It was a Good Friday for Finn Christie from Newton of Balquhain, Inverurie, when he secured both the champion heifer and bullock at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Young Farmers overwintering cattle competition at Thainstone.
Judge, Derek Nelson, Mains of Lundie, Edzell, awarded the champion to an October 2022-born British Blue cross heifer, which went on to make the top price of £4000 when selling to Miller Farms, Midmar, Inverurie.
She was bought for £3100 at last year’s Thainstone Spectacular where she stood champion haltered heifer. Sired by Caithness Norsman she is bred from the Limousin cross cow, Eye Candy.
"The heifer stood out from the second she came into the ring for her sheer presence, size and shape.
"Standing in reserve was the bullock which just lacked a bit of presence compared to the heifer in the final championship," said Derek Nelson, who purchased his reserve for £2120.
This Limousin cross yearling bullock is bred by Raymond Martyn, Wester Bleaton Farm, Bridge of Cally, although Finn purchased him from William and David Moir, Cairness Farm, Fraserburgh.
Winning home-bred champion was Tanya from Harvey Stuart, Lettoch Farms, Braes of Glenlivet. This September 2022-born Charolais heifer went on to achieve £3100 selling to JB Wilkie and Sons, Braigiewell, Echt.
The second top price on the day of £3800 came from last year’s winner, Finlay Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond.
This April 2023-born Limousin cross came first in her class and was bred by Balfour Baillie, Sebay View, Tankerness. This was another purchase of Miller Farms.
The same buyer went to £3500 for a Limousin cross heifer from Amara Nairn, Upper Clashnoir, Ballindalloch. This yearling was purchased by RJ Macdonald, North Uist and stood fifth in its class.
Overall 63 heifers averaged 373.2p per kg or £1841.11 per head and 21 bullocks cashed in at 327.8p or £1769.52.
Leading Awards
Judge: D Nelson, Mains of Lundie, Edzell)
Haltered purchased heifer 388kg to 420kg – 1, Mel Buchan, Clinterty, New Aberdour with Dolly a 394kg Limousin cross, £1850; 2, Molly Poyser, The Meadows, Cummerton with a 420kg British Blue cross, £1460; 3, C Reid, Blair Cottages, Altyre with It Girl a 418kg Limousin cross, unsold.
Haltered purchased bullock 446kg to 506kg – 1, Jayne Mitchell, Ploverwards Farm, Keith with Pepsi a 452kg Limousin cross, £1710; 2, Natalie Milne, Meikle Rowater, Cornhill with Up Up + Awa a 506kg Limousin cross, £1750; 3, Faye Wilkie, Whitestone Farm, Westhill with Liquorice a 460kg Limousin cross, £1700.
Haltered purchased heifer 430kg to 450kg – 1, F Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond with a 430kg Limousin cross, £1600; 2, Hannah Lorimer, Howeford, Kingswells with a 436kg British Blue cross, unsold; 3, Kate Mitchell, Ploverwards Farm, Keith with a 430kg Limousin cross, £1600.
Haltered purchased bullock 518kg to 604kg – 1 and reserve overall champion, F Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple with a 570kg Limousin cross, £2120; 2, C Muir, Honeyneuk Farm, Maud with a 518kg Limousin cross, £1780; 3, Ellie Milne, Meikle Rowater, Cornhill with Starburst a 600kg Limousin cross, £2000.
Haltered purchased heifer 462kg to 472kg – 1, B Forbes, Little Kildrummie, Nairn with a 470kg British Blue cross, £3400; 2, Jennifer Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside with a 462kg Limousin cross, £1800; 3, Hannah Lorimer with 472kg Limousin cross, £2000.
Haltered purchased heifer 474kg to 500kg – 1, F Hunter with a 474kg Limousin cross, £3800; 2, F Forbes, Little Kildrummie, Nairn with a 474kg Limousin cross, £2000; 3, Molly Poyser with a 500kg Limousin cross, £1700.
Haltered purchased heifer 512kg to 540kg – 1, T Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside with a 516kg Limousin cross, £1780; 2, Anna Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Ardersier with a 512kg Limousin cross, £2050; 3, K Cruickshank, Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge with a 540kg Limousin, £1800.
Haltered purchased heifer 542kg to 642kg – 1 and overall champion, F Christie with a 642kg British Blue cross, £4000; 2, Molly Stuart, Lettoch Farm, Braes of Glenlivet with Nelly a 556kg Limousin cross, £2300; 3, O Young with a 566kg Limousin cross, £1950.
Home-bred bullock – 1, A Milne, Kennieshillock Farm, Lhanbryde with Stoltman a 558kg Charolais cross, £1710; 2, Kerry Smith, Broomhill Farm, Dunecht with a 542kg Charolais cross, £1740.
Home-bred heifer – 1 and homebred champion, H Stuart, Lettoch Farm, Braes of Glenlivet with Tanya a 666kg Charolais, £3100; 2, G Milne, Kennieshillock Farm, Lhanbryde with Grey Goose a 432kg Charolais cross, £1560; 3, K Cruikshank with a 508kg British Blue cross, £1660.
Unhaltered purchased bullock – 1, Kiera Smith with Jackpot a 682kg Limousin cross, £2210; 2, C Muir with a 596kg Limousin, £1880; 3, B Wilson, Drumachie, Auchnagatt with a 657kg Limousin cross, £1710.
Unhaltered purchased heifer 338kg to 428kg – 1, C Muir with a 428kg British Blue cross, £1500; 2, F Hunter with a 412kg Limousin cross, £1530; 3, C Reid with Fireball a 374kg Limousin cross, £1360.
Unhaltered purchased heifer 430kg to 484kg – 1, Alanah Gordon with a 474kg Limousin cross, £1620; 2, Ashleigh Auchnie, Blair Cottages, Altyre with Texas a 464kg Limousin cross, £1580; 3, T Hall- with a 476kg Limousin cross, £1500.
Unhaltered purchased heifer 498kg to 552kg – 1, Jennifer Hall with a 524kg Limousin cross, £2000; 2, C Gordon, Lost Farm, Strathdon with a 552kg Limousin cross, £1680; 3, Katelyn Keir with a 498kg Limousin cross, £1640.
Unhaltered purchased heifer 576kg to 642kg – 1, F Christie with a 610kg Limousin cross, £1920; 2, Faith Miskelly with a 612kg Charolais cross, £1820; 3, C Gordon with a 596kg Limousin cross, £1820; Lucy Gordon, Lost Farm, Strathdon with a 576kg Limousin cross, £1780.
Best presented and paraded animal – 1, Graeme Rhind, Newton of Struthers; 2, Thomas Hall, Bruce Brae; 3, Finlay Hunter, West Cairnhill.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here