New Highland cattle female record set at Oban

The record 35,000gns was paid for Kirsty Dubh 3 of Blingery, shown by herd manager Morven Coghill on behalf of Peter Haig Thomas, Blingery Farms, Wick, Caithness, who was a first-time vendor at the sale.

The black four-year-old daughter of Cameron Dubh of Kelby, a bull which had been bought for 6,500gns after being champion at Oban in 2017, and out of Kirsty Dubh of Blingery, is in-calf to Glen of Applecross.

The buyer was Graeme Easton on behalf of the Carnegie family – Kevin, Dylan and Ryan – for their Balrownie fold, Brechin, Angus.  

Bulls

US-based Highland breed enthusiast Stacia Danielson, Iowa, bought the sale's second top animal Cruachan Min of Cladich, a two-year-old bull by Angus 2 of Sorne, from Jon and Queenie Strickland, Cladich, Dalmally, for 12,000gns.

Mrs Danielson already has some animals in the UK and hopes to take semen from this bull and embryos from her female lines to bolster her fold back in the States.

The male champion, Falloch of Rannoch by Seamus Ruadh of Craigowmill, from Donald and Malcolm MacNaughton, Kelty, Fife, sold for 10,000gns to Peter Smith, Stockley fold, Hereford.  

From the same home and at 6,000gns was Douglas 2 of Rannoch by the same sire, which went to Hugh Saggers, buying for Leys Castle Estate, Inverness.  

Alfie Cheyne, Mayen Farms, Huntly, paid 8,000gns for the reserve male champion, rising three-year-old Lewis 3 of Tippetcraig by Black Prince of Dumyat from the Burns family – Colin, Lindsay, Fiona, George and Gillian – Stirling.  

Second top female, at 7,000gns, was the first prize winning three-year-old Ban-Larla Morag of Luruha by Cameron of Sguir Mor, from Ewen MacMillan, Lurg, Fintry. The buyer was Ian McKnight, Dalhabboch, Glenluce.

Averages: 12 two-year-old bulls, £4,873.75 (+£192.50 on 2024); 8 three-year-old bulls, £5,420.62 (-£1,104.38); 5 yearling bulls, £2,539.50 (+£222.50); 4 three-year-old heifers, £4,806.25 (-£228.75); 13 two-year-old heifers, £2,277.69 (-£627.31); 13 yearling heifers, £2439.23 (-£145.77).

Auctioneers: United Auctions.

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