The Royal Northern Spring Show welcomed 6,000 visitors to a sunny Thainstone Centre, near Inverurie, yesterday.
Organisers, the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, hailed a successful event after heavy snow hit visitor numbers last year.
RNAS president Rodney Blackhall said: “I think folk were very optimistic despite what is going on with politics.”
A key fixture was the show and sale of exhibition cattle, judged by pedigree and commercial breeder Melanie Alford of Foxhill Farm, Devon. She awarded her overall champion prize to the leader from the heifer section – April 2018-born Limousin cross British Blue heifer I’ll Be There from Michael Robertson and family, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul.
Bought at Stirling as a calf at foot from Messrs Raeburn, Basket Farm, Blantyre, she sold weighing 420kg for £4,600 to Rebecca Stuart, Murrial, Insch.
Next best at £4,300, selling to the judge, was the reserve overall and reserve heifer champion from John and Craig Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry. This was an October 2017-born 484kg Limousin cross, by Naby, bought as a store at Stirling, from Willie Stevenson, Coilavulin.
Other prices included £2,300 for a May 2018-born Limousin cross heifer, by Fendt, from Anside Pedigree Livestock Ltd, Braehead Farm, Drummuir, Keith. Weighing 374kg, she sold to Paton & Co, Knachly, Dykehead, Kirriemuir.
Two lots made £2,000. The first, selling to I Grant, Slattadale, Loch Maree, was a November 2017-born Blue cross heifer from J Munro & Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay. The other, selling to L Hopwood, Duckingfield, Manchester, was a July 2017-born Blue cross heifer from the Robertsons at Newton of Logierait.
A clearance of 81% was achieved and 25 heifers averaged £1,703.60 and nine bullocks averaged £1,221.11.
Meanwhile, Beltex crosses from the Thomson brothers – Sandy, Roddy and Hugh, of West Park, Aberfeldy – scooped the tri-colour rosette in the prime hogg section.
Weighing in at 50kg each, this duo are by a Tiree Beltex tup, out of home-bred three-quarter Texel cross ewes. Reserve in the prime hoggs was a pair of Beltex crosses scaling 45.5kg apiece from regular exhibitors, Bryan and Andrew Wylie, Balbrydie, Kirriemuir.
Husband and wife duo, Alan and Sarah-Jane Forbes from Dalrachie, Ballindalloch, won the supreme honours in the breeding sheep with a pen of three home-bred Cheviot Mule hoggs. They are by an Armadale tup, bred out of Auchentoul ewes and were on their first outing.
In reserve was a pen of three Scotch Mule hoggs from Harry Sleigh, St Johns Wells, Fyvie, Turriff.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Charolais – R Leggat, Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, with Bonnykelly Nominator, by Gretnahouse Ivory. Reserve – AJR Farms, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, with Logiestate Neil, by Goldies Golddust.
Limousin – A G Howie, West Knock, Stuartfield, Peterhead, with Knock Nelson, by Goldies Goldfinger. Reserve – A G Howie with Knock Nickleback, by Goldies Goldfinger.
Simmental – W S Stronach, Berryleys, Grange, with Islavale Ivan, by Islavale Frontier. Reserve – Messrs A D Sutherland & Sons, Connachie, Kellas, Elgin, with Glenlossie Iceman, by Omorga Denman.
Aberdeen-Angus – A M Shepherd, Orbliston, Fochabers, with Orbliston Jacobite, by Ballindalloch Master Peter. Reserve – A M Shepherd with Orbliston Prince Cooley, by the same sire.
Salers – Rigel Pedigree, Leven Fields, Middleton on Leven, Yarm, with Rigel Mungo, by Rigel Mycroft. Reserve – David Watson, Darnford, Durris, Banchory, with Darnford Marcus, by Fangio.
Any other breed – Sarah Balfour, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul, with British Blue bull Fodderletter Mister Tom, by Midlock Jackpot. Reserve -Stuart G Mair & Sons, Kinnermit, Turriff, with Shorthorn bull Muiresk Lebron, by Tofts Prince Grenadier.
Overall champion bull – R Leggat with Charolais bull Bonnykelly Nominator.
Carcase (hoof) – Duffton, Stuart and Smith with a continental heifer. Reserve – Alexander G Douglas, Crimonmogate Mains, with a continental bullock.
Exhibition cattle
Heifer and overall – W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch, with April-2018 born Limousin cross I’ll Be There, by Mereside Lorenzo. Reserve and overall reserve -J Robertson & Son, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, with an October-2017 born Limousin cross, by Naby.
Bullock – J Munro & Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay, with an April-2018 British Blue cross. Reserve – J Robertson & Son with a March-2018 born British Blue cross, by Strathbogie Kansas.
CEREALS
Barley – William Dick & Sons, Mains of Throsk, Sassy. Reserve -E M Kerr & Son, Barrelwell Farm, Sassy.
Malting barley – Strachan, Newmains, Concerto. Reserve – Melrose Farms, East Melrose, Chronicle.
Milling oats – Ronald Angus, Barrogill Mains, Aspen. Reserve – George Campbell (Farmers) Ltd, Thurdisoft Farm, Canyon.
Wheat – Alan Grant, Skillymarno, Instabraq. Reserve – AM & AJ Jacobsen, Grange of Kinneff, Barrel.
Overall – William Dick & Sons, Mains of Throsk, Sassy. Reserve -EM Kerr & Son, Barrelwell Farm, Sassy.
SILAGE AND HAY
Silage – Champion and reserve – Roddy Catto,
Hillhead of Muirton, Whitecairns.
Hay – John Sim, Rorandle Farm. Reserve -William Stewart, Bomakelloch.
ROOTS
Potatoes – D L Simpson, Millmoss Nurseries, Maxine. Reserve – D L Simpson, Mallan.
Turnips– J & E Forrester, Aldie Farm, Kenmore. Reserve -H P Sleigh & Son, St Johns Wells, Magres.
