Bonanza time for black beauties–

CATTLE: Inverurie event a ‘great advert’ for Aberdeen-Angus breed, says judge

Aberdeen-Angus breeders from across Scotland gathered at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, yesterday for the Black Beauty Bonanza.

Organised by the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club, the bonanza is a show of pure and cross Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings.

Judge Alistair Cormack, of Lower Largo, praised the quality of stock paraded in front of him.

“The standard of the cattle was outstanding,” said Mr Cormack.

“It was a great advert for the breed and the quality was so high, especially with the younger cattle. There was a lot of breed character about the animals and good locomotion.”

In the heifer section, the calf champion was an entry from Turriff-based Hamish and Margaret Sclater’s Deveron herd.

Previously unshown, Deveron Felicity T580 is an April-born daughter of Deveron Leggat, which sold privately to the Wattie family’s Tonley herd, and out of Deveron Felicity J296.

The reserve heifer calf champion title was awarded to January-born Retties Ruissea from Richard and Carol Rettie at Devonside, Clackmannanshire.

By Retties JFK and out of Belhaven Ruisseau, she stood reserve calf champion at the Agri Expo and reserve junior female at Stars of the Future last weekend.

In the yearling heifer section, the champion title was awarded to January 2016-born Cardenwell Miss Blossom from father and daughter duo Graham and Fiona Willox of Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum.

By the herd’s stock bull Burnside Jamie Eric, and out of Cardenwell Miss Bracken, she previously stood reserve champion at Tarland and third at the Highland Show.

Standing reserve in the yearling heifers was 19-month-old Tonley Princess S273 from the Wattie family’s Tonley herd at Mains of Tonley, Alford.

By the 8,000gn Blelack Evor, and out of Tonley Princess N970, she stood champion at the Keith Show in August and is destined for the Stirling Bull Sales in February.

Meanwhile, in the bull section the champion title for a calf went to an April-born entry from Hannah Heerema’s Balavilhouse herd at Balavil Estate, Kingussie.

In the yearling bull contest, the champion rosettes went to May 2016born Cardona Edwin from Robbie Galloway at Longleys, Bridge of Allan.

Praise: judge Alistair Cormack.