Young farmers from across the north and north-east gathered in Thainstone to show and sell an entry of nearly 50 overwintered cattle yesterday.
The pre-sale show, which took place on Thursday evening, was judged by Cumbrian farmer and show cattle enthusiast Martin Barker who praised the quality of all stock forward and said “they are a credit to the young farmers up here”.
Standing out to the judge from the moment it walked in the ring, and eventually taking the heifer champion and overall champion rosettes, was an October-2014 born Limousin cross heifer named Rosie from Aileen Ritchie, of Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, Aberdeen.
Ms Ritchie, who is a member of Belhelvie Young Farmers’ Club, bought the 534kg beast back in September from James Morrison of Newtack, Crossroads, Keith. She sold it on for £2,500 at yesterday’s sale to R Junor, Boghead of Orrock, Balmedie.
Standing reserve to the champion was the champion steer from Grant Fraser, of Easter Clune, Nairn.
This April-2015 born Limousin cross named Tattie Muncher was bought last October from Simon Stephen, of Meikle Geddes, Nairn, for £1,010.
He sold at yesterday’s sale for £1,340 to A & E Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon.
Meanwhile, the home-bred champion – an April-2015 born Limousin cross steer weighing 450kg from Craig Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Aultmore, Keith – sold for £1,800 to Ian Sinclair of Clyth Mains, Lybster, Caithness.
Mr Sinclair, who is a regular exhibitor of commercial cattle on the summer show circuit, also went on to pay the top price of £3,500 at yesterday’s sale.
Leading the trade and winning the title of best overwintered heifer and best gross margin for a heifer was a March-2105 born British Blue cross put forward by Jack Hendry, of Heads of Auchinderran, Aultmore, Keith.
The heifer named Pick N Mix was bought from D Kennedy of Whitegate, Tresdale, Canisbay, in October for £1,080. It then went on to win the champion title at the Rising Stars calf show in December, before selling on weighing 442kg yesterday.
Other leading prices included £1,650 for an April-2015 born Limousin cross heifer from Craig Hendry and £1,600 for an April-2015 born Limousin cross steer from the same home. They sold respectively to W Moir, Home Farm, Cairness, Lonmay, Fraserburgh, and D. Lumgair and Sons, Gask, Letham, Forfar.
