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The Thainstone Centre saw yet another sale price record broken last week when £4800 was paid for a breeding cow with calf at foot.

The five year old British Blue cross cow with autumn born Limousin cross heifer calf at foot, from Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Mayne, Elgin, was purchased by John Smith, The Rowans, Brora.

Consignor Andrew Anderson said: "The cow is due to calve again in October and the bull has sired some of my previous champions at Thainstone.  The Limousin cross heifer calf has excellent breeding and I'm sure it'll have a great future ahead of it for Mr Smith."

Mr Smith added: "You could visit an auction many times and not come across a cow and calf as complete as this.  I'm confident the calf will have a good future and I intend to show it at Dornoch, Black Isle and Nairn Shows."

Aberdeen and Northern Marts has announced another bull sale for the Thainstone Centre, with Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Aberdeen-Angus and British Blues, due to come under the hammer on 4 May.

The new sale has been scheduled to take place on the same day as a major sale of commercial breeding cattle at the centre and Alan Hutcheon, ANM's deputy general manager says the sale has been created in response to the requests of North East breeders to have stronger pedigree sales in the region.

It will be interesting to see how the sale goes, particularly with major breed sales for Limousins, Charolais and British Blues, Angus, Blondes and Shorthorns scheduled for Carlisle in May, a multi-breed sale at Stirling the day before the Thainstone sale and a general reluctance of buyers to part with serious money at the regional sales.

Selling for the top price of £2300 at last week's YFC show and sale of overwintered cattle at Thainstone was a Limousin cross heifer from Gary Wright, Glenlivet. Mr Wright's first prize winning heifer bought his heifer last October from Stephen Duncan and sold to the pre-sale show judge Harry Emslie,  Kinockie, Mintlaw.

Next best of the night at £2100 was Balfour Baillie, Orkney, when he sold a Charolais cross bred by the Durno family, Glenlivet. This one sold to Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms.

And at £2000 was another from the same vendor, a Limousin steer bred by Messrs MacArthur Brothers. This one sold in a two way split to Graham Easton and Lumgair Bros.

Selling for £1900 was a Limousin heifer from Martin Irvine, Braehead. This one was taken by Blair Dufton, Huntly.

Making £1850 was the beast which yielded the highest margin in the steer section and the highest overall liveweight gain, a British Blue cross steer from Kyle Cooper. Bred by Alistair Smart, this one sold to Donald Morrison.

At £1600 was a Limousin cross from Craig Hendry, Aultmore. This one was again bought by Mr Dufton.

Averages; 37 heifers £1104.60, 42 steers £1084 (Aberdeen and Northern Marts).

Top price in the show of calves here at the Royal Northern Spring Show, Thainstone, was a £3800 call for the reserve overall champion and reserve heifer champion under judge Gavin Scott, Linlithgow, a Limousin cross heifer by Craigatoke Butch from John Robertson and family, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry. This one tipped the scales at 344kg and was born in June last year.

Then at £3000 was the steer champion, also from the Robertson family. Again by Craigatoke Butch, this May 2009-born steer weighed in at 400kg.

And making £2100 was the best Aberdeen-Angus cross on offer. This was a heifer from Murray Lyle, Dunblane. Bred by Ross Farms, Wester Middleton, this one weighed 556kg.

At £1800 was Anside Elisha from Martin Irvine, this is by Frewstown Breakdance and was born in June last year. She weighed 356kg on the day.

A pair then sold at £1500, the first being a Limousin cross heifer from J and J Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Inverness. Sired by Middledale Toronto, she weighed in at 444kg.

The other transaction at this money was for one from Cameron Sinclair. This Limousin cross steer is by Greenhaugh Utwo. This weighed 522kg on the day and was born in April last year.

And at £1350 was a Charolais cross steer from J Stuart, Belnoe, Ballindalloch. This June born steer weighed 422kg. Selling for £1300 was another from John Robertson, this was a Limousin cross heifer by Craigatoke Butch which weighed 306kg and was born in June 2009.

The overall champion was another Limousin cross heifer from John Robertson, This was a Ronick Hawk sired heifer bred by Dermot Small and was not offered for sale, being retained by Mr Robertson for breeding.

The reserve steer champion was a Limousin cross by Shatton Pedro. This one weighed 534kg and was born in January last year. He went unsold at £2000 

Buyers of these will be confirmed in due course...

Well the sale of bulls here at Thainestone is now complete and with a break of half an hour or so until the sale of show calves, I've a chance to bring you some of the sale highlights.

In the Charolais the top call was a 10,000gns bid for the day's champion, Kinclune Director from Jock Wilson. This is by Moyness Vichy and out of Kinclune Tammy. He sold to Mr McBain.

Second best was a 9000gns sale for the reserve champion, Blelack Dazzler from Neil and Graeme Massie. He is a son of Solitude Amazing and is out of Blelack Asp and sold with a TSI of +18 and an SRI of +22. This one went to J J Gord, Wellheads, Huntly.

Next best was an 8000gns bid for Kinclune Diamond from Jock Wilson. This son of Moyness Vichy is out of Kinclune Alison, a Caylers Solomon daughter. This sold to B Mackie and Son, Rhynie.

At 5500gns was Harestone Detonator from Neil and Stuart Barclay. This is by Harestone Rotobaga and out of Harestone Rikki, a Maerdy Neptune daughter. He traded with a TSI of +22 and an SRI of +24 to G and J Rattray, Mowatseat.

Making the best sale in the Limousins was Buchaam Dazzler from Charlie Oag at 6800gns. He is by Burnbank Astar and out of Muirwood Ulay, a Muirwood Orion daughter. This one sold to Stephen Young.

Next top here was a brace of 4500gns sales, with the first bid at this level being made for the day's champion, Lethendry Dazzler. This is by Bailea Vincent, out of Lethendry Una, a Lethendry Nova daughter and has a beef value of +15. He was bought by A Strachan, Clochie Farm.

The other Limousin at this money was Elrick Dubonnet from Michael Massie. This is by Croftlimousin Spencer and out of Elrick Unique, a Paragon daughter. With a beef value of +17, he sold to A J Nairn, Auchnarrow.

And at 4200gns was Buchaam Duvalier. Sired by Burnbank Astar and out of Burnhead Uno, a Haltcliffe President daughter, he sold to E Jaffrey and Son, Drumoaks.

In the Simmentals the top bid was a pair of 5500gns calls. First to make this price was Tillyeve Wishful, a Beechtree Simon son out of Tillyeve Laura, a Spring Court Charlie daughter. This sold to J S Gunn.

Second at this money was Corskie Wax from Jimmy and Iain Green. This is by Popes Laird and out of Corskie Reel, a Burghbridge Lane daughter. Selling with a TSI of +28 and an SRI of +35, he was bought by Moneymusk Land, Moneymusk.

Then at 5200gns was the pre-sale show champion, Islavale Wolf. Sired by Fole Nevada and out of Islavale Sheeba, this one was bought by W G and H Murra. And at 4800gns was Tolquhon Wanderer from A A Sleigh. This is by Tulla Terence and out of Tolquhon Nancy. He was bought by Mr Macka, Tain.

Best of a small show of Angus bulls was a 4200gns bid for the pre-sale champion, Schiva Billy Man from Schivas Estates. This is by Ballathie Lord Jack and out of Rosemount Beautiful Maid,a Cudlobe Fortune daughter. He was bought by Liam Muir, Orkney.

Taking the Simmental championship was Islavale Wolf, a Fole Nevada son out of Islavale Sheeba from W S Stronach. He has a TSI of +17 and an SRI of +20.

In reserve was Michael Durno with Auchorachan Wilson, a Saltire Talent son out of Delfur Patti, a Glebehill Nobelman daughter. He has a TSI of +18 and an SRI of +21.

Taking the Limousin championship here at Thainstone this morning was Lethendry Dazzler from J McConachie. This son of Bailea Vincent, a Seringa son, is out of Lethendry Una, a Lethendry Nova daughter. He has a beef value of +15.

Reserve spot here went to Michael Massie with Elrick Dynamite, a Croftlimousin Spencer son out of Elrick Valerie, a Rydale Paragon daughter. This one has a beef value of +17.

Morning and greetings from snowy Thainstone, the judging in the bulls is well underway here at the Royal Northern Spring Show and the Charolais championship has been awarded to Kinclune Director, a son of 11,000gns sire Moyness Vichy out of Kinclune Tammy, a Derryharney Peter daughter.

In reserve was one from Neil and Graeme Massie, Blelack Dazzler. This son of Solitude Amazing is out of Blelack Asp, a Blelack Tutor daughter and has a TSI of +18 and an SRI of +22.

Judging is continuing with the Limousins, results will follow shortly from the other classes....

Last Friday's anniversary sale of store cattle at Thainstone saw Andrew Anderson from Smallburn Farms, Elgin, dominate proceedings, taking both the championship and reserve in the pre-sale show.

His champion was the bullock leaders, a 527kg Limousin cross which sold for £1380 to the judge Tom Stevenson, Balmacolly Farm, Bankfoot, while reserve went to a 698kg British Blue cross heifer which sold at £1450, also to Mr Stevenson.

Overall the 1099 steers forward levelled at 183.3p/kg, selling to a top of 253.2p/kg, while the 762 heifers entered sold to average 174.5p/kg and topped at 259.3p/kg.

And the 39 buls sold on the day made an average of 181.9p/kg and hit a high spot of 220.1p/kg.

Here are the Christmas Classic results from Thainestone yesterday after piecing together bits from my various spies in the area!

Topping the cattle was Harry Brown with Charolais cross heifer Cath, which weighed in at 614kg and sold at £5000 to judge John Davidson, Inverurie.

Reserve was Monzie Spinner a Limousin cross from the Paton family, Spott. This one went over the scales at 532kg and sold at £1300 to Direct Meats, Colchester. The Patons also took the reserve heifer spot and reserve steer spot. Reserve heifer was Tootie Frutie a Limousin cross which weighed 520kg and sold at £1352. The reserve steer award went to Limousin cross The Bard, which went over the scales at 722kg and sold for £1584.

YFC champion was Christopher Brown, of the same family as the overall winner, with Twinkle Toes, a 580kg Lim cross. This one sold to Harry Emslie for £2100 for breeding.

Topping the YFC sheep results was Bruce Ingram with a pair of Texel x Charollais lambs at 43kg. No other sheep results at the moment.

Prizes were spread far and wide among a range of exhibitors at Saturday's Black Beauty Bonanza show of Aberdeen-Angus at Thainestone.

Taking the top yearling heifer prize under Canadian judge Doug Robertson was Mosston Muir Eline from Tom Rennie. This one is by Rawburn Transformer and iut of Mosston Muir Elise. This heifer drew plenty of admiring looks from the ringside, with two watchers, Jim Logan and John Elliot taking their cheque books out to secure her in a £15,000 private deal. She will now be used in ET programmes in their Rawburn and Galawater herds.

Leading the brace of yearling bull classes were entries from Blelack, with the championship going to Blelack Lord Hildalgo from the Massies. This is a first crop son of Netherallan Peter Pershore.

Taking the heifer calf championship was Jamie Leslie, Shetland, with Scholland Diana from his recently established Scholland herd. This is an ET bred calf by Rawburn Echester and out of Skaill Diana.

And taking the bull calf championship were Hamish and Margaret Sclater with Deveron Jackson Eric, a Blackhaugh Easy Papa son.

In-calf heifers have been in strong demand at Thainestone today, a spy in that part of the world tells me, with British Blue cross heifers in calf to Limousin sires peaking at £3400 and Limousin crosses also in-calf to Limousin sires reaching £2250.

More details to come in due course once I get my hands on a full report.

Last Friday's sale of breeding bulls at Thainestone saw the centre's Simmental record broken by the best of the breed from Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie.

Taking the 7200gns bid was Corskie Winston, a Popes Laird son, Winston is out of Corskie Sabrina, a Burghbridge Lane daughter. He sold to C D Presley, Oldmeldrum.

At 6200gns was the pre-sale show champion, a Charolais from R Leggat, New Pitsligo. This was Bonnykelly Canada, a Killadeas Legend son out of Bonnykelly Valery, a Ravensworth Osbert daughter.

Next best of the day was a 5500gns call for the second prize Limousin from the pre-sale show, Knock Black Dude from Albert and George Howie, Mintlaw. This is by Goldies Vegas and out of Knock Una, a Middledale Slogger daughter.

At 3500gns was a Charolais from Neil Barclay, Harestone. This was given for Harestone Dan, an Eriff Savo son out of Harestone Unity, a Maerdy Nero daughter.

Then at 3400gns was another Limousin from the Howies, Knock Black Domino. This one is by Mapleleaf Keith and out of Redpaths Onair, a Willowcrest Calibre daughter.

Rams sold to an eager audience willing to pay good money at Thainestone on Monday, with the top call of 1600gns being given for a Bluefaced Leicester from R Neill, Dunning, which sold to a McHardy and Sons, Auchnarrow.

Next best was a Texel at 1500gns from Angus Sutherland, Crosskirk, which sold to K Ingram, Keith. At 1300gns was another Texel, this time from Graham Morrison, Cornhill, Banff, who also sold another at 1100gns.

Also at this money was a ram lamb from Margaret Lyon, Ardmiddle, this one sold to C L Sclater, Orkney.

Best in the Suffolks on offer was a brace of 1000gns bids for tup lambs. The first to reach this money was one from George and Melvin Stuart when it sold to J D Lyon, Lower Wanford. The other at this money was one from Charles Procter, Mains of Tollo. It sold to I and D Robertson, Orkney.

Scotland's annual Spectacular show and sale of exhibition cattle at the Thainstone Centre in Aberdeenshire more than lived up to its name with one breeder grossing nearly £30,000.

Andrew Anderson, of Smallburn Farms, Elgin, Morayshire, dominated the event with 22 cattle forward, of which 19 sold.

He won supreme with a bullock and the heifer championship with its full sister.

Leading was Tizer, a 462kg 10-month-old Limousin cross, that went on to sell for £4000 to Michael Alford, of Foxhill, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon.

He was the result of an embryo transfer programme that saw eggs taken from the British Blue cross Simmental cow that bred J-Lo, the noted heifer that won the Aberdeen Christmas Classic for Mr Anderson in 2003. Sire of both the supreme and heifer leader was Bailea Tyson.

Mr Anderson, who has a 400-cow suckler operation, was delighted, adding it was the first time he had done the double in taking the bullock and heifer championships at the event.

More calves from the flush are in the pipeline.Mr Anderson grossed £29,570 and averaged £1,556.31.

Judges were Wendy Hunter, of Spot Farm Cottage, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir, and Neil Lloyd, of Yarpole Lane, Luston, Leominster, Hereford.

Mrs Hunter said the bullocks provided a much stronger line-up. The supreme was well put together, had a great top and good backend.

Mr Lloyd, who runs a show cattle livery service, added: "The champion has great presence and style. He is a well turned out beast and in the right hands could do well at the winter shows."

Mr Anderson also sold at £3,000 Million Dollar Babe, an 11-month-old Limousin cross heifer that was commercial champion at the Black Isle Show in the Highlands in August. Buyer was Euan Fettes, of Braes of Enzie, Buckie, Banffshire.

His reserve heifer - a November-born Limousin cross by Normande Alpha - was shared at £2,400 by Carnoustie-based Scott Watson and father and son John David and Neil Work, of Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, Aberdeenshire. The Watson and Work partnership won the supreme at the Royal Smithfield Show in 2000 with Danny Boy, a beast bought at Spectacular.

Mr Lloyd bought Smallburn's heifer leader, which was born in November, at £2300.

Second top price was £3500 for an 11-month-old Limousin cross bullock, which won a first prize for J. and J. Wilson, of Wester Cairnglass, Gollanfield, Inverness. This one, by Middledale Toronto and out of a Limousin cross cow, was on his first show outing. He too was acquired by Mr Alford.

The Wilsons - father and son Ian and Paul - had nine forward.

They also sold at £2400 to the Watson and Work partnership a yearling Limousin cross bullock that was reserve at Black Isle and Sutherland shows.

Others from Cairnglass  - a yearling Middledale Toronto daughter - made £2200 to Aileen Ritchie, of Burnside, Tamala, near Aberdeen, while a March-born heifer calf, by Burndale Blizzard, was bought by Barwood and Padfield, of Great Yarmouth, for £2000.

Colin Stuart, of Belnoe, Chapeltown, Ballindalloch, Banffshire, accepted £2800 from Ewan Macpherson, of Mill Farmhouse, Benderloch, Oban, Argyll, for his Grantown Show reserve commercial champion, a yearling Charolais cross by Whappstown Allrounder and out of a pedigree Limousin.

D. and R. Durno and Son, of Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Banffshire, sold at £2200 a yearling Charolais cross heifer, by Glenlivet Singlemalt. Buyer was Stewart Brown, of Roepark, Little Brechin, Angus.

In the junior section for animals born in 2009 the championship went to a bullock called Crackerjack from Caithness crofter and engineer Graham Henderson, of 8 Murrayfield, Castletown, Thurso.

This four-month-old Limousin cross  was reserve commercial at Caithness and Latheron shows made £1500 to Kinlochbervie fish salesman and show cattle exhibitor Donald Morrison.

It was Mr Henderson's best placing at The Spectacular. His last big win was in 1997 when he lifted the supreme at the Scottish National Winter Fair with Scooby Doo.

Aberdeen and Northern Marts' store cattle manager John Angus said the sale was well supported, with buyers from across Britain purchasing animals that are likely to reappear on the winter prime show circuit.

There were 94 cattle offered for sale and 70 traded. The 32 heifers sold to average £3.77/ kg and £1479.69 a head, while the 38 steers were £2.85/kg and £1285 a head.

Trade was well up on last year when 23 steers averaged £2.69 a kg and £1018 a head and 22 heifers hit £3.28 a kg and £1226.82 a head.