Limousin’s ‘character and presence’ impresses the judges

A Limousin heifer from Robert and Jean Graham won the overall beef interbreed championship at the Royal Highland Show and Limousins also won the interbreed pairs competition.

Taking the lead of the 13 breeds on show was the January 2017-born Grahams Niaomi, another ET bred from a prize-winning breeding combination of Claragh Franco on to Grahams Coffee from the herd at Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan.

Having secured the championship at Stirling Show a few weeks prior to the Ingliston event where she was presented in the ring by stockmen Drew and Jennifer Hyslop, she was first awarded the breed title by Forfar-based Bob Adam before Tom Arnott, an Aberdeen-angus breeder from near Kelso, judged her show supreme.

“She’s a beautiful animal with character and presence. She’s super on her legs, light and easy, and looks like she will breed well which is what it’s all about,” said Mr Arnott.

Sticking with the continental breeds Mr Arnott awarded the reserve ticket to the Charolais champion, Neil and Stuart Barclay’s Harestone Jaquard, a French import brought out by stockman Robert Marshall and his wife Valerie.

The four-year-old, which was on his first outing since being imported last May to join the Harestone herd near Insch, is sired by Houblon and out of Ecossaise.

The two breeds had more to celebrate as they dominated the junior and team competitions, with Jaquard joining Harestone Matilda, John and Raymond Irvine’s Inverlochy Ingris and Blair Duffton’s Battleford Lola to win the interbreed group of four competition.

In reserve was the Limousin team which included Michael and Melanie Alford’s Foxhillfarm Minesagin, Doug and Lynda Graham’s Burnbank Jojo, Messrs Jenkinsons’ Foxhillfarm Jasper, and Grahams Melody from Robert and Jean Graham.

Jasper and Jojo later teamed up to stand interbreed pairs champion ahead of the British Blue duo, the Paterson family’s Sandyvale Jagerbomb and the Manson family’s Graymar Halle.

Leading the native team of three was a trio of Aberdeen-angus, including Retties Ruisseau from Richard and Carole Rettie, Andrew Hodge’s Rulesmains Egbert, and Steph Dick’s Crew Lady Jasmine.

They stood ahead of the Hereford three, Heather Whittaker’s Romany 1 Julia BL P43 and Coley 1 Pilot as well as Ronald and Robert Wilson’s Romany 1 Julia D1 H66.

Earlier in the day, Niaomi was reserve in the junior interbreed to the best of the Charolais juniors, Elgin Neuer from the Milne family which also stood reserve in the continental Beefbreeder championship to Blackford Iolair, a Simmental bull from Billy Macpherson and daughter Anne.

It was a double win in the native Beefbreeder for the Gordon Brooke Estate when two Aberdeen-angus bulls, Linton Gilbertines Powerhouse and Linton Gilbertines Elgin, stood champion and reserve.

Picture: Orkney Photographic. Jennifer Hislop with the overall winner in the cattle section at the Royal Highland Show, a Limousin heifer pictured after the result was announced shown by Mr and Mrs R and J Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, Stirling.