TWO members from Strathearn JAC stood champion and reserve at the Perthshire, Fife and Kinross Young Farmers’ overwintering competition at United Auctions’ Stirling centre, on Monday. 
Champion was a September, 2016-born Limousin cross bullock from Michael Rattray, West Park, bred by Croy Cunningham, Gartness. Weighing in at 540kg, he sold for £1310 to the judge, George McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer. 
Taking the reserve honours was James Taylor from Easter Ochtermuthill, with a March, 2017-born Charolais heifer bred by the Cullens from Dollarbank. He made £1290 when bought by Jimmy Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill. 
James also received £1300 for a first prize bullock weighing 568kg and produced the best daily liveweight gain of 1.33kg per day for a 552kg, May-born Limousin cross bullock bred by Drew Kennedy, Tom O Cluny, which sold for £1290.
Top price per head, however, at £1360 was Sarah Rattray’s Limousin cross bullock which sold to IG Pirie and Co, Overton of Bruxie, Maud, Peterhead.


LEADING awards:

Bullock – 350 to 422kg – 1, James Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Strathearn JAC, 568kg, £1300; 2, Lewis McLaren, Classlochie, Kinross JAC, 536kg, £1250; 3, Sarah Rattray, West Park, Strathearn JAC, 580kg, £1360. 338-350kg – 1 and champion, Michael Rattray, West Park, Strathearn JAC, 540kg, £1310; 2, Michael Rattray, 516kg, £1210; 3, Scott Lambie, Braco Castle, Strathearn JAC, 498kg, £1100. 210-310kg – 1, Ewan Lambie, Loanhead of Duchally, Strathearn JAC, 438kg, £1090; 2, James Orr, Foodie, Bell Baxter ADS, 404kg, £930; 3, Hanna Cheape, Letham Farm, Kinross JAC, 420kg, £940. Haltered bullock – 1, James McKerrow, Nochnary, Bell Baxter ADS, 434kg, £980; 2, Emma Cheape, Letham Farm, Kinross JAC, 402kg, £880. 
Heifer – 350-396kg – 1, James Taylor, 552kg, £1290; 2, Jamie McLaren, 526kg, £1170; 3, Neil Messenger, Ayton, Perth JAC, 464kg, £930. 236-274kg – 1, Ruth Brown, Strageath Mains, Strathearn JAC, 372kg, £940; 2, Kirsty Kinloch, Wester Coldrain, Kinross JAC, 340kg, £820; 3, Ruth Brown, 418kg, £1030. Haltered heifer – 1, Craig Drysdale, Kinnesswood, Kinross JAC, 358kg, £890. 
Special prizes – Best return on capital – 1 and 2, Hanna Cheape, 84%; 2, Hanna Cheape, Letham, Kinross JAC, 66%; 3, James Orr, Foodie, 60%. Daily liveweight gain – 1, James Taylor, 1.33kg; 2, Emma Cheape, 1.29kg; 3, Scott Lambie, 1.25kg.