New classes for Salers cattle and Zwartbles sheep have been added to the line-up for this year’s Echt Show.
The show, which takes place on Saturday, July 9, at the showground in Echt, has added new sections for the breeds due to a growing number of farmers in the area choosing to keep them. Show secretary Marion Miller said: “The show committee is responding to the changing face of the livestock industry. Gone are the days when the dairy animal section was well patronised, and now there are other breeds coming to the fore.
“There are a growing number of Salers breeders in this area and we will be pleased to welcome them to our new classes where, thanks to those who allowed us to represent a dairy trophy they had donated, and to a new donor, there are two trophies on offer.”
She said Zwartbles sheep were previously entered into the any other breed class but they now had their own section, with a breed trophy on offer, due to growing demand for the breed. Ms Miller added: “Again, owing to its popularity and the show’s desire to encourage youngsters, we have had to divide the young handlers classes in both the cattle and sheep sections into three age groups and we have also created a goat young handler class for which a generous sponsor has donated a trophy.”
At last year’s show the coveted champion of champion titles went to the sheep interbreed champion from Gordon Troup, of Shaggart, Sauchen.
Mr Troup took the title with a home-bred Suffolk gimmer by Baileys Rock Solid and out of a ewe by Cairness Liam.
The other two competitors vying for the top show title were the beef interbreed champion and winner of the overall horse championship. In the beef classes the top title went to Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with the 45,000gn bull Bel Dhu Capercaillie. Bred by Billy and Anne Macpherson, of Blackford, Croy, Inverness, this one is by Hockenhull Waterloo and out of Blackford Wagtail.
The supreme champion horse title went to the Clydesdale champion from George and Ruth Skinner, Strathdon, Pitcaple, Inverurie. Their six-year-old gelding Strathorn Mac was bred by Sandy Cormack in Caithness. The Skinners bought him as a two-year-old. He is by Rosehall Calypso and out of Ha Darren Lily.
The closing date for all entries for this year’s show is Friday, June 17, and schedules are now available by e-mailing secretary@echtshow.co.uk.
