Almost 500 entries are destined for the annual Aberdeen Christmas Classic show and sale at Thainstone next week.
The two-day event, organised by Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association and sponsored by Rapid Project Development (RPD), will be held on Monday and Tuesday November 25 and 26.
A packed programme of events over both days will see shows and sales of prime and pedigree livestock from noted breeders across Scotland, as well as the Rising Stars Exhibition Calf show, which will be held on the Monday evening in the Thainstone Exchange, and judged by Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet.
Proceedings kick off on Monday morning at 11.30am with the cast sow competition which will be judged by a member of the Cheale family of Cheale Meats, Essex.
This year’s prime cattle section has attracted 55 entries and will be judged by Jamie Chapman of James Chapman Butchers, Wishaw, and Frank Yorke, from Yorkes of Dundee, while the unhaltered cattle entries will be headed up by Stewart Mackie of SA Mackie Butchers, Aberlour.
A total of 160 prime sheep or 80 pairs of prime lambs will be judged by Tom Hutcheon of JB Penman Butchers, Crail, Anstruther, while Anna Forsyth, WTS Forsyth and Sons Butchers, Peebles, will be tasked with judging entries of Young Farmers’ cattle and sheep.
Among the pedigree sheep, 230 head of well-bred females from noted breeders will be up for sale on the Monday evening to include 94 Suffolks; 82 Texels; 10 Bluefaced Leicesters; 30 Beltex; four Charollais; four Blue Texels; and six Dutch Texels. Meanwhile, 30 pedigree bulls will be judged by Allen Drysdale of the Glenericht Charolais herd at Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie, before being sold on the Tuesday afternoon.
A reduction sale of 11 Aberdeen-Angus spring-calving females from AC Grant and Son, Middlefield, Forres, will also be sold alongside the bulls.
For those unable to attend but wishing to buy animals, this year’s sale will benefit from ANM’s online auction system.