It was a good day for Orcadian commercial cattle showman Balfour Baillie, when he secured the two lead prices at the Spectacular show and sale at Thainstone.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ head of livestock, John Angus, said: “We had an excellent show of calves forward, with increased numbers on the year and a fantastic top price of £5,600.”
In total, 41 of the 49 calves forward sold to new homes and saw heifers average £1,994.71 or 421.8p per kg, while bullocks cashed in at £1,393.04 or 327.2p.
Sale leader at £5,600 was Balfour’s second prize Limousin cross heifer from his 80-cow herd at Sebay View, Tankerness. Weighing 498kg, this home-bred, April 2018-born heifer is by Ronick Laddie out of a British Blue cross Limousin cow which was also purchased from the Dick family at Mains of Throsk, Stirling.
Having stood second in her class to the champion at the Orkney County Show and East Mainland Show, she sold to Donald Morrison, Cairn Nulla, Burnside, Kinlochbervie.
Next best at £4,200 when selling to Ian Miller of Miller Farms, North Lurg, Midmar, was the reserve senior bullock champion. This was a home-bred, 15-month-old Limousin cross bullock by Craigatoke Jameson, out of a British Blue cross cow bred at Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, scaling 540kg.
Balfour also received £2,500 and £2,100 for two other prize winners. Dearest was a second prize April 2018-born Limousin cross heifer weighing 540kg. By Craigatoke Jameson, she sold to David and Neil Work, Mains of Dumbreck, Udny.
A 356kg December 2018-born Limousin cross heifer by Proctors Cavalier, which stood third in its class, made £2,100 to Stewart and Lynsey Bett, Castleton Farm, Stirling.
The supreme championship was awarded to Barry Paterson’s February-born Limousin cross heifer weighing 347kg from Cairndaie Croft, Sauchen.
Purchased with her British Blue cross dam from Craig Malone, Pitcairn, Fife, she is by Lodge Hamlet and won eight calf championships and five reserve championships during the summer.
She sold to judge Anita Padfield, Norfolk for £4,000.
Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Turriff, sold his reserve senior champion Limousin cross heifer for £2,200 to Backmuir Livestock, Keith. .
The Munro family from Invercharron, Ardgay sold a third prize senior heifer for £2,000 to Marion and John Mackay, Knockaneron, Nairn.