LiveScot has largest entry for 10 years

LiveScot, the annual winter show of prime beef cattle and sheep, has attracted the largest entry of livestock for 10 years, writes Nancy Nicolson.

Saturday’s event at Lanark mart is run by the Scottish National Fat Stock Club and features 120 cattle, including 10 in the butcher’s class, 46 commercial calves, 110 pairs of lambs and 25 single ewe lambs.

Most animals are from herds and flocks in central Scotland but there are entries from as far away as Cumbria and Northern Ireland.

The beef cattle champion at last year’s show, from Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff, sold for £4,900.

Entries in the pedigree dairy cattle, poultry, grain, silage and hay, crooks, baking and crafts sections are also higher and this year will also see a free-to-enter young handlers’ competition for ages 15 to 30, with a junior section for under 15s.

The cost of entry to the show is £5 and gates open to the public at 8am. Judging starts at 8.30pm.

The auction sale of sheep starts at 3.30pm, followed by the cattle at 4.45pm.

Judges for the event are as follow.

Continental classes and overall beef championships – Harry Brown Jr, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, Peterhead.

Commercial calf show and cattle young handlers – Michael Scott, Craig Cottage, Banks, Brampton, Carlisle.

Butcher’s cattle and housewife’s choice classes – Louise Forsyth, Forsyth & Sons, Butchers, Peebles.

Sheep classes, overall and breed championships – Jimmy Stark, Bluebell, Alton Farm, Milton of Campsie.

Single ewe lamb and sheep young handlers – Jimmy Sinclair, Crookston, Heriot, Midlothian.

Dairy cattle – Stephen Morley, Petteril Bank, Carlisle.

Poultry – Hugh Guthrie, Mosspark, Kirklandside, Kilmarnock.

Potatoes, roots, grain, hay and grass silage – Andrew Steel, Craignathro, Forfar.

Crooks – Gavin McKinlay, the Bungalow, Tigh-Na-Seudar, Lugate, Stow.

Baking and crafts – Helen Clark, Garngour, Lesmahagow.