Lawrie & Symington’s Christmas show and sale at Forfar saw a Limousin cross heifer called Gin and Tonic, from father and son Jim and David Peters, West Bog, Kirriemuir, taking the top honours in a 56-strong entry.
Turning the scales at 632kg, she sold for £2,528 or 400p per kg (ppk) to the judge Jamie Scott of John Scott Meats, Paisley.
The 21-month-old heifer was bred by the Camerons at Wester Bonhard, Scone, and bought at a United Auctions Stirling sale in April.
The reserve champion was a home-bred Aberdeen-Angus heifer consigned by George McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer, Perth. Weighing 579kg, she was knocked down at 370ppk, realising £2,142, to Scott Brothers, Dundee.
This one is by stock bull Calfward Flyer and out of a black cross cow.
The opposite sex to the champion award also went to the Peters, for a 20-month-old Limousin cross bullock which sold for 355ppk to Kinnell Butchers, Arbroath.
Bought in Stirling in September, this bullock was bred at Monzie Farms, Crieff, by Wilson Peters, son of Jim and brother of David.
Forfar Mart manager Willie Paterson said: “We had a tremendous show of prime cattle forward today, with butchers and wholesalers commenting how happy they were to see cattle well fleshed and handy weights.
“The vendors need to be congratulated for this.”
The 24 bullocks forward averaged 268.1ppk or £1,597.21, with 32 heifers averaging 279.9ppk or £1,573.87.
Over in the sheep pens judge Blair Duffton, Huntly, had 652 lambs to inspect and place.
His champion pen of three prime lambs came from David and Elizabeth Stewart, Mains of Dalrulzion, Blacklunans, Blairgowrie.
Beltex crosses weighing 48kg, they sold for 312ppk or £150 each to James Ewart Ltd.
The reserve ticket went to Harry Shanks, Easter Cash, Strathmiglo. These were shown by sheep manager Ian Stewart and were three-quarter Texels by a £200 lamb bought at Lanark.
Weighing 52kg, they sold for 270ppk, or £130 each, to AP Jess Ltd.
A feature of the sale was the charity auction of a pen of three Dutch Texel prime lambs donated by the Smiths of family firm DR McIntyre, Kinrive, Glenmoy, Kirriemuir.
The lambs were sold in aid of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, and were bought for £100 each by Blair Duffton.
The sale was a poignant one for Shiena Smith and her family, Sarah, Peter, Graham and Lorna.
On November 24
Sheina’s husband Ian, 72, a well-known and respected stock farmer, died suddenly at home after a day working with cattle.
Born and bred in Stockton-on Tees, he and Shiena had lived at Kinrive since 1979.
Results were as follow.
Cattle
Heifer by native sire: 1 George McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer; 2 R & A Stoddart, Mill of Inverarity; 3 David Lumgair,Gask.
Heifer by Limousin sire: 1 and 2 JA Peters & Son, West Bog; 3 Woodhead of Mailer.
Unhaltered heifer by Limousin sire: 1 DS Stark & Sons, South Ballo; 2 Gask; 3 West Bog.
Heifer by any other sire: 1 Gask; 2 Woodhead of Mailer; 3 JT Wainwright & Sons, Todhall
Pair of heifers: 1 and 2 West Bog; 3 Woodhead of Mailer.
Bullock by native sire: 1 Woodhead of Mailer; 2 and 3 Mill of Inverarity.
Bullock by Limousin sire: 1 West Bog; 2 Gask; 3 Woodhead of Mailer.
Unhaltered bullock by Limousin sire: 1 Gask; 2 Woodhead of Mailer; Craignathro Farms Ltd.
Bullock by any other sire: 1 Todhall; 2 Mill of Inverarity; 3 Gask.
Pair of bullocks: 1 South Ballo; 2 Woodhead of Mailer.
Top prices per kg follow.
Heifers: Lim 400p West Bog; Lim X 300p Gask; AA 370p Woodhead of Mailer; Cont 290p Woodhead of Mailer; Cont X 280p South Ballo.
Bullocks: Lim 335p West Bog; Cont 305p Gask; AA 300p Woodhead of Mailer; BBX 300p Craignathro; LimX BB 295p Gask; Char 295p Woodhead of Mailer; ContX 290p Woodhead of Mailer; BP 290p Gask.
Cast cows/bulls (14): SimX £ 970, £780 (126.6, 124.4p) East Balloch; AAX £ 930 (108.1p) Wolflaw; Cont £ 890 (109.2p) Kellyfield; Lim £ 790 (114.8p) Balaterach
Cast bulls sold to £900 for a Saler from Kinclune.
SHEEP
Pen of three Beltex cross lambs: 1 D Stewart, Mains of Dalrulzion; 2 CL Wylie & Son, Balbrydie; 3 H Shanks, Easter Cash
Pen of three Texel cross lambs: 1 Easter Cash; 2 Mains of Dalrulzion; 3 Mains of Dalrulzion.
Pen of three Suffolk cross lambs: 1 Ashmore & Strone Estates.
Pen of three Blackface lambs: A Coventry, Greens of Gardyne; 2 JA Lindsay, Runavey.
Pen of five mule lambs: 1 R Simpson, Mains of Creuchies; 2 Ashmore & Strone Estates; 3 Mains of Creuchies.
Pen of Cheviot lambs: Ashmore & Strone Estates; 2 and 3 DR McIntyre, Kinrive.
Pen of any other breed: 1 RA Stoddart, Mill of Inverarity; JM Hay, Meikle Tullo.
Prime lambs ( 652 ) sold to 225.9p for 42.5kg Beltex from H Shanks & Co, Easter Cash, and to £106 for a 60kg Texel from D Stewart & Son, Mains of Dalrulzion, to average 182.4p (plus 8.4p on the week).
Leading prices per kg:
Beltex 212.8p Strocherrie; BeltX 209.3p Easter Cash; Cont 205.3p Mains of Dalrulzion; Tex 201.2p Mill of Inverarity; TexX 200p Haymount; Suff. 206.5p Haymount; SuffX 187.4p Ashmore & Strone Est; Down 185.4p Tomlea; Cross 172.5p Mains of Creuchies.
Leading prices per head: Beltex £100 Strocherrie; Cont £100 Haymount & Incheoch; Tex £99 Haymount and Mains of Dalrulzion; TexX £98 Haymount & Drumyellow; Suff £98 Haymount; BeltX £97 Easter Cash; SufX £93 Crudie Acres; Down £89 Tomlea; Cross £74 Gillahill.
Cast ewes (150): Beltex £100 Mill of Inverarity; TexX £80 Haymount; Cont £70 Balgay; Suff £80 Balgay; X £73 Balgay; Lly £70 Incheoch; Chev £60 Drumyellow.
Rams: Tex £90 Drumyellow.