A Limousin bull from Laurencekirk and an Aberdeen-Angus from Alford were among the lead prizewinners at Saturday’s Stars of the Future calf show at Stirling Mart.
Leading the seniors in a strong continental section, judged by Adrian Ivory, of Moolies, Meigle, was Andrew Gammie’s 14-month-old Limousin bull, Westpit Orlando, from the family’s Drumforber Farm at Laurencekirk.
An embryo calf, he is sired by Goldies Jackpot and out of Brockhurst Holy, which was bought in-calf at Newark back in 2015 and has bred several five-figure priced bulls. Orlando is destined for sale at Carlisle in February.
Reserve to that one in the senior continental championship, was Andrew Hornall’s 16-month-old Charolais bull, Falleninch Obby, from Stirling. A son of Fairway Jefferson, this one had stood male champion at Doune and Dunblane Show in the summer and will next be heading to the Stirling sale in February.
Best overall in the junior native contest, judged by Dennis Gall, was Tonley Lady Heather, a 10-month-old Aberdeen-Angus heifer on her second-ever outing, from Neil Wattie’s 140-cow herd at Mains of Tonley, Alford. Shown by son Mark, she is by the 19,000gn Blelack Evermore and out of the bought-in cow, Blelack Lady Heather. Her next outing will be to the Black Beauty Bonanza, at Thainstone.
Standing reserve junior native was Tom and Di Henderson’s Hereford heifer, Moralee 1 Katy Perry, from Stocksfield, Northumberland.
The junior continental section, meanwhile, was led by the Salers bull, Bacardi Orleans, a son of the French-bred bull, Magnificent, from Roy and Adam Crockett’s herd in Denholm, Hawick.
Reserve to him was the Charolais heifer, Newlogie Princesslaika, from AJR Farms’ herd, managed by Andrew Reid at Milton of Collieston, Ellon. She is the result of an embryo bought from France, out of Laika, while the sire is the 2018 Highland Show breed champion, Harestone Jaquard. Princesslaika was shown by stockman Eoin Cumming, who works with Andrew’s brother, stockman James Reid.
The team is building up the Charolais herd, which runs alongside the 100-cow Aberdeen-Angus herd.
The senior native was won by the Beef Shorthorn bull, Eskechraggan Masterstroke, a Tamhorn Glen son owned by Tom McMillan, Isle of Bute, and shown by Richard and Carol Rettie, who have him in livery at their base, Craigend Farm, in Methven, Perth.
He stood ahead of Harry 2nd of Gartocharn, a home-bred Highland bull from Jim and Catherine McKechnie. He’s a son of Brogach 2nd of Balmoral and out of Morag 44th of Woodneuk.
The Joe Watson Memorial Trophy, for the best overall pair, went to the Aberdeen-Angus duo, the heifer Stephick Emillie V563 and the bull, Stephick Ezra V561, from Stephanie Dick, Westerton, Cowie, Stirling.
An impressive show of young handlers, judged by Ross Pattinson, of Brampton, was won by 14-year-old Aimee Stronach, showing a Simmental heifer from the family’s Islavale herd at Grange, Keith. She was selected as best overall, after winning the junior section, where her twin sister, Emma, had secured third place.