May bull sale averages rise year on year

No new world records were set, but a strong commercial trade prevailed throughout all the breed sales during Borderway beef month in May, writes pedigree auctioneer David Dickinson.

Prize guy: The Beef Shorthorn champion at Borderway is watched by a packed ringside.

Slightly fewer bulls were sold, however, a rise of just short of £500 was recorded in the overall average with 475 bulls being cashed to average £3,437.07, while females levelled at £1,363.79, a rise of £4 with 111 fewer being sold.

Limousin bulls took the top price of the month at 42,000gns, also the highest average and the most number of bulls sold at 142, albeit fewer than the previous year.

Yet the Charolais breed increased its share of the market by selling 32 more levelling at 131 bulls sold with a top price tag of 21,000gns.

Belgian Blues also claimed the same price tag of 21,000gns which equalled the breed record set at this sale last year, also they broke the £4,000 barrier to average £4,100 for slightly less sold on the year.

Of the traditional breeds, the Aberdeen Angus came out on top selling the most bulls, claiming the highest average and setting a new centre record of 8,000gns for bulls.

In the female sections, Beef Shorthorns sold the most at 70 head with Angus females not far behind at 52, but it was the Belgian Blues that had the top slot for both highest price and a very impressive average.

All in all, it was a very successful month for all breeds with large attendances of commercial stock masters at each event, covering the whole of the UK, from as far north as Orkney to Northern Ireland and into the most southern counties, with a large contingent from Wales.

The health status of pedigree stock is coming to the fore, not only within the UK boundaries but also from overseas buyers who are now looking to the UK for new bloodlines and genetics.

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