Best of Blacks in the Borders tops at 12,500gns

An exciting day’s trade at St Boswells on Saturday (26^th September) saw fantastic demand for some of the Aberdeen-Angus breed’s finest female genetics on offer from leading herds and a top call of 12,500gns.

Sale leader was the April 2001-born cow Rawburn Lady Rona A074 from Kelso, Roxburghshire-based John Elliot. This daughter of the hugely successful Rawburn Transformer is out of Rawburn lady Rose Y361, a daughter of Princely U113 of Newcairnie.

Rawburn Lady Rona from John Elliot

Described as one of the highlights of entries forward from the Elliot string, Lady Rona ranks in the top 1% for Terminal Index (+34) and has a huge Self Replacing Index of +55. She was sold having been scanned in calf to Rawburn Enigma to determined bidder Gordon Brooke, Malton, North Yorkshire, who secured many of the high priced lots for his Linton Gilbertines herd.

Auldhouseburn Ebdanaa from Hugh Blackwood

Next, selling at 10,000gns, was the two year old heifer Auldhouseburn Ebdanna G343 from Hugh Blackwood, Cumnock, Ayrshire. Born in April 2007, Ebdanna is a daughter of Duncanziemere Judge G104, who stood supreme breed champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2004 before taking the supreme championship at the Perth October bull sales that year and selling for 7000gns. Out of Auldhouseburn Eblanna B153 she goes back to Wedderlie Ebranna Y033 and was sold in calf to Auldhouseburn Karlos D218 to Mr Brooke.

The Elliot family were back in the money selling their April 2004 born Rawburn Delia D310 to Mr Brooke for 7400gns. This was the first daughter of Hoff Limited Edition SC 594 to be offered publically for sale in the UK and is out of Cudlobe Delia 27C, one of the Rawburn herd’s highest grossing embryo flushes.

Rawburn Delia from John Elliot

Delia is full sister to Rawburn Designer Edition who is herd sire at Chathill and Rawburn No Limits, who sold in Canada for $30,000.

The best of the two year old heifers from Mr Elliot was the March 2007 born Rawburn Julie Erica G649, a powerful daughter of Rawburn Lord Ross C216 out of a daughter of Midwestern X21 of Tullyfergus. Ranked in the top 1% for growth rates, Julie Erica sold at 7000gs to Mr Brooke.

Joining her at the same money was Rawburn Evergreen G683. This one was a daughter of Ankonian Elixir out of a Ranui W Impact daughter. She sold due to calve in early February to Rawburn Randolph and has a Terminal Index of +31 and a Self Replacing Index of +45. Buyer again was Mr Brooke.

At 6500gns, Galawater Duchess G344 from Jim Logan, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, found a new home with JC Lister Farms, Boroughbridge, York. By the Perth 2007 champion Galawater Bold King and out of Galawater Duchess E976, who goes back to the Rawburn Duchess line, this one has a Terminal Index of +26 and a Self Replacing Index of +32.

Messrs John Gilmour, Macmerry, East Lothian, sold Hardlawbank Frances E301 to Mr Brooke at 6000gns. By Rawburn Transformer out of a homebred female by Dalrene Cruz 11F out of Netherton Frances T14, this March 2005-born cow sold due to calve to Rawburn Lord Ross in March. She ranks in the top 5% for Terminal Index (+35) and Self Replacing Index (+47).

At 5500gns came another from John Elliot, this time Rawburn Blackcherry G755. This May 2007-born two year old was the youngest offering from the Rawburn string and is by Hayrish Paragon Cruz out of the Tofts Laird daughter Huxton Balckcherry A064. She is the full sister to the 10,000gns Rawburn Blackcherry E399 and was sold scanned in calf to Rawburn Randolph F555. Buyer was JC Lister Farms Ltd.

At 5000gns, John Elliot JNR sold Elliot Delia G673, a March 2007 born daughter of Rawburn Lord Ross C216 out of the Hoff Limited Edition daughter Elliot Delia D004. She sold in calf to Rawburn Randolph F555 to H P Whittaker, Spurston, Cheshire.

Embryos from Mr Elliot sold well, the highest call of 1800gns (per embryo) came from Mr Brooke for six embryos by Hoff Limited Edition SC 594 out of Prairielane 297E Band 3110. Mr Elliot then sold six embryos out of Prairielane 8116 Rosebud 0011. These were sold open for use with any Black Angus bull from North America for 1550gns (per embryo) to Mr Whittaker.

Trade for recipient purebred females carrying Canadian embryos was equally as fierce. A call of 4000gns from Rosann Porter, Andover, Hants, secured Borewell May G234, a March 2007-born daughter of Wedderlie Kameron E903 from Daniel Whiteford and Co, Scremerston, Berwick-On-Tweed. May was sold carrying an embryo by Ankonian Werner Wildfire 96 out of Royal Eston Anne 23J, a powerful cow bred in the Sisson Bros’ Royal herd in Ridgedale, Canada.

Another from the same vendor, Borewell Elsbeth G250, a Rawburn Punchbowl B170 daughter sold carrying an embryo by KMK Alliance out of Prairielane 3050 Rosebud for 2700gns to MR and SK Westcott, Minehead, Somerset.