Big money for Limousin x at Young farmers overwintering sale

Last week’s Aberdeen and Northern Marts Young Farmers’ overwintering contest, held at Thainstone, Inverurie, saw big money being paid for Limousin crosses with two selling for £2,600.

The first to hit this top price was an 11-month-old class winning Limousin cross heifer from Lauren Stronach, 15, Maisley, Keith.  Originally bred by W. Patterson & Son, Ardioch, Keith, and weighing in at 508kg, this one sold to James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, Sorn, Ayrshire.

And the second at £2,600 was a year old 394kg Limousin cross bullock from another 15-year-old – Reece Simmers, Backmuir, Keith.  His bullock was originally bred by MacArthur Bros., Mid Fleenas, Nairn, and sold to Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Shandscross, Turriff. Reece also had the joint top sale price of £2,000 at last year’s event.

Meanwhile, falling not far behind at £2,000, was the show’s champion – a British Blue cross heifer from 19-year-old Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul.

His April 2011-born champion (pictured above), Isa, was bred by Rory Hood, Middlehill Farm, Glen Clova, and was bought originally bought for £800 at the Thainstone Spectacular last August. It weighed in at 404kg and sold to Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud.

The overall bullock champion was  an 11-month-old British Blue cross from Ally Fraser, Easter Clune, Lethan, Nairn.  Weighing in at 484kg and bred by Alistair Smart, Shiel, Alford, it sold for £1,200 to D. & V. Buchan, Savoch, Longside, Peterhead.

The homebred champion was Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, with a year-old Limousin cross heifer, weighing 398kg, this one sold for £1,480 to J. Stuart, Belnoe, Chapeltown, Ballindalloch.

The Millenium Trophy for the best overall club in the event went to Keith YFC.

Alan Hutcheon, deputy general manager of Aberdeen & Northern Marts, said: “This was without a doubt the best show of Young Farmers’ overwintered animals we have seen at Thainstone, which was a great credit to the exhibitors and the hard work they had put in.

“The high quality of the animals was reflected in the high prices and averages we saw today.”

A total of 76 animals were sold to average £2.78/kg and £1,310.79 a head, compared to last year when 82 animals averaged £2.24/kg and £997.44 a head.

Heifers (42) averaged £2.92/kg and £1,357.140 a head, compared to £2.38p/kg and £997.27 a head last year.

Steers (34) averaged £2.61p/kg and £1,253.53 a head, compared to £2.16p/kg and £997.55 a head last year.

Other leading prices:

£2,350 – Lucy Simmers, for a class-winning 11-month-old Charolais cross heifer, sold to Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud.

£2,250 – Michael Wilson, Shantlerhill, Maud, for a third place 16-month-old Limousin cross heifer to A.H. Jack, The Cottage, Kilcoy, Muir of Ord.

£2,000 – Mark Robertson, for a class winning 16-month-old British Blue steer to Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Whitecairns.

£1,750 – Bradley Robertson, Roebank, Grange, Keith, with a second place 11-month-old British Blue cross heifer to G.P. Smart & Son, Shiel, Alford.

£1,750 – Reece Simmers with a second place 11-month British Blue cross heifer to J.A. Morrison, Newtack, Crossroads, Keith.

£1,700 – Rebecca Stuart, Murrial, Insch, with a fourth place 11-montyh-old British Blue cross heifer to J.A. Morrison.

£1,700 – Garry Paterson, Upper Forgie, Keith, with a class winning 15-month-old Limousin cross steer to Aileen Ritchie.

£1,650 – Sarah Balfour, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul with a second place year-old Charolais cross steer to J. Munro & Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay, Sutherland.

£1,650 – Kyle Cooper, Shenwell Farm House, Drummuir, Keith for a second place 18-month-old Limousin cross heifer to Alexander Bros., Auchenbreddie, Insch.

£1,640 – Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Shandscross, Turriff with a 17-month-old Charolais cross heifer to A & E Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon.

£1,600 – Sarah Balfour with a third place 11-month-old Limousin cross heifer to Bill and Ilona Thompson, Nether Glasslaw, New Pitsligo.