THE LUING CATTLE SOCIETY LTD
WESTER DRUMLOCHY
LORNTY
BLAIRGOWRIE
PERTHSHIRE
PH10 6TD
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Tel: 01250-873882
ee-mail:secretary@luingcattlesociety.co.uk
www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk
17 February 2016
SALE REPORT
Averages climb as records tumble at Luing’s Premier Sale
Average prices up in every section and two record-breaking tops summed up a momentous day
for the Luing breed at their 47th Premier Sale in Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas on Friday 10th
February.
The sale saw the highest entry in almost 40 years with 218 females forward and all selling. The
highlight of the day came when the bull Harehead Mourie strode into the ring to prompt some
fervent bidding and was eventually knocked down for a new Society record of 20,000gns to
new Luing breeders Paddy & Sheila Crerar of Newmains, Stenton, East Lothian. The top of
20,000gns contributed to an almost unprecedented average of £6,874 for bulls – up £2,764 on
the year for two fewer sold; in-calf Luing heifers were also bid to a record top of 3,600gns (with
an average of £1,936 – up £143 for 3 more sold) with Luing bulling heifers bid to 2,200gns
(£1,324 – up £148 for 33 more sold).
Considered to be one of the strongest line up of bulls on offer for some years, 19 of the 20
forward sold to average £6,874 – up £2,764 on the year with two fewer sold. The top price of
20,000gns was paid by new Luing breeders Paddy & Sheila Crerar of Newmains, Stenton, East
Lothian for Harehead Mourie from the Harehead herd of Professor Penny CBE based at
Cranshaws, Duns. Mourie was part of a very strong pen of bulls from Harehead and had
topped the scales at 890kg, measuring 57” at the shoulder with a scrotal circumference of
43.5cm. By a previous record priced bull, Nunnerie Harvey, and out of a Luing Exciseman-sired
homebred dam, he is very much being seen as a foundation bull for the Crerar’s Luing herd at
Stenton, East Lothian. The remainder of Harehead’s stable sold well with all four selling to
average £9,712. Three more five figure prices were hit in the bull section with debut bull
consignors D&A Barr of Milkieston, Peebles selling Milkieston Master, a Benhar Kingfisher son,
for 14,000gns to C&M Symons of Attonburn, Kelso. The same buyer went to 11,000gns to get
Craigdarroch Minstrel (by Harehead Jake) from W.Graham & Son and Dave Stanners
purchased Benhar Murray (by Benhar Kyle) from Robert McNee Ltd. for 10,000gns. Other
notable prices included 7,500gns paid for Benhar Magnum by Billy Renwick of Craigdouglas,
Yarrow, and 7,000gns paid by Crofts Farms, Corsock for Harehead McCaw.
Robert McNee Ltd. from Armadale once again topped the charts in the in-calf heifer section
selling nine to average £2,566, including a top of 3,600gns for a pair of red heifers in-calf to
College Kracker. This top price was also a new record for the Society and was paid by Paddy &
Sheila Crerar of Newmains, Stenton, East Lothian who would go on to purchase the recordbreaking priced bull. The same pair of heifers had earlier won the inaugural Carrs Billington
prize for best in-calf heifers as judged by Dave Stanners of Tynedale Luings, Knowsley Park,
Merseyside. Debut consignors Rob & Carol Carr of Airyolland, Port William had a very good
sale averaging £2,077 for their pen of seven in-calf heifers sold under their Annelshope prefix.
Another debut consignor Jim Caygill from Skipton, North Yorkshire, sold an in-calf heifer for
1,700gns with Society Chairman Steven Murray selling his consignment of 32 for an impressive
average of £1,732.
Pedigree Luing bulling heifers were bid to 2,200gns with 169 selling to average £1,324 – up
£148 on the year with 33 more sold. The top price was paid by John Buglass of Glen Lyon for a
pair of Wooplaw Hudson-sired roan heifers from the Hon. R.B. Loder’s Children’s Settlement
and brought out by farm manager Stephen Little. These heifers had stood out in very strong
Upper Chatto pen, having been awarded reserve best pair of bulling heifers in the pre-sale
show. The Upper Chatto consignment had a hugely impressive sale with eight selling for the
top average of £1,968. Other notable averages included W.Graham & Son who sold five to
average £1,869; D&A Barr of Milkieston levelled at £1,690 for 15; Cadzow Bros. of Luing
averaged £1,596 for 30; Floors Farming came out with £1,554 for five and Professor W.A.
Penny’s Harehead offering of 15 bulling heifers levelled at £1,497 for 15. This last consignment
contained the prize-winning pair of heifers as judged by Dave Stanners for the inaugural Carrs
Billington ‘best pairs’ competitions. This pair of red heifers, sired by Nunnerie Harvey and
Benhar Flint, were purchased for 1,800gns each by Andrew Lyth of Bacup, Lancashire.
Commenting on the trade, Society Chairman Steven Murray said, “Today’s sale will live long in
the memory for Luing breeders. Despite the near-record entry, averages were still up in every
section yet bulling heifers in particular remained affordable with plenty of new buyers taking
home a lot of heifers. It was great to see so many getting a start in the breed. We knew in
advance of a lot of interest for bulls and once it became obvious of the quality brought out by
the breeders we knew that section could sell well. Breaking two records, one at 3,600gns for incalf heifers and one at 20,000gns for a bull, just proves how in demand Luing cattle are at
present.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:

At the Society’s AGM the previous evening, Kirsty Dunlop of Commonside Hawick, Stephen Little of
Upper Chatto, Kelso and Neil McCorkindale of Scammadale, Oban, were appointed to the board to
replace James Colston, Giles Henry and Leslie Robson who all retire having served their three-year
terms.

At the Annual Luing Dinner, Dougie Fleming of Nisbet, Coulter, gave a very entertaining after-dinner
speech. £900 was raised in the raffle to be donated to RSABI.
Further information:
Johnny C. Mackey, Breed Secretary, Luing Cattle Society Ltd., Wester Drumlochy,
Lornty, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6TD.
Web: www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk
Email: secretary@luingcattlesociety.co.uk
Tel:
01250-873882