Dingwall

A 615kg 20-month-old, Limousin cross took the champion honours at Dingwall and Highland Marts' Christmas show and sale of 49 prime cattle.

The winning heifer from WA Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie, later went under the hammer at 300p and £1845 selling to John M Munro butchers, Dingwall.

The same home also secured the blue and white sash with the first prize senior heifer, a 20-month-old, 575kg Limousin cross British Blue. She headed home with Messrs Fraser Brothers, Butchers, Dingwall, at 250.0p and £1437.50.

Overall, 21 bullocks averaged 201.8p (+8.2p) having sold to 250.0p and £1475 for a 590kg British Blue cross from Invercharron, Ardgay whilst heifers (28) levelled at 214.8p (+20.4p) peaking at 300.0p and £1845 for the champion

Taking the top award among the 1277 prime sheep was a pen of 43kg Beltex crosses from JM Sutherland, Borrowston Mains, Thurso, which went on to sell for £150. The second prize winners to the champion bagged the reserve ticket for Messrs Conon Brae Farms, which realised £120.

Lambs (962) averaged 192.5p (+4.8p) and sold to 348.8p and £150 for a pen of 43kg Beltex lambs from Borrowston Mains, Thurso selling to John M Munro, Dingwall. Feeding sheep (315) peaked at £94 for Texel cross ewes from Wester Cairnglass, Inverness.

LEADING awards

Pair of heifers – 1, J and B McCallum, Mountrich, Dingwall 220.0p and 219.0p; 2, D J Fraser Esq, 4 Glaick, Ardross, 206.0p and 192.0p. Senior bullock – 1, – D J Fraser Esq, Ardross 240.0p; 2, D A Budge Esq 194.0p. Senior heifer –1, W A Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie 250.0p; 2, J and B McCallum, Mountrich Farm, Dingwall, 270.0p. Junior bullock – 1, D Morrison Esq, 240p; 2, J M Munro and Son, Invercharron, Ardgay, 250.0p.

Haltered bullock – 1, K MacIver, The Cloy, Fortrose, 238.0p. A-A bullock or heifer – 1, W A Fettes, 212.0p.

Lambs – Cheviot – 1, Messrs Conon Brae Farms, Torgorm £89; 2, J Matheson Esq Achviach £90. BF – 1, J Ross Esq, Achdhu, Conon Bridge £87; 2, W R McIntyre and Co, Tulloch, Dingwall £84. Suffolk – 1, Messrs Conon Brae Farms £89; 2, Messrs Muirton Mains Farmers, Urray £87. Texel – 1, Messrs Conon Brae £91; 2, D A Budge Esq, Brae Edge £89. Beltex – 1, J M Sutherland Esq, Borrowston Mains £150; 2, Messrs Conon Brae; £120 Torgorm, Conon Bridge.

LEADING prices

Bullocks – Char X – £1452 Glaick; £1328.90 Brae Edge. Lim – £1377.50 Little Croy, Inverness; £1332 Burnside; £1328.90 Bare Edge. Heifers – Lim X – £1512 Mountrich; £1451.80 The Cloy; £1437.50 Braes of Enzie; £1428.75 Mountrich.

New season lambs – Belt X – £120, 258.1p Torgorm, Conon Bridge. Tex – £105 Barnyards, Beauly. Tex X – £95 Milldam, Meikle Ussie; 208.3p Inveruglas, Kingussie. Suff – £95.50 Rhevackin, Kiltarlity. CHM – £92, 209.1p Viewhill Croft, Easter Kinkell. Suff X – £92 Achnagairn, Kirkhill; 200p Ankerville, Nigg Station. Char X – £91.50, 203.3p Torgorm. Chev – £90 Achviach, Dornoch; 203.9p Wester Lochs, Wick.

Feeding sheep – Suff X – £92 Torgorm. Tex X – £92 Torgorm; £92 Muirton Mains, Muir of Ord. CHM – £85 Lower Geanies, Fearn. Chev – £84 Belmaduthy, Munlochy.