Entries were up – by 12 calves – at the annual Young Farmers overwintering competition staged at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, Thainstone, where 70 calves were entered, from 40 competitors with 13 showing for the first time.
The 38 heifers averaged £3.81/kg (up 50p on the year) or £1810 per head, whilst 31 steers cashed in at £1715 or £3.36/kg (up 63p).
Leading the proceedings at £3400 was a 448kg Charolais cross heifer from Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul. This later was knocked down to C Cormack, Oxnam Neuk, Jedburgh, via a telephone bid.
This was closely followed at £3100 for a 570kg British Blue cross heifer from Faith Miskelly, Corrybrae, Kildrummy, when the hammer fell to J and J Young, East Sinnahard, Glenkiddie, Alford.
Jack Stuart, Belnoe Chapletown, Glenlivet, sold his 596kg Limousin cross heifer for £3000, to Aidan Carroll, Edendiack, Huntly.
Next best price at £2550 was a 446kg Limousin cross heifer from Hannah Lorimer, Cadgerford, Kingswells, Aberdeen. She was knocked down to J and B Muir, Honeyneuk, Maud, Peterhead.
The pre-sale judge, Tommy Taylor, Heatheryhall, Thankerton, Biggar, found his champion in a 522kg Charolais cross heifer from Finlay Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond. The judge backed his decision and bought his champion for £2500.
Selling for £2400 was the best from Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple, Inverurie, in the form of a 460kg Limousin cross heifer, which was purchased by Aidan Carroll, Edendiack, Huntly.
The same buyer also purchased the home-bred champion, a 486kg Limousin cross heifer from Charlotte Cooper, Govals, Kincaldrum, Forfar, for £2200.
The champion bullock also took the top price among the bullocks at £2250 for a 568kg British Blue cross from Jayne Mitchell, Ploverward, Grange, Keith. This boy again sold to the judge, Tommy Taylor, Heatheryhall.
A Salers cross bullock weighing 728kg from Jenna Ross, Wardhead, Strichen, sold to GA Reid, Mains of Newton for £2120.
The Calladrum Cup – for the most points in the competition collected; for highest feed margin, highest average daily liveweight gain, best presented and paraded animal and best quality animal – was presented to Finlay Hunter, West Carinhill, Culsalmond, Huntly from Garioch Young Farmers Club.
LEADING awards
Unhaltered light weight heifers – 1, Thomas Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside Peterhead; 2, Craig Reid, Blair cottages, Alytre Forres; 3, Ellie Newlands, Cluny Rafford, Forres
Unhaltered light weight bullocks – 1, Robbie Anderson, Brenan, Laurencekirk; 2, Ashleigh Auchnie, Blair cottages, Alytre Forres; 3, Ashleigh Auchnie, Blair Cottages, Altyre, Forres.
Unhaltered medium weight heifers – 1, Katelyn Keir Loanhead Alford; 2, Cameron Muir, Honeyneuk, Maud, Peterhead; 3, Robert Anderson, Brucewells, Stonehaven.
Unhaltered medium weight bullocks – 1, Cameron Muir, Honeyneuk, Maud Peterhead; 2, Harry Ross, Coldhome Dallas, Forres; 3 Molly Stuart, Belnoe Chapeltown, Glenlivet.
Unhaltered heavy weight heifers – 1, Jennifer Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside, Peterhead; 2, Lucy Gordon, Candacraig Home, Strathdon; 3, James Strachan, New Mains, Glenkindie.
Unhaltered heavy weight bullocks – 1, Selina Gordon, Clochnahill, Stonehaven; 2, Amara Nairn, Clashnoir ,Auchnarrow, Ballindalloch; 3, Selina Gordon, Clochnahill, Stonehaven.
Home-bred heifers – 1, Charlotte Cooper, Govals, Kincaldrum, Forfar; 2, Finlay Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, Huntly; 3, Bradley Roberston, Roebank, Grange.
Home-bred bullocks – 1, Harvey Stuart, Belnoe Chapeltown, Ballindalloch; 2, Jack Stuart, Belnoe Chapeltown, Glenlivet.
Purchased light weight heifers – 1, Mark Roberston, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul; 2, Thomas Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside, Peterhead; 3, Jennifer Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside, Peterhead.
Purchased light weight bullocks – 1, Cameron Muir, Honeyneuk, Maud Peterhead; 2, Molly Stuart Belnoe, Chapletown, Glenlivet; 3, Charlotte Cooper, Govals, Kincaldrum Forfar.
Purchased medium weight heifer – 1, Finlay Hunter, West Cairnhill Culsalmond, Huntly; 2 Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple Inverurie; 3, Robert Anderson, Brucewells, Netherley Stonehaven.
Purchased medium weight bullocks – 1, Jayne Mitchell, Ploverwards, Grange Keith; 2, Mark Roberston, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul; 3, Harry Ross, Coldhome, Dallas Forres.
Purchased heavy weight heifers – 1, Cameron Muir, Honeyneuk, Maud Peterhead; 2, Finlay Hunter, West Carinhill, Culsalmond, Huntly; 3, Faith Miskelly, Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford.
Best presented and paraded – 1, Jennifer Hall, Bruce Brae, Longside Peterhead; 2, Wilson Stott, Larach East Fiddie, Skene; 3, Hannah Lormimer, Cadgerford Kingswells.
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