By Malcolm Scott, manager of Orkney Auction Mart, and a member of IAAS

Here in Orkney the shipping links between the island and the mainland via Northlink to Aberdeen are vital to our business and day-to-day operations. This was brought into stark reality just a few weeks ago when we had the biggest ever number of store cattle sold through the door on a spring day, when in excess of 1250 cattle went under the hammer at the end of April.

With 559 cattle leaving on the Monday night freight ship following the sale, and a further 288 leaving on Tuesday night we were delighted the Scottish Government agreed to Northlink’s request for an extra sailing to help clear the decks!

Approximately 400 cattle were purchased by local buyers to put out to grass for the summer. At the time the grass was coming on well as were the early crops, however with colder weather and lack of rain recently, growth rate has slowed. Warmer weather looks to be on the way but we could really do with some rain – for a short spell at least!.

Over the past few years, store cattle numbers sold during the spring have been increasing, which is down to the trade for these yearling cattle. With many selling for £1000 per head, farmers are keen to cash in rather than carry stock through until the September sales.

In the early part of April we held our annual Young Farmers Overwintering competition, after 30 cattle wer purchased through the ring during September and October 2018. The Young Farmers certainly did themselves proud with many pointing out it was as good a show of cattle as any seen at mainland fat stock shows.

Overall champion, selected by the judge, Harry Brown junior of Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, was a Limousin heifer from Scott Drever bred by WSL Muir, Upper Onston Stenness. It went on to sell for £3200 to Harry Emslie Kinnochie Farm at Mintlaw.

It’s been a positive month for us and we take great pride in seeing our customers benefit from buying and selling through the ring. We wholeheartedly support the IAAS campaign Use your Mart and we can’t endorse the benefits of trading through the ring highly enough.