The overall champion, a Limousin cross bullock from Jamie Pirie of Blarnavaid, Drymen, went on to secure the top price of £4300 at Clyde and Central Young Farmers’ calf rally competition, staged at Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling.
This yearling bullock, White Line, crossed the weighbridge at 470kg, having been bought from Gary Bell’s Haas Side dispersal sale along with his dam, Sired by Wilodge Merlin, which made 10,000gns at the same sale and sold to Gareth Scott, Hawhill, Dalry.
“My champion was full of style with a lot of presence, having caught my eye right from the start. This flashy all-rounder beast is very correct and carried himself well,” said the judge, Jean Parker of Auchenairney, Maybole, who first got started in showing at this calf rally 17 years ago.
READ MORE | Breeding for success with Limousins at Wester Bonhard
Jamie Pirie sold another at £2200 – this came in the form of the 395kg Limousin cross heifer Little Spot, which found a new home with DJ Livingstone, Kirtle Vale, Gretna.
The runner-up was awarded to a 370kg Limousin cross roan heifer from Jack McDonald, Daill, Islay, which later realised £2400.
“The reserve was a sweet heifer with a lot of potential in her, again being very square and correct,” the judge added.
READ MORE | Loosebeare champion Limousin makes 35,000gns at Carlisle
The runner-up was out of a Shorthorn cross cow, sired by a Limousin bull and bred by John Findlay from Islay. Ian Miller, Miller Farms, North Lurg, Aberdeen, took this one home.
A second top price of £2600 was paid for the 470kg British Blue cross heifer Bombay Sapphire from Rebecca Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, who also picked up the best novice award. Bred by the Drysdales of Kinnesswood. This one again sold to DJ Livingstone.
The best from Alexander Crombie made £2300 and was another purchase by Miller Farms. This 455kg Limousin cross heifer named Hot N Spicy is bred by Cloquhat Farms.
First-time exhibitor Donnie MacCorquodale sold his 420kg Limousin cross home-bred heifer for £2200 to WJGA Fraser, Little Gray, Inverness. Christened Diane, she is sired by a Ronick bull and out of a British Blue cross dam.
The 42 show cattle, 15 more on the year, witnessed heifers average 383p per kg or £1698 per head (-£480 on the year), with the bullocks cashing in at 351p or £1678 (+£129).
Leading Awards
Limousin champion – J Pirie. Reserve – J McDonald.
British Blue champion – A Miller. Reserve – On it Livestock.
Charolais champion – M Steel. Reserve – J Gilvear.
Best turned out stockperson – A Crombie.
Best novice – R Bryce.
Best profit – J Pirie.
Best weight gain – R Steel.
Best presented calf – D McCorquodale.
Bullock born January 14, 2023 and February 20, 2023 – 1, On it Livestock, Stirling, 620kg, £1780; 2, C MacCallum, Upper Spittalton, 530kg, £1600; 3, On it Livestock, Stirling, 475kg, £1600.
Bullock born March 6, 2023 and March 21, 2023 – 1, M Crombie, Falkirk, 535kg, £1600; 2, Y Brown, Airdrie, 515kg, £1550.
Bullock born March 23, 2023 and April 11, 2023 – 1 and overall champion, J Pirie, Drymen, 470kg, £4300; 2, J Bignal, Islay, 445kg, £1500; 3, R Steel, Buchlyvie, 505kg, £1520.
Bullock born April 13, 2023 and June 7, 2023 – 1, A Crombie, Falkirk, 515kg, £1620; 2, On it Livestock, Stirling, 425kg, £1540; 3, On it Livestock, Stirling, 410kg, £1500.
Heifer born February 2, 2023 and March 6, 2023 – 1, A Crombie, Falkirk, 455kg, £2300; 2, On it Livestock, Stirling, 450kg, £1500; 3, On it Livestock, Stirling, 445kg, £1520.
Heifer born March 11, 2023 and March 28, 2023 – 1, S Taylor, Bannockburn, 475kg, £1480; 2, T Brisbane, Stirling, 465kg, £1300; 3, E Turner, Dunbarton.
Heifer born March 30, 2023 and April 8, 2023 – 1 and reserve overall, J McDonald, Islay, 370kg, £2400; 2, R Bryce, Stirling, 470kg, £2600; 3, J Urquhart, Bannockburn, 500kg, £1820.
Heifers born April 10, 2023 and July 1, 2023 – 1, J Pirie, Drymen, 395kg, £2200; 2, Y Brown, Airdrie, 445kg, £1560; 3, M Pirrie, Drymen, 355kg, £1350.
Home-bred heifer – 1 and home-bred champion, D MacDonald, Benderloch, 390kg, £1580; 2, J Pirie, Drymen, 410kg, £1450; 3, D McCorquodale, 420kg, £2200.
Home-bred bullock – 1, D MacDonald, Benderloch, 380kg, £1350.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here