The dispersal of the Over Bow herd of pedigree Salers, held at United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre on Saturday 13th September, marked the conclusion of one of Scotland’s respected herds. A busy ringside led to spirited bidding from commercial producers and established pedigree breeders alike, ensuring a total female clearance and a strong trade throughout. In all, 25 cows with calves at foot averaged £4,133, while a small entry of in-calf cows averaged £2,888, illustrating the confidence in the herd’s bloodlines and the continuing demand for Salers cattle across the UK.
The Over Bow herd, established by B. & K. Lyburn, has built its reputation on the careful use of leading sires blended with strong Seawell families. In recent years, the influence of Bacardi Nevis, Senior Male Champion at Stars of the Future 2019, has come to the fore, with his daughters displaying style, correctness, and strong maternal traits.
Leading the trade at 6,000gns was Over Bow Nancy (Lot 21), a 2018-born daughter of Seawell Landmark, bred from Seawell Kalahari, one of the herd’s most consistent breeding females. Nancy combined length, scale, and femininity, and was sold with her Bacardi Nevis-sired bull calf at foot, offering a highly attractive package to Society members, James Morton & Son, Kaeside, Roxburghshire.
The hammer fell at 5,000gns for Over Bow Sally (Lot 35), a stylish Bacardi Nevis daughter whose dam Over Bow Nina Poll traces back to the highly regarded Seawell Kariba Poll family. She joined the herd of D. M. Keay & Son, East Ballock, Angus. The same buyers bid to 4,900gns for Over Bow Susie (Lot 34), another Bacardi Nevis daughter, this time out of Seawell Kanya and 4,400gns secured Over Bow Pixie (Lot 24) with her heifer calf at foot.
Over Bow Nina Poll (Lot 22), a polled daughter of Seawell Lancelot out of Seawell Kariba Poll, realised 4,400gns to J. & J. Craig, Strathaven, who also took a fancy to Over Bow Ruby (Lot 30) a Bacardi Nevis daughter with a bull calf at foot and Over Bow Rhona Polled (Lot 31) sired the same way, both at 4,000gns.
Over Bow Poppy (Lot 26), a 2020-born Over Bow Nigel daughter out of Seawell Kate, made 4,400gns to J. & J. M. Cochrane, Darvel, while Over Bow Priti (Lot 27), another correct, easy-fleshed female by Over Bow Nigel, sold with her heifer calf at foot for 4,300gns to W. Dunlop & Sons, Dunbar.
Seawell Kaitlyn (Lot 18) a Denver sired daughter out of Usine was knocked down at 4,200gns to Society President, J. Sleigh & Sons Ltd, Ellon. Meanwhile Over Bow Pinky (Lot 25) this time sired by Gulliver, out of Seawell Katrina and with her bull calf at foot achieved the same figure and travelled north with G. B. Grieve, Fraserburgh.
The dispersal marked the end of an era for B. & K. Lyburn’s Over Bow herd, but buyers made clear that the cattle’s breeding influence will continue, leaving a lasting legacy in the Salers breed.
SALE PRICES
Lot No. (gns) (£) Buyer
21 6000 6300 J Morton & Son
35 5000 5250 D M Keay & Son
34 4900 5145 D M Keay & Son
24 4400 4620 D M Keay & Son
22 4400 4620 J & J Craig
26 4400 4620 J & JM Cochrane
27 4300 4515 W Dunlop & Sons
18 4200 4410 J Sleigh & Sons Ltd
25 4200 4410 G B Grieve
33 4000 4200 J Duff & Son
30 4000 4200 J & J Craig
31 4000 4200 J & J Craig
32 3900 4095 RJ & B Milne
20 3800 3990 J & JM Cochrane
29 3700 3885 RJ & B Milne
23 3700 3885 J Duff & Son
13 3600 3780 J Morton & Son
19 3600 3780 J & J Craig
16 3500 3675 Messrs Watt
15 3400 3570 Messrs Watt
17 3300 3465 R & W G Gauld
12 3200 3360 Messrs Watt
38 3000 3150 O J & J M Barker
11 3000 3150 H & M Agricultural
14 2900 3045 H & M Agricultural
37 2800 2940 RJ & B Milne
36 2800 2940 A J B Forrest
28 2700 2835 J Duff & Son
