The pre-sale champion, a Limousin heifer with bull calf at foot from West Knock, Mintlaw, went on to secure the top price of £4900 at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ show and sale of heifers with calves at Thainstone, where 181 outfits averaged £3129 down £8 on the year.

Judge, Colin Stuart, Belnoe, purchased his reserve champion, a Limousin heifer and heifer calf from A Prentice, The Bungalow, New Noth, at £3150.

Outwith the prize winners a top of £4000 was paid for a Limousin cross heifer with heifer calf from Craig and Teen Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden.

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Cows and calves peaked at £4000 for British Blue cross with a Limousin cross calf from WJ Morrison and Sons, Fairburn, Longmanhill.

Bulling heifers reached £2280 for a pair of Simmental heifers from AD Sutherland and Sons, Connachie, Kellas and breeding bulls sold to £6500 for a Charolais from Fairburn, Longmanhill, with the same breed topping the pedigree section at 6000gns from Ernan, Strathdon.

Leading Prices

Heifers with bull calf – Sim X – Auchtygall £3850, £3750, £3700, £3650; Ardhuncart £3750, £3700, £3650; South Blachrie £3600, £3500, £3450; The Bungalow, New Noth £3550, £3450; Lost Farm £3500, £3350; Cranna £3500, £3350; West Cruichie £3250, £3050. Sim – Auchtygall £3550; South Blachrie £3450. BS – The Bungalow £3450; Fairburn £3450, £3250. Lim X – Cranna £3200; Pitcairn £3100; Ledmacoy £3050, £2850; Fairburn £3050, £2800; Cranna £3000, £2900, £2850. Sal – Cranna £3150, £2950. BB X – Ledmacoy £2950. A-A X – Eastfield of Monaltrie £2750, £2650, £2550.

Heifers with heifer calf – Sim X – Auchtygall £3950, £3900, £3700, £3400; Lost Farm £3750, £3400, £3350; Ardhuncart £3700, £3650, £3600, £3500; South Blachrie £3650, £3500, £3450; The Bungalow £3500, £3150; Cranna £3450, £3400, £3250; West Cruichie £3200; Pitcairn £3150. BS X – Lost Farm £3750; Auchtygall £3500; The Bungalow £3450. Lim X – Fairburn £3500; Cranna £3300, £3200, £3150; Auchtygall £3100; Lost Farm £2950; The Bungalow £2800. Lim – West Knock £3500, £3450; Sal X – Lost Farm £3300, £2800; Cranna £2900. BB X – Lost Farm £3100; Fairburn £2750. Hfd X – Cranna £2900. A-A X – Eastfield of Monaltrie £2750.

Cows with bull calf – Sim X – Auchanland £3350, £3200, £3150; Fairburn £3050, £2500. Sim – Auchanland £3200. Sal X –Auchanland £3150, £2500, £2350. Lim X – Auchanland £3050, £2750; Fairburn £2700, £2550, £2500. BS – Auchanland £2700. BB X – Fairburn £2650. A-A X – Auchanland £2200.

Cow with heifer calf – BB X – Auchanland £3400, £3050. Lim X – Fairburn £3350, £3150, £3100, £2850; Auchanaland £2800, £2750, £2700. Sim X – Auchanaland £3200, £3100, £3000, £2900; Fairburn £3000. Sal – Auchanland £2500, £2400.

Bulling heifers – Sim X – Connachie £2280, £2220, £2200, £2180, £2150; Berryleys £2250, £2000; Brodieshill £2220, £2200, £2050; Essil £2050, £1900; Culquhassen £1880, £1520.

Pedigree bulls – Sim – Drumsleed 5200gns. Char – Kinclune 5000gns. Lim – Doonby 4500gns. Lim – West Knock £4000.