Dingwall Spring 2020 Sale a Digital Success
On 20th May 2020 the Luing Cattle Society held their annual spring sale at Dingwall Mart in a different format due the Covid 19. The Luing Cattle Society and Dingwall & Highland Marts made a decision to conduct an online timed auction sale, which has been a huge success in these difficult times. Paul Spencer, Senior Auctioneer at Dingwall and Highlands Mart has been delighted to work with the society in order to make the sale continue this year. We all sat poised in front of our digital devices for the sale of 129 pedigree and commercial Luing cattle. The online timed auction allowed many to view and bid on cattle that would not have been able to travel to Dingwall.
Pedigree bulling heifers (82) averaged 1,571gns (£1,650.29) with the top price being 3,020gns (£3,171.00), twice for 25 month old heifers from Mr G. MacRae, Kintail, 120 Newton of Ferintosh, selling to J. C. Innes & Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly.
Pedigree yearling heifers (5) averaged 808gns (£848.40) and sold to 840gns (£882.00) for a 14-month old heifer from Mr J. M. Haley, Lochan Farm, Kinrossie to Meikle Farms, Darvel, Ayrshire.
Yearling Sim/Luing heifers (13) averaged 1,034gns (£1,085.54) and sold to 1,280gns (£1,344.00) twice from Messrs J. Lawrie, Tillyrie, Kinross, selling to Mr C. Arnot, Hatton Mill, Angus.
Un-registered bulling heifers (9) averaged 889gns (£933.33) and sold to 1,080gns (£1,134.00) twice from Welbeck Scottish Farms Ltd., Welbeck Estate, selling to Messrs Tulloch Farms, Upper Coullie, Laurencekirk.
Bulls (4) sold to 6,000gns (£6,300) for two 25 months old both from Messrs C. C. MacArthur & Co. Nunnerie Farm, Biggar, one selling to Firm of Ernest Crawford, Blarghour Farm, Dalmally, and the other to Mr A. Kennedy, Mitchell hill Farm, Biggar.
Other leading prices: Pedigree bulling heifers: Culmaily Farm, Golspie, 2,960gns (twice) & 2,420gns (thrice); Kintail, 2,580gns (twice); Clashnoir, Glenlivet, 1,980gns (twice) & 1,760gns; Nunnerie (twice), Inverbroom, Ullapool (thrice) 1,700gns. Pedigree yearling heifers: Lochan Farm (4 times) 800gns. Yearling Sim/Luing heifers: Tillyrie Farm (twice), 1,260gns; Lochan Farm (thrice), 1,020gns. Un-registered bulling heifers: Welbeck Estates (thrice), 1,040gns.
Adam Hunter, Yorkshire, is delighted to have purchased the foundations for his new herd having sold of his Limousin herd and joined a Native breed scheme. Having looked at all the native breeds he felt “Luings were by far the best of the native breeds”.
Graeme MacRae, Kintail was delighted with his “exceptional sale” selling to top 3,020gns.
The success of this sale goes to show the popularity of the Luing breed from all over the UK.
Autumn Breeding Sale Report - United Auctions Stirling - 31st October, 2020
A good offering met with solid trade at this year’s 47th Autumn Breeding Sale of Luing and Sim-Luing cattle, held at United Auctions’ Stirling centre on 31st October. This year’s event was without a show due to the Coronavirus restrictions. Registered Luing in calf heifers opened the sale with an excellent couple of pairs from A. Kennedy, Mitchellhill which sold to 2800gns and 2000gns. The Sim-Luing in calf heifers were the highlight of the sale selling to 2800gns twice for two pair from Robert McNee Ltd, Woodend, increasing the section average by 306gns on the year. Their consignment of 15 heifers averaged 2543gns and the two top priced pairs sold to Webster, Sunnybank, Woodsley, York and Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Aberdeenshire, respectively. Colin Little, East Bracklinn, Callander, also fared well, selling to a top of 2800gns and averaging 2438gns for 8 sold, with 3 pair at 2500gns each. Paddy Crerar, Newmains, Stenton averaged 2020gns for 5 sold and The Woodland Trust, Glen Finglas averaged 1975gns for 4 sold, all to Rogerson, Appleby.
Bulling heifers, both Luing and Sim-Luing were in demand, with averages for Sim-Luings up 476gns on the year. Pedigree Luings were selling to a top of 2000gns for no less than 4 pairs, from T. Renwick, Blackhouse (1 pair) and W Graham & Son, Craigdarroch (3 pairs). Registered Sim-Luing bulling heifers sold to a top of 2800gns for a single heifer consigned by Messrs Halligan and Burke, Stewarton, Peebles, who also had a pair at both 2250gns and 2200gns, all purchased by Messrs Foster, The Riddings, Bolton Abbey, Skipton. Other leading averages in this section belong to Messrs R & H McNee, Over Finlarg, Dundee, averaging 2000gns for 2 pair of Sim-Luings, and W Graham & Son, Craigdarroch who averaged 1854gns for 13 Luing heifers forward.
Luing heifer calves sold to an average of 764gns for 11 head, from Messrs Horsfall, Balnairn Flax Mill, Pitlochry. Luing cows sold to a top of 1800gns for Lochan V39 P/44345, a Luing Newton daughter with calf at foot, back in calf to the Simmental. The Lochan cows averaged 1131gns for 4 forward.
Crossbred heifers (6) sold to a top of 1600gns for a pair from Marshall Farms, Concraig House, Aberdeen, purchased by Professor Penny, Harehead, Cranshaws, Duns. Marshall Farms’ second pair realised 1500gns and are away to the same home.
Summary and averages
| No. | Average | Top Price | +/- on Year (gns) | |
| LUING BULLING HEIFERS | 65 | 1418 | 2000 | -78 |
| Messrs W Graham & Son, Craigdarroch | 13 | 1854 | 2000 | |
| T. Renwick & Sons, Blackhouse | 16 | 1700 | 2000 | |
| RJ Wotherspoon, Glen Lyon | 16 | 1194 | 1600 | |
| Mr D. Barr, Milkieston | 6 | 1267 | 1400 | |
| Mr J Haley, Lochan | 2 | 1300 | 1300 | |
| Mr AP Waugh, Thomsons Walls | 4 | 1200 | 1200 | |
| The Woodland Trust Scotland, Glen Finglas | 8 | 845 | 900 | |
| LUING COWS | 4 | 1131 | 1800 | |
| Mr J Haley, Lochan | 4 | 1131 | 1800 | |
| LUING HEIFER CALVES | 11 | 764 | 850 | +122 |
| Mr NH Horsfall, Balnairn Flax Mill | 11 | 764 | 850 | |
| LUING IN CALF HEIFERS | 5 | 2250 | 2800 | |
| A Kennedy, Mitchellhill | 4 | 2400 | 2800 | |
| DG Henry, Oakwoodmill | 1 | 1650 | 1650 | |
| SIM-LUING BULLING HEIFERS | 29 | 1705 | 2800 | +476 |
| Messrs MG Halligan & AC Burke, Stewarton | 5 | 2340 | 2800 | |
| Messrs R & H McNee, Over Finlarg | 4 | 2000 | 2000 | |
| Mr M Thomson, Tillyrie | 9 | 1522 | 1600 | |
| Messrs FJA McGowan, Incheoch | 4 | 1525 | 1550 | |
| Mrs CM Reid, Boreland Farm | 6 | 1425 | 1500 | |
| Mr P Crerar, Newmains | 1 | 1400 | 1400 | |
| SIM-LUING IN CALF HEIFERS | 32 | 2364 | 2800 | +306 |
| Mr C Little, East Bracklinn | 8 | 2438 | 2800 | |
| Robert McNee Ltd, Woodend | 15 | 2543 | 2800 | |
| The Woodland Trust Scotland, Glen Finglas | 4 | 1975 | 2100 | |
| Mr P Crerar, Newmains | 5 | 2020 | 2050 | |
| UNREGISTERED CROSSBRED BULLING HEIFERS | 4 | 1550 | 1600 | |
| Marshall Farms, Concraig | 4 | 1550 | 1600 | |
| UNREGISTERED CROSSBRED IN CALF HEIFERS | 2 | 900 | 1100 | |
| DG Henry, Oakwoodmill | 2 | 900 | 1100 | |
| Grand Total | 152 | 1641 | 2800 (4) |
Cadzow Bros Production Sale Report - Oban Livestock Mart - 13th November, 2020
Cadzow Bros, Isle of Luing held their 2nd annual production sale at Oban, conducted by United Auctions on Saturday 14th November. Although averages for all types of females was back on last year’s inaugural sale, as expected, a brisk trade saw the lots disperse widely across the UK, despite the restrictions in place for buyers. Rising 2 year old purebred heifers in calf to a variety of Luing genetics, due in spring 2021, were keenly sought after averaging a pleasing £1936 for 39 sold. The top priced in calf heifer (2yr old) reached £2730 and was purchased by I McKie, of Northumberland for his Lanton herd. Over half of these in calf females traded for more than £2000, with the majority going to pedigree homes. Similarly, 4 rising 3yr old heifers, all in calf to different bulls, and also due next spring averaged £1523 and sold to a top of £1680 to R McCarlie Ltd. Bulling heifers were a steady trade, averaging £1326 for 16 sold to a top of £1470 to Mark Thomson of John Lawrie Tillyrie Ltd. Isle of Luing bulls have been the foundation of many Luing herds throughout the UK and that history was evident. Neil McGowan of Incheoch went to £6300 to secure Luing Yanis, a Lochbroom Talisker son out of an Ardlarach female, also the top priced bull on offer. Messrs Atkinson pushed hard and got Luing Yankee at £5775, also a Talisker son, while HM Jarret got their pick, Luing Yanick for £5250. These well bred bulls sold well to average £4380 for 7 sold, an increase of £128 on the year. Cows with autumn calves at foot, were also in demand, selling to a top of £2100 to Blarghour Farm, and averaging £1208 for 8 sold. Mixed age cows, back in calf to the Luing were a stickier trade, averaging £1103 for 10, with a top of £1890 to AJ Lambie. Lot 52 was sold in aid of My Name’s Doddie Foundation, and was purchased by Society Chairman Mark Thomson for his Tillyrie herd at Kinross. This roan bulling heifer was by Luing Wyvis and out of an Ardlarach female which is a daughter of Luing Lad.
| Row Labels | Number | Average Price
£ |
Top Price
£ |
| Bulling Heifers | 17 | 1322 | 1470 |
| Bulls | 7 | 4380 | 6300 |
| Cows with Calves at Foot | 8 | 1208 | 2100 |
| In Calf Heifers | 39 | 1936 | 2730 |
| In Calf Heifers (3yr) | 4 | 1733 | 2100 |
| Mixed Age Cows - I/C | 10 | 1103 | 1890 |
| Grand Total | 85 | 1838 | 6300 |
2021 PREMIER SALE to be held as an online only sale
The 56th Premier Sale will be conducted by Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas as an online sale only due to restrictions currently in place. The sale will open for bidding at 12pm on 4th February and will begin to finalise each lot in turn from 12pm on Friday 5th February. Viewing from 25th January at www.walletsmarts.co.uk
- 31 Pedigree Luing In-Calf Heifers
- 90 Pedigree Luing Bulling Heifers
- 38 Pedigree Luing Bulls
Auctioneers: Wallets Marts Castle Douglas Ltd 01556 502381
Online catalogue available at www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk/sales
