The Salers Cattle Society Premier Show and Sale, Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas, 31 October–1 November 2025
- Top Price 18,000gns – Salers Castle Douglas Centre Record
- 12 Pedigree bulls averaged £9773.75, + £4008.30 (92% clearance)
- 4 five-figure bulls
- 22 Pedigree in-calf heifers topped at 7,000gns, averaged £4,796.59, + £1,954 (100% clearance)
- 76 commercial heifer stirks sold to a top of £3,200, averaged £2571.71, +£1449.49
- 132 commercial bulling heifers topped at £3,600, averaged £2753.79, +£1023.50
- 21 commercial In-calf heifers topped at £4000, averaged £3109.52, +£1379.23
- 13 commercial cows and calves topped at £4600, averaged £3,638.46
Castle Douglas provided a fitting celebration of the Salers Cattle Society’s 40th anniversary, as breeders and buyers gathered from across the UK for two days of exceptional cattle and electric trade. Wallets Marts offered the perfect backdrop for thirteen pedigree bulls, two haltered females, twenty pedigree production females and 242 commercial Salers females. By the close of play, a new Salers Castle Douglas Centre Record had been set.
Judging honours fell to Rebecca Jordan of the Moortown herd, Dartmoor, whose lifelong connection with the breed made her selection particularly apt. “It was a privilege to judge such a strong display,” she said afterwards. “The consistency and quality of cattle were quite exceptional.”
A new Salers centre record of 18,000gns was set for the Senior Champion Cuil Tank, while no fewer than four bulls broke the five-figure barrier.
From the outset, the standard in the male section was outstanding, and it was Cleuchhead Um-Bongo who eventually reigned supreme. The Thor-sired youngster, the first son offered for sale out of a two-year-old heifer carrying Fourtet and Trin bloodlines, moved with power and style to claim the Junior Bull, Male Championship, and Overall Supreme titles. Judge Rebecca Jordan described him as “a young bull full of promise – tremendous growth, width and character.” The sale hammer fell at 7,000gns, with the bull heading home to A. Young, Girvan.
The Female Championship completed a Cleuchhead treble for the Livesey family when Cleuchhead Mhairi 1975, a daughter of Cuil Skoda in-calf to Cleuchhead Ultra and due April 2026, sold to pedigree breeder L. Howat, Coylton, for 4,800gns. Mhairi stood ahead of her stablemate, the Reserve Female Champion Cleuchhead Gentle 2015, by Cleuchhead Rockefeller and in-calf to Cleuchhead Unique, who was knocked down at 5,000gns to A. Young, Girvan, joining the Overall Champion in his herd.
It was also an exceptional day in every respect for the McClymont family of Cuil, Palnure, whose outstanding team of homebred bulls dominated in both the show and the sale ring. They achieved remarkable success when Cuil Tank, a Cumbrian Pele sired November-2023 born bull claimed the Senior Male Championship and Reserve Overall Championship titles, and Cuil Union, a March-2024, Corrichie Ninja son lifted the Intermediate Championship sash and they went on to achieve an unprecedented one-two in the sale ring, realising 18,000gns and 17,000gns respectively. Son Angus McClymont played an instrumental role in preparing and presenting the Cuil team and his high standards of stockmanship were recognised at the Salers Society dinner where he was awarded the G McKnight Memorial Cup for Best Stockman. It was pedigree breeders G & M Pye, Rednock Estate, Stirling, that dug deep to secure Cuil Tank as their new stock bull for 18,000gns, setting a new Salers Centre record at Castle Douglas. Whilst local breeders R. A. Austin, Gatehouse of Fleet were chased to 17,000gns to ensure Cuil Union joined their Girthon herd. The McClymont family’s success did not end there, as their Reserve Senior Champion, Cuil Teletubbie, was knocked down to pedigree breeders A. & K. Gowthorpe, Approach Farm, York for 12,000gns.
Few breeders can recall a more complete or memorable day’s work in the historic Castle Douglas sale ring.
Completing a strong day’s trade, Kaimburn Ultra, a fourth prize winner and Reserve Junior Male Champion at the 2025 Royal Highland Show, caught the eye of the Aitken family, Carlophill, who paid 8,000gns. The Aitken’s also went to 7,200gns for Approach Farm Uber, a Drumsleed Ricardo son from A. & K. Gowthorpe’s Approach Farm herd.
Not content with securing the Overall and Reserve Female Champions, A. Young, Girvan, added another stylish bull to his shopping list, purchasing the Reserve Intermediate Champion Lisnamaul Untouchable from P. J. Maginn & Sons, Downpatrick. A son of Sidney, the 2025 Balmoral Champion of Champions, he realised 7,000gns.
Second-placed Napoleon-sired Whitebog Ultravox from A. MacKenzie, Fortrose, was purchased by pedigree breeders J. C. McIntyre & Son, Echt, for 4,500gns. The Rednock entries also sold well, with Rednock Upthebora, who claimed a blue intermediate rosette, selling for 8,000gns to J. Laurie, Cupar, while Rednock Uranium Poll, third in his class, was snapped up by Messrs Donnan, New Luce, for 7,000gns.
The junior section maintained the momentum, with Cumbrian Utah from Farmstock Genetics, a son of the 2025 Royal Highland Show Breed Champion Sauveur, claiming Reserve Junior Bull. Despite being last in the sale ring, he achieved the joint third-highest price of the day at 12,000gns, selling to pedigree breeders N. & K. Blair, Cammock, Kilry. Third-prize stablemate Cumbrian Uzzi Poll, who lifted the Polled Animal Champion title, went home with the Austin family, Gatehouse of Fleet, for 4,000gns.
The pedigree female trade met with equal enthusiasm. Two high-quality production drafts from Drumaglea and Cleuchhead set the tone. Drumaglea Treat, a granddaughter of Rigel Mirthril and in-calf to Marechal, topped the female section at 7,000gns, selling to H James, Llangefni, Anglesey, who also paid 5,600gns for Drumaglea Ultimo, in-calf to Cantal and sired by Lorenzo. New Society Council member for Wales T. T. Jones, Llanidloes, bid to 5,400gns for Drumaglea Tricia, in-calf to Marechal and sired by Hibou. Across the section, including the two haltered females, 22 in-calf heifers averaged £4,796.59, up £1,954 on 2024’s average of £2,842.50, with a 100% clearance.
The commercial cattle section mirrored the pedigree trade with firm demand and buoyant bidding across all categories. From heifer stirks through to cows and calves, quality and consistency were richly rewarded.
In the heifer stirk section, the McClymont family once again took the spotlight with their 47 entries. Their pen of five 13-month-old heifers achieved the top price of £3,200, selling to Watson, West Newlands, Frosteley. R. A. Austin, Boreland of Girthon, topped at £2,500 for a 14-month-old to I. Stark, Abernyte, while A. M. Brown, Drumhumphry, matched the £2,500 bid for his pen of four 14-month-old Salers sold to D. M. Finlay, Stirling. In total, 76 heifer stirks sold to a top of £3,200 and averaged £2,571.71.
The bulling heifer section was equally good, with brisk bidding from start to finish. A. & K. Gowthorpe shared the top price of £3,600 for a pen of three to R. Milne, Oldmeldrum, matched by G. S. McClymont for a pen of four forming part of the 26-head consignment purchased by P. & R. Burbage, East Hoddam. Four Salers crosses from Farmstock Genetics also caught the eye of R. Milne, who paid £3,300 apiece, while the Livesey family’s bulling heifers peaked at £3,250 for six to I. Stark. Sixteen females from John Martin, Swinlees, hit £3,000, and across the section 132 sold to a top of £3,600, averaging £2,753.79.
Competition remained intense in the in-calf heifer ring, where quality drew widespread interest from both pedigree and commercial buyers. The top price of £4,000 was achieved twice by J. Martin & Son, the first a 26-month-old sold to Messrs Young, New Cumnock, and the second a 27-month-old to M. A. Andrew & Son, Meifod. The Livesey family topped at £3,300 to R. Milne, North Bethelnie, followed by Rusko Farms, whose two 19-month-old females made £3,100 to R. Orr, West Calder. Meanwhile, R. A. Austin, Boreland of Girthon, saw the hammer fall at £2,900 for two 20-month-old heifers joining the consignment heading north to R. Milne.
The premier sale also featured an exceptional draft of younger commercial cows from John Martin, Swinlees. Following a reduction in grazing, thirteen lots were offered, topping at £4,600 for a young cow with heifer calf at foot to G. Howie, Aberdeen, with the section averaging £3,638.46.
With 242 Salers females forward—up from 208 in 2024—and an exceptional 100% clearance, the commercial section underlined the continuing strength and growing influence of the breed.
For the McClymont family, it marked a truly memorable occasion, as their cattle not only led the pedigree bull trade but also topped both price and average in the commercial heifer stirk section. Their success across pedigree and commercial sections ensured that Castle Douglas 2025 will long be remembered as a landmark triumph for the Cuil herd.
As the gavel fell on the final lot, one message was clear: the maternal traits of the Salers breed continue to deliver. Castle Douglas 2025 perfectly captured the essence of the Salers — An Effortless Start and a Profitable Finish in every sense.
With an 18,000gns centre record, multiple five-figure bulls, and a stronger female average across the board, Castle Douglas 2025 was one to remember.
SHOW RESULTS
Female Class
1st & Female Champion – Cleuchhead Mhairi 1975, Livesey Farming
2nd, Reserve female champion and junior female champion – Cleuchhead Gentle 2015, Livesey Farming
Senior Bull Class
1st & Senior Champion – Cuil Tank, G S McClymont
2nd & Reserve Senior Champion – Cuil Teletubbie, G S McClymont
3rd – Approach Farm Uno, A & K Gowthorpe
4th – Kaimburn Ultra, Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd
Intermediate Bull Classes
Intermediate Class 1
1st – Cuil Union, G S McClymont
2nd – Whitebog Ultravox, A MacKenzie
3rd – Approach Farm Uber, A & K Gowthorpe
Intermediate Class 2
1st – Lisnamaul Untouchable, P J Maginn & Sons
2nd – Rednock UptheBoro, Rednock Estate
3rd – Rednock Uranium Poll, Rednock Estate
Intermediate Champion – Cuil Union, G S McClymont
Reserve Intermediate Champion – Lisnamaul Untouchable, P J Maginn & Sons
Junior Bull Class
1st & Junior Champion – Cleuchhead Um-Bongo, Livesey farming
2nd & Reserve Junior Champion – Cumbrian Utah, Farmstock Genetics
3rd – Cumbrian Uzzi Poll, Farmstock Genetics
TROPHIES
McClymont Cup (Female Champion) – Livesey Farming, Cleuchhead Mhairi 1975
Maxwell-Smith Cup (Junior Female Champion) – Livesey Farming, Cleuchhead Gentle 2015
Cuil Cup (Champion Male) – Livesey Farming, Cleuchhead Um-Bongo
Jack Boyes Trophy (Overall Champion) – Livesey Farming, Cleuchhead Um-Bongo
Tullyneddie Cup (Best Polled Animal) – Farmstock Genetics, Cumbrian Uzzi Poll
Willie Davidson Memorial Trophy (Champion Commercial Pen) – Livesey Farming, Cleuchhead
SALE RESULTS
Pedigree Bull Sale Results
Lot Animal Name Price (gns) Price (£) Buyer
24 Cuil Tank 18,000 18,900 G & M Pye, Stirling
28 Cuil Union 17,000 17,850 R A Austin, Gatehouse of Fleet
38 Cumbrian Utah 12,000 12,600 N Blair, Kilry
23 Cuil Teletubbie 12,000 12,600 A & K Gowthorpe, York
26 Kaimburn Ultra 8,000 8,400 J Aitken, Carlops
34 Rednock Upthebora 8,000 8,400 J J Laurie, Fife
29 Approach Farm Uber 7,200 7,560 J Aitken, Carlops
36 Cleuchhead Um-Bongo 7,000 7,350 A Young, Girvan
33 Rednock Uranium Poll 7,000 7,350 R & C M, New Luce
32 Lisnamaul Untouchable 7,000 7,350 A Young, Girvan
30 Whitebog Ultravox 4,500 4,725 J C McIntyre, Echt
37 Cumbrian Uzzi Poll 4,000 4,200 R A Austin, Gatehouse of Fleet
Pedigree Female Sale Results
Lot Animal Name Price (gns) Price (£) Buyer
3 Drumaglea Treat 7000 7350 H James, Anglesey
8 Drumaglea Ultimo 5600 5880 H James, Anglesey
7 Drumaglea Tricia 5400 5670 T T Jones, Llanidloes
6 Drumagles Tilly 5400 5670 H James, Anglesey
2 Drumaglea Tricky 5000 5250 H James, Anglesey
22 Cleuchhead Gentle 5000 5250 A Young, Girvan
5 Drumaglea Topaz 4800 5040 M A Andrew, Meifod
21 Cleuchhead Mhairi 4800 5040 L Howat, Coylton
1 Drumaglea Tammy 4700 4935 H James, Anglesey
4 Drumaglea Tokay 4600 4830 T T Jones, Llanidloes
12 Cleuchhead Mhairi 4500 4725 A & J Wright, Girvan,
9 Drumaglea Utmost 4400 4620 A & J Wright, Girvan
20 Cleuchhead Gentle 4300 4515 A & J,Baillie, Kirkcowan,
18 Cleuchhead Mhairi 4200 4410 M A Andrew, Meifod
16 Cleuchhead Mhairi 4200 4410 A Young, Girvan
14 Cluechhead Hope 4100 4305 Messrs Dodd, Lockerbie,
17 Cleuchhead Merry 4000 4200 Messrs Dodd, Lockerbie
13 Cleuchhead Image 4000 4200 M A Andrew, Meifod
15 Cleuchhead Gentle 3900 4095 A & A G Moralee, Willington
19 Cleuchhead Gentle 3600 3780 A & J,Baillie, Kirkcowan,
11 Cleuchhead Corolle 3600 3780 Messrs Dodd, Lockerbie
10 Drumaglea Uppercrust 3400 3570 H James, Anglesey
