Taking Stock

An Aberdeenshire farmer emerged the victor in a bidding battle for a yearling heifer at Scotland's premier calf show – The Spectacular at Inverurie's Thainstone
Centre.

But Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, had to go to £6,000 to win Miss Unique, a daughter of Linarn Unique, the first Limousin bull he bred from his now 50-cow pedigree herd.

The 454kg heifer, out of a Belgian Blue cross, was from Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin, Morayshire and had earlier stood reserve heifer champion.

Mr Emslie was determined to get the heifer from Mr Anderson who had bought Linarn Unique for 4600gn two years ago. She had over the summer show season stood reserve at Sutherland County and reserve female at Nairn.

"She is a tremendous heifer and well balanced. I can see potential in her and I hope she will do as well as the bull calves I have from the bull," said Mr Emslie, who will be taking his purchase out on the winter show circuit.

Aberdeen & Northern Marts are forging ahead with plans for major annual ram sales at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Monday, 15 October .

More than 900 have been entered for the annual shows and sales of MV accredited sheep sponsored by Harbro with support from Intervet, manufacturers of Heptavac P+, Ovivac P+, Enzovax and Toxovax.

Kicking off a busy day at 8am is a show of 414 Suffolks. It will be judged by Brian Anderson, Seafield, Lerwick, Shetland and will be followed by the breed’s sale at 10am.

From 8.30am, 43 Border Leicesters will be judged by William Blackhall, Bogfon, Maryculter, Aberdeen followed by the show of 41 Bluefaced Leicesters judged by Jim Simmons, Ruthven Farms, Tomintoul. The sale will then begin at 10am, starting with Border Leicesters.

At 10am, a show of 330 Texels will be judged by Robert Marshall, Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown and they will go under the hammer at 1pm. Also beginning at 10am will be the judging of 63 Charollais entries and a line-up of Continentals featuring nine Rouge, 15 Beltex and six Zwartble and this will be carried out by Ron Wilkie, Tillyboy, Echt. These will be sold from 11am.

Ian Mennie, sales director with sponsor Harbro added: “After a very trying time for all involved in the sheep industry, we are delighted to sponsor this high profile event at Thainstone Centre.

“Pedigree and commercial sheep are an important part of our business and the Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ ram sales are one of the best places to purchase stock for improving your genetics. Our production sites at Turriff, Mintlaw and Inverness are well situated to serve the sheep farmer in these difficult times.”

Prices hit an event record high of £6500 at the 2007 Aberdeen Christmas Classic yesterday when butcher Tom Hutchon of JB Penman's, Crail, Fife, bought this year’s supreme champion, which came from exhibitors Watson and Work of Mains of Dumbrek, Udny.

The supreme champion was the April 2006-born, Limousin cross heifer Baillie’s Orkney Cream. Bred by J S Baillie and Co, Sebay, Tankerness, Orkney, she tipped the scales at 536kg.

The overall reserve champion was exhibited by Bert and Patsy Paton of Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir - winners of the supreme championship last year. The 672kg March 2006-born Limousin steer Jim Jam was knocked down to Archie Jess, of Matheson Jess, Paisley, for £2600.

A record price for commercial beef breeding cattle was realised at a special sale at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre last week.

A homebred Belgian Blue cross Limousin from GP Smart & Son, Sheil, Alford, achieved a top price of £2000 – a record for in calf commercial beef breeding cows at the centre.

The animal – served to calve her second calf in April to AI limousin bull Killarton Travis – was purchased by North showman John Smith of Brora.

Aberdeen & Northern Marts said all classes at last week’s special sale met an increased demand with spring calving heifers and cows in great demand.

Aberdeen and Northern Marts are set to offer some 100 exhibition cattle and 73 of the North East’s premier pedigree beef bulls as part of the 2008 Royal Northern Spring Show at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Wednesday, February 27.

The annual multi-breed show and sale of pedigree beef bulls, sponsored by Clydesdale Bank, comprises 30 Charolais, 24 Limousin, 9 Simmental, 9 Aberdeen-Angus and 1 Blonde D’ Aqutaine which will be judged by Mr J Muirhead, Firhills Farm, Arbroath.

This year’s show will start at 8.30am and the sale will begin at 11.30am.

Also taking place as part of the 2008 Royal Northern Spring Show will be a show and sale of about 100 exhibition cattle. This event will begin with the show at 10.30am and the sale will commence at 2pm with the presentation of trophies.

Judging is now complete at Thainstone for this year's Aberdeen and Northern Marts' spring show of multi breed cattle.

Topping the line up of cattle was the Limousin champion from David Work. Dumbreck Braveheart is by Sympa and out of Ronick Sonita and sells with a breed value of +36. Later in the day he sold for 4900gns to L J George, Rothiemay.

Just behind him was a call of 4800gns for John and Margaret Penny's Shannas herd, selling their reserve breed champion to G Grant and Sons, Bridge of Spey.

Taking the Charolais championship was J A Wilson and Sons' Kinclune Buster, a Caylers Solomon son out of Kinclune Ruby. He sold for 5000gns.

Topping Charolais trade at Thainstone today was J A Wilson and Sons' Kinclune Barker. This Caylers Solomon (bought in Perth for 14,000gns) son is out of a homebred dam and sold for 8500gns. Brought out by Sandy Davidson, he sold to suckled calf producers Mark and Ian Baxter, Banff.

Also from the same stable and by the same sire was Kinclune Bruno, this time selling for 7500gns to F D Glass, Alford.

Next in the Charolais lines was a 4400gns call for one from neil Barclay - Hrestone Batman. This is a son of Mortimers Meridian and sold to C Addison, Methlick.

Winning the Thainstone commercial championship for the second time was Bertie Paton and his family from Kirriemuir. Bow Chicka Wah Wah took the title and later sold for £2000.

Taking the reserve title and a call of £2800 was K Mallarhey, Hatton.

Last week's show and sale of Texel prime lambs at Thainstone attracted a strong entry of 55 pairs.

Judge and butcher Paul Smith of Mason Lodge, Skene, Westhill, selected his overall champion in the form of Ellon-based G L Stuart's 52kg pair of pure Texels. These sold for £120/head (230p/kg) to the judge.

Meanwhile the reserve champions were exhibited by Brian Buchan, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh and these 48kg cross Texels were bought by the Broadstraik Inn, Elrick, Westhill for £120/head (250p/kg).

Averages: pure Texel light - 179.7p; pure Texel heavy - 190p; cross Texel light - 179.5p; cross Texel heavy - 185.5p (Aberdeen and Northern Marts).