ALL classes sold at keen rates with Aberdeen-Angus crosses meeting an exceptionally strong demand at Dingwall and Highland Marts’ special show and sale of 669 Aberdeen-Angus, native-bred and continental store cattle at Dingwall. 

Judging the pre-sale shows was A Cruickshank, Southview, who picked out a 580kg bullock from 189 Fleucharry, Dornoch, as his Angus champion. It went on to top the sale when knocked down to GE Booth and Son, Savock, for £1400. A 525kg bullock from TJ and G MacLean, 1 Radderty, stood reserve and sold to Mr Cruickshank for £1200. 

In the Shorthorn section, two bullocks from Patrick and Abigail Harrison, Balliefurth, took the champion and reserve tickets. The champion scaled 725kg and sold for £1330 to lead the native section while the reserve weighed 730kg and sold for £1310. 

Topping the pence per kg trade at 290.3p was a 310kg Angus bullock from Gordonhall, Kingussie, and the 261 Angus bullocks levelled at 242p. Angus heifers (206) averaged 222.8p having peaked at 253.2p for a 308kg pen from North Calder, Halkirk, and £1280 for a 650kg heifer from Wester Fearn, Ardgay. 

Among the native cattle, 59 bullocks also reached 254.2p for a pen of 295kg Hereford cross bullocks from Gleve of Deisher, Boat of Gartern, and averaged 222.2p. Shorthorn crosses topped the native heifer section at 252.3p twice for pens from Ashcroft, Erbusaig, and Creag Salann, Erbusaig, as well as £1020 twice for a 455kg pair from Braelangwell, Balblair, and again for a 472kg pair from Greenvale, Dunnet. The 39 native heifers averaged 219.9p. 

Of the continental-bred cattle, it was a 235kg Limousin cross bullock from Ardross Castle, Ardross, that topped at 276.6p, with the 60 bullocks (which averaged 234p) also selling to £1140 twice for Simmental crosses – for a 530kg stot from Braelangwell and again for one weighing 525kg from Laggan of Clachaig, Nethybridge. Continental heifers (44) levelled at 238.8p and sold to 259.9p for a pen of 304kg Limmy crosses from The Dell of Killiehuntly, Kingussie, and £1060 for a pair of 492kg Charolais crosses from Blackpark, Nairn.

LEADING awards:

Aberdeen-Angus – Bullock – 1, 189 Fleucharry, 580kg, £1400; 2, 1 Raddery, 525kg, £1200. Heifer – 1, Auchmore Farm, Muir of Ord, 555kg, £1170; 2, 7 Scaristavore, Isle of Harris, 520kg, £1080. Pair – 1, New House (Broynach), Thurso, 445kg, £1100; 2, New House (Broynach), 440kg, £1100. Pen of four – 1, Ardjachie, Tain, 578kg, £1300; 2, Midfearn Farms, Ardgay, 615kg, £1280. 
Shorthorn – Bullock – 1 and 2, Balliefurth, 725kg, £1330, and 730kg, £1310. Pair – 1, Balliefurth, 685kg, £1310.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out April 15, for all the leading prices.