The fourth Aberdeen-Angus sale for the Angus Group company at Wertingen, Germany, on Saturday (25th April) set a new record for an Aberdeen-Angus female sold in Germany when frenzied bidding saw Netherton Beauty P824 from W and D McLaren’s Perthshire-based Netherton herd sell for €7400 e (£5688) to a new breeder from Romania. Beauty, a July 2014-born heifer is by the homebred sire Netherton Achie and out of Big Sky Beauty 009, one of Canada’s Elite performance females. 

The  offering featured a total of 48 heifers and nine bulls from nine different UK breeders together with a group bred from UK genetics in the herd of  Angus Group partner Bernhard Delle, Donaumoos.  

The Mclaren’s Netherton herd also claimed top price in the male offering when the bull Netherton European N788 sold for €5200 euros (£3744) – again to a breeder from Romania.

Two bulls then made €5000, with the first being Donaumoos David N849 from Mr Delle.  This November 2013-born bull is bred from Donaumoos Diana G113, a daughter of the first heifer exports to Germany from Skaill and sired by the impressive Donaumoos Lord Zorro J602, a New Zealand bred bull with a background of high performance and marbling.

Next to make that money was Eastfield Jenson P675 from the Brewis family, Kelso. This young April 2014-born bull is by Halbeath Kansas L429 and from the successful Janice family.  He sold to be the foundation of a new herd in France.

Three yearling  heifers from Fell Lane herd of Messrs Lishman achieved the next highest average of the day for females of 3433 euros. These were followed by six from Messrs Neil Wattie, Tonley, at 3166 euros. 

High demand resulted in 100% clearance for the 56 head of cattle. Buyers were present from 15 countries throughout the EU including Italy, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Germany and Serbia.  Pre-sale preparation had been carried out by Sheila Eggleston of Eggs-Port who sourced and arranged the purchase and export to Germany of the cattle making up the sale. 

Commenting on the sale Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society president David Evans said the event was now firmly established in the European calendar. “It gives European breeders a great opportunity to source UK genetics and further the breed’s progress in mainland Europe.”

Cattle were forward for the sale from the Eastfield herd (Kelso, Roxburghshire), the Fell Lane herd (Hexham, Northumberland), the Kincardine Castle herd (Perthshire) ,  the Moncur herd (Errol, Perthshire),  the Netherton herd (Auchterarder, Perthshire), the Perrywood herd (Redhill, Surrey), the Tonley herd (Alford, Aberdeenshire) the Rosemead and McClemens herds (Godalming, Surrey), the KingsBrompton herd (Dulverton, Somerset) and the Donaumoos herd (Bavaria).

Averages: nine bulls €4489 (+€700), 47 heifers €2912 (+€697).