BOWER Young Farmer, James Gunn, secured his third consecutive championship at Caithness Young Farmers’ overwintering competition held at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Quoybrae centre this week, where a total of 12 calves cashed in to average 236.6p per kg (+6p on the year) or £1296.66 (+£75.56). 
His bullock, a 14-month-old Limousin cross scaling in at 599kg, was bred by Craig Malone, Pitcairn, Fife, and bought from J and M MacDonald, Tormore, Dunbeath, in October, for £1200. He sold for the top price of £1720 to Caithness Livestock Breeders, Thurso. 
James also picked up the reserve ticket with a Limousin cross bullock bred by D Dunnet, Linkmoor, Lower Warse, Canisbay. Weighing 460kg, he was bought for £1050 in October and sold to the judge, Alex Reid, Mill of Haulkerton, Laurencekirk. 
The open show and sale of store cattle was won by a 599kg Limousin cross bullock from DA Budge, Brae Edge, which later made £1480 again to the judge, Mr Reid, Mill of Haulkerton.
The reserve, a Limousin cross bullock weighing 488kg from D Kennedy, Whitegate, Tresdale, made £1080 to Bill Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Grange, Keith. 
Outwith the show, 465 bullocks averaged 240.5p and peaked at 291.4p for a 350kg Charolais cross from ID Stewart, Reisgill, Lybster, and £1520 for a 731kg Charolais cross from DA Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown. 
A pen of six Simmental heifers weighing 284kg from DJ and M Allan, Durran Mains, Castletown, led the 420 heifers at 271.1p, with a 559kg Charolais cross heifer from A MacKay, Buldoo, Dounreay, at £1410. Heifers levelled at 226.8p. 

LEADING awards:

Young Farmers’ calves
Bullock – Light – 1, John Gunn, North Killimster, 472kg, £1030; 2, James Gunn, Whitefield, 564kg, £1280; 3, Laura Gunn, Balmore, 545kg, £1190. Intermediate – 1 and reserve, James Gunn, 460kg, £1380; 2, Michael Gunn, Balmore, 598kg, £1340. Heavy – 1 and champion, James Gunn, 666kg, £1720; 2, Michael Gunn, 661kg, £1470.
Heifer – Light – 1, Beth Douglas, House Park, 424kg, £1100; 2, Colin Mackay, Hillhead, 480kg £1210. Heavy – 1, Michael Gunn, 590kg £1300; 2, Michael Gunn, 633kg, £1340.
Home-bred – 1, Colin Mackay, 484kg, £1300. 
 Gross margin – Bullocks – 1, James Gunn, £520; 2, Michael Gunn £510; 3, James Gunn £430. Heifers – 1, Beth Douglas £330; 2, Colin Mackay £310; 3, Michael Gunn £275. 
Daily liveweight gain – Bullocks – 1 and best dlwg, James Gunn 1.497kg; 2, James Gunn 1.246kg; 3, Michael Gunn 1.233kg. Heifers – 1, Colin Mackay 1.154kg; 2, Beth Douglas 0.975kg; 3, Michael Gunn 0.819kg . 

Open calves
Single – Bullock – 1 and champion, DA Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown, 599kg, £1480; 2 and reserve, D Kennedy, Whitegate, Tresdale, 418kg, £1080; 3, D Henderson and Sons, Dunn Farm, 565kg, £1290.
Heifer – 1, M Mackay, Buldoo, 559kg £1410; 2, S Ganson, Lhaid Croft, 605kg £1400; 3, D Dunnet, Linkmoor, 517kg, £1180. 
Pair – Bullocks – 1, Dunn Farm, 527kg, £1260; 2, P Ronaldson, Killimster Farmhouse, 513kg, £1175. Heifers – 1 and 2, MacIvor, Newlands of Geise, 467kg, £1170, and 460kg, £1120. 

LEADING prices:

Bullocks – Up to 250kg – Balbeg £635. 251-300kg – Banniskirk Mains £755; Mid Calder, Hilliclay Mains £720; Ha, Bowermadden £690; 2 Hallum £660. 301-350kg – Reisgill £1020; Durran Mains £960; Linkmoor £890; Gillock Mains £850. 351-400kg – Newlands of Geise £1095; Forsie £1060; Quoynee £1040; Glengolly (Mackintosh) £1035. 401-450kg – Gerston, South Keiss Farm £1160; Forsie £1125; Hillhead, Lybster £1115. 451-500kg – Banniskirk Mains, Aimster £1210; Gerston £1170; Seaview John O Groats £1160. 501-550kg – Dunn Farm £1260; Aimster £1230; Killimster Farmhouse £1175; Upper Milton Farm £1115. 551-600kg – Aimster £1350; Dunn Farm £1345; Gerston £1295. 601-650kg – Aimster £1440. 651-700kg – Midtown £1410; Gerston £1330. 701-750kg – Aimster £1410. 
Heifers – Up to 250kg – Balbeg £590. 251-300kg – Durran Mains £770; Forsie £750; Quintfall £690; Killimster Farmhouse £670. 301-350kg – Latheron Mains £875; 31 Larel, Gillock Mains £820; Achalone, Durran Mains £800. 351-400kg – Linkmoor £1050; Quoynee £1040; Forsie £960; Achalone £950. 401-450kg – Seaview £1080; Newlands of Geise, Quoynee £1060. 451-500kg – Gerston, Halkirk £1180; Glengolly (Mackintosh), Newlands of Geise £1170; Dunn Farm £1130. 501-550kg – Buldoo £1250; Aimster £1220; Linkmoor £1180. 551-600kg – Aimster £1340; Buldoo £1300; Gerston £1270. 601-650kg – Lhaid Croft £1400; Buldoo £1330; Aimster £1310, Thuster £1260.