An April-born heifer calf took the day’s top price for Aberdeen-Angus females at yesterday’s sale in Stirling when Rawburn Miss Essence S326 from the Elliot family of Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, sold for 9500gns to Brailes Livestock, Banbury.

The first to be offered at public auction by Rawburn Firebrand N687, this one is out of the Hoff Limited Edition daughter, Rawburn Miss Essence J050 who sold previously for 8000gns to Hannah Heerema of Balavil Estate, Kingussie, Inverness. The cow is a Hoff Limited Edition daughter and goes back to DMM Miss Essence lines and was offered in calf to Rawburn Boss Hogg.

Next best in the female offering was the small dispersal of Robert Marshall’s Strath Urr herd and leading that at 8300gns was the 2015 Great Yorkshire Show champion, Belhaven Zephyr L370. Born May 2011, this one is a Muirhall Double Edition E018 daughter and is out of a Belhaven-bred Vermillion Dateline daughter. Buyer here was Ian Colville, Grove, Belfast.

Her twin heifer calves by Logie Limited Edition then sold for 3500gns to Andrew Ewing, Northern Ireland and for 3400gns to O F Bell, Roxburghshire.

Leading the shown females was the overall female champion, Border Lyne Gentle Julia R132 from Mr and Mrs Story. This December 2014-born Netherallan Peter Pershore E052 daughter is out of a home bred Kincardine Castle Etive Mhor H631 and sold to Stuart Thomson of the Coldoch herd, Stirling, for 7000gns.

Next best was Samantha Allen’s July-born heifer calf Crew Lady Jasmine S247, a Netherton Fabulous Cruz Y300 daughter out of a Mogeely Joe H979 daughter. This one was overall calf champion at the Northern Ireland Club Calf Show in Dungannon last year and now joins the Stirling-based Stephick herd of current YDP senior winner Stephanie Dick.

Meanwhile, heading across to Northern Ireland with Kevin McOscar was Linton Gilbertines Black Bird R928 from the Trustees of the late Gordon Brooke. This February 2015-born heifer is by Rawburn Black Hawk L261 and is out of a Hoff Head of the Class daughter going back to Coldstream lines.

The Idvies herd of Messrs Fraser had a top call of 2400gns on two occasions, the first of which was Idvies Elmoy P632, a daughter of the successful show bull Shadwell Black Broughton K485, which sold to B and J Mackay, Caithness, while the other was Idvies Poppy P658, by Morven Kyle L743, which was knocked down to the Ardoyne Organic Group, Argyll.

The best from the Belhaven draft of John Gilmour was a call of 2300gns for Belhaven Edith R114, a Retties JFK M195 daughter. This one sold to John Fleming, Newton Stweart.

Averages: 24 females £3613, 80% clearance (+ £367 on the year).