22/03/10 - “Superb” Young Farmers’ Contest

16/03/10 - SFP Trade Strong At Penultimate Sale

11/03/10 - Excellent Entry Forward For Young Farmers’ Contest

Monday 22nd March

“Superb” Young Farmers’ Contest

Taking the overall championship at the Ledingham Chalmers sponsored Young Farmers’ Overwintering Contest, and beating a large and strong entry, was Balfour Baillie of Sebay Cottage, Tankerness, Orkney.

Mr Baillie, who is a member of East Mainland Young Farmers’ club, exhibited a 454kg May 2009 born Charolais Cross heifer bred by D&R Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet.  This animal was also overall heifer champion.

In the sale, the animal went on to sell for £2,100 to Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin.

Judges for the event were Harry Emslie, Upper Kinknockie, Mintlaw, who judged the classes and the championship, and Graham Easton, The Ranch, Letham, Angus, who judged the best presented and paraded animal.

Overall steer champion came from Craig Hendry, Head of Auchinderran, Aultmore, Keith: a 534kg February 2009 born Limousin Cross bred by RS Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet.  It sold for £1,600 to Blair Duffton, Bogie Street, Huntly.  Craig is a member of Keith Young Farmers’ club.

The home bred champion was a February 2009 born Limousin Cross heifer weighing in at 474kg.  This animal was presented by Keith Young Farmers’ club member Martin Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir, Keith and went on to sell for £1,900 also to Blair Duffton.

Top priced animal came from Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet for a November 2008 born, 600kg, Limousin Cross heifer, bred by RS Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet.  It sold for £2,300 to judge, Harry Emslie, Upper Kinknockie, Mintlaw.

Allan Collie of sponsors Ledingham Chalmers commented: “This was a superb event, closely contested by a large number of keen young farmers.  Their skills and knowledge were evident in the way they presented and handled their stock and Ledingham Chalmers are delighted to be associated with an event such as this which encourages the next generation of the farming industry.”

Alan Hutcheon, Aberdeen & Northern Marts Deputy General Manager added: “It is great to see so many promising young farmers with such skills in presentation and handling and we are very happy with the event as a whole, including the support from Ledingham Chalmers, whose support is vital.

“We are now looking forward to the Young Farmers’ section at the Christmas Classic and encourage anyone interested in entering this event to start planning their entries soon.  We will also host a demonstration event with leading local showmen where Young Farmers can seek advice and pick up tips on preparing an animal for show.  The full details of this event will be announced shortly.”

Meanwhile, a 14 year old entrant took home a number of top prizes including the highest average weight gain for a steer award, highest feeder’s margin award, Best Overwintered Animal (steers) and best First Time Exhibitor.  Kyle Cooper of Shenwell School House, Drummuir, Keith took these awards and also saw his top priced animal, a 430kg April 2009 born British Blue cross steer, sell for £1,850 to Donald Morrison, Cairn Nulla, Burnside, Kinlochbervie.

The Millennium Trophy for best overall club went to Keith Young Farmers.

Allan Collie of sponsors Ledingham Chalmers (left) with winners, Gary Wright, Craig Hendry, Martin Irvine, Balfour Baillie and Kyle Cooper.	Gary Wright, Craig Hendry, Martin Irvine, Kyle Cooper, Balfour Baillie, Allan Collie of Ledingham Chalmers
Balfour Baillie with his champion animal	Balfour Baillie with Allan Collie of sponsors Ledingham Chalmers.

YOUNG FARMERS OVERWINTERING COMPETITION 2010
PRIZE LIST

Class 1 - Light Unhaltered Bullock
1st Craig Hendry, Heads of Auchenderran Keith; 2nd Walter Leith, North Crannoch Grange; 3rd Adam Middler, South Cardrum, Oldmeldrum; 4th Diane Hirst, 2 Bogie St, Huntly; 5th Adam Middler.
Class 2 - Heavy Unhaltered Bullock
1st Gemma Hendry, Heads of Auchenderran, Keith; 2nd Kay Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon
3rd Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Turriff; 4th Gary Raeburn, 7 Bogie St, Huntly; 5th Craig Hendry.
Class 3 - Unhaltered Heifer
1st Craig Hendry; 2nd Gary Raeburn; 3rd Laura Lumsden, Downies, Huntly; 4th Scott Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul; 5th Steven Smith.
Class 4 - Light Bullock
1st Paul Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Ardersier; 2nd Ellie Robertson, Roebank, Grange; 3rd Gemma Anderson, Morayscairn, Forres; 4th Michelle M. Connon, Broadmyre, Clatt; 5th Diane Hirst.
Class 5 - Light Intermediate Bullock
1st Kyle Cooper, Shenwell School House, Keith; 2nd Scott Fraser, Lethen Mill House, Nairn; 3rd Sarah Balfour, Fodderletter Farm, Tomintoul; 4th Lynne MacArthur, Newton of Budgate, Nairn; 5th Steven Singer, Woodside of Ashalloch, Huntly.
Class 6 - Intermediate Bullock
1st Balfour Baillie, Sebay Cottage, Tankerness; 2nd Craig Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet;
3rd Ally Fraser, Easter Clune, Nairn; 4th Darren Davidson, 8 Quarryhill, Keith; 5th Michael Stronach, Maisley, Keith.
Class 7 - Heavy Bullock
1st Craig Hendry; 2nd William J Law, Upper Ashalloch; Huntly; 3rd Grant Fraser, Easter Clune, Nairn; 4th Grant Morrison, Newtack, Keith; 5th Walter Leith.
Class 8 - Light Heifer
1st Paul Wilson; 2nd Darren Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir; 3rd Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet; 4th Diane Hirst; 5th Walter Leith.
Class 9 - Light Intermediate Heifer
1st Balfour Baillie; 2nd John Connon, Broadmyre, Clatt; 3rd Bradley Robertson, Roebank, Grange; 4th Sarah Balfour; 5th Kyle Cooper.
Class 10 - Intermediate Heifer
1st Balfour Baillie; 2nd Catherine Beaton, South Auchmaliddie, Maud; 3rd Jordan Green, 20 Bridge St, Keith; 4th Lynne MacArthur; 5th Sarah J Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Ardersier.
Class 11 - Heavy Heifer
1st Gary Wright; 2nd Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul; 3rd Grant Morrison;
4th Craig Durno; 5th Gary Raeburn.
Class 12 - Light Home Bred Bullock
1st Gary Patterson, 37 Mid St, Keith; 2nd Ewan Simpson, Mains of Leslie, Insch; 3rd Gavin Petrie, Mains of Auchoynanie, Keith; 4th Ewan Simpson; 5th Walter Leith.
Class 13 - Light Home Bred Heifer
1st Martin Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir; 2nd Martin Irvine; 3rd Gavin Petrie; 4th Sarah J Wilson; 5th Paul Wilson.
Champion - Balfour Baillie
Overall Bullock - Craig Hendry
Overall Heifer - Balfour Baillie
Home-bred Champion - Martin Irvine
Best Presented & Paraded Animal
1st Gavin Petrie; 2nd Sarah Balfour; 3rd Balfour Baillie; 4th Ally Fraser; 5th Martin Irvine.

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Tuesday 16th March

SFP Trade Strong At Penultimate Sale

Trade for Single Farm Payment entitlements was strong at Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ sale on Friday (March 12).

A total of 873.69 lots were sold with a top multiplier of 2.5 for 2.73 units with a Euro value of €2695.95.

The overall multiplier was 2.0 based on the standard Euro conversion rate of 0.9093.

In all 30 lots were with 28 bidders utilising ANM Group’s eBid@liveauction remote bidding facility.  15 lots were purchased using the system.

The next sale will be held on Friday (March 19) at 2pm in the Concourse, Thainstone Centre.  This sale will be the last in the season.  For further information regarding the sale please contact Alan Donald on 01467 623753 or at alan.donald@goanm.co.uk.  Those wishing to use the eBid system need to have the software downloaded and be registered at least 24 hours in advance. 

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Thursday 11th March

Excellent Entry Forward For Young Farmers’ Contest

Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ annual Young Farmers Overwintered Cattle competition will reach its finale on Thursday and Friday (March 18 and 19).

The contest is sponsored this year by Ledingham Chalmers and has attracted an excellent entry with young farmers from across the North and North east entering cattle. 

The contest aims to offer young farmers an insight into the requirements of preparing cattle for show and sale and also provide them with an opportunity to gain business experience in the running of a successful beef cattle finishing enterprise.  Some 91 cattle are entered into the sale.

Judge for this year’s event will be Harry Emslie, Brae of Coynach, Mintlaw and the show will be held in Thainstone Exchange on Thursday March 18 at 6pm.  The sale will be held the following day at 10am.

Allan Collie, a partner at regional law firm Ledingham Chalmers and accredited specialist in agricultural law, said: “Young farmers are vital to the future of the industry, they are the new blood who will keep the sector thriving.  

“There is no question of their dedication and enthusiasm and the contest gives them the chance to show off their skills, while being involved first-hand in the vital and exciting art of trading their stock at market.

“Events at ANM bring a great focus to the work they are doing, which has a significant part to play in the local economy.   They are also a big draw for farming folk of all ages who continue to provide great support to the next generation.”

A wide range of prizes will be presented including the best commercial overwintered animal, outwith the champions and the winner of this award will be decided by a points system, factoring in liveweight gain, presentation, gross margin and overall quality of the animal. 

John Angus, Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ breeding and store cattle manager added: “We have an excellent entry of stock forward and I’m sure the competition will be strongly contested.  The Young Farmers’ event often provides stock which goes on to further success at shows across the country including Thainstone Spectacular and the Aberdeen Christmas Classic.”

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