A 29-month-old Aberdeen-Angus bull was crowned supreme champion at the annual show and sale of pedigree bulls at Dingwall Mart yesterday.
The pre-sale show was judged by Caithness farmer Russell Mill, of Forsie Farm, near Thurso.
Mr Mill gave the nod to Kinaldy Patrick, by Promise Edinburgh, from Messrs Balavil Estate in Kingussie. He sold for 2,400gn to Liam Muir of Upper Onston, Orkney.
The 7,000-acre Balavil Estate was bought by Hannah and Eric Heerema in April 2015. The couple have plans to see the estate producing some of the best pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the country.
This led to them paying a breed record price of 35,000gn for seven-year-old cow Blelack Lady Eraline at last year’s Blelack herd reduction sale in Stirling.
Meanwhile, the reserve overall champion title at yesterday’s show and sale in Dingwall went to the Simmental champion from Messrs D. and D. M. Leslie at Redhill Farm, Elgin. Redhill Hill Billy, by Williams Eddie, was unsold.
The top price at the sale was 3,500gn for a 28-month-old Charolais bull from Messrs J. H. and S. M. Anderson, of The Cloy, Fortrose.
Cloy Jack is a son of the 14,000gn Ashby Gucci and out of a dam that stood first at the Nairn Show as a heifer. He sold to Messrs Munro Farms.
In total 16 bulls sold to average £2,567.25. The breed averages were: Limousin, 3, 2,460gn; Simmental, 4, 2,725gn; Aberdeen-Angus, 6, 2,066gn; British Shorthorn, 1, 1,950gn; Charolais, 2, 3,150gn.
The fixture was organised with support from Messrs Mackenzie at Whitebog, Aardvark Contracting Limited, Bank of Scotland, and Surecalf with Zoetis.
