Five cattle forward at young farmers' overwintering competition
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The annual overwintering cattle competition took place at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Caithness Livestock Centre.
The event in May 4 was sponsored by Messrs Andrew H Mackay, West Greenland, Castletown, and five cattle were forward.
The Covid-19 restrictions meant a show could not take place prior to the sale. However, prizes for daily liveweight gain and best gross margin were awarded.
Taking home the W A Geddes Perpetual Trophy for the best overall daily liveweight gain was a 570kg Charolais cross bullock bred by A S Budge, Milton, Halkirk, which had a 1.356kg per day liveweight gain, also winning the highest gross margin of £400 from James Gunn, Whitefield.
The best overall daily liveweight gain (+1.046kg) and highest gross margin (+£290) for heifers went to John Gunn, North Killimster, with a 533kg Limouisn cross bred by E M Smith & Sons, Towiemore, Keith.
All calves were purchased on October 14 in Caithness Livestock Centre's annual show and sale of spring-born calves.
Thainstone, Aberdeen and Northern Marts (May 7):
A total of 96 cast cows and prime cattle and sheep were forward from Caithness, Ross-shire and Sutherland consignors with leading prices as follows.
Cast cows and prime cattle:
Beef cows (27) sold to 162p per Kg for a 648kg Limousin Cross from Messrs William Bain, Kennachy, Forss, and £1190 gross for a 820kg Limousin cross from D A Manson, 31 Larel, Halkirk.
Leading prices per head:
Cadbollmount Farm, Fearn (AA x) £1175; 31 Larel (Lim x) £1150; Tormore, Dunbeath (Lim x) £1150; Biggins, Killimster (Sim x) £1135; Rovie, Rogart (Lim) £1070; Roadside, Bilbster (Sim) £1065; Kennachy (Lim x) £1050; 4 Sibster, Wick (BF) £1015; Latheron Mains (Lim x) £925; 4 Sibster, Wick (NR x) £925; Roadside (Lim x) £925; Nottingham Mains (Sim x) £885; Nottingham Mains (Lim x) £875 Lingland, Occumster (Cha) £865; Dunrobin Farm, Golspie (AA x) £865; Latheron Mains (Sho x) £825.
Leading prices per kg:
Cadbollmount 160p; Rovie 152p; 31 Larel 151.3p, 145.1p; Biggins 148p; Tormore 146p; Nottingham Mains 145p, 139.7p; Latheron Mains 133.1p, 126.6p; Dunrobin Farm 132.2p; Roadside 131.8p; 131.7p; 4 Sibster 130.6p.
Prime steers over 30 months sold to 167p per kg and £1143.95 for a 685kg from D Nicolson & Son, 4 Sibster.
Prime heifers (over 30 months) sold to 147p per kg for a 570kg Charolais from 4 Sibster and £1244.05 for a 895kg Salers heifer from J S R Moodie & Co, Rovie, Rogart.
Prime steers (under 30 months) sold to 166p per kg and £1,070.70 for a 645kg Charolais cross from 4 Sibster Wick.
Sheep (69):
Prime sheep (34) – Old season lambs sold to 215p per kg and £107.50 for a pen of six Texels from Firm of Munro, Drumancroy, Portmahomack.
Leading prices: Tex – Upper Milton, Wick, Drumancroy £103.50; Drumancroy 211p; Tex x – Drumancroy £105.50; Upper Milton 207p.
Feeding ewes and rams (35) sold to £105 for Suffolk ewes from Drumancroy Farm.
Leading prices: Tex – Drumancroy £98.50; Cha – Drumancroy £93.50; Cont – Quoybrae £82.50.
Thainstone, Aberdeen and Northern Marts (May 8) sold 74 store cattle from Caithness, Ross-shire and Sutherland.
Store cattle (74):
Bullocks to a top of 261.1p per kilo for a 404kg Charolais cross from J & M Macdonald, Tormore, Dunbeath, and £1090 gross per head for a pair of 484kg Charolais crosses from J S R Moodie & Co, Rovie, Rogart.
Heifers to a top of 237.8p per kilo for a 370kg Charolais cross from Dunbeath Farms and £1110 gross for a 622kg Aberdeen Angus cross from D Scott, Cadbollmount Farm, Fearn.
Leading prices per head:
Bullocks: 301-350kg – Nottingham Mains (Cha x) £840, £810, (AA x) £800; Dunrobin Farm (AA) £705.
351-400kg – Dunbeath Farms, Tormore (Cha) £870; Dunrobin Farm, Golspie (AA) £830; Nottingham Mains (Cha x) £800.
401-450kg –Tormore (Cha x) £1055; Rovie (Cha) £1020.
451-500kg – Rovie (Cha) £1060, £1030, Drumancroy (BSH x) £925.
550-660kg – Upper Geise, Janetstown (Cha x) £1170.
Heifers: 301-350kg – Nottingham Mains (Lim) £740, (Cha) £740.
351-400kg – Dunbeath Farms (Cha) £880.
401-450kg – Rovie (Cha) £960. 501-550kg – Cadbollmount (AA) £1080.
Leading prices per kg:
Bullocks: 301-350kg – Nottingham Mains 254.7p, 248.5p; Dunrobin Farm 223.1p.
351-400kg – Nottingham Mains 225.9p; Estate Office 220.8p; Dunrobin Farm 223.1p; Drumancroy 221.7p.
401-450kg – Drumancroy 228.9p,Rovie 226.6p.
451-500kg – Rovie 225.2p, 220p. 550-600kg – Upper Geise 202p.
Heifers: 301-350kg – Nottingham Mains 235.6p; Tormore 213.9p.
401-450kg – Rovie 227.4p.
