Lyndsey Dunnet, Linkmoor, Warse, produced this year’s champion in the Young Farmers’ show and sale of over wintered cattle, staged along side Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ sale of 920 store cattle at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae.

Bill Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Grange, Keith judged the proceedings and his overall champion was a 506kg Limousin bullock bred by GW Begg, Vauldale. Mr Cameron later backed his decision and bought this for £1800, which also allowed Lyndsey Dunnet to bag the highest gross margin bullock.

The reserve honours – also bred by GW Begg – was a 488kg Limousin bullock from Abbie Dunnet, Linkmoor, which achieved £1780 when the hammer fell to James Gunn, Whitefield, Reiss.

The winner of the best daily live weight gain was for a 488kg Limousin bullock from Abbie Dunnet, which achieved 1.118kg per day .

The best daily liveweight gain and the best gross margin in the heifer section went to a 442kg Charolais from Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick, which did 1.063kg per day.

Among the open section, bullocks (471) and heifers (301) averaged 309p and 289p respectively.

The judge, Mr Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, purchased both his champion and reserve, with the top spot going to a 685kg Charolais bullock from DA Budge, Brae Edge, which realised £2140, whilst the reserve was a 517kg Limousin cross heifer from J and R Allan, Gillock Mains, Gillock, which attained £1760.

Open Champion - Left to right - DA Budge sponsor representative Shona from paper and judge Bill Cameron

Open Champion - Left to right - DA Budge sponsor representative Shona from paper and judge Bill Cameron

Limousin crosses were in demand having reached 353.3p for a pen of six 351kg bullocks from Forss, Thurso, whilst a 517kg heifer from Gillock Mains, Gillock, made 340.4p.

Charolais crosses led the per head section at £2140 for Brae Edge, Castletown, and to £1840 for Aimster, Thurso.

LEADING awards

Young farmers cattle

Best paraded animal – Sophie Tucker.

Best presented animal – Sophie Tucker.

Junior first time exhibitor – Lyndsey Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay.

Senior first time exhibitor – Murray Mackenzie and Erin Mackenzie.

Club award – Bower.

Haltered bullock – 1, Lyndsey Dunnet; 2, Abbie Dunnet; 3, Murray Mackenzie.

Haltered heifer – 1, Sophie Tucker; 2, William Campbell; 3, William Campbell.

Unhaltered bullock – 1, Calvin Forbes.

Unhaltered heifer – 1, Erin Mackenzie; 2, Sophie Tucker.

Daily liveweight gain bullock – 1, Abbie Dunnet; 2, Lynsey Dunnet; 3, Murray Mackenzie.

Daily liveweight gain heifer – 1, Sophie Tucker; 2, William Campbell; 3, William Campbell.

Gross margin bullock – 1, Lyndsay Dunnet; 2, Abbie Dunnet; 3, Murray Mackenzie.

Gross margin heifer – 1, Sophie Tucker; 2, William Campbell; 3, William Campbell.

Open cattle

Single bullock – 1 and champion, DA Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown; 2, JA Chalmers Glenburnie, Hill of Forss; 3, J and R Allan, Gillock Mains.

Single heifer – 1 and reserve, J and R Allan, Gillock Mains.

Pair of bullocks – 1, M Anderson, Catchery.

LEADING prices

Bullocks – Up to 250kg – Rhemullen £520, 265.3p. 251-300kg – Achunabust, Reay £960, 324.3p. 301-350kg – Achalone, Halkirk £1150; Ackergill Mains 339.4p. 351-400kg –Ivordene, Janetstown £1350, 343.1p. 401-450kg – Forsie, Bridge of Westfield £1500; Bardnaclavan, Bridge of Westfield 353.2p. 451-500kg – Forsie £1600, 333.3p. 501-550kg – Upper Latheron, Latheron £1705; Aimster, Thurso 326.8p. 551-600kg – Aimster, Thurso £1740, 309.1p. 601-650kg – AImster £2005, 313.3p. 651-700kg – Aimster £1970; Brae Edge 312.4p. 701-750kg – Brae Edge £2120, 297.8p.

Aberdeen-Angus and native cattle bullocks – Up to 350kg – Balmore £1060, 305.5p. 351-400kg – Quoynee £1140; Latheron Mains 301.9p. 401-450kg – Lochend, Castletown £1450, 324.3p. 451-500kg – Lochend £1535, 313.9p. 501-550kg – Inkstack £1580, Inkstack 312.3p.

Heifers – Up to 250kg – Rhemullen £410, 244p. 251-300kg – Rhemullen £780, 283p. 301-350kg – Ackergill Mains £995, 304.3p. 351-400kg – Forsie £1270; Bardnaclavan 335.5p. 401-450kg – Quoynee £1425; Forsie 326.4p. 451-500kg – Gerston £1530, 325.5p. 501-550kg – Gillock Mains Larel £1760; Larel 323.5p. 551-600kg – Aimster £1690, 301.2p. 601-650kg – Aimster £1800, 292.2p. 651-700kg – Aimster £1830, 265.6p.

Aberdeen-Angus heifers – Up to 300kg – Folly £690, 230p. 301-350kg – Folly £790; Westerloch 251.6p. 351-400kg – Bardnaclavan £1265; Hill of Forss 270.2p. 401-450kg – Lochend £1170; Inkstack 261p. 451-500kg – Lochend £1440; Inkstack 295.8p. 551-600kg – Upper Dounreay £1500, 260.1p. 601-650kg – Upper Dounreay £1680, 266.7p.