SHOWING the younger generation how it’s done, retired Angus farmer, 85-year-old David Black carried off both the lamb championship and reserve titles in the carcase competition held in conjunction with last week’s Royal Northern Spring Show.
Mr Black, who now lives at Minard, Cortachy Road, Northmuir, Kirriemuir, continues to keep his hand in by finishing 250 lambs over the winter and takes in 120 ewe lambs over the summer for gimmering.
Taking the top title was his winning pair of Texel crosses from the live section at last week’s show. Bred by Roddy Thomson, West Park, Aberfeldy, they weighed in at 23.1kg and 23.8kg and classified E3H.
His reserve pair of Beltex crosses, bred by Rory Hood, Middlehill, Glen Clova, weighed 21kg and 21.3kg and classifield E3L and E2.
“This is the fifth year I’ve exhibited at the spring show and I’ve won the reserve championship either live or dead for the past four years,” he said.
“I’m delighted to have won the double this year by taking both the live and carcase championships and the reserve on the hook.”
The carcase show was held at Scotbeef Inverurie’s meat plant and the judge, Katrina Farquhar, former Aberdeenshire councillor who previously worked at Sheridans Butchers, Ballater, and is now secretary to the Duke of Rothesay (Prince of Wales) at Birkhall, Crathie, was full of praise for the display of both lamb and beef carcases.
“It was a very good show and the lambs in particular were difficult to judge,” she said. “The winning lamb carcases were evenly matched and a perfect pair.”
The maximum weight of cattle eligible for the show was reduced to 650kg live this year in line with market requirements, but Ms Farquhar said there was still a few of the carcases too big for the modern trade and others too lean to ensure good eating quality.
“The champion was an excellent carcase, with a nice sirloin and top, and classified U4L, with some decent fat cover,” she said.
This was a 357.7kg Limousin cross heifer from Bill Cameron, Burnside, Edingight, Grange, Keith, which was bought at Huntly in April from breeder, Gordon Carroll, Edendiack, Gartly, Huntly.
Reserve was the live champion from the Spring Show, a 375 kg Limousin cross heifer, which classified U+3, from Harry Brown jnr, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud. Mr Brown also won the award for the highest combined score on the hoof and on the hook.
The champion steer came from Ross Bros, Wardhead, Strichen, and the reserve was from David and Val Buchan, Savoch, Longside.
The best killing out percentage – at a remarkable 66% – was achieved by a British Blue cross heifer which was forward from Sandy Douglas, Cromonmogate Mains, Lonmay.