Strathearn entry wins calf competition

The overall champion of the Perthshire, Fife and Kinross Young Farmers calf wintering contest was a Septemberborn Limousin cross bullock from Michael Rattray of Strathearn JAC.

The calf was bred by Croy Cunningham, Gartness, and purchased in September. It scaled 540kgs and realised £1,310.

The reserve champion was shown by James Taylor, also of Strathearn JAC.

This was a March-born Charolais heifer bred by Cullens, Dollarbank, which sold for £1,290.

There were 31 calves in total and the judge was George McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer, Perth.

Taking overall in the best return on capital invested was Hannah Cheape of Kinross JAC with a Shorthorn cross bullock bought for £510 and selling to £930 gaining a profit of 84%.

The daily live weight gain was won by James Taylor with a May-born Limousin bullock, bred at Kennedy, Tom O Cluny.

This reached a daily live weight gain of 1.33kgs and was later sold scaling 552kgs at £1,290. Average prices – 31 calves £1,060.96. Bullocks (23) – averaged £1,084.34 Heifers (8) – averaged £993.75 Average profit (46) £244.83. Best return on capital invested – 1 Hanna Cheape, Letham (Kinross) 84%, 2 Hanna Cheape, Letham (Kinross) 66%, 3 James Orr, Foodie (Bell Baxter ) 64%. Best daily liveweight gain – 1 James Taylor, 1.33kgs, 2 Emma Cheape, Letham (Kinross) 1.29kgs, 3 Scott Lambie, Braco Castle (Strathearn ) 1.25kgs. Bullock 350-422kgs – 1 James Taylor, 568kgs £1,300, 2 Lewis McLaren, Classlochie (Kinross) 536kgs £1,250, 3 Sarah Rattray, West Park (Strathearn ), 580kgs £1,360. Bullock 338-350kgs – 1 Michael Rattray 540kgs £1,310, 2 Michael Rattray 516kgs £1,210, 3 Scott Lambie, Braco Castle (Strathearn), 498kgs £1,100. Bullock 210-310kgs – 1 Ewan Lambie, Loanhead of Duchally (Strathearn), 438kgs £1,090, 2 James Orr, Foodie (Bell Baxter ), 404kgs £930, 3 Hanna Cheape, 420kgs £940. Haltered Bullock – 1 James McKerrow, Nochnary (Bell Baxter), 434kgs £980, 2 Emma Cheape 402kgs £880. Heifer 350-396kgs – 1 James Taylor 552kgs £1,290, 2 Jamie McLaren 526kgs £1,170, 3 Neil Messenger, Ayton (Perth ), 464kgs £930. Heifer 236-274kgs – 1 Ruth Brown, Strageath Mains (Strathearn), 372kgs £940, 2 Kirsty Kinloch, Wester Coldrain (Kinross), 340kgs £820, 3 Ruth Brown, Strageath Mains (Strathearn), 418kgs £1,030. Haltered heifer – Craig Drysdale, Kinnesswood (Kinross), 358kgs, £890.