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January 25th, 2010

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Balmachie Black Bear sells for UK record of 75,000gns to Texas

A two year old Aberdeen-Angus bull has this week been sold privately to an American buyer for what is believed to be a UK record price of 75,000gns.

The existing record price at public auction has stood for almost 50 years since 1963 when Lindertis Evulse was sold at the Perth sales for 60,000gns.

Balmachie Black Bear This week’s sale of Balmachie Black Bear H050 by Messrs J F Lascelles, Balmachie, Carnoustie, Angus, marks a new milestone for the Aberdeen-Angus breed and a re-opening of the export market to the USA which was a leading destination for Aberdeen-Angus bulls in the 1950s and 1960s.

“This is a major breakthrough for Aberdeen-Angus in the UK and we are delighted to have achieved this sale,” said John Lascelles, Jun, who has paraded the bull to championship success at three top shows over the past year.

“The buyer first saw the bull at the Royal Highland Show last June and has been relentlessly trying to buy him ever since. I am pleased that we have been able to retain the UK semen rights so the influence of this outstanding young bull will not be lost to the UK.”

Black Bear, a son of one of the leading sires in the breed, Rawburn Lord Ross C126 and out of a Blelack-bred cow by Blelack Lord Hornblower A243, has been in the championship line-up every time he has been shown, winning the reserve supreme championship at the Scottish National Calf Show as a 10 month old calf in 2008, the junior and reserve supreme championship at the Royal Highland Show last June and culminating in the supreme championship at the National Calf Show at Carlisle last October.

The judge at both the Highland and Carlisle shows, Alastair Fraser, Newton of Idvies, Forfar, Angus, said the bull “had it all”.

“He has power, length and great locomotion and will certainly be a bull to watch in the future,” said Mr Fraser.

The bull also has excellent growth figures being well above breed average at 200, 400 and 600 days for weight gain, eye muscle, retail beef yield and leanness.

Buyers, husband and wife, Jackie and Kelly Grisson of 8G Angus near Dallas, Texas, have leading herds of both Angus and Brangus (Brahman x Angus) and have built up a strong export trade in semen to Brazil and Venezuela.

Mrs Grisson saw the bull at the Highland Show and returned for the Calf Show in October determined to buy him.

“American breeders are tending to breed smaller Aberdeen-Angus these days and Mrs Grisson was keen to buy a bull with greater growth potential to suit the conditions in their part of the US,” said Mr Lascelles.

The bull will remain at Balmachie for showing at the Highland in June before being sent to UK Sire Services in Devon for semen collection. He will then be shipped to the USA and Mr Lascelles has been asked to show him at the Houston Show.

The Lascelles will be hoping to repeat their success of last year at the Highland where they carried off the supreme championship with the 22 month old bull, Balmachie Keystone G041, which was sold at Perth the previous February to Adam and Pip Robson, Chathill, Northumberland, for 13,000gns.  Mr and Mrs Grisson have also purchased semen from this bull.

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27 Comments »

Comments

  1. Monday, January 25th, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

    Well done John you have put a large commitment into the breed I am delighted it is paying off Father always said He stood out in the summer show season

    Comment by Graeme Fraser

  2. Monday, January 25th, 2010 @ 3:18 pm

    Well done Balmachie – a great bull and a great price you must be chuffed! Who will be marketing the semen off this bull now?

    Comment by Black Attack

  3. Monday, January 25th, 2010 @ 9:24 pm

    Thanks for kind words, Graeme look forward to seeing you at Stirling.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  4. Monday, January 25th, 2010 @ 9:27 pm

    Dear Black Attack, I have retained semen interest in Black Bear. Happy for you to give me a call, semen available now. Many thanks for you kind words.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  5. Monday, January 25th, 2010 @ 9:38 pm

    Many congratulations to all the Lascelles family at Balmachie. Black bear is truly outstanding bull. Great news for all Aberdeen Angus breeders.

    Comment by Belhaven Angus

  6. Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 @ 10:20 pm

    congratulations to the lascelles family at balmachie.is the semen available in ireland.

    Comment by black bull

  7. Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 @ 12:23 am

    Well done John, A great achivement, a great role model for all youth breeders, Daniel

    Comment by Daniel

  8. Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 @ 1:45 am

    Just wondering does anyone know if semen from black bear will be availible in ireland

    Comment by Shane Murphy

  9. Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 @ 2:44 am

    I have had the pleasure working with John and his father filming Black Bear. He truly is an outstanding bull – I hope you enjoy the video that’s just been posted.

    Comment by Rob Bryce

  10. Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 @ 10:24 pm

    I was fortunate enough to see Black Bear at Carlisle and thought that both he and the other son of Rawburn Lord Ross who was shown that day were outstanding.

    I contacted Mr Elliot to buy semen from Lord Ross and unfortunately he has stopped selling semen last year due to low stock.

    I wondered if anyone might have some semen from this bull that they would consider selling. If so please contact me on the following e-mail jamesckguthrie@aol.com

    Thanks
    J Guthrie

    Comment by James Guthrie

  11. Thursday, January 28th, 2010 @ 4:02 am

    Congratulations to all at Balmachie your cattle are always a credit to yourselves and to the breed.Well done again.

    Comment by Brian McCLINTOCK

  12. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 1:04 am

    from a different breeds point of view hes a nice bull but by hell hes fat – and sorry to pick fault but check the end of the video – the mouth is UNDER SHOT

    Comment by shrthrnmad!

  13. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 1:07 am

    surely not a new breed record – it would need to have been through public auction to get that claim!! anyone can claim to sell a bull for big bucks but a record will not be set unless hes sold in perth.

    Comment by shrthrnmad!

  14. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 1:58 am

    Dear Gilly (Belhaven Angus), Many thanks for your kind words of support, look forward to seeing you all next week. Your bulls in the catalogue look very exciting, can`t wait to see them.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  15. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 2:00 am

    Dear Black Bull, Semen will be availabe in Ireland real soon. Give me a call, you can see Bear at Balmachie. Many thanks

    Comment by John Lascelles

  16. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 2:04 am

    Dear Daniel, Thanks for your comment, you can see Bear and the rest of the stock at Balmachie, just give me a call.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  17. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 2:05 am

    Dear Shane, Are you coming to Stirling? If so, come and say hello, semen will be available real soon.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  18. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 2:09 am

    Dear Rob, Above and beyond the call, couldn`t have done it without you, BIG THANKS.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  19. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 2:13 am

    Dear James, In the same boat as you, we`ll just have to ambush Elliot some night and not so gently persuade him. ( Any volanteers?!!)

    Comment by John Lascelles

  20. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 2:17 am

    Dear Brian, Praise indeed, from such as yourself, many thanks for your kind words, look forward to seeing you next week.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  21. Friday, January 29th, 2010 @ 3:14 am

    Well done to the Lascelles Family all the hard work and dedication has been worth while!!The recent photo of Black Bear is very impressive.

    Comment by Brian Anderson

  22. Saturday, January 30th, 2010 @ 4:56 am

    Dear Brian, Hope you and those two wonderful girls in your life are well and keeping you on the hop! Didn`t get a chance to have a good chinwag at the Winter Fair. Will catch up at Bull Sales, have you found another “Paco`s” near Stirling?. All the best from all at Balmachie.

    Comment by John Lascelles

  23. Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 @ 7:59 pm

    Black bear is not a fat bull, and hes chin certainly isn’t under shot . I’ve seen black bear twice and each time I never found a fault with the bull. This bull can only be discribed as “a touch of class”

    Comment by Shane Murphy

  24. Saturday, February 6th, 2010 @ 9:33 am

    Hi John ,

    Missed having a chat with you in Stirling also. Will catch up at the Highland . Yeah William had done a let`s eat in guide for us !!!!!! Papa Joes is the place to eat or else The Lion & The Unicorn at Thornhill you and the good lady will have to join us some night at the Bull Sales

    Comment by Brian Anderson

  25. Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 @ 1:59 am

    Great for the breed! Looks like a lovely animal!
    Well done!

    Comment by Rod SLOAN

  26. Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 @ 12:47 pm

    Afternoon Chrissie,
    As it’s coming round to the time of year to purchase semen for the early calvers and season ahead, did you ever find out weights for Balmachie Black Bear. It would be very interesting to know the 400day and Highland Show weight of him, as he impressed greatly.
    Kind Regards
    Robert

    Comment by Robert - Stairhaven Angus

  27. Thursday, February 18th, 2010 @ 11:32 am

    Hi Robert – I’m not sure what his 400-day growth rate was but I know he’s favourable on his breedplan figures and is in the top 1% for it I believe. You’re better off asking John yourself than me as I can’t remember what his Highland Show weight was either sorry.

    Comment by Chrissie

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