A well-known young stockman will judge an entry of 19 Young Farmers’ beasts at the annual show and sale of overwintered cattle at Huntly Mart this weekend.
Mark Robertson of Conval, Dufftown, has been named as the judge for the annual fixture which takes place on Friday and Saturday.
Mr Robertson and his father Michael of Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, are well-known on the show circuit.
Last summer Mark lifted the coveted champion of champions title at the Banchory Show with a Limousin cross heifer named Nic Nak.
He will cast his eye over Young Farmers’ cattle at the pre-sale show on Friday at 6.30pm. This is followed by an open stockjudging competition.
The beasts will then go under the hammer the next day and be included in United Auctions’ sale of more than 1,000 store cattle at 10am.
At last year’s fixture the champion title and top price went to a Limousin cross bullock from Grant Stephen of Hatton Cottage.
Barnyard, Cornhill-bred, Mr Stephen’s champion sold for £1,190 to the pre-sale show judge – Ian Pirie of Overton of Bruxie.
Standing reserve was a Limousin cross heifer, bred at Newton of Crathie and put forward by John Connon, Broadmyre, Clatt. She sold for £1,190 to Messrs Simpson, Mains of Leslie.
The champion homebred beast title and stockmanship prize were presented to Abbie McGillvary, Auchnascraw, for her 555kg Charolais cross heifer. This one sold for £1,170 to the judge.
The prizes for best weight gain and best gross margin were awarded to Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen.
He took the prizes after his Shorthorn cross heifer, which was bred by Heatheryfield, Cairnie, achieved a daily liveweight gain of 1.48kg a day.
