The live judging saw the honours going to brothers, Euan and Ian Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie, with a Charolais cross steer, for the second year in succession.

The cattle and sheep were judged ‘on the hoof’ at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, last Wednesday, by Wilson Peters whose choice of champion was a Caithness-bred steer bred by W and K Campbell, Mid Calder and bought in Dingwall, last November.

Euan and Ian are regular winners at the exhibition, having won the carcase championship twice and the Aberdeen-Angus carcase championship on four occasions. Their live champion last year finished up reserve overall in the carcase judging and two years ago they took both the championship and reserve.

Mr Peters said: “I was looking for beef cattle to suit the High Street butcher – not too big and with a degree of fat cover to ensure good eating quality. The champion fitted what I was looking for, grading 4L and I’m confident it will hang up well.”

Runner-up for the live beef cattle championship was a Limousin cross steer from Stephanie Ewart, Easter Dounie, which was second in the same class as the champion.

Leading the live show of 250 lambs was a Beltex from R Hall and Son, Inglewood Edge, Dalston, Carlisle, who exhibited the champion lamb carcase last year.

Reserve lamb champion was a Suffolk cross from Jim and Wallace Kennedy, Lyonpark, Maybole, Ayrshire.