North-east breeders dominated the Zwartbles Sheep Association’s annual Scottish region flock competition this year.
The top title in the contest, which attracted entries from 14 flocks throughout Scotland, went to Samantha Stewart’s Janetstown flock at Buttery Brae, Drummuir, Keith.
Mrs Stewart was awarded the accolade by the winner of last year’s contest – Andrew Baillie who runs the Broomfield flock at Larkhall, Lanarkshire.
Mr Baillie travelled more than 1,000 miles across from Applecross to Stranraer and everywhere in between as part of his judging task. After assessing all the stock on show, he awarded Mrs Stewart the champion title following her taking first place in the small flock section.
Mrs Stewart, who works full-time as an agricultural consulting with SAC Consulting in Elgin, keeps her flock at Bomakelloch farm which is run by her husband Phil in partnership with his father. The farm carries a flock of Blackface sheep, finishing cattle and some cereal cropping.
Mrs Stewart started the Janetstown flock, which currently stands at 14 ewes, in 2011.
She said: “My main focus is to breed Zwartbles sheep that have a good carcase as well as the correct Zwartbles markings, which is harder than it sounds.”
Mrs Stewart, who is currently secretary of the Scottish branch of the Zwartbles Sheep Association, said previous flock highlights included winning the Scottish National Show in 2015, selling the top-priced Scottish male and judging the flock competition last year.
Meanwhile, the large flocks section was won by Fraserburgh young farmer David Moir, of Home Farm, Cairness.
Mr Moir took the accolade prior to dispersing his Cairness flock last month.
The youngster was dispersing his flock to allow the family more time to focus on a newly established pedigree Suffolk flock.
His dispersal sale achieved a 100% rate and set a new price record for the breed of 3,500gn when home-bred ewe lamb Cairness Dare Devil, by Eildon Hill Am Yer Man, went under the hammer.
