Calves from Argyllshire producer, Gordon Cameron, led the way at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' show and sale of weaned and suckled calves at Thainstone, producing both the champion and reserve winners that went on to sell for £5300 and £5000, respectively.

The champion, a five-month-old 286kg Limousin cross heifer, is by Glenrock Inferno and out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow from Mr Cameron from Newton Cottage, Acharacle. She was selected by the judge, Craig Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden, who found his reserve in the second prize heifer, a 230kg Limousin cross by the 19,000gns Maraiscote Lothario, again bred from a Limousin cross British Blue cow. Mr Cameron's consignment of 71 calves saw 18 sell at or above the £1000 mark.

The sale of 429 suckled calves saw 429 weaned bullocks cash in at 236.1p per kg, while 323 heifer calves levelled at 241.7p.

Outwith the show calves, store cattle entries saw 421 bullocks and 273 heifers average 195.8p and 192.4p respectively. Top price per kg amongst the bullock was 232.8p paid for Limousin crosses from Cairntack, Belhelvie, or £1275 for a 674kg Charolais cross from Mowatseat, Craigievar.

Limousins topped the heifers at 216.9p per kg from Gorn, Balfour, and £1185 from Ardarg, Ellon.

Weaned bullock calves peaked at 735.3p and £2000 for Limousins' from both Newton Cottage, Acharole, whilst heifer trade peaked at £2000 for a Limousin cross from Meikle Geddes, Nairn and Newton Cottage's Limousins sold to 806.5p and £2000.

LEADING awards

Bullock calf, born before March 15 – 1, G Cameron Newton Cottage Acharacle, £980; 2, RS Duncan Achdregnie Glenlivet, £970.

Bullock calf, born after March 16 – 1, G Cameron, £2000; 2, U Macdonald Lower Cairnglass Ardersier, £1250; 3, G and J Greenlaw Balgairn Farms Ballater, £1000.

Heifer calf, born before March 15 – 1, A and H Sim Rorandle Monymusk, £1300; 2, RJ Milne North Bethelnie Oldmeldrum,£1120; 3, RS Duncan, £900

Heifer calf, born after March 16 – 1 and 2, G Cameron, £5300, £5000; 3, RS Duncan, £1420.

Bullock calf pair – 1, G Cameron, £1010; 2, WJ and M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, £920; 3, WD Stephen and Co Meikle Geddes, Nairn, £850.

Heifer calf pair – 1, WD Stephen and Co, £1050; 2 and 3, G Cameron, £1600 and £1080.

Pen of four – 1, 2 and 3, G Cameron, £840, £820, £1080.

LEADING prices

Weaned calves – Bullocks – Up to 250kg – £920 Newton Cottage; £790 Balgairn; £630 Ceol-NaMara. 251-300kg – £1000 Dunmaglass, Meikle Geddes; £980 Newton Cottage; £920 Lower Cairnglass; £900 Barnyards of Badenyoucher; £840 Milton. 301-350kg – £1250 Lower Cairnglass; £1100 Balgairn; £990 Newton Cottage; £910 Dunmaglass; £890 Achdregnie. 351-400kg – £1025 Tillenturk; £1010 Newton Cottage, Towie; £980 Balgairn; £970 Achdregnie; £950 Dunmaglass. 401-450kg – £1090 Netherton; £1040 Hillocks; £1025 Tillenturk; £1020 Ordhill; £1010 Whiteinches, Westerton. 451-500kg – £1080 Netherton; £1020 Skyeview, Finzean Estate; £1010 Newton Lower, Cabrach; £970 North Bethelnie. 501-550kg – £1080 Newton Cottage; £1050 Finzean Estate; £1040 Burnheads. 601-650kg – £1145 Finzean Estate.

Weaned heifers – Up to 250kg – £980 Newton Cottage; £900 Fodderletter; £800 West Cairnhill; £690 Barnyards of Badenyoucher. 251-300kg – £1750 Dunmaglass; £1600 Newton Cottage; £1420 Achdregnie; £1200 Lower Cairnglass; £1050 Meikle Geddes. 301-350kg – £1250 Dunmaglass; £1150 Lower Cairnglass; £1120 North Bethelnie; £1080 Newton Cottage; £1020 Meikle Geddes. 351-400kg – £960North Bethelnie; £950 Newton Cottage; £930 Whitehouse; £900 Marchmar; £870 Mains of Tillymorgan; £860 Achdregnie. 401-450kg – £1300 Rorandle; £1220 Dunmaglass; £1200 Hillocks; £980 Tamala; £970 Netherton; £940 Newton Cottage. 451-500kg – £1440 Newton Cottage; £985 Hilocks; £950 Burnheads; £910 Whiteinches; £900 Auchorrie £900. 501-550kg – £1200 Newton Cottage. 551-600kg – £1170 Newton Cottage.

Store bullocks – Up to 300kg – £610 Cairntack. 251-350kg – £670 Slack; £645 Cairntack. 351-400kg – £800 Cairntack. 401-450kg – £1040 Downiehills; £980 Dubford; £950 Lyne of Linton; £880 Cairntack; £845 Hobshill. 451-500kg – £1040 Pittenkerrie; £1015 Abergeldie, Midtown of Haddo; £1000 Airy; £990 Tillybrig. 501-550kg – £1170 Mains of Drumwhindle; £1100 Midtown of Haddo; £1090 Tillybrig; £1085 Mill of Gellan, Downiehills; £1080 Pittenkerrie. 551-600kg – £1230 Tillybrig; £1205 Craig; £1200 Midtown of Haddo; £1170 Mill of Gellan, New Moan, Auchencrieve; £1160 Dubford. 601-650kg – £1215 New Moan; £1210 Midtown of Haddo; £1190 Mill of Newton; £1180 Mowatseat. 651-700kg – £1245 Auchencrieve; £1240 Russland; £1225 Mill of Gellan.

Heifers – Up to 300kg – £510 Cairntack. 301-350kg – £630 Cairntack. 351-400kg – £750 Cairntack. 401-450kg – £960 Quoylonga; £950 Pittenkerrie; £930 Braeside, Cairntack; £890 Airy; £885 Balladrum. 451-500kg – £1050 Gorn; £1040 Cairntack; £1020 Ardarg; £1005 Mowatseat; £1000 Balladrum. 501-550kg – £1160 Mill of Gellan; £1115 Gorn; £1110 Braeside; £1080 Craig; £1050 Ardarg. 551-600kg – £1140 Mowatseat; £1135 Nistagar; £1100 Lyne of Linton; £1030 Chapelhouses.