Young Farmer's Overwintering competition - March 2008

Tuesday 11th March 2008

ANNUAL YOUNG FARMERS’ COMPETITION TO CULMINATE WITH SHOW AND SALE

Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ annual young farmers ' overwintered cattle competition will culminate with a show and sale at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie next Thursday (March 20th) and Friday (March 21st).

Sponsored by Johnston Carmichael chartered accountants and business advisers, the 2007-08 competition has attracted an entry of 90 animals, 26 home-bred and 64 which were bought at Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ autumn 2007 sales.

The event offers participants the chance to gain practical experience in selecting and preparing cattle for show and sale, as well as learning about the business skills that are needed to operate a successful beef finishing enterprise.

Among the awards up for grabs is a prize for the best commercial overwintered animal, outwith the championship animals. The winner will be decided by a points system which takes account of liveweight gain, presentation and parading, and gross margin, as well as the quality of the animal.

The show will take place in Thainstone EXCHANGE from 6pm on Thursday, March 20th and will be judged by Scott Watson, Balhousie, Carnousie.

The best presented and paraded animal will be chosen by Harry Brown Jnr, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud and the entries will go under the hammer from 10am on Friday, March 21st.

Commenting on the competition, Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ store and breeding cattle manager John Angus said: “Entries in this competition are traditionally of a very high standard and this year is set to be no exception. The event allows aspiring youngsters to showcase their talents in the ring.

“We anticipate a good turnout of buyers both at the ringside and via our remote bidding system, eBid @ liveauction.”

Alex Rennie, lead agricultural partner with competition sponsor Johnston Carmichael, added: “I am delighted that this event is being so well supported, and that so many highly talented young people have chosen to take part.

“Johnston Carmichael has taken care of the accounting and advisory needs of generations of farmers here in the North-east so I am especially pleased to see that our potential future clients are clearly well on the road to acquiring the range of skills that they’ll need to keep this region at the forefront of Scottish agriculture.”

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