There is no doubt Young Farmers’ calf wintering competitions can attract a useful following.
The ringside at Forfar Mart was crowded on Friday evening to see Ian Sim, Kincraig, Brechin, place the entry of 29 calves, and was equally busy on Saturday morning when the calves were sold.
The rules dictate that every animal has to have been bought at Forfar Mart in the autumn.
The overall championship went to last year’s winner Stewart Lawrie, 22, from Hillhead of Careston, Brechin, and a member of Brechin JAC.
It is a fairly remarkable record because Stewart has only entered the competition twice, and triumphed each time.
His winner on Friday was a January 2013-born Limousin cross heifer bred by John and Craig Robertson at Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry.
The heifer is by the French-bred bull Attilla and out of a Limousin cross cow.
It was bought at the first November sale at Forfar weighing 340kg, and was sold on Saturday weighing 505kg to Drew and Margaret Wilson, Greenhead, Forfar, for £1,440 (285ppk).
For his reserve Mr Sim picked a late March-born Limousin cross heifer shown by Matthew Steel, 18, Craignathro, Forfar.
This one was also bought from Newton of Logierait but was bred by Mr Dickinson at High Knipe in the north of England.
Matthew has been showing in this competition every year since he was 14, and this is his best result to date.
The calf weighed 290kg at purchase and weighed 420kg on Saturday, selling for £1,280 (305p). The buyer was David Lumgair, Gask, Letham.
The ‘best opposite sex to champion’ ticket went to a late-March-born Limousin cross bullock shown by Forfar JAC member Daniel Fleming from Monikie. This one was bought from Burnside Farms weighing 345kg and sold at 485kg to Drew and Margaret Wilson for £1,240 (255ppk).
Two Jockey Jan trophies were presented by Drew and Margaret Wilson, one for best return on capital invested and the other for best daily liveweight gain (see picture on facing page).
The first was won by Bankfoot JAC member Beth Alexander, 16, Douglasfield, Murthly, with her Limousin cross bullock bought from Mains of Mause increasing in value by £650 from point of purchase in November.
The calf sold for £1,400 (304ppk.)
The entry showing the best liveweight gain was a February-born bullock from Forfar JAC member David Millar, from West Hillhead, Monikie.
Bred at Scobshaugh this one increased in weight by 1.44kg per day, turning the scales at 600kg and selling for £1,320 ( 220ppk).
Bullock (of any other breed): 1 Dean Farquharson (Forfar JAC) 2 Ruaridh Lawrie (Brechin JAC) 3 Dean Farquharson (Forfar JAC).
Lim X bullock up to 10.3.13: 1 Ryan Farquharson (Forfar JAC); 2 Bruce Hamilton (Strathmore JAC); 3 Tom Greenhill (Forfar JAC).
LimX bullock 11.3.13 to 24.3.13: 1 Daniel Fleming (Forfar JAC); 2 Ruaridh Lawrie (Brechin JAC); 3 Stewart Lawrie (Brechin JAC).
Lim X bullock 25.3.13 to 29.5.13: 1 Andrew Beattie (Forfar JAC); 2 Ashleigh Nelson (Brechin JAC); 3 Beth Alexander (Bankfoot JAC).
Lim X heifer up to 8.1.13: 1 Stewart Lawrie (Brechin JAC); 2 Matthew Steel (Forfar JAC); 3 Andrew Beattie (Forfar JAC).
Lim X heifer 8.1.13 to 21/2/13: 1 Louise Greenhill (Forfar JAC); 2 and 3 Barbara Shaw (Strathmore JAC).
Lim X heifer 22/3/13 to 12/4/13: 1 Matthew Steel (from Forfar JAC); 2 Michael Sands (from Carse of Gowrie); 3 Neil Sands (from Carse of Gowrie).
Best halter trained: Ashleigh Nelson (Brechin JAC).
Best turned out: Lyndsay Nelson (Brechin JAC).