A 17-year-old young farmer from Nairn took home the top price with her champion beast at yesterday’s sale of young farmers’ overwintered cattle at Dingwall.
Anne Macarthur, of Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn, took the supreme championship, haltered championship, best new exhibitor and best junior entrant at the pre-sale show on Tuesday night.
Landing Ms Macarthur the supreme champion rosettes was a 545kg Limousin cross bullock which she bought in October last year for £900.
This one, which is named Hugo after her grandad Hugh who turns 90 next week, sold to the pre-sale show judge, Blair Duffton, for £1,380.
Mr Duffton, who is a regular face on the commercial cattle showing circuit, said he planned to show Hugo this summer.
Commenting on the show of cattle, he said: “I was delighted to see a good turnout of young farmers making a good effort with a good show of cattle.”
He said the champion had the best top, the best style and the best back end of the cattle on offer. “It looked tremendous,” he added.
Standing reserve supreme champion, reserve haltered champion and the beast with the highest daily liveweight gain was a 585kg Charolais cross bullock from Kyle Cruikshank, of Clury Farm, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown.
This one sold for £1,220 to Cameron Maciver, of Easter Strath of Auchterflow.
The second best price of the day went to a third-prize haltered bullock from Jamie Fraser, of Tore Mains, Tore, Muir of Ord.
Mr Fraser, who was awarded the prize for best stock person, sold his 525kg Limousin cross bullock for £1,350 to Backmuir Trading Co, Keith.
The homebred championship and best entry from InverRoss titles were awarded to Kenny MacIver, of Flowerburn Mains, Fortrose, Ross-shire.
His 430kg Limousin cross bullock sold for £1,000 to D. A. Budge, of Brae-edge, Castletown
The unhaltered champion title went to Lynne Macarthur – a sister of Anne – with her 440kg Limousin cross bullock. He sold for £1,080 to G. and S. McConachie, of Berrybrae, Wardhouse, Insch.
Dingwall Mart’s managing director Ian Tolmie said he was pleased with the trade and thanked regular buyers for supporting the young farmers sale.