Egg producers from across the north and north-east were crowned top of the flocks at this year’s Scottish Egg Quality Awards.
The awards, which are now in their 28th year, set out to recognise the quality of eggs being produced in Scotland.
They are organised by SRUC and animal feed and nutrition company ForFarmers
Judges were tasked with assessing eggs for three different categories – producer, producer retailer and organic producer.
The independent team of judges, which was led by SRUC’s head of animal and veterinary sciences, Professor Nick Sparks, assessed competitors’ eggs for a number of characteristics including shell quality.
Taking home the producer retailer award was Robert Chapman, of Farmlay Eggs, West Cockmuir, Strichen, Aberdeenshire.
He said: “We have always prided ourselves on the quality of our product. It is nice when this is recognised and you win an award of this stature. It acknowledges all the hard work of our staff and producers.”
In the organic category the top prize was presented to Gordon Whiteford, of Rosebrae, Ardersier. Mr Whiteford, who has 14,000 birds on two sites, sells the eggs from his British Blacktail birds to Stonegate to supply Waitrose.
Lastly, in the producer category the top prize went to A. and A. Mackay, of Brackla Farm, Cawdor, Nairn. The company, which supplies Farmlay Eggs, has recently put up a new shed and doubled production.
Alistair Mackay said: “We are delighted to receive this award. As a family we have always put the health of our hens and the quality of our eggs as our uppermost priorities and it is fantastic to be given recognition for this.”