A bit of history was created at this year’s Scottish Premier Meat Exhibition, which was held in the newly-branded ABP premises at the former Scotbeef abattoir, near Bridge of Allan, last Saturday.
Celebrating its 30th birthday this year and with the support of quality retailer Marks and Spencer for all of that time, the event witnessed a near pure Shorthorn take the supreme title for the best carcase after the same animal had also led at the live event, held in Lanark market a few days earlier. This was a first for the breed in this competition, which is normally dominated by continental or Angus genetics.
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Consigned by well-known prime stock specialist, Wilson Peters, from Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, near Crieff, this was a heifer that he had purchased at UA Stirling from Mrs Shona Calder, Haugh of Grandtully, in February.
Weighing 595kg live and killing out at 60% with a U+4L grade, the champion was sired by Knockenjig Mercury and was bred out of a line of Shorthorn and Shorthorn cross cows based on the well-known Rothes line. A delighted Mr Wilson revealed that he had come close at last year’s event with a sister who had also been first both live and dead.
Normally an animal that wins both the live and dead section qualifies for the prestigious ‘Silver Steer’ award – a solid silver replica of a steer – but this year it was not awarded as a consequence of ABP’s takeover of the former Scotbeef-hosted event.
Maintaining a run for the ‘natives’ was an Aberdeen-Angus cross from J and R Stanger, South Seatter, Sandwick, Orkney, which was placed in reserve carcase. Hanging up deadweight at 375.7kg and grading -U4L, this steer was not in the top placings live, but got through the carcase judging with a little bit of extra cover, which the carcase judge, Andy Ingram, East Comalegy, Huntly, said he favoured – downgrading some of the entries for being too lean.
Leading the way in the pure-bred Angus section was a steer carcase from Matt and Heather Currie, Skewbridge, Mouswald, Dumfries. This one hit 340kg when hung up, with a KO of 54% and a R4L grade.
An Angus cross also won the cow carcase title for Daniel Hyslop, Pumplaburn, Moffat. This home-bred cow past the DW scales at 557.5kg, graded E4L and had a KO of 62%.
A British Blue Cross won the prize for the ‘Italian-style’ carcase. This was a heifer carcase from John Thompson, Smallburn Farm, Longhorsley, Morpeth, which weighed 372.9kg DW and graded out with a leaner E3 grade preferred on the continent.
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In the hotly contested Young Livestock Producer classes, Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen, took the top senior award with a Limousin cross U+3 heifer carcase which hung up at 324.4kg with a KO of 61%. It had also been placed first live.
The junior title went the way of Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie, Banff, for another that had been first at Lanark. Another Limousin cross which came with a –U4L grade and a carcase weight of 370.2kg, giving her a KO of 60%.
There was a bit of a ‘bridesmaid’ promotion in the prime sheep section when Willie Stevenson, Coilavoulin, Pitlochry, finally stepped up to the platform to accept the supreme title after being reserve on a couple of occasions.
His big win came for a Beltex cross which had been unplaced in the live judging. This was spot on the ideal lamb carcase weight of 20kg, with a KO of 53.3 and an E2 grade.
The reserve supreme sheep from Michael Rattray, West Park, Auchterarder, had arrived with a blue ticket from the live section before winning the deadweight class. Another E2 Beltex cross weighed 19.6kg on the stand, killed out at 55% and was also deemed the best lamb suited to the export market.
Kim Stretch, partner of Wilson Peters, fattens some lambs in her own right, as well as keeping a flock of pedigree Texels. She kept up the household silver inventory by winning the trophy for the best pure Cheviot carcase. Bred on Monzie, this one hung up at 18.9kg, graded R3L and came with a first prize rosette from Lanark.
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Taking the Blackface carcase title was an entry from MJ and CM Hutchinson, Falahill, Heriot, and Midlothian. The prize, accepted by Philip White, was a 21.9kg carcase which graded R3L and killed out at 52%.
Winning the junior YLP lamb prize was Cameron Baillie from Carstairs Mains, Carstairs, winning with a Beltex cross lamb that hung up at 21.9kg and grading E2; while the senior award went to James Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Crieff, with another Beltex cross, this time 19.9kg on the hook, with a grade of E3L
Chairman of the Scottish National Fatstock Club, Brian Harper, made a special presentation to John Paul, for his hard work behind the scenes as a stalwart of the club since the Scottish Premier Meat Exhibition’s inception 30 years ago.
Leading Awards
Cattle
Light A-A cross steer – Dead – 1, Messrs Adam, Craigton, Clackmannan; 2, R and R Braes, Burnshot, Linlithgow; 3, M and Hd Currie, Skewbridge, Mouswald. Live – 1, Messrs Adam; 2, A Purdon and Partners, Stravenhouse, Law, Carluke; 3, AE Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon.
Heavy A-A cross steer – Dead – 1, J and R Stanger, South Seatter, Orkney; 2 and 3, E Buchan, Glenisla, Torphins. Live – 1 and 3, J and J Wylie, Knockhouse, Crossford, Fife; 2, J Thompson, Smallburn, Longhorsley, Morpeth.
Light A-A cross heifer – Dead – 1, A Young, Girvan Mains, Girvan; 2, J and R Stanger; 3, M and HD Currie. Live – 1, WA Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie; 2, A Young; 3, J and R Stanger.
Heavy A-A heifer – Dead – 1, T Taylor, Heatheryhall, Thankerton, Biggar; 2, WA Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie; 3, G and J Davie, Harvies Mailing, Denny. Live – 1, T Taylor; 2, WA Fettes; 3, I and M Emslie, Little Barras, Laurencekirk.
AOB native-sired steer – Dead – 1, J lamb, Ingleston, Annbank; 2, RS Ferguson, Eastcamps, Dunfermline; 3, J Wight and Sons, Midlock, Crawford. Live – 1, T Paul and Sons, Mains of Airleywight, Bankfoot; 2, A Purdon and Partners; 3, J Wight and Son.
AOB native-sired heifer – Dead – 1, WA Peters; 2, Auchtydore Farms, Mintlaw; 3, A Purdon and Partners. Live – 1, WA Peters; 2, A Purdon and Partners; 3, T Taylor.
Light steer AOB – Live – 1, Ross Brothers, Wardhead, Strichen; 2, A Douglas Miller, Bridgehouse, Westfield, Bathgate; 3, J Spence and Son, Roberthill, Lockerbie. Live – 1, T Taylor; 2, A Purdon and Partners; 3, J Thompson.
Heavy steer AOB – Dead – 1, T Taylor; 2, A and C Watson, Glasslaw, Strathaven; 3, Auchtydore Farms. Live – 1 and 2, T Taylor; 3, Auchtydore Farms.
Light heifer AOB – Dead – 1, JR Hunter, Luckenburn, Slamannan; 2, Ross Brothers; 3, J Thompson. Live – 1, AE Cumming; 2, J Thompson; 3, Ross Brothers.
Heavy heifer AOB – Dead – 1, T Taylor; 2, Smart and Wilson, South Camaloun, Fyvie; 3, C and k Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden. Live – 1 and 3, Ross Brothers; 2, T Taylor.
Prime cow – Dead – 1, D Hyslop, Pumplaburn, Moffat; 2, WA Fettes; 3, AE Cumming.
Junior YLP steer – Dead – 1, J Spence and Sons; 2, Ryan Wilson, Chartershall, Stirling. Live – 1, J Spence and Sons; 2, Ryan Wilson.
Junior YLP heifer – Dead – 1, Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie; 2, Rachel Watson, Glasslaw, Stonehaven; 3, Euan Mathers, Tormiston, Stenness, Orkney. Live – 1, Anna Fettes; 2, Miss Rachel Watson; 3, Imogen Spence, Roberthill.
Senior YLP steer – Dead – 1, Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen; 2, Chantelle Braes, Burnshot, Linlithgow; 3, Christie Findlay, Mains of Airleywight, Bankfoot. Live – 1, Stuart Ross; 2, Christie Findlay; 3, Julie Wight, Pumplaburn, Moffat.
Senior YLP heifer – Dead – 1, Heather Paul, Mains of Airleywight; 2, Euan Smart; 3, Christie Findlay. Live – 1, Christie Findlay; 2, Heather Paul; 3, Stuart Ross.
Sheep
Light pure Blackface – Dead – 1, R and B Dickie, Spango, Sanquhar; 2, Shawhead Farm, Douglas; 3, J and T Macpherson, Pitsundry, Bankfoot. Live – 1, 2 and 3, J and T Macpherson.
Heavy pure Blackface – Dead – 1, MJ and CM Hutchinson, Falahill, Heriot; 2, A Reid and Co, Glendearg, Eskdalemuir; 3, JW Paul and Sons, Ballingall Mill, Leslie, Glenrothes. Live – 1, J and T Macpherson; 2, Shawhead Farm; 3, A Reid and Co.
Light pure Cheviot – Dead – 1 and 3, K Stretch, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie; 2, A Reid and Co. Live – 1, K Stretch; 2, CR Graham and Sons, Carruthers, Waterbeck; 3, A Reid and Co.
Heavy pure Cheviot – Dead – 1 and 2, CR Graham and Sons; 3, WA Mackinnon, West Dron, Bridge of Earn. Live – 1, A Reid and Co; 2, Cr Graham and Sons; 3, WA Mackinnon.
Light native cross – Dead and Live – 1, DG Cunningham, Walkerdyke, Strathaven; 2, DJ Hyslop, Pumplaburn, Moffat; 3, MM Stewart, Brotherstone, Melrose.
Medium native cross – Dead and Live – 1, DG Cunningham; 2, DJ Hyslop; 3, MM Stewart.
Heavy native cross – Dead – 1, DJ Hyslop; 2, S Willox, Dykenook, Netherley, Stonehaven; 3, HM Sutherland, Drumuie, Golspie. Live – 1, G Whyte, Lintibert, Muthill, Crieff; 2, MM Stewart; 3, J Lamb.
Super light AOB cross – Dead – 1, M Rattray, West Park, Auchterarder; 2, A Baillie, Carstairs Mains, Carstairs; 3, A Morton, Lochend, Denny. Live – 1, A Baillie; 2, M Rattray; 3, Mrs M Dunlop.
Light AOB cross – Dead – 1, WJ Stevenson, Coilavoulin, Pitlochry; 2, M Rattray; 3, DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Muthill, Crieff. Live – 1, R Hall and Son, Inglewood Edge, Dalston, Carlisle; 2, M Rattray; 3, DS and RC Taylor.
Medium AOB cross – Dead – 1, JR Hunter; 2, DG Cunningham; 3, WJ Stevenson. Live – 1, R Hall and Son; 2, A Baillie; 3, M and J Kennedy, Lurgan, Aberfeldy.
Heavy AOB cross – Dead – 1 and 3, WJ Stevenson; 2, M and J Kennedy. Live – 1, R Hall and Son; 2, J Guthrie and Son, Cuiltburn, Muthill; 3, M and J Kennedy.
Junior YLP lamb – Dead and Live – 1, Cameron Baillie, Carstairs Mains; 2, Struan Whyte, Lintibert.
Senior YLP lamb – Dead – 1, James Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill; 2, Katrina Kennedy, Lurgan; 3, Rachel Baillie, Carstairs Mains. Live – 1, James Taylor; 2, Rachel Baillie; 3, Katrina Kennedy.
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