FRASER brothers, Grant and Ally from Easter Clune, Nairn, dominated the North Region Young Farmers’ overwintering show at Thainstone, last Thursday, where Ally went one better than his big brother, scooping the overall ticket.
The event, which was celebrating its 25th year, attracted a smaller entry than previously, of 49 calves. It saw Ally’s champion, a 13-month-old, 484kg, Limousin cross heifer go on to sell for the top of £3400, at the next day’s sale.
Judge, Graham Easton, of The Ranch, Letham, said: “There has been a tremendous show of cattle here, with a strong entry of heifers. The champion is a great bodied heifer, with a nice top and has a great bit of presence.”
Bought at the Thainstone Spectacular, last September, for £1250 from Orkney’s Balfour Baillie, Sebay, Tankerness, this show stopper was bred by Craig Malone, of Pitcairn, Lochgelly, Fife. Having already taken a red ticket in the same ring for Ally at the Rising Stars competition, held at Thainstone’s Christmas Classic, she was knocked down to Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, on behalf of a southern buyer.
Elder brother Grant, competing for the 15th year, secured the bullock championship for a second consecutive year before standing reserve overall. That was with an 11-month-old Limousin cross which scaled 452kg.

The Scottish Farmer:

Grant Fraser’s reserve champion sold for £1280

Purchased in October from Gordon Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharacle, for £1150 and also standing first in its class for Grant at the Rising Stars, he sold to Jim Matthews, Whitelums, Gartly, Huntly, for £1280.
The Nairn JAC members had more to celebrate when Grant’s home-bred bullock, a 422kg Limousin cross bred by a son of Middledale Toronto, took the home-bred championship.
Two calves from Keith YFC members came under the hammer at £2400, securing the second top price.
First to sell was Grant Morrison’s home-bred heifer from Newtack, Crossroads, which stood second to the home-bred champion. Weighing in at 400kg, this Limousin cross is by Haltcliffe Donny and was snapped up by Jullian Duffton, Mains of Drumdollo, Drumblade, Huntly.
Matching that price was Darren Davidson’s 412kg, Limousin cross heifer which stood second in the light heifer section. Purchased by the Robertsons, of Fodderletter, Tomintoul, and again bred by Mr Cameron, she was bought last October, for £1050.
Another bred by Mr Cameron, Gary Morrison’s first placed intermediate heifer from Bush of Muldearie, Mulben, Keith, returned back to its old home for £1750. Born in April, 2016, she scaled in at 446kg.
Fellow Keith member, Jack Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, was also in the money when his 446kg, third prize intermediate heifer sold for £1700 to Miller Farms, Mid Lurg, Midmar, Inverurie.
Bred by the Greenlaws at Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly, and sired by a home-bred Limousin cross bull, she was purchased by Jack for £1400 at the Spectacular, where she was first in the unhaltered section.
First through the ring, Ellen Glennie’s 518kg, Limousin cross bullock, from Burnside, Alford, made £1400 to Backmuir, Keith, while Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen, got the same for a 628kg, Salers bullock from GA Reid, Mill of Haulkerton, Laurencekirk.
Celebrating the 25 years of the event, the new Calludrum Cup was introduced to emphasise the commercial aspect of livestock production. Due to a tie in the top points, the cup, cash prize and best overwintered animal title was jointly awarded to James MacIver, Wester Coltfield, Kinloss, Forres, and Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen, Fraserburgh.
With the majority of entries from Keith and District YFC acquiring points throughout the competition, they took the prize for the best overall club.

LEADING awards:

Unhaltered – Light bullock – 1, Scott Fraser, Carpenters Cottage, Lethen, Nairn (512kg, £1200); 2, Katrina Macarthur, Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn (466kg, £1140); 3, Lynne Macarthur, Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn (462kg, £1120). Light heifer – 1, Katrina Macarthur (442kg, £1140); 2, Lynne Macarthur (464kg, £1040); 3, Gary Morrison, Bush of Muldearie, Mulben, Keith (420kg, £1020). Heavy bullock – 1, Alexia Chalmers, Midhill of Seggat, Auchterless, Turriff (518kg, £1300); 2, Esko Johnston, Balnamoon, Grange, Keith (532kg, £1220); 3, Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen, Fraserburgh (530kg, £1160). Heavy heifer – 1, Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul (504kg, £1180); 2, Sally Glennie (510kg, £1180); 3, Lynne Macarthur (486kg, £1150).
Haltered – Light bullock – 1, Grant Fraser (452kg, £1280); 2, Mark Robertson (440kg, £1180); 3, Craig Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith (412kg, £1200). Light heifer – 1, Richard Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith (424kg, £1120); 2, Darren Davidson, 8 Quarryhill, Keith (412kg, £2400); 3, Shannon Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith (390kg, £1150). Intermediate bullock – 1, Jack Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Aultmore, Keith (496kg, £1200); 2, Steven Singer, Woodside of Ashalloch, Corse, Huntly (464kg, £1180); 3, Euan Frank, Rainnieshill, Newmachar, Aberdeen (504kg, £1300). Intermediate heifer – 1, Gary Morrison (446kg, £1750); 2, Gary Morrison (452kg, £1100); 3, Jack Hendry (446kg, £1700). Heavy bullock – 1, Ellen Glennie, Burnside, Keig, Alford (518kg, £1400); 2, James MacIver, Wester Coltfield, Kinloss, Forres (548kg, £1210); 3, Ellen Glennie (524kg, £1200). Heavy heifer – 1, Ally Fraser (484kg, £3400); 2, Richard Davidson (464kg, £1100); 3, James MacIver (464kg, £1180).
Home-bred – Bullock – 1, Esko Johnston (456kg, £1080). Heifer – 1, Grant Fraser (422kg, not sold); 2, Grant Morrison, Newtack, Crossroads, Keith (400kg, £2400); 3, Megan Fowlie, Guise, Tough, Alford (476kg, not sold).
Best presented and paraded – 1, Gary Morrison (446kg, £1750); 2, James MacIver (464kg, £1180); 3, Keely Mitchell, Carron Mains, Aberlour (428kg, £1020).
Best overwintered – Bullock – 1, Stuart Ross; 2, Mark Robertson, 3, Sally Glennie. Heifer – 1, James MacIver; 2, Gary Morrison; 3, Ally Fraser.
Daily liveweight gain – Bullock – 1, Stuart Ross; 2, Sally Glennie; 3, Euan Frank. Heifer – 1, Stuart Ross; 2, James MacIver; 3, Gary Morrison.
Gross margin – Bullock – 1, Stuart Ross; 2, Gemma Duguid, Mains of Cranna, Aberchirder, Huntly; 3, Mark Robertson. Heifer – 1, Ally Fraser; 2, Darren Davidson; 3, Gary Morrison.
Novice and junior award – Stuart Ross.

Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts