Breeders told to get a moo-ve on

Event will take place in July with breeders displaying their stock virtually

The clock is ticking to get cattle entries in for next month’s online Scottish Agricultural Show.

The virtual show, which takes place on July 3-4, will give cattle breeders the chance to show off their best stock and be in with the chance of winning a champion rosette and the opportunity to compete for the show’s coveted champion of champions title.

The event, which is being hosted by The Courier and Press and Journal, aims to fill the void left by the cancellation of summer agricultural shows due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Sponsored by EQ Accountants and organised in partnership with the Royal Highland Show, the show will feature livestock competitions, as well as trade stands, a food and drink section, and much more.

The cattle section of the show includes classes for beef and dairy cattle, and a quartet of judges is lined up to cast an expert eye over the stock on offer.

The classes, with sections for both male and female cattle, are: AberdeenAngus; Beef Shorthorn; Highland; any other native beef breed; Charolais; commercial cattle; Limousin; any other continental beef breed; Holstein; Ayrshire; and any other dairy breed.

There will also be a young handlers contest split into two sections – one for entrants aged 10 and under, and one for those aged 11 to 18 years.

The dairy cattle classes are sponsored by Duncan’s of Banchory, while the beef section is sponsored by ANM Group.

The dairy section will be judged by Fife farmer Adam Lawson.

The beef section judges are: Arbroath farmer Audrey Anderson for AberdeenAngus, Beef Shorthorn and any other native breed; Glenlivet farmer Michael Durno for Charolais, Limousin, any other continental breed and commercial cattle; and Fife breeder Donald MacNaughton for Highland cattle.

Mr Durno said animals needed to be able to walk well, have a nice head on them, and be practical.

Mr MacNaughton said he will be looking for cattle that walk well and “look the part”.

The show costs £5 per animal to enter and all entry fees will be donated to the Royal Highland Education Trust – the rural education charity run by the Highland Show’s organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

Full details of how to enter can be found on the show’s website at scottishagriculturalshow.co.uk.

Entries close on June 19, so get your heifer spruced, your bull combed and your halters at the ready.

Picture: Jason Hedges. Cattle, are you ready? Entries for next month’s online show are closing soon.