BEEF cows from the Nightingale Herd of Aberdeen Angus hit the right note at the prestigious breed society sale at Carlisle, setting a new record price for a female.

"It really was a very good sale from our point of view," said Willie Robertson, of Nightingale Farm, Bishampton, whose beef cattle have built up an international reputation.

The two leading bids of the day of 8,000 and 6,500 guineas were paid for two of the seven strong team Mr Robertson took to the sale and the seven averaged £3,375, way above any others

The Scotland Coal Company broke the record for a female with the top two prices for high-beef value cows from some of the herd's most successful cow families.

Top bid was for Nightingale Enchantress Z015 (beef value 32), due next February with her third calf to Nightingale Prince Jet, a son of Young Dale Hogan.

She is by the American bull MVBL Lancer 9F and out of a daughter of Nightingale Rocket.

Nightingale Lady Connie A056 (beef value 33) realised 6,500gns. She is by the American sire HF Data Bank 2H and is carrying a calf for next spring which doubles up on American genetics.

The calf is by Hogan and Lady Connie A056 out of a Hogan dam.

Other sale successes for the Vale herd included 2,500gns for the 200-bred Nightingale Tibbie Z004, who is by BCC Eileenmere Lad 17F and out of the imported Canadian cow MVF Tibbie 1Z, who took a female of the year title in Canada.

Mr Robertson, whose Nightingale prefix is a consistent winner in the major show rings, has a herd numbering 150 head built up over the 33 years.