A 15-year-old from Sutherland swept the board at the young farmers’ overwintered cattle contest at Dingwall Mart.
Duncan Munro, of Invercharron, Ardgay, lifted both the champion and reserve honours in the open section, and saw his home-bred champion go on to stand reserve overall.
Tapped out as supreme champion by judges William Moir and Rebecca Stuart from Aberdeenshire was Duncan’s 12-month-old British Blue cross bullock bred by D Fraser, Shewglie Farm, Glenurquhart. Weighing 555kg. He was bought in October for £920 and sold for the top price of £1,220 to Backmuir Livestock, Keith.
The reserve overall and home-bred champion was Duncan’s 425kg, 11-month-old Limousin cross bullock by Lodge Hamlet, which sold for £1,020 to P Warrender, Waterside Place, Peterhead.
His reserve haltered champion, a July 2019-born Limousin cross heifer bred by Messrs Renwick, Keppoch, was unsold.
Nairn JAC member Georgia Fraser from Little Croy, Croy, Inverness, stood reserve in the home-bred section with a 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer, which was also unsold. Ms Fraser was also crowned best stockperson on the day.
The highest daily liveweight gain and highest gross margin awards went to best novice exhibitor Robert Pottie, Easter Dalziel, Ardersier, with his 580kg Shorthorn cross bullock. It gained 1.46kg per day and sold for £1,140 to Backmuir Livestock.
Rory MacIntosh, Ardbrae House, Daviot, received £1,060 for his third-prize unhaltered bullock weighing 525kg bought by Donald Budge, Brae Edge, Thurso.
Heifers topped at £1,020 for a 515kg Limousin cross from Neil Duncan, The Ranch, Inshes, selling to Ronald Tough, Barnyards, Turriff. Also at £1,020 was Archie Bisset’s second-prize unhaltered bullock from Easter Springfield, selling to Neil Anderson, Elgin.
In total 14 bullocks averaged 223.6p per kg and six heifers cashed in at 215.2p.