creigiall Farm, Nebo, Conwy. T Smith & Sons, Netherton, Whitehouse purchased the remaining Lumbylaw twelve in-calf heifers which were sold in lots of three at £2450, £2400, £2250, and £1900 each. Rusko Farms peaked with four in-calf heifers to I Stark, South Ballo, Abernyte for £2350 apiece and a further three in-calf heifers to J & A Dunlop, Maybole Ayrshire for £2100 apiece. Messrs Austin, Boreland of Girthon matched the Rusko trade with £2350 for four heifers to J & A Dunlop Maybole and I Stark, South Ballo added a further three in-calf heifers to his purchases on the day from the Austin family for £2300 each. John Martin, Swinlees topped at £2200 for three in-calf lots to D Steele & Sons East Whitesykes Farm, West Calder.
Leading the bulling heifers trade was Angus and Kerry Gowthorpe from Approach Farm Salers, Escrick, York who sold three bulling heifers at £2,000 each to pedigree breeders A & J Wright, Traboyack Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire. Closely following was the Livesey family, Nether Firth, Melrose who sold six bulling heifers at £1,950 each to R & M Dunlop, Pinvalley Farm, Barr and the Livesey’s reserve champion pen of six commercial females sold for £1850 each to Malcolm & Kyle Fleming, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland. A M Brown, Drumhumphry sold six at £1,600 and a further three at £1,400.
Topping the heifer stirk section was the McClymont family from Cuil, Palnure who realised £1,600 each for four heifer stirks to R Andrew, Ty Cerrig, Meifod. The McClymont’s also won the Willie Davidson trophy for the best pen of commercial Salers and sold this pen of six to J & J Lawrie, Wester Clunie, Newburgh, Fife for £1,500 apiece. Messrs Austin peaked at £1,050 for four to D Robert, Newlands, Rufford and A M Brown, Drumhumphry sold three at £1,000 a piece to S Illingworth, Howgillside, Lockerbie.
236 commercial females were forward and sold with a clearance rate of 99%
114 Bulling heifers sold to a top of £2,000 and an average of £1,321.49 (+£34.26 on 2022)
73 heifer stirks sold to a top of £1,600 and an average of £1,160.96 (+£162.98 on 2022)
49 In-calf heifers sold to a top of £2,600 and an average of £2,189.80 (+£416.41 on 2022)
Show Results
Class 1 – Senior Females
1st & Senior Female Champion – Jedforest Roxy, Lewis Ralston
2nd & Junior Female Champion (Maxwell Cup) – Rednock Ukraine, G & M Pye
3rd & Reserve Junior Female Champion – Rigel Paradise – Rigel Pedigree
4th – Rednock Tinky Poll, G & M Pye
Female Champion
Jedforest Roxy
Reserve Female Champion
Rednock Ukraine
Class 2 – Senior Bulls
1st & Senior Male Champion – Traboyack Rooney, J Wright
2nd & Reserve Senior Male Champion – Drumaglea R-Tic, J & P Boyd
3rd – Lisnamaul Rio, P J Maginn & Sons
4th – Bacardi PDiddy, A R Lee
Class 3 – Intermediate Bulls
1st – Preenbank Samson, F & B Robinson
2nd – Preenbank Sammy, F & B Robinson
3rd – Drumsleed Sultan, G & M Smith
4th – Cuil Stormy, C McClymont
Class 4 – Intermediate Bulls
1st – Rednock Salvador, G & M Pye
2nd – Kaimburn Scouting for Girls, Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd
3rd – Cuil Sinbad, C McClymont
4th – Drumsleed Skipper, G & M Smith
Intermediate Male Champion
Rednock Salvador
Reserve Intermediate Male Champion
Preenbank Samson
Class 5– Junior Bulls
1st – Marwood Spartan, R A & J Blyth
2nd – Cleuchhead Shotgun, Livesey Farming
3rd – Cleuchhead Sheerkhan, Livesey Farming
4th – Cleuchhead Saracen, Livesey Farming
Class 6 – Junior Bulls
1st – Bacardi Superman, R & A Crockett
2nd – Rednock Saunders, G & M Pye
3rd – Drumaglea Stan, J & P Boyd
4th – Drumaglea Samson, J & P Boyd
Junior Male Champion
Bacardi Superman
Reserve Junior Male Champion
Marwood Spartan
Male Champion
Bacardi Superman, Roy & Adam Crockett
Reserve Male Champion
Traboyack Rooney, J Wright
Overall Show Champion
Jedforest Roxy, L Ralston
Reserve Overall Show Champion
Bacardi Superman, R & A Crockett
Best Polled Animal
Rednock Tinky Poll, Rednock Estate
Pedigree Sale Results
| Lot | Animal Name | Price (gns) | Price (£) | Buyer |
| 1 | Jedforest Roxy | 5000 | 5250 | F & C Wight, Carwood Lanarkshire |
| 2 | Rednock Ukraine | 5000 | 5250 | H Limond, Dromore, Kirkmichael |
| 3 | Rigel Paradise | 1800 | 1890 | E J W Griffiths, Crossgates, Powys |
| 4 | Rednock Tinky Poll | 2500 | 2625 | M & K Fleming, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland |
| 5 | Rigel Tilly | 2300 | 2415 | I Stark, South Ballo, Perth |
| 6 | Rigel Dienne Poll | 2300 | 2415 | I Stark, South Ballo, Perth |
| 7 | Rigel Dazzle Poll | 2750 | 2887.5 | EWG (Scotland) Ltd, Hearthstances Estate, Biggar |
| 8 | Rigel Camilla Poll | 2750 | 2887.5 | EWG (Scotland) Ltd, Hearthstances Estate, Biggar |
| 9 | Rigel Gracie Poll | 1900 | 1995 | I Stark, South Ballo, Perth |
| 10 | Rigel Selena Poll | 1900 | 1995 | I Stark, South Ballo, Perth |
| 11 | Rigel Dolly Poll | 1900 | 1995 | E J W Griffiths, Crossgates, Powys |
| 12 | Rigel Dearest Poll | 1900 | 1995 | E J W Griffiths, Crossgates, Powys |
| 14 | Drumaglea Rosie | 2700 | 2835 | I Stark, South Ballo, Perth |
| 15 | Drumaglea Riff | 4600 | 4830 | P J Maginn & Sons, Dwontpatrick, Northern Ireland |
| 16 | Drumaglea Robust | 2900 | 3045 | A & F Baillie, Low Glasnick, Wigtownshire |
| 17 | Drumaglea Ritz | 2500 | 2625 | I Stark, South Ballo, Perth |
| 18 | Drumaglea Rula | 3600 | 3780 | Jack Sleigh & Sons, Newseat of Toquhon, Aberdeenshire |
| 19 | Drumaglea Sacha | 2900 | 3045 | L Howat, Coylton, Ayrshire |
| 21 | Drumaglea Sybil | 2400 | 2520 | Jack Sleigh & Sons, Newseat of Toquhon, Aberdeenshire |
| 22 | Drumaglea Sharon | 2700 | 2835 | A & F Baillie, Low Glasnick, Wigtownshire |
| 23 | Drumaglea Siona | 2400 | 2520 | M Smith, Kells, Northern Ireland |
| 24 | Bacardi Pdiddy | 3300 | 3465 | A & F Baillie, Low Glasnick, Wigtownshire |
| 26 | Drumaglea R-tic | 4800 | 5040 | I & J Adams, Half Mark, Leswalt |
| 28 | Lisnamaul Rio | 4800 | 5040 | K C Heard & Son, Okehampton, Devon |
| 33 | Preenbank Samson | 4500 | 4725 | Rusko Farms, Gatehouse of Fleet |
| 34 | Kaimburn Scoutingforgirls | 3700 | 3885 | J & A McCulloch, Crumquhill, Castle Douglas |
| 35 | Cuil Sinbad | 4000 | 4200 | P A Murray, High Escrock, Whithorn |
| 37 | Rednock Salvador | 8000 | 8400 | M & K Fleming, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland |
| 39 | Cleuchhead Shotgun | 4200 | 4410 | John Dowdall, Newry, Northern Ireland |
| 40 | Cleuchhead Saracen | 4500 | 4725 | George Ritchie & Sons, Montalt Farm, Dunning |
| 42 | Cleuchhead Sheerkhan | 4000 | 4200 | I & L Buchanan, Lendalfoot, Ayrshire |
| 44 | Marwood Spartan | 4500 | 4725 | Messrs Austin, Boreland of Girthon, Gatehouse of Fleet |
| 45 | Bacardi Superman | 4500 | 4725 | J Morton & Son, Kaeside, Melrose |
| 47 | Drumaglea Samson | 4200 | 4410 | A J Fettes, Essil Farm, Garmouth |
| 48 | Drumaglea Stan | 4800 | 5040 | McConchie Partnership Ltd, Gatehouse of Fleet |
| 49 | Rednock Saunders | 3800 | 3990 | A & M Brown, Drumhumphry, Corsock |
