Farming Eye

Here’s a picture gallery from today’s Spring Show and Sale at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, Thainstone. As ever three snippets to encourage you to take a further look.

All pics taken by Catherine Laurenson and are available for purchase from MacGregor Photography.

by Chrissie Long

The reserve champion from this afternoon’s show of calves at Thainstone’s Spring Show is currently leading trade at £3200. This is for a Limousin x British Blue from Harry Brown and is by Dumbreck Citroen. Buyer was Gordon Cameron, Argyll.

Just before that the heifer and overall champion from Logierait, a Limousin cross heifer by Naby Champion, has gone at £2000 to the judge, Andrew Laird, Orkney.

The steer champion, a Limousin cross by Normande Adventurer, from Wilson Peters, has gone at £2100, while Harry Emslie and Lynwen Evans have just sold their reserve steer champion, The Godfather, a Limousin cross by Emslies Colossus, for £2000.

Other notable prices include a Limousin cross by Nabby Champion from the Robertson family again, this one weighed in at 334kg and sold for £2900 and heads to Blair Duffton, while at £2600 was the first prize winning British Blue cross by Springfield Dusty from the McConachie family, buyer here was Eileen Ritchie. This one weighed 324kg. From the same home, a British Blue cross steer by the same sire weighing 384kg has gone at £2550 to Blair Duffton.

First prize heifer from the McConachie's selling for £2600

McConachie's first prize steer sold for £2550

Next in the money at £2500 was a Limousin heifer sired by Rocky from the Henderson family and weighing 388kg which went to the judge Andrew Laird, while at the same money Messrs McLaren have sold their Limousin cross by Hafodlas Abram.

by Chrissie Long

Winning the heifer and overall championship was the Robertson family of Logierait with a British Blue cross heifer by Bringlee Volkawagon, weighing in at 460kg.

Standing reserve was Harry Brown, Peterhead, with a Limousin x British Blue weighing in at 598kg. She is by Dumbreck Citreon, a Goldlies Oswald son, bred by David and Neil Work.

Taking the steer championship was Wilson Peters of Monzie Farms, with a Limousin cross by Normande Adventurer weighing 512kg, while the reserve steer championship went to Harry Emslie and Lynwen Evans with a Limousin cross steer, The Godfather, by the herd’s home bred stock bull Emslies Colossus.

Pictures to follow later….

by Chrissie Long

Topping Simmental trade today is the overall champion Islavale Bailey from Stuart Stronach. Born May 2010, Bailey is by Glenturk Premier and out of the Darsham Lucky Strike daughter Islavale Holly 2nd and has a milk figure of +3, a TSI of +52 and a SRI of +59 and was sold to Liam Muir, Orkney.

Islavale Bailey sold for 9000gns

Next, selling for 8000gns, was the reserve champion, Tillyeve Blockbuster from Messrs Bruce. By Kilbride Farm Vernon, he is out of the Blackford Navigator daughter Tillyeve Toffee and has a TSI of +72 and a SRI of +75. Buyer here was William Morrison, Banff.

Tillyeve Blockbuster sold for 8000gns

In the Aberdeen-Angus offering sale leader at 5800gns was the first prize Silvermoss Paddy K039 from Rodney and Mary Sloan. By the herd’s stock bull Ellin Evermore G354, this one is out of the Blelack Blackstaff Y288 daughter Silvermoss Polly Marie F001. He was knocked down to Andrew Mackay, Thurso.

The Angus champion was the April-2010 Blelack Perfection K434 from Neil and Graeme, Dinnet, which sold for 2300gns to Terry Coghill, Orkney, while the reserve, Schivas Lord Jock K914 from Schivas Estates, House of Schivas, Ythanbank, Ellon, which made 2,400gns to Andrew Thomson, South Coldoch Farm, Blair Drummond, Stirling.

by Chrissie Long

Trade for Limousin bulls is currently topping at 7000gns for the first place Buchaam Funambule from Messrs Ogg, a June 2010-born son of Burnbank Astar out of the Paradis daughter Buchaam Annette. Buyer here was Dougie and Linda Graham for their Burnbank herd.

Buchaam Funambule sold for 7000gns

Selling at 6200gns was Kair Ferdinand from Messrs Anderson and Co. This Ausgust 2010-born son of Wilodge Vantastic is out of the Pacha daughter and sold with a beef value of +34 and a muscle figure of +4.2.

by Chrissie Long

Taking the top spot in the next class of show calves just now is Messrs McLaren with a Limousin cross heifer weighing 414kg. This one is by Hafodlas Abram, the same sire as the 2011 Christmas Classic Young Farmers champion. Second to her was Messrs G M Henderson with a Limousin cross by Rocky weighing 388kg. Third place went to Monzie Farms with a Limousin by Normande Adventurer wweighing 386kg.

Standing top of the next class was the Robertson family of Logierait with a 412kg Limousin cross steer by Craigatoke Butch, while second went to a 412kg Limousin cross steer from Messrs S Smith and bred by Macarthur brothers. Third in this class was Logierait again with a Fedneyhouse Dapper Limousin cross weighing 434kg. Fourth place went Messrs J J Gordan with a British Blue cross steer bred by Alastair Smart.

by Chrissie Long

Charolais bulls are meeting a resoundingly strong trade at Thainston today, with a top call and a new centre record of 16,500gns paid for Kinclune Frater from John Wilson.

Kinclune Frater sold for 16,5000gns

This Thrunton Crownprince son is out of Kinclune Union, a Derryharney Peter daughter and stood second in his class. He sold to Philip Simmers, Blackmuir Farm.

Next best at 14,000gns is the third prize winner from the same class Elgin Findlay from the Milnes. This is by Elgin Davinci, sire of the 2012 Smithfield champion and is out of Elgin Dixiechick, a Gower Versace daughter. This one went to Ian and Mark Baxter.

Elgin Findlay sold for 14,000gns

And making 13,000gns and also going to Philip Simmers was Kinclune Freeman. This one, again by Thrunton Crownprince is out of Kinclune Audrey another by Peter.

by Jonathan Long

Commercial calf judging is underway at Thainstone with some great quality forward for judge Andrew Laird, Orkney to place.

Leading the first class are George and Doreen McConachie with Martin Irvine at the halter of a 324kg British Blue cross heifer by Springfield Dusty, while second went to Stuart Fotheringham with another British Blue cross heifer, this time weighing the same as the first place heifer. Third went to Mark Robertson with another British Blue cross, this time by Cantray Bomber and bred by Messrs Hood. This one weighs 382kg and fourth has gone to Messrs J A Morrison with a Limousin cross heifer bred by the Carroll family and weighing 374kg.

Winning the next class for steers was the McConachie family again with another British Blue cross by Springfield Dusty weighing 384kg. Second went to Messrs J Robertson and Co with a 322kg Bringlee Volkawagon son. Third went to J A Morrison with another Limousin cross bred by the Carroll family, this time weighing 384kg, while fourth was a Limousin cross weighing 322kg from Messrs W Stewart.

by Chrissie Long

Yesterday’s show and sale of Beltex cross hoggets at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, saw 190  forward from the Central and Perthshire areas with the overall average 232.14p/kg.

Taking the championship spot under the day’s judge, John Gibson, procurement manager from Vivers Scotlamb, Annan, was a pen of 46kg hoggets from J B Guthrie, Cuiltburn, Muthill which later sold for £125 (271p/kg), while reserve championship honours went to D S and R C Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Muthill with a pen of 39.5kg hoggets which sold for £98 (248p/kg).

Champion pen of Beltex cross hoggets from J B Guthrie

by Jonathan Long

Taking the top spot in the overall supreme championship just now at Thainstone was Neil and Stuart Barclay with their Charolais champion (lot 10), the April 2010-born Harestone Ferrari. By the Bova Sylvain son Glencoe Conrad, he is out of the Maerdy Impeccable daughter Harestone Angelina, an ET-bred daughter of Maerdy impeccable out of Harestone Madone. He carries a TSI of +27 and a SRI of +26.

Pictures to follow shortly…

by Chrissie Long