Island cattle trade

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Good trade for island cattle 30/10/14

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd held its annual cattle show and sale in Stornoway this month with all animal classes meeting a strong demand. A total of 145 weaned calves and store cattle; three breeding cattle and 15 over-30-months cattle were sold.

A mart spokesman reported: “All classes met a strong demand with quality kinds short of requirement.”

Prior to the sale, judge Mr E MacDonald, from the Old Inn, Lochmaddy, awarded overall champion and 1st prize bullock to J MacDonald, 7 Kershader for a 325kg beast which sold for £880.

Reserve champion and 2nd prize bullock went to J Maclean, 100 Cross Skigersta Road, for a 330kg beast that sold for £885.

The 1st prize heifer award also went to J Maclean, 100 Cross Skigersta, for a 340kg cow which sold for £760; and second prize was awarded to J MacLaughlin, 1 Sheildinish for a 310kg animal which sold at £770.

Weaned bullocks (68) averaged 261.6p (+ 14.5p on the year) and sold to 356.8p per kg for a 185kg

Charolais cross from 7 Ballantrushal, Isle of Lewis; and £955 gross for a 380kg Charolais cross from 100 Cross Skigersta Road.

Weaned heifers (47) averaged 239.0p (up 12.9p on the year) and sold to 286.0p per kg for a 250kg Limousin cross from 11 Garyvard, Lochs; and £790 gross for a 370kg Charolais from 7 Kershader.

Store bullocks (19) averaged 191.0p and sold to 233.7p per kg and £1,110 gross for a 475kg Charolais cross from 100 Cross Skigersta Road.

Store heifers (11) averaged 179.8p and sold to 232.1p per kg and £1,300 gross for a 560kg Aberdeen Angus from 42 South Bragar, Barvas.

Breeding cattle (3) sold to £700 gross for a Simmental cross cow from 25 Lower Barvas.

And OTM cows (15) sold to 103.2p per kg for a 630kg Limousin cross from 4 Urgha, Isle of Harris; and £790 gross for a 770kg Charolais cross from 100 Cross Skigersta Road, Ness.

Other leading prices per head and per kg were:

Weaned bullocks: up to 200kg – 7 Ballantrushal, £660, 57B Breasclate, Isle of Lewis, 335.1p; 201-250kg – 8 Ballantrushal, Barvas, £740, 25 Lower Barvas, 320.5p; 251-300kg – 8 Ballantrushal, £845,

25 Lower Barvas, 298.1p; 301-350kg – 100 Cross Skigersta Road, £885, 7 Kershader, 270.8p; 351-

400kg – 100 Cross Skigersta Road, £930, 251.3p.

Weaned heifers: up to 200kg – 23 Laxay, Lochs, £520, 260.0p; 201-250kg –11 Garyvard, £715, 22

Laxay, Lochs, 278.7p; 251-300kg –7 Kershader, £740, 8 Ballantrushal, 264.2p; 301-350kg –25 Lower

Barvas and 1 Shieldinish, £770, 1 Shieldinish, 248.4p.

Store bullocks: 351-400kg – 24 Laxay, £710, 200.0p; 401-450kg – 24 Laxay, £980, 223.2p; 451-

500kg – 50 North Tolsta, Lewis, £845, 57 Coll, Back, 181.3p; 501-550kg – 21 Lower Barvas, £1080,

198.2p.

Store heifers: 301-350kg – 16 Aribruaich, Isle of Lewis, £660, 216.4p; 351-400kg – Mill Brae,

Aribruaich, £760, 194.9p; 401-450kg – Glebeland, Back, £860, 204.9p.