An entry of 50 prize-winning cattle suitable for further exhibition is destined for sale at next week’s Thainstone Spectacular.
The annual event, which is organised by Aberdeen and Northern Marts with support from law firm Blackadders LLP, takes place on Friday.
“The spectacular show and sale is one of our highlights of the year at Thainstone and it attracts some of the finest commercial cattle bred in Scotland,” said Aberdeen and Northern Marts head of livestock, John Angus.
“Buyers have the chance to source top-quality livestock from as far north as Orkney, including many which have secured an abundance of prizes in the summer show circuit.”
The show, which starts at 9.30am and includes a £4,000 cash prize fund, will be judged by Anita Padfield, Brambles, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Entries include a team of 10 calves from well-known Orcadian breeder Balfour Baillie, of Sebay View, Tankerness.
A regular exhibitor at the event, Mr Baillie achieved £3,400 at last year’s sale when he sold his senior bullock champion, sired by Trueman Idol.
His line-up for next week’s event includes the interbreed beef champion from the Orkney County Show earlier this month – a 15-month-old black Limousin cross heifer by Craigatoke Jameson.
Other entries include a team of eight calves from Mark and Debby Munro who farm at Invercharron, Ardgay. The couple took home the supreme championship title last year with a Limousin cross heifer by Bailea Cavalier. Named Baby Shambles, she sold for £4,000.
Invercharron’s team includes eight-month-old Limousin cross bullock Red Alert by Powerhouse Lynx. He stood first at every show he was exhibited at and was reserve champion at Sutherland and reserve male at the Black Isle.
Father and son duo John and Craig Robertson, who farm at Newton of Logierait, near Pitlochry, have eight entries forward for Friday’s sale.
Their entries include the reserve overall show champion of champions winner from Aberfeldy Show – a September-born Limousin cross heifer by Whinfellpark Lago, which previously stood second in its class at Perth Show.
Another well-known show winner up for sale next week is a February-born heifer calf from Barry Paterson, Cairndaie Croft, Sauchen. Purchased in May with its dam from Craig Malone, Pitcairn, after it stood overall champion, this Limousin cross named Tracy Jacks has secured no fewer than eight calf championships and four reserve championship wins in the cross cattle section this summer.
Mr Paterson’s other entry for the show is an October 2018-born homebred Charolais cross bullock by Allanfauld Vagabond, out of a homebred Limousin cross dam.
The overall show champion of champions from Caithness County Show will also be forward – this is a March-born Limousin cross heifer by Lodge Hamlet, named Sassy Lady, from Dunbeath Farms. She was also champion at Latheron Show earlier in the summer.
Entries will also be forward from Michael Robertson and family of Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, and Andrew Anderson, of Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus.
Mr Anderson’s entry includes the reserve champion from Nairn Show – a March-born Limousin cross British Blue bullock calf by an imported French bull which has bred a number of champions.
Mr Angus said Aberdeen and Northern Marts is once again offering a special buyers’ incentive of £500 for any show entry that goes on to win the overall live cattle championship at a number of future events.
These include the East of England Winter Stock Festival, Countryside Live, Borderway Agri Expo, Royal Welsh Winter Fair, Livescot 2018 and Thainstone’s own Aberdeen Christmas Classic.
To qualify, the winning entry must have been purchased at the Thainstone Spectacular, exhibited by the buyer, and sold at the event as a champion.
Next week’s event starts with a show at 9.30am followed by the sale at 2pm.