The sale averaged pounds 4,357 for 141 bulls sold but the four bulls in the top 1% with a terminal sire index of 31 or above averaged pounds 11,865 and were all sold while the next 10% with an index of 24 to 30 averaged pounds 5,921 for 59 bulls with only 1% unsold.

In contrast, the 24 bulls with an index of 17 or under averaged only pounds 2,761 and 41% were unsold while two bulls in the bottom 10% ( an index of 11 or under ( averaged pounds 1,995 and 60% in this category were unsold.

Ron McHattie, chief executive of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, said: "The message to Aberdeen-Angus breeders could not be clearer. Buyers are looking for bulls with figures to back up their looks and are prepared to pay high prices for bulls demonstrating above-average performance."

But Mr McHattie stressed that buyers were not only taking terminal sire index into account but also other important performance information such as 400-day and 600-day weights, eye muscle area, fat, retail beef yield and milk, which was important when the main consideration was breeding heifers for replacements.

Source: Blackenterprise.com