Oban Autumn Sale 2025
Averages: 15 three-year-old heifers, £5998.99 (+£854); 19 two-year-old heifers, £5498.68 (+£1786.18); 13 yearling heifers, £2625.00 (-£110); 34 heifer calves, £1713.90 (-£487.60); three cows, £2905.00 (nc).
There was a distinct international flavour to this year’s autumn show and sale of Highland cattle in Oban, this week, where 122 overseas delegates to the ‘Return to the Highlands’ brought a rich tapestry to the sale, including a good few purchases, such as the top priced animal at 18,000gns.
The week-long ‘gathering’ mostly culminated on Monday with the sale in Oban, where the older cattle closest to profit certainly took most of the limelight, though the trade in calves remained pretty solid despite being back somewhat on last year when there had been a record price to spice things up.
Overall female champion, Ellen of Allanfearn, 18,000 gns
Topping the trade was the show’s overall champion, the three-year-old in-calf heifer, Ellen of Allanfearn from Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton, Heights of Inchvannie,near Strathpeffer. Led around the show and sale rings by an emotional Maureen, this classy red heifer is by the privately bought Rob Ruadh of Gartchonzie and out of a dam line that goes back to Tirry-side. She was sold three months in calf at Stuart Bheag of Cladich.
There was an international element to the purchasers, with local man Angus MacGillivray of Highland Cattle Services teaming up with his partner from Australia, Paul Reese, to make the final bid. Ellen will remain in Scotland and will be used to build up a quality fold here for the partnership and already numbers stand at 30 head, including the 11,000gns record-priced Cladich calf from last year’s sale.
Reserve female, Princess Mairi 5th of Cladich, 10,000gns
Proving that the judge, Colin MacPhail, from Mull, had made a fine job was the fact that his choice of reserve champion followed in the price ratings. That was Jon and Queenie Strickland’s Princess Mairi 5th of Cladich from their fold at Dalmally, where they and herd manager Suart Campbell had hosted the international visitors a few days earlier.
Again, there was overseas’ interest and Dan Permele had been suitably impressed from the farm visit to go to 10,000gns to get this red heifer which was one out of the first batch of heifers sired by the 27,000gns Angus 2nd of Sorne.
Dan has been breeding Highland cattle for several years in Missouri and he also went to 5,000gns to get the top-priced calf from Cladich at 5,000gns. This was Alice of Cladich, a yellow February-born heifer by Stan of Glengoyne.
Alice of Cladich, 5,000gns
Next best price was 8,000gns for the second-prize three-year-old, Alice of Ranch, from Graeme Easton, The Ranch, Letham, Angus. She comes with a stellar show career already behind her, with the female line boasting a former Royal Highland Show champion. Her background includes the sire Donnachadh Euadh 4th of Mottistone on to Claira of Ubhaidh, while the service sire was Magnus of Earn – who has already bred a few stars for the fold.
Putting the final bid in for this one was the Carnegie team from Balrownie, Brechin, who got some of that outlay back when they sold the three-year-old in-calf heifer, Robina of Balrownie, for 500gns to one of the day’s biggest buyers, Anthony Kitson, farmer and butcher from North Yorkshire.
Alice of Ranch, 8,000gns
Balrownie went back into the debit side of their day by paying 5,000gns to get Bridget 5th of Brindle Point, from Oban’s Miss Eilidh Mackay. This two-year-old is by Macsaul of Achnacroish and was Lorn Show champion earlier in the summer.
Dexter and Carolyn Logan from Alloa called one of their heifers after their then newly-born daughter, Bonnie, and that proved to be a lucky charm for Bonnie of Blairlogan who attracted a 7,500gns bid from James and Laura Hall, Gallabog Croft, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire. This second prize three-year-old came in calf to Seamus of Benmore.
Bonnie of Blairlogan, 7,500gns
Another host of the international gang, the Glenkinglass fold owned by RD Schuster and family, near Dalmally, got in on the top trade with Luss Eliza 1st of Glenkinglass. Led out by stockman Stuart Mackay to take a first in one of the three-year-old classes, she’s by Brogach 5th of Craigowmill and was in calf to Ben Cruachan 4th of Castle Estate – another of the gathering’s fold visits, next door to Glenkinglass. Paying 6,000gns to take her home to Islay was Neil McLellan, from Kilchiaran.
Luss Eliza 1st of Glenkinglass, 6,000gns
Getting a grand trade for their pen of heifers, Ewan and Donna MacKay, from Balfron Station, near Glasgow, saw their trade led by a 6,000gns bid from the MacGillivray/Reese partnership, for Oighrig Og 2nd of Glengoyne,a three-year-old by Ceannard of Eilean Mor and in calf to Fear-Bata of Achnagoul.
Making the same income was Tanya of Squir Mor from Willie McLean, Inverglen, Barcaldine. This two-year-old is by Eoin Mhor 25th of Mottistone was third in her class and made the cash to US buyer, Bruce Schmidt’s Highland Genetics business which promotes and sells the breed in its home country from Minnesota.
Tanya of Squir Mor, 6,000gns
Another of the Mclean clan, Ron from Conon Bridge, in Ross-shire, was just short of that when he got 5,500gns from the Halls for the two-year-old Holly 3rd of Corntown.
Kilberry Estate, took home a couple of top pricers to their base near Tarbert. Dearest for them was 5,500gns paid for Veronica and Kevin Thomson’s Flora of Congash, owners of the Clackriach fold at Frosty Brae, Maud. This third-placed three-year-old was first bought from David Smith and is by Hector of Earn, selling in calf to Harris of Richmondhill.
Their next buy at 5,200gns was Donald and Malcolm MacNaughton’s Amelia of Rannoch which had been reserve three-year-old heifer champion for the pair from Kelty, in Fife. By Muilleach of Rannoch, this one came in calf to Douglas 3rd of Rannoch.
Another three-year-old in the money was the Burns’ family’s third-prize Marie Ann Neoinean 4th of Tippetcraig from High Bonnybridge, Stirling. This black heifer is by Black Prince of Dumyat, out of an Ardentraive-bred cow and is by Angus of Blairordens. The final nod on this one was from the owners of Rhosyn Stud and Farm in Staffordshire.
Carlin 2nd of Black Glen, 5,000gns
Grant Hyslop, Glentewing Farm, Crawfordjohn, also sold his yearling heifer champion, Carlin 2nd of Black Glen, for 5,000gns. By Eoin Mhor 30th of Mottistone and out of a Culfoich-bred dam, she was bought by the Lamb family, who have a holiday business at Burns Farm, near Keswick.
Perthshire breeder, Stuart and Steven Knox, Bankhead of Alyth, Blairgowrie, also took home 5,000gns for the reserve yearling champion, the Magnus of Ubhaidh daughter, Te Bhan 5th of Innisard, which sold to Morag Middleton, from Fettercairn.
Te Bhan 5th of Innisard, 5,000gns
At 5,000gns, was the two-year-old Julie 8th of Tordarroch from John Cooper’s Tordarroch Estates, Inverness to Holmside Cottage, Durham. A second prize winner, she’s by Macrae Charles of Maol.
Fittingly, the last visit for the international visitors and breeding the final one to make 5,000gns at the sale was Glasgow City Council’s Pollok fold, from Glasgow. Its Una Riadh of Pollok was ably brought out by Mel Curran and Matt Auld for a third place and the big money to Huruco Rarebreeds, a tourist business based near Shefield. This one is by Josh of Ranch.
Auctioneers: UA Oban
Prize list
Judge: Colin MacPhail
Class 1 - Three-year-old heifer
1st Luss Eliza 1st of Glenkinglass | Mr R D Schuster
2nd Robina Riabach 3rd of Cailaich | Star Lake Cattle Company
3rd Flora of Congash | Veronica and Kevin Thomson
4th Dossa Lurach of Achnagoul | Mr A R Mackay
Class 2 - Three-year-old heifer
1st Ellen of Allanfearn | Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton
2nd Alice of Ranch | Graeme and Rebecca Easton
3rd Dossa Ruadh 8th of Glengoyne | E and D MacKay and family
4th Phiobaidh of Achnagoul | Mr A R MacKay
Class 3 - Three-year-old heifer
1st Amelia of Rannoch | Donald and Malcolm MacNaughton
2nd Bonnie of Blairlogan | Dexter and Carolyn Logan
3rd Marie Ann Neoinean 4th of Tippetcraig | The Burns family
4th Furan Beag of The Wellburn | Jordan Headspeath
Best three-year-old heifer
Ellen of Allanfearn | Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton
Reserve
Amelia of Rannoch | Donald and Malcolm MacNaughton
Class 4 - Two-year-old heifer
1st Gaye Alis of Clackriach | Veronica and Kevin Thomson
2nd Dosan 37th of Leys | Leys Castle Farm
3rd Flora-Roisin 2nd of Balrownie | Balrownie Farm
4th Kandy Ruadh of Eolhc-lash | Chloe Roberts
Class 5 - Two-year-old heifer
1st Princess Mairi 5th of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
2nd Holly 3rd of Corntown | Ron MacLean
3rd Tanya of Sguir Mor | Willie MacLean
4th Bridget 5th of Brindle Point Croft | Eilidh MacKay
Class 6 - Two-year-old heifer
1st Eiteag 2nd of Innisard | Stuart Knox and Son
2nd Julie 8th of Tordarroch | Tordarroch Estates
3rd Una Ruadh 57th of Pollok | Glasgow City Council
4th Megan The 2nd of Kylestone | Donald and Malcolm MacNaughton
Best two-year-old heifer
Princess Mairi 5th of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
Reserve
Holly 3rd of Corntown | Ron MacLean
Class 7 - Yearling heifer
1st Te Bhan 5th of Innisard | Stuart Knox and Son
2nd Jemima 8th of Innisard | Stuart Knox and Son
3rd Sheldon Ruadh of Ceannacroic | Dunlossit Farming
4th Annie of Allanfearn | Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton
Class 8 - Yearling heifer
1st Carlin 2nd of black Glen | Grant Hyslop
2nd Eilidh Uibhist of Ardbhan | The MacDonald family
3rd Uiseag Una Odhar of Ardbhan | The MacDonald family
Class 9 - Yearling heifer
1st Lady Molly of Gray Brae | Douglas and Hilary Crane
2nd Eden Righ 10th of Killochries | Killochries fold
3rd Harriet 4th of Killochries | Killochries fold
4th Sorn Dubh of Ardentraive | The Keys family
Best yearling heifer
Carlin 2nd of Black Glen | Grant Hyslop
Reserve
Te Bhan 5th of Innisard | Stuart Knox and Son
Class 10 - Heifer calf
1st Alice of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
2nd Boidheach 6th of Hunters | Stephen and Rosemary Hunter
3rd Capleadh Ruadh 2nd of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
4th Rhona 11th of Tippetcraig | The Burns family
Class 11 - Heifer calf
1st Morag Mingael 31st of Glengorm | Glengorm
2nd Bhoidheach Bheag 25th of Shenavallie | Duncan Buchanan
3rd Furan Beathag 48th of Glengorm | Glengorm
4th Marie Ruadh 18th of Cnoc Na Sith | Iain MacKay and Claire Simonetta
Class 12 - Heifer calf
1st Bachy 4th of Cross Reguill | J S and R Harris
2nd Bannoch Ruadh 8th of Cailaich | R and S Strachan
3rd Anna Dubh of Applecross | The Applecross Trust
4th Princess Mairi Dubh 3rd of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
Class 13 - Heifer calf
1st Monica 25th of Cnoc Na Sith | Iain MacKay and Claire Simonetta
2nd Morag Boirann 18th of Glengorm | Glengorm
3rd Robina Rionnag of Cailaich | R and S Strachan
4th Myra Muirnrag of Ardbhan | The MacDonald family
Best heifer calf
Alice of Cladich | Cladich
Reserve
Boidheach 6th of Hunters | Stephen and Rosemary Hunter
Class 14 - Cow and senior heifer
1st Mina 8th of Tordarroch | Tordarroch Estates
2nd Fionnghal 3rd of Culloden | The Culloden fold
3rd Kookie Dhunn of Eolhc-lash | Chloe Roberts
4th Marie Ann Neoinean 3rd of Tippetcraig | Caroline Cuthbertson
Class 15 - Bull
1st Murchadh Dubh of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
Best pair of suckled heifer calves
The Burns family
Best pair of in-calf heifers
E and D Mackay and family
Overall female champion
Ellen of Allanfearn | Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton
Reserve
Princess Mairi 5th of Cladich | Mrs Jon Strickland
Young handlers 10-15 years
1st Ruby Rowbottom
Young handlers 16-26 years
1st Joanna Greaves
2nd Ruairidh MacKay
3rd Katy Rogers
4th Isla MacKay
5th Eva Armstrong
