AFTER a good grazing season, a good show of cattle sold to a strong ringside of buyers at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' anniversary show and sale at Quoybrae, on Monday.

Judge Andrew Ingram, of East Comalegy, Drumblade, awarded the championship to a Limousin cross heifer weighing 494kg from Beth Douglas, House Park, Bower, which later sold to Mr Ingram for £1720. But it was the reserve champion, a 533kg Limousin cross heifer from AW Campbell, Bullenie, Harpsdale, that topped the trade at £2000.

Outwith the show, the sale peaked at 248p per kg for a pen of eight Charolais cross bullocks weighing 369kg from Tongside, Scotscalder, with the 490 bullocks, which averaged 217.9p, also selling to £1495 for a 664kg Limousin from Brae Edge, Castletown.

Heifers (479) averaged 209.7p having hit tops of 239.1p for a trio of 368kg Simmental crosses from Borgie Mains, Castletown, and £1330 for a pair of 607kg Limousin Crosses from Thura Mains, Bower.

Ian Gunn, a notable consigner from Murza Farm, Bower, Wick, said: “Cattle have summered well in Caithness and the trade today was ahead of expectations. We appreciate the challenges of the fodder situation that the finishers are facing, and it was pleasing to see a good ringside of buyers from Aberdeenshire and further south supporting our sale.”

LEADING prices:

Bullocks – Up to 300kg – Skelpick, Bettyhill £630, 215p. 301-350kg – Nottingham Mains, Latheron £730, 222.6p. 351-400kg – Murza, Bower £950, 237.5p. 401-450kg – Tongside, Scotscalder £1075; Lynton Cottage, Ulbster 242.1p. 451-500kg – Stemster, Wick £1135; Murza, Bower 236.9p. 501-550kg – Lynegar, Watten £1260; 234.6p. 551-600kg – 5 West Murkle, Thurso £1325, 233.2p. 601-650kg – East Murkle, Thurso £1355, 217.8p. 651-700kg – East Murkle £1430; Brae Edge 225.2p.

Heifers – Up to 300kg – Hawkhill, Keiss £575, 209.9p. 301-350kg – Latheron Mains, Charelston, Barrock £685; Latheron Mains 205.7p. 351-400kg – Borgie Mains, Castletown £890, 239.1p. 401-450kg – Thuster Mains, Bilbster £990; Granton Mains, Bower 236.9p. 451-500kg – 5 West Murkle £1135; Murza 230.3p. 501-550kg – 5 West Murkle £1200, 232.6p. 551-600kg – Thura Mains, Bower £1260, 219.5p. 601-650kg – Alterwall, Lyth £1245; Thura Mains 219.1p.