Pedigree cattle breeders Kenny Veitch, Lisbellaw, and William Nelson, Rosslea, were the toast of last week’s Perth Autumn Bull Sales, when they scooped the overall supreme and reserve championship awards in the Simmental section.

There was a huge cheer and the packed ringside audience applauded when Orkney-based judge, Liam Muir, tapped out his show winners at Stirling Agricultural Centre.

Mr. Muir awarded the junior and supreme overall championship honours to the May 2009 Drumlone Anchor, bred and exhibited by Kenny Veitch from Drumlone, Lisbellaw. This super, well-fleshed bull was sired by the noted Siegfried, and is bred from the Freighduff Brendan daughter, Broomfield Treasure - purchased privately from Paul McArdle, Castleblaney, she was All-Ireland yearling heifer champion; and the 2008 Northern Bank’s Reserve Female of the Year.

Kenny Veitch has been breeding Simmentals since 1984 and was delighted with his achievements. He is no stranger to Perth success, having won the supreme Charolais award in 1998 with Drumlone Max, which later sold for a herd record price of 22,000gns Drumlone Anchor has a terminal sire index of +19, and a milk value of +5. He attracted spirited bidding, and came under the hammer of auctioneer, David Brown, at 10,000gns, selling in a joint deal between pedigree breeders, and near neighbours, William Nelson, Drumacritten, Rosslea, and Adrian Richardson, Drumbroughas, Maguiresbridge. Mr. Veitch was astounded when he discovered who the top bidders were.

Butcher and pedigree cattle producer, Adrian Richardson, established his 8-cow Cleenagh Simmental herd in 1978. He told the Impartial Reporter that he was delighted to have had the opportunity to purchase the Perth champion. “I have been watching this bull since he was a youngster. I am very fond of Seigfried bloodlines, and Bloomfield Treasure is an outstanding show beast. Seigfried was one of the Simmental breed’s all-time greats, and while the semen is over 30 years old, it is still very sought after. “ The Richardson and Nelson partnership have sent the bull to Cogent Breeding Ltd in Cheshire, and they hope that semen will be commercially available in the near future.

William Nelson, and his wife, Margaret, who secured a half-share in the overall champion, realised the second highest price of the day, 11,000gns, for their reserve junior and reserve supreme champion, Drumacritten Arnold 09. Born in May 2009, he was sired by the noted Raceview King, and is out of a home-bred Milnafua Graduate daughter. This bull has a terminal sire index of +23, and is +8 for milk. He was snapped up by Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, Morayshire.

The Nelson’s established their Drumacritten herd over 30 years ago, and currently run 28 pedigree Simmental and eight pedigree Charolais cows. The 11,000gns price tag represents a new herd record, beating their previous best of 7,500gns.

William Nelson was delighted with his success. “This bull was the male and reserve supreme Simmental champion at Clogher Show in July. He also won the DANI Rosebowl at Enniskillen Show, and was part of our reserve prize winning Ivomec Super Pair of the Year.” Buyers were selective with their acquisitions during the three-day multi-breed event, held at Stirling Agricultural Centre. All breeds - Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn, Limousin, Simmental and Charolais - experienced a lack lustre trade, with upwards of one third of the entries in each section failing to find new homes. Sale averages fell short of those achieved at last year’s event.

Simmentals reached a peak of 12,000gns, and 86 bulls sold to average £4,358 - down over £570 on the same period last year when 92 bulls levelled at £4,929.

Charolais reached a ceiling of 13,000gns, and 108 bulls, out of a forward entry of 179, changed hands to average £4,536. This represents a significant decrease of over £1,150 on this time last year when 132 bulls achieved an all breeds record average of £5,687.

Leading the Northern Ireland Charolais entry at 12,000gns was the second prize winning Mountjoy Eros ET, bred by Caldwell McAskie from Omagh, County Tyrone. Kenny Veitch was in the money again, this time at 6,000gns, realised by the second prize winning Camross Emerald. Born in March 2009, he was sired by the Major son, Doonally Olmeto, and is bred from an Indurain daughter. He sold to Shanray Farm, based at Rait near Perth.

Also selling at 6,000gns was the first prize winning Killadeas Egbert (TSI+34), brought out by Stuart and David Bothwell, St Angelo, Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh. He was sired by the herd’s stock bull, Dunlon Ulick - a Meillard son bought privately at Tullamore; while his dam is the Harestone Nighthawk daughter, Killadeas Rhoda - one of 35 cows in the herd. Following close behind at 5,800gns was Mealmore Enzo, an April 2009 born Pirate son, exhibited by Harold Stubbs from Crummy, Lisnaskea. This first prize winning entry was bred from the Doonally New daugthter, Mealmore Alva, and was purchased by Mr Roberts from Gwynedd. He was the reserve senior champion at Fintona.

Mr. Stubbs also realised 2,200gns for the unplaced Gort Eamon. Born in April 2009 he was sired by Fieldview Budd, and bred from the Hara Kiri daughter, Roxtown Sheila.

Aberdeen Angus bulls peaked at 12,000gns, and 44 bulls, changed hands to level at £4,171.

In the Limousin section prices climbed to 11,000gns, and 58 bulls changed hands to average £3,906 - down over £600.

A spokesman for United Auctions said,“It’s going to be an expensive winter with rising feed, straw and fertiliser costs. Farmers were simply bidding on a budget.”