Young farmers from across the north and north-east will descend on Inverurie next week for ANM Group’s Young Farmers’ overwintered cattle show and sale at the Thainstone Centre.
The fixture, which takes place on the evening of Thursday, March 22, and during the day of Friday, March 23, is sponsored by law firm Ledingham Chalmers.
It provides young farmers aged between 14 and 30 with the chance to select, feed, prepare and parade cattle for shows and sales. Each young person taking part in the contest has purchased their cattle at any of the Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) autumn sales, and reared the livestock throughout the autumn and winter months.
A total of 50 entries are forward, comprising 25 bullocks and 25 heifers, for judge Louise Allan, Arsnow, Kirkmichael, Maybole, Ayrshire. The best presented and best paraded prizes will be awarded by judge Debbie Watt of Oldwhat Mains, New Deer.
ANM head of livestock, John Angus, said: “Competitions such as this offer valuable experience in livestock management and the commercial side of livestock rearing to the future generation of farmers, allowing our industry to continue to prosper.
“This show and sale also presents an ideal opportunity for buyers to purchase good-quality animals ahead of the summer show circuit.
“Recognising the knowledge and talent that our young participants encompass is a priority for us, and we are delighted to see so many strong entries set to take part in this year’s competition.”
At last year’s show the overall championship prize went to Ally Fraser’s 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer, weighing 484kg. It sold for the top price of £3,400. The pre-sale show starts at 6pm on Thursday, followed by the sale at 10am on Friday.