Centre records were broken at Orkney Auction Marts’ annual Orkney District Association of Young Farmers’ clubs over wintering show, when a 2021 born Limousin cross heifer from Rowan Donaldson, achieved a staggering £6100 or 884.1p per kg.

Having stood champion in the unhaltered section, this heifer was bred by G and S Sinclair, Drunton, Harray, and was knocked down to Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw.

The judge, Gordon Carroll, Edendiack, Huntly, found his overall champion in a 15-month-old 525kg Limousin cross heifer from Gina Marshall. She was bred by JWR Moar and Co, Crook, Rendall, and went on to realise £2200 or 419p to the judge.

A similar type took the reserve ticket, this time for a heifer crossing the weigh bridge at 700kg from Tommy Linklater. Bred by Magnus Walker, Copenago, Tankerness, she found a new home with Williamsons Butchers for £2300.

The best steer went to a 625kg Limousin cross from Kelsey Harvey, who was also awarded the best young handler. Bred by JWR Moar and Co, Crook, Rendall, the hammer fell to Alex Reid, Mill of Haulkerton, Laurencekirk, for £1920.

Following on was the runner up steer, which was a Limousin cross from Joanna Foubister, who also took the top spot for the weight gain, doing 1.29kg daily live weight gain. Alex Reid purchased this steer for £2240.

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In the home-bred section Sam Spence, Norton, Dounby took top spot with his 2021 born 705kg Limousin cross heifer. Again, Alex Reid bought the 705kg heifer for £2200.

The reserve went to a Limousin cross heifer from Connor Spence, which went on to sell for £1960 to E Flett Butcher.

The first time having home-bred bulls, Robbie Stevenson and Julia Slater, both of Backakelday Farm, Holm, entered Charolais bulls, with Backakelday Stanley selling for £5800 and Backakelday Stormzy reaching £5400.

Overall in the store cattle sale, heifers and steers averaged 301.6 p/kg (+56.6p on the year) and 297.3 p/kg (+51.3p) respectively.

British Blues from S and H Young, Castle, Stromness, led the heifer trade at £2500 for a 620kg entry, and to 416.7kg for a 600kg heifers which also realised £2500.

Steers topped at 336.8p for a 380kg Aberdeen-Angus from K and S Meason, Frustigarth, Shapinsay, and to £1900 for a pair of 617kg Charolais from Learmonth, Grandon, Firth.