Sizzling trade at Thainstone mart Spectacular calves sale

Such was the demand for heifers that they averaged 8.84p per kg, or £3930, while bullocks cashed in at 6.04p per kg or £2579.17 per head.

Auctioneer Scott Chapman said: “This year’s sale saw an electric trade throughout for an exceptional show of cattle forward, with producers being rewarded for their efforts.”

Backing up these statements, judge Stephen Taylor, Bannockburn, Stirling, said: “It was an honour to be asked to judge here today – the standard of animals has been good. There are a lot of good animals with good legs and lots of potential for the future.”

Spectacular overall champion Craig and John Robertson Newton of Logierait (image: Rob Haining) (Image: Rob Haining)

Leading the pack at £8000 was the third prize Limousin cross heifer from Orkney-based Balfour Bailie, Sebay View, Tankerness. Placed third in her class to the haltered 2026-born champion, this 330kg February-born calf is sired by Redriver Powerful and out of a Limousin cross cow. Coloured cross-bred champion at the Orkney County Show, and a full sister to Michael and Mark Robertson’s multi-award-winning show heifer BB, she sold to Susan and Allan Campbell, Galston.

Second top price was £7800 paid for the 2025-born unhaltered champion, Harestone Abi, from Neil Barclay, Harestone, Crathes. This 481kg July-born Limousin heifer is sired by the French bull, Record, and out of an Ampertaine Elgin daughter. Final bidder was Blair Duffton, Huntly.

Craig Robertson and his father John, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, sold nine animals to average £3177 and claimed the overall championship with their haltered 2025-born winner which made £7500.

This 11-month-old Limousin cross heifer weighing 484kg, was champion calf at Perth Show and champion of champions at Aberfeldy Show. She is sired by Millgate Simba, a bull that has bred calves to £8000 and out of a British Blue cross cow by Warehams Mickey. The buyers were Susan and Allan Campbell.

The Robertsons also took £3400 for a 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer by Simba, scaling 522kg. She is out of a Limousin cross dam and sold to BT Kitson, Hutton Rudby, Yarn.

Darcie, the second prize haltered heifer from Cally Harper, Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly, made £6300. This 15-month-old Limousin cross weighed in at 553kg and headed home with David Blair, Littleinch Farm, Newport-on-Tay.

Orkney producers Jim Baillie and his son, Balfour, also enjoyed a good day with their 13 entries.

Outwith the £8000 top, Jim, from Sebay, sold to £5000 for a 384kg seven-month-old Limousin cross heifer calf by Pabo Old Spice and out of a Limousin cross cow. Black and Blue polled champion at the Orkney County, the heifer sold to AJR Farms, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, managed by Andrew Reid.

Their reserve Black and Blue polled winner at the Orkney County made £4000. This 16-month-old Limousin cross heifer by Redriver Powerful scaled 551kg and sold to Cameron Sinclair, Brewthin, Cullerlie.

Bullocks peaked at £3200 for the haltered 2026-born champion, also from Sebay. Scaling 294kg, this five-month-old Limousin cross by Huntershall Tucker out of a British Blue cross cow was knocked down to Blair Duffton.

The reserve 2026-born championship went to a Limousin cross steer from Mark Munro and family, Invercharron, Ardgay. It scaled 314kg and sold for £3000 to Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns.

Georgia Fraser, Little Croy, Croy, took the haltered bullock 2025-born championship with Big Spender, a Limousin cross that weighed in at 710kg and sold for £3100. Bred by Michael Robertson, Fodderletter, this 17-month-old is a son of the 8000gns Beachmount Pacman and bred from the British Blue cross cow Bucksfizz. Bought by Georgia for £3600 at the Overwintering Young Farmers competition at Dingwall in March from Taylor Young, Lethendry, Big Spender sold to Ross Bros, Wardhead, Strichen.

Reserve was a 469kg Limousin cross from Fodderletter that made £2800 to BT Kitson Butchers, Hutton Rudby.

Averages: 31 calves, £3407.10 (+£149.96 on the year).