Turnbull's top cattle award at meat show

The top cattle award at the Scottish National Premier Meat Exhibition held at Scotbeef at the weekend saw Alan Turnbull, who finishes 400 cattle every year at Meadowend Farm, Clackmannan, take the championship

His Limousin cross Belgian Blue cross heifer was bred by Edward Cuthbert at Low Town, Alnwick, and was bought at Hexham. It killed out at 64.1 per cent and was graded -U3.

In the lamb championship, French judge Dominique Bart picked a three-quarter Beltex lamb from John and Kirsty Guthrie at Cuiltsburn, Muthill, for his champion and also the lamb most suited to the French market.

This 23.4kg lamb was an E3L and killed out at 54.2 per cent. John also won the carcase prize two years ago and he and daughter, Kirsty lamb about 300 cross sheep and 50 pure Beltex every year.

Reserve overall in the cattle was Charlie Simpson, Mains of Creuchies, Alyth, with Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Peterhead, taking the prize for the best Aberdeen Angus carcase.

In the sheep section, Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, Carstairs, took reserve, with the Blackface champion coming from Donald MacKenzie, Ryechraggan, Inverness. Malcolm Stewart, Brotherstone, Melrose, took the top Suffolk spot while the best Cheviot came from Alex Paul, Ballingall Mill, Leslie. The award for the most successful lamb group went to Highland Glen based at Aberfeldy.