Two brothers from Nairn led the charge at the annual show and sale of Young Farmers’ overwintered cattle at Thainstone yesterday.
Ally and Grant Fraser of Easter Clune lifted the overall bullock, heifer and home-bred championship titles.
Judge Graham Easton, of The Ranch, Letham, selected Ally Fraser’s 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer, weighing 484kg, as his heifer and then overall champion. When the beast went through the Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) sales ring, she achieved the highest price of the day at £3,400 selling to an undisclosed buyer in the south.
His brother Grant lifted the overall bullock championship title with an 11-month-old Limousin, weighing 452kg, which sold to Emslies Livestock, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead.
A new prize launched yesterday to mark the 25th anniversary of the fixture – the Calladrum Cup – was awarded jointly to James MacIver Jnr of Wester Coltfield, Kinloss, Forres, and first-time consigner Stuart Ross of Wardhead, Strichen, Fraserburgh.
The award was designed for the entry that trumped the contests for highest feeders’ margin, highest average daily liveweight gain, best presented and parade animals and best quality animal.
ANM auction operations manager, Alan Hutcheon, said: “We welcomed another impressive turnout and line-up of cattle to this year’s event which is testament to the agricultural community’s commitment to ensuring these events continue for this generation and the next.
“Following the show, we counted the votes and a tie position was evident, and it was agreed to recognise both of these young farmers for their remarkable efforts and presentation of cattle at the event. Each of these young men will share this new trophy for six months each out of the year.”
In all 44 animals were on show at the fixture, which was sponsored by law firm Ledingham Chalmers.
The award for the best presented and paraded animal, as judged by Harry Brown of Auchmaliddie Mains in Maud, was Gary Morrison of Bush of Muldearie, Keith.
He took the prize with his 11-month-old Limousin heifer, which weighed 446kg, and sold for the third highest price at the sale of £1,750 selling to G. Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharacle, Argyll.
The second best price at the sale, of £2,400, was achieved twice.
First at this price was a 10-month-old Limousin heifer, weighing 412kg, from Darren Davidson, of 8 Quarryhill, Keith. It sold to Michael and Mark Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul.
The other at this price was another entry from Gary Morrison – a 10-month-old Limousin heifer, weighing 400kg, selling to J. J. Duffton, Mains of Drumdollo, Drumblade, Huntly.
The champion of the home-bred class was Grant Fraser’s 422kg 11-month-old Limousin cross heifer, which sold for £1,280 to A. and J. Matthew, Whitelums, Gartly, Huntly.
The prize for the best overall club was awarded for the second year in a row to Keith and District Young Farmers.