British Blue heifer lead the cattle competition at LiveScot

Despite heavy snowfall, the annual two-day event saw an exceptional show of cattle, but it was Taylor Holloway’s British Blue heifer, Calypso, that ruled supreme.

James Nisbet's Maneater took the calf championship She went one better than her reserve supreme title at the Borderway Agri Expo last month. This 18-month-old, weighing 704kg, later sold for £6200 to B and T Kitson, Yorkshire.

Calypso is by Springfield Mason and out of the former show heifer Red Rum, one of only three cows previously owned by Taylor, which he sold last year.

The judge, Chris Penny, from Powys in Mid-Wales, commented: “I like a bit of class and showiness. The top end has been outstanding.”

Best pure bred was this Shorthorn heifer from Brian Harper He praised his champion for her great body, character, length, cleanness, and width.

The overall steer champion, Baby Rambo, from Wilodge, lifted the reserve supreme. This yearling Limousin cross bullock from Christine Williams and Paul Tippets, Wilodge, Shifnal, is sired by the Limousin record holder, the 180,000gns Graiggoch Rambo, and out of a former Blue Cross show cow, Read All About It, that was champion at the Welsh Winter Fair in 2021.

Brought out by stockman Gerwyn Jones, Rambo was supreme champion at the Expo and hit the scales at 606kg and later made £4200 to Bowland Foods.

Taylor had further cause for celebration when Taylor’s employers Alan and Susan Campbell’s British Blue cross, Black Diamond, was awarded lightweight heifer champion. She was bought at Carlisle in March from John Smith Jackson, being champion at Newmills Show and first in her class at the Great Yorkshire, and weighed 582kg on the day.

Baby Rambo stood reserve overall for the Wilodge team The reserve lightweight and reserve overall heifer went to a 720kg Limousin cross heifer named Black Velvet from Gareth Smalls and Beth Wilkinson, Leyburn. Andrew Dunn, Redhall, produced the reserve lightweight steer in the form of the Limousin cross bullock, Too Close For Comfort. Weighing 580kg he stood second at the Highland Show and went on to make £2175 to Bowland Foods.

Wilson Peters, Monzie, Crieff, claimed the housewife’s choice class with the Limousin cross, Farrah Moan, also the reserve lightweight heifer. This 17-month-old, bought at the Thainstone Spectacular from Newton of Logierait, was making her show debut. Weighing 568kgs, she sold for £3400 (£5.99 per kilo) to Cairns Butchers.

The success did not stop there for Mr Peters who also bagged the reserve steer title, reserve heavyweight title, and the lightweight steer champion.

Reserve steer went to Pal, a 700kg Limousin cross by Maraiscote Rocky, who also boasts eight class wins at summer shows. He was another to be purchased by Bowland Foods for £2730.

Housewives choice was won by Wilson A Peters with Farrah Moan

The lightweight steer champion ticket went to Rocky Boy, a 584kg Limousin cross, by the same sire. This September-born bullock realised £2306 or 395p to B and T Kitson, Yorkshire.

Having won LiveScot the last two years, James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, kept his name on the trophies this year when he claimed the commercial calf championship.

The judge, Neil Hardisty, How Hall, Cumbria, awarded his champion to the 350kg Limousin cross heifer, Maneater, which was purchased from Alan Shennan of Farden, Ayrshire, after being champion at the Ayr October sale.

She is for James’ daughter Sienna to compete in the Ayrshire Young Farmers Rally in May, being sired by Calogale Skye, the May-born heifer, and was second in her class as Stars of the Future.

James Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton, was reserve with his home-bred bullock Tyson. This March-born bullock is by the same sire as the supreme champion – Springfield Mason – which is Hamilton’s stock bull. Tyson is bred from the pure Limousin cow Gunnerfleet Noliny. He was first at the Expo and junior male champion at Stars of the Future.

Leading Awards

Open cattle (Judge Chris Penny, Powys)

Pure bred native steer – 1, G Grays Humdinger (Aberdeen-Angus); 2, Hunter-Blairs’s Potato (Galloway); 3, J Currie and Sons Trevor (Beef Shorthorn).

Cross bred bullock sired by a native – 1, J Paterson and Son’s Mr Softey (Aberdeen-Angus); 2, RSPB Scotland’s Am Prionnsa Dubha (Aberdeen-Angus); 3, G McFadzean’s Malcolm (Aberdeen-Angus)

Lightweight continental steer 431kgs to 599kgs – 1, W Peters Rocky Boy; 2, A Dun’s Too Close For Comfort; 3, A Wilson’s Hi Jack

Lightweight continental steer 600kgs to 679kgs – 1, Wilodge’s Baby Rambo; 2, A Ireland’s Duffers; 3, C and K Malone.

Lightweight continental steer 680kgs to 706kgs – W Peter’s Pal; 2, L Clark’s Jack; 3, GW Scott’s Baby Guiness

Lightweight continental steer 706kgs upwards – 1, R Davidson’s Captain Morgan; 2, A Wilson’s Firecracker; 3, A and E Vance’s The Muffin Man.

Heifer sired by a native any weight – 1, G Cameron’s Baby Guiness; 2, B Harper’s Rookwith Gaia; 3, R and C Rettie’s Smiler.

Lightweight Continental heifer 431kgs to 540kgs – 1, Anderson and Blair’s Chunky; 2, G Cameron’s Hips Don’t Lie; 3, L Morris’s Ace of Spades.

Lightweight Continental heifer 541kgs to 599kgs – 1, A and S Campbell’s Black Diamond; 2, W Peter’s Farrah Moan; 3, Work and Son’s Ginger Ale

Continental heifer 600kgs to 630kgs – 1, W Peter’s Frangipane; 2, A Ewing’s Bonnie; 3, A and E Vance’s Shaboozey.

Continental heifer 631kgs to 660kgs – 1, M and M Alford’s The Mistress; 2, Small and Wilkinson’s Hocu Pocus; 3, J Nisbet’s Sunlight.

Continental heifer 661kgs to 710kgs – 1, T Holloway’s Calypso; 2, S and L Bett’s Electra; 3, A and E Vance’s All Eyes On Me.

Continental heifer 711kgs upwards – 1, Small and Wilkinson’s Black Velvet; 2, W Peter’s CC Cindy; 3, H and S Dunlop’s Bellissima.

Commercial calves (Judge, Neil Hardisty, How Hall, Cumbria)

Heifer – Up to 350kgs – 1, J Nisbet’s Maneater; 2, S Stevenson’s Belle; 3, McBeath and Jessop’s Tiny Tot.

Heifer – Up to 351kgs to 385kgs – 1, J Nisbet’s Stardust; 2, S and L Bett’s High Jinx; 3, A MacGregor’s Supernova.

Heifer – Up to 386kgs to 430kg – 1, K Watret’s Jaffa Cake; 2, A and S Campbell’s Miss Dior; 3, A MacGregor’s Supernova.

Steer – Up to 360kgs – 1, C and R Jackson’s Stargazer; 2, S Stevenson’s Macho Man; 3, P McHarg’s Black Night.

Steer 361kgs to 430kgs – 1, R and J Hamilton’s Tyson; 2, J Parker’s The Governor; 3, Anderson and Blair’s Balmerino.

Unhaltered classes (Judge: James Craig, Back Newton, Kirkcudbright)

Steer – 1, G and A McFadzean; 2, C and K Malone; 3, A Purdon Partners.

Heifer – 1, C Smith and Son; 2, A Purdon Partners; 3, C Smith and Son.