This year’s Thainstone Spectacular sale of commercial calves with show potential has been moved online due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The fixture, organised by Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM), had been scheduled to take place on Friday but was cancelled due to restrictions placed on auction marts during the coronavirus pandemic.
ANM has announced plans to hold a live online sale of the calves on Friday September 4.
Head of livestock, John Angus, said sellers will be given the chance to market their stock online and buyers can bid for the calves online from home or as a registered buyer in the mart.
“The Thainstone Spectacular event always attracts a large attendance of sellers, buyers and spectators which we sadly cannot accommodate this year when following restrictions and social-distancing measures,” said Mr Angus.
“We already have a tremendous show of calves with future show potential from regular consignors entered for the online sale and want to give buyers from across the country the chance to source top-quality stock from leading producers.”
He said the sale will take place after the company’s weekly store cattle sale and all calves forward for sale will remain at home.
Buyers will be shown pictures and videos of each animal, both on a screen in the mart and online, as each lot is sold.
Entries forward so far include calves from father-and-son duo John and Craig Robertson at Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, as well as entries from Orkney breeder Balfour Baillie.
Calves are also forward from Mark Munro at Invercharron Farm, Ardgay; Michael Robertson at Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul; and Iain Miller from Miller’s Farm, North Lurg, Midmar.
The deadline for entries is next Monday.
Last year’s sale topped at £5,600 for a 16-month-old home-bred Limousin cross heifer from Balfour Baillie.
The overall championship went to a Limousin cross heifer from Barry Paterson, Cairndale Croft, Sauchen. She sold for £4,000.