Balfour Baillie leads the way at Thainstone Spectacular

Thainstone Mart in Inverurie

The event, sponsored by Blackadders, saw heifers average 486.9p per kg or £2206.67 and bullocks level at 370.9p per kg or £1611.

In total, the 31 calves forward sold to average £1968.40.

Securing the overall honours when tapped out by judge Paul Tippets, Lodge Hill Farm, Shropshire, was a home-bred, March-born Limousin cross heifer scaling 246kg, which stood cross cattle champion at the Orkney Country Show.

Sired by Redriver Powerful and out of a British Blue cross dam, she sold south to Stirling with Stewart and Lynsey Bett, Newmill Farmhouse, Fallin.

John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, purchased Balfour’s next top priced animal at £2100.

This was a home-bred, 16-month-old Limousin cross bullock, which took third place in his class.

He scaled 545kg and is sired by Gunnersfleet Noble.

Just behind at £2000 for Balfour, when sold to Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, was a home-bred, 16-month-old British Blue cross heifer weighing 484kg.

She is by Auchenlay Nimbus and stood second in her class.

The second top price of the day came at £3200 for the champion 2021-born animal from the Munro family, Invercharron, Ardgay.

This was a home-bred, 10-month-old Limousin cross heifer scaling 460kg which sold to David Blair, Littleinch Farm, Balmerino, Newport-on-Tay.

The Munro family also sold calves for £3000, £2100 and £2000.

Dearest at £3000 was a home-bred, September, 2021-born British Blue cross heifer weighing 446kg.

Standing first in her class, she sold to K Casey, Orquil, St Ola, Orkney.

Next at £2100 was Teenage Tantrum, a March, 2021-born Limousin cross heifer weighing 536kg.

She sold to Phil Naylor, Derbyshire.

Selling for £2100 to David Kennedy, Tresdale, Canisbay, Wick, was a third prize British Blue cross heifer scaling 598kg.

Blair Duffton from Huntly, received £2250 for a 16-month-old British Blue cross heifer weighing 599kg.

She sold to Julian Duffton, Mains of Drumdollo, Drumblade, Huntly.

The reserve haltered champion, a seven-month-old Limousin cross bullock weighing 306kg from Ian Grant, Seaview Cottage, 50 Lonemore, Gairloch, sold for £1750 to David Blair, Littleinch.

John and Craig Robertson’s annual consignment topped at £1800 twice for Limousin cross heifers, with the first sold to Jack Stuart, Belnoe, Glenlivet, and the other to Gordon Begg, Vauldale, Caithness.

The Robertson’s haltered champion, a 12-month-old Limousin cross bullock, sold for £1620 to Scott Watson, Forfar.