KEITH Young Farmer, Darren Davidson picked up the champion and reserve tickets at the Young Farmers’ overwintering competition at United Auctions, Huntly, last week, where a total of 1095 store cattle were on offer (see special sales for report).
The show of 14 Young Farmers’ calves, judged by Mark Robertson of Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul, saw Darren, Netherton Farms, Keith, stand champion with a Limousin cross bullock which was originally bred by the Grants of Loanhead, Drumblade.
Weighing 530kg, he was knocked down to Bill Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Keith, for £1260.
Taking reserve for Darren was another weighing 530kg, this time a Limousin cross heifer bred by Gaich Farms, Grantown-on-Spey, which later sold for £1240. She was also knocked to Mr Cameron.
Mr Cameron then paid £1200 for the unhaltered champion from Strathbogie JAC’s John Connon of Broadmyre, Clatt. That was a Clinterty-bred Limousin cross heifer scaling 520kg.
Both Darren and John had more to celebrate when Darren’s calf boasted the highest daily weight gain at 1.18kg per day, while John was awarded the highest daily gross margin at £2.58 per day with his Loanhead-bred heifer.