A tremendous show of exhibition calves were witnessed on Wednesday at the Royal Northern Spring Show held at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, in conjunction with Aberdeen and Northern Marts.
The event was sponsored by JDW Agri, and the show was ably judged by Dermot Small, 3 Irvington Close, Kilkeel, Co. Down.
The Overall Champion was awarded to a 2024 April born, Limousin Cross Heifer, scaling 448kgs from J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry. The heifer sired by Sarkley Roscoe, went onto sell for the top price of the day, £5,400 to B T Kitson, Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.
The Reserve Champion was also awarded to the same consigner, this time for a 2024 May born Limousin Cross Bullock scaling 428kgs. The animal sold to J WK Paterson, Low Tree Mark Farm, Stoneykirk, Stranraer for £3,400.
The second top price of £5,000 was achieved by the 2nd prize heifer, a 2024 April born Limousin cross scaling 462kgs, again from the Robertson family. The heifer was sired by Carnew Millreef and went onto sell to B T Kitson, Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.
A 446kgs Limousin Cross Heifer from Tony & Sophie Weir, Corai, Lochoire, Lhabryde, sold for £4,500 to R McKinnell & Sons, Garrarie Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart. The March 2024 born heifer was sired by Red Driver Powerful.
Next top price of the day went to Kris Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains, Latheron. This was for an April 2024 born Limousin cross heifer, scalling 403kgs, which went on to sell for £3,800 to B T Kitson, Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.
The Reserve Champion bullock, a 425kgs Limousin cross from the Robertson Family, Logierait sold for £3,700 to D Blair & Son, Littleinch Farm, Balmerino, Newport On Tay. The April 2024 born bullock was sired by St Carnew Millreef.
A Limousin Cross Heifer scaling 502kgs from Fergus and Bruce Forbes, Little Kildrummie Farm, Nairn sold for £3,500 to J WK Paterson, Low Tree Mark Farm, Stoneykirk, Stranraer.
In the unhaltered section, a February 2023 born, 517kgs Limousin cross heifer from Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly went on to sell for £3,200 to B T Kitson, Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.
A further two animals were purchased for £3,000, firstly for a 424kgs Limousin cross heifer from the Robertson Family, Logierait and secondly for a 410kgs Limousin cross heifer from Kris Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains, both selling to D Blair & Son, Littleinch Farm, Balmerino, Newport On Tay.
The sale saw 14 heifers sell to the average of £7.36 per kg against £5.18 per kg last year and 6 bullocks to the average £6.18 per kg, against £4.07 per kg last year, with an overall sale average of £6.99 per kg or £3,087.50 per head.
Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “Credit must be given to stockmen for presentation of cattle put forward today. Quality was very high which was backed up in the sale ring.
"A huge thank you to our sponsors JDW Agri for their continued support of the event.”
Prize list
Unhaltered Light Heifers:
1st – Lot 3 – Kris Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains, Latheron
2nd – Lot 4 – William Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul
3rd – Lot 2 – J Robertson & Co Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
4th - Lot 1 - Stewart Youngson, Westerton, Cullerlie, Echt
Unhaltered Heavy Heifers:
1st – Lot 6 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
2nd – Lot 5 - J Robertson & Co Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
3rd – Lot 7 - Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
Class A – Haltered Heifer:
1st – Lot 12 – Kris Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains, Latheron
2nd – Lot 8 – Fraser Family, Easter Clune Farm, Lethen, Nairn
3rd – Lot 9 - William Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul
4th - Lot 10 – Finn Christie, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
Class B – Haltered Bullock:
1st – Lot 14 – J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
2nd – Lot 15- Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
3rd – Lot 13 – Stewart Youngson, Westerton, Cullerlie, Echt
4th - Lot 16 – Jayne Mitchell, Ploverwards Farmhouse, Grange, Keith
Class C- Haltered Heifer:
1st – Lot 18 - Kris Sutherland, Latheronwheel, Latheron
2nd – Lot 19 – Fergus and Bruce Forbes, Little Kildrummie Farm, Nairn
3rd – Lot 17 - Jayne Mitchell, Ploverwards Farmhouse, Grange, Keith
4th - Lot 20 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
Class D – Haltered Bullock:
1st – Lot 23 – J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
2nd – Lot 22 - J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
3rd – Lot 24 – Fraser Family, Easter Clune Farm, Lethen, Nairn
Class E – Haltered Heifer:
1st – Lot 30 – William Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul
2nd – Lot 28 – R Davidson, Corsairtly Farm, Keith
3rd – Lot 29 – Finn Christie, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
4th - Lot 27 – Fergus and Bruce Forbes, Little Kildrummie Farm, Nairn
Class F – Haltered Bullock:
1st – Lot 32 - William Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul
2nd – Lot 31 – Jasmine Strachan, Backhill of Camaloun, Auchterless, Turriff
3rd – Lot 33 – Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch
Class G – Haltered Heifer:
1st – Lot 36 – J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
2nd – Lot 38 - J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
3rd – Lot 35 – Tony and Sophie Weir, C/o Lettoch Farm, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch
4th - Lot 37 – J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
Class H – Haltered Heifer:
1st – Lot 39 – Fergus and Bruce Forbes, Little Kildrummie Farm, Nairn
2nd – Lot 41 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly
3rd – Lot 40 - Fergus and Bruce Forbes, Little Kildrummie Farm, Nairn
Heifer Championship:
Champion - Lot 36 – J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
Reserve Champion - Lot 30 - William Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul
Bullock Championship:
Champion - Lot 23 - J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
Reserve Champion - Lot 22 from J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
Overall Championship:
Overall Champion - Lot 36 – J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
Reserve Champion - Lot 23 - J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry