Kayley Kennedy

Report and pictures by Kayley Kennedy

Sean Mitchell's remarkable achievement at the county show continues to be a topic of conversation, as he secured the prestigious Champion of Champions accolade for the second consecutive year at Cumberland Show

IN some of the hottest conditions of the year, Scottish exhibitors made their mark at the Royal Welsh Show this week by winning a number of breed championships.

THERE was an international flair in the air of the MacRobert Pavillion as shearing and woolhandling entries were boosted by competitors using the Royal Highland Show as a warm-up for the World Championships in France next month.

THE Scottish red meat industry had an opportunity to express their opinions and concerns relating to the UK Government’s Agriculture Bill last week, during a House of Commons Public Bill Committee meeting scrutinising the draft legislation.

Lanark LAWRIE and Symington sold 723 store and breeding cattle, last week, where Limousin cross bullocks topped the trade at £1240 from Allfornought and 228p per kg from Powflatts.  With bullocks averaging 201.7p, heifers levelled at 192.3p and reached £1195 for a British Blue from South Flakefield and to 212p for a Limousin from Bickerto Hall.  Dairy-bred cattle topped at £895 from South Gilmerton to average 141p. A cow with calf from South Stane led the breeding cattle at £1550.  A few days later the company sold 2739 sheep, including 1803 store lambs which sold to £73 for Texels from Kirkton of Crawford, with the 1180 Blackface lambs to £63 from Kirkland Farming, Kirkconnel.  Cast sheep (939) saw ewes peak at £129 for Beltex from Westfield which also led the ram trade at £86 while hill ewes sold to £60 from Calla and rams. 

AN in-calf heifer set a new centre record of £7000 at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Thainstone centre, on Tuesday, when the British Blue cross from Harry and Lynwen Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, sold at that price.

LANCASHIRE Holstein breeder, Claire Swale, is set to make history later this month when she becomes the first person from the UK to judge at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair (RWAF) in Toronto.

WITH a lack of spending money in the industry and uncertainty over the future of farming come next year, breeders of Swaledale rams took a hit on the year at the Swaledale Sheep Breeders' Association B district's two-day sale at Hawes when fewer rams sold to significantly reduced averages compared to the same sale last year.

A CHAROLAIS bullock from the consignment of 81 calves from Ardtalla Estate led the sale of 187 cattle at Caledonian Marts' Islay centre when it sold to Andrew Dunn, Redhall, for £1020.