Caithness Livestock Breeders (CLB), the Thurso-based agricultural co-op, has announced a profit of £100,458 for the year ending December 31, 2016 – up 11.2% on the year of £90,338.

Sales for the livestock-based business increased to £7.26m up from £6.6m last year.

As a result, a record trading bonus of more than £35,000 will be paid back to members, which represents an increase of more than 12%.

Throughput of cattle and sheep increased considerably during 2016 and combined with continued expansion in feed, fertiliser and agrochemicals, along with a large retail shop, led to a hugely successful year, according to a spokesperson for the co-op.