Limousins reigned supreme in both the overall individual and group beef interbreed championships at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh.
Well-known livestock breeder Archie MacGregor of Allanfauld, Kilsyth, near Glasgow, was tasked with judging both championships at the Ingliston showground.
After much deliberation Mr MacGregor gave the coveted beef interbreed title to a 17-month-old Limousin heifer from Mike and Melanie Alford, of Foxhill Farm, Collumpton, Devon.
The couple are some of the farthest travelled, and busiest, exhibitors at the show.
Melanie was left to show the Limousin cattle while Mike was tasked with judging Aberdeen-Angus bulls, of which there was a huge show for the World Angus Forum.
The couple’s daughter Charlotte is currently sitting her A levels and was not at the show but her British Blue heifer, Rhymill Kylie, which was bought as an 18th birthday present, took reserve in the section.
The family’s interbreed champion, which is also recipient of the prestigious Queen’s Cup at this year’s show, was Foxhillfarm Mamamia.
By the 38,000gn Foxhillfarm Irish Lad, which sold in 2014 to Jim Goldie, she is a daughter of the world record priced Limousin female Glenrock Illusion – bought for 125,000gn and jointly owned with Swalesmoor Limousins.
Prior to taking the top title at the Highland, she was junior champion at the Stars of the Future in November.
This was a home-bred natural calf – embryo transfer offspring with the same breeding have sold to 42,000gn previously.
Standing reserve overall in the beef lines was the Simmental champion from David Craig, of Kennox Cottage, Stewarton, East Ayrshire.
This rising two-year-old heifer Kennox Tara’s Gem, is a home-bred daughter of Sowenna Aristocrat and out of Annick Helen’s Tara.
Prior to the Highland, she stood interbreed champion at both the Neilston and Stewarton Shows.
In the groups section, Mr MacGregor gave the top title to a team of Limousins and the reserve rosettes to a team of Aberdeen-Angus.
He said: “I was looking for quality throughout the team and it had to be a very balanced team.”
The winning Limousin team comprised: the reserve breed champion, rising two-year-old heifer Foxhillfarm Looksthepart from Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill, Collumpton, Devon; rising two-year-old heifer Foxhillfarm Limited Edition from the Alfords; three-year-old cow Burnbank Jojo from D. and L. Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling; and four-year-old bull Whiskey Infinity from Harry Emslie at Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead.
The Aberdeen-Angus team comprised: in-calf heifer Linton Gilbertines Rosebud Willabar from the Gordon Brooke Estate, Upper Huntlywood Farm, Earlston, Berwickshire; two-year-old in-calf heifer Weeton Princess Chartreuse from Donald Rankin, Kilmaluag House, Duntulm, Isle of Skye, and housed with the Retties; six-year-old cow Haughton Justine Erica from Temple Farm (Chedzoy) Ltd, Bridgewater, Somerset; and three-year-old bull Carlhurlie Epic from James Porter at Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Antrim.
