COUNTY Durham Charolais breeder Mr Stephen Nesbitt was joint bidder for the top 28,000gns bull at the breed society's spring sale in Perth last week.

Mr Nesbitt, of Alwent Hall, Winston, bought Maerdy Primeminister jointly with Mr Tom Arnott of Haymout, Kelso.

The 21-month-old had earlier won the supreme championship. Mr Peter Vasey, the judge, said his size, power and conformation made him an outstanding example of the breed.

Primeminister was sold by Mr Esmor Evans of Mold, Flintshire, and was by his full French-bred Maerdy Grimaldi out of his home-bred Maerdy Hostess. He was one of 20 bulls Mr Evans sold at Perth.

Mr Nesbitt was full of praise for Primeminister. "He has to be the bull nearest to perfection ever sold in Perth," he said. "He has great conformation, length combined with depth of muscle throughout, and a tremendous accompanying pedigree.

"He should introduce further size and scale to our 20 cow herd."

Twenty-six Charolais bulls changed hands for 5,000gns or more and 193 lots sold to average £3,429.29.

The day's second highest bid of 15,000gns was paid for the overall reserve champion and intermediate leader by Mr Roy Blyth of Elwick, a Hartlepool-based butcher.

Inverlochy Passport, from John Irvine and Son, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch, Banffshire, has a beef value of CH 25 and is by Shamleys Locomotor, a former Perth junior champion. As an 11-month-old he was the youngest bull to ever win the junior interbreed title at the Highland Show.

Mr Blyth runs a 50-cow pedigree herd and 30 commercial cows which are being graded up to pedigree status.

"Passport has size, great conformation and an accompanying good Beef Value, and he was the biggest money I've spent since we established the herd seven years ago," said Mr Blyth.

"Both our Charolais and Charolais crossbreds contribute towards the shop's weekly throughput, and we find they kill out better than any other breed.

"Charolais carcasses have a higher percentage of usable muscle, both hind quarter and loin. Overall, Charolais make a major contribution to our business because they both weigh and pay."

Auctioneers for the sale were United Auctions.