Final call for entries ahead of next week's Caithness Christmas show at Quoybrae
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Exhibitors are being encouraged to get their entries in for next week's annual Caithness Christmas show and sale at the Quoybrae auction mart.
The deadline for some sections is this Wednesday, with other categories having until Friday to put forward their best cattle and sheep.
The show starts on Monday, December 4, at 6.45pm, with the judging of the prime lambs and prime cattle sections, followed by the new baby beef competition, with the sale of store cattle, prime cattle, prime lambs, store lambs and feeding ewes taking place on Tuesday, December 5.
Entries for the store cattle, store lambs, prime lambs and prime cattle sections close on Wednesday, November 29, at 5pm, with the prime and feeding ewes section closing on Friday, December 1.
Scott Watson, of Muirdram, Carnoustie, is set to judge the open and Young Farmers prime cattle section, sponsored by NFU Mutual, Thurso and Dingwall, and the baby beef competition.
The baby beef competition is new to the 2023 event and is sponsored by Vauldale Engineering. The aim of the competition is to encourage Young Farmers to showcase their young calves and practice showmanship skills ahead of the Caithness overwintering competition in April. The competition is confined to Caithness Young Farmers members only.
In the prime lambs sections, the open pairs of prime lambs section is sponsored by Fiona and Cath of the Home Bakery, Wick, and Duncan and Todd, Wick, is lined up to sponsor the Young Farmers pairs of prime lambs.
The pen of 10 untrimmed lambs section, sponsored by Mr Wullie Gulloch, will be judged by Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Orkney.
At last year’s show, a top price of £3000 was achieved in the prime cattle section for a Limousin Bullock from G W Begg, scalling 635kg, selling to Mackay’s Hotel, Wick.
The champion pair of prime lambs consigned from Sibmister and Stainland Farms was a pair of 45kg Beltex which realised £580 to the same buyer. The champion Young Farmers pair of prime lambs was a pair of 61kg Texels from Sophie Gunn, The Shein, Hill of Forss, purchased by Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant.
The champion pen of 10 untrimmed lambs was awarded to Robin Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten, and realised £122 per head.
Scott Chapman, auctioneer at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, said: “The annual Caithness Christmas show is a fantastic opportunity for exhibitors to show their top-quality prime cattle and sheep to a busy ringside of buyers from across the north of Scotland. We encourage everyone to get their entries in before the closing date.
"We are thrilled to also be supporting the next generation with the introduction of the baby beef competition, which allows Young Farmers to get involved and showcase the art of stockmanship ahead of next year's overwintering competition.”
Online bidding will also be available at the sale.
