CAITHNESS Young Farmers’ overwintering competition held at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Quoybrae centre this week, saw a total of 12 calves forward where James Gunn from Whitefield, Riess, picked up the champion ticket for the second consecutive year.

His bullock, a British Blue cross scaling in at 554kg, later sold for £1280 to the judge, Bill Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Keith. 

Reserve to James was a Limousin cross bullock weighing 570kg from Laura Gunn, of Balmore, Dounreay. It sold for £1300 to Backmuir Livestock, Keith. 

The 12 Young Famers’ calves averaged 230.6p per kg or £1221.10. 

The main show and sale of store cattle was won by a 608kg Limousin heifer from House Park, Bower, which later sold for £1350 to the judge, Mr Cameron, while the reserve, a 545kg Charolais heifer from Clachan, made £1340 to Hugh Gordon, Clochnahill. 

Outwith the show, 607 bullocks levelled at 239.7p (+23p on the year), and sold to 321.4p for a 280kg Charolais cross from Forsie, Bridge of Westdield, and £1480 for a 713kg Limousin from Brae Ege, Castleton. 

A pen of five Charolais crosses weighing 305kg from Greenvale, Dunnet, led the 395 heifers at 282p, with a 608kg Limousin cross from Clachan, Mid Clyth, at £1340. Heifers averaged 231.9p (+25.1p). 

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out April 8, for all the leading prices.