The champion in the carcase cattle classes at last week’s Royal Northern Spring Show repeated its success in the carcase competition at Scotch Premier Meat Ltd, Inverurie, to give first time exhibitors, David and Billy Stephen, Kirkton, Forglen, Turriff, a remarkable double.

Their winner, a home-bred Limousin x Belgian Blue cross heifer by a Begrow-bred sire, achieved the top carcase classification of E for conformation and 4L for leanness and killed out at 63.2% to produce a 369.7kg carcase. The champion chalked up the highest combined score “on the hoof” and “on the hook”.

“This is the first time we have exhibited at the Spring Show,” said David Stephen. “Everyone told us we had a good heifer and that we should enter her for the show. We are delighted to have won.”

The father-and-son partnership run a suckler herd of 70 – 80 cows with all progeny finished on the farm. Another heifer was placed second in the live judging at the show last Wednesday and killed out slightly leaner at E3.

Reserve champion carcase was a Charolais cross heifer from Charlie and Kevin Proctor, Mains of Tollo, Turriff, which won the reserve heifer championship in the live judging. The carcase weighed 422kg and classified U+4L. The heifer was bred by J A Cruickshank, Coleburn Farm, Longmorn.

The Proctor’s were showing for the first time for several years although they have won the reserve carcase championship previously and the live carcase cattle championship four times.

Both the championship and reserve for steers went to David Buchan, Auchtydore Farms, Easterton of Lenabo, Mintlaw, and the highest killing out percentage of 66.57% was achieved by an entry from Marc Macintosh, Greystone, Blackhills, Peterhead.

The prime hogg carcase championship, judged at Mathers (Inverurie) Ltd, was also a repeat of the live judging with top honours going to Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly, with four Beltex x Texel cross carcases. All four classified E for conformation, with three at 3H for leanness and the other 3L. Mr Greenlaw won the championship “on the hoof” last year.

Beltex crosses also took the reserve award for Shona Milne, Parkdargue, Forgue, Huntly, who is a regular winner on the North-east carcase show circuit. Three of her group classified E3L and the other U3L.

Veteran exhibitor, John Young, Millan Court, Lumphanan, who won the reserve championship in the live judging, took the top awards for both Suffolk and Texel and also stood reserve for the Texel award. Reserve for Suffolk was J and E Forrester, Aldie, Cruden Bay.

Results –

Carcase cattle

Light steer – 1 Auchtydore Farms; 2 R and D Farquhar, Tewel, Fetteresso, Stonhaven; 3 Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud.

Light heifer – 1 Julie Armstrong, Haycorn House, Broomhill, Kinellar; 2 Ian Camerson, South Mains of Balgaveny, Rothienorman; 3 R and D Farquhar.

Medium steer – 1 Auchtydore Farms; 2 H Stuart and Son, Davishill, Udny; 3 Harry Brown.

Medium heifer – 1 D Stephen and Son; 2 Ian Cameron; 3 C A Proctor and Co.

Heavy steer – 1 A and D Smith, East Sandend, Cruden Bay, Peterhead; 2 Ian Cameron; 3 Auchtydore Farms.

Heavy heifers – 1 C A Proctor and Co, Auchtydore Farms; 3 R and D Farquhar.

Prime hoggs

Light – 1 and 2 Shona Milne; 3 John L Young.

Heavy – 1 Angus Greenlaw; 2 John Young; 3 J and E Forrester.