J Robertson & Son, Newton of Logierait Pitlochry topped the sale of Exhibition Cattle at Thainstone on Friday 22nd August, kindly sponsored by Blackadder’s Solicitors, when his Limousin cross heifer scalling 495kgs achieved the top price of £8,500. The animal which was a 2nd prize winner in the haltered section, sold to an undisclosed buyer.
The second top price of the day went to the 2025 champion haltered heifer from J S Baillie & Son, Sebay Farm, Tankerness, Orkney. The February-born Limousin cross heifer scalling 252kgs went on to sell for £8,000 to Susan and Allan Campbell, Alt na Craik, Corrow Farm, Lochgoilhead.
Balfour Baillie, Sebay View, Tankerness, Orkney sold his 196kgs Limousin cross heifer for the third top price of the day to Stewart & Lindsay Bett, Boquhan Farmhouse, Kippen, Stirling for £6,000.
Neil Slack, Plumtree House, Newby, Penrith, judged the show of exhibition cattle, where he awarded the overall champion position to the 2024 champion heifer from Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus. The Limousin cross heifer, scalling 476kgs went onto sell for £5,500 to Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly.
Overall Champion from Smallburn Farms. Photo credit to Melissa Irvine Photography.
The 2024 reserve heifer position was awarded to a Limousin cross heifer from J Munro & Son, Invercharron, Ardgay which achieved £4,300 to Sarah Cheyne, Banchor View, Newtonmore.
The Robertson Family of Newton of Logierait sold two Limousin cross heifers to Ross Withers, Higher Treswale, Cornwall, firstly a May 2024-born calf, scalling 476kgs achieved £5,400, followed by a September 2024-born calf which achieved £4,000.
The 2025 champion bullock was awarded to R & D Wright, Woodend, Ardgour for a January born Limousin cross, which was tapped out for £4,500 by A Ireland, Braeside, Darvel, Ayrshire.
A 5 month old British Blue cross heifer, scalling 281kgs from Balfour Baillie achieved £3,700 selling to Lyndsey Stewart, Stewart Farms, Balglass Farm, Lennoxtown.
£3,400 was smashed twice, firstly for a Limousin cross heifer from J S Baillie, Sebay Farm, followed by a Limousin cross heifer from J Robertson, Newton of Logierait. Both animals sold to John McAlister, Wester Thomaston, Banknock, Bonnybridge.
A Limousin cross bullock, scalling 518kgs from W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul sold for £3,300 to Blair Duffton.
£3,200 was smashed three times, first for a Limousin cross heifer from J S Baillie, Sebay Farm, selling to D Jerman, Maggiebeadle, Llanidloes. Followed by a Limousin cross bullock from Balfour Baillie, selling to Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple, and finally another Limousin cross bullock, this time from Miller Farms, North Lurg, Midmar which sold to an undisclosed buyer.
The annual event saw heifers average 8.824 per kg or £3,546.77 and bullocks level at 6.241 kg per kilo or £2,758.33 per head.
In total 49 calves forward sold to the average 7.82 per kg or £3,257.14 (+£414.47 on the year).
Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “This year’s sale saw electric trade throughout, with averages well up on the year. There was an outstanding show of cattle forward, with producers being rewarded for their efforts.
We would also like to extend our thanks to Blackadder’s Solicitors for their continued sponsorship, which plays a key role in the ongoing success of the event.”