By Victoria Brenan

Published at 14:21, Friday, 29 October 2010

FEMALES outperformed males at the annual Beef Shorthorn autumn sale in Stirling, with the champion from Penrith sold for nearly 5,000 guineas.

Champion: Lowther Crocus, a 19-month-old roan Chapelton Zebec, bred from a Glenisla dan and in calf to LS Adonis, was bred by Charles Lowther, Penrith

The Lowther Crocus, a 19-month-old roan Chapelton Zebec, bred from a Glenisla dan and in calf to LS Adonis, was bred and exhibited by Charles Lowther from Penrith.

She sold for 4,800 guineas to Drayton Farm Partnership in Hambledon.

Mr Lowther also offered six more lots including two Zebec daughters which sold for 3,100 guineas – a 19-month-old red and white Lowther Ritzy in calf to Blelack Rupert – and 3,000 guineas for a 17-month-old red in calf to LS Artic.

Overall, females achieved a record £1,906 average for 68 lots and bulls sold to a top of 12,000gns.

“Bidding was underpinned throughout the sale by commercial producers seeking a functional lower maintenance suckler cow,” said society president James Playfair-Hannay.

“We witnessed the strongest ever demand for females and an exceptional 86 per cent clearance.”

Sale leader at 12,000gns was the event’s male champion, the two year old red and white Langalbuinoch Barney from Kingarth, in the Isle of Bute. Sired by Newfield Tarquin, he was out of a homebred dam going back to Loch Awe lines.

Averages: eight bulls £3,714.37. Females: collectives, 27 lots, £1,777.22; Drafts: Glenisla 12, £2,572.50; Dunsyre 13, £1,772.88; Uppermill, 17 £1,683.08; Lowther, one £1,890; Sheoch, two £2,887.50.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk