All the action at Angus Show

Top livestock, a fiercely contested sheep shearing competition and an array of Ferguson equipment that spans 70 years of agriculture should provide interest for every farmer at the Angus Show on Saturday.

The Millennium Trophy, the show’s most prestigious award, will be made this year to the champion of champions’ winner in the sheep section. And record entries of Blackface, Beltex, Suffolk, Cross Sheep, Texel, Jacob and minority breeds will ensure there is strong competition for the prize.

The cattle rings will also be packed with prize livestock, particularly round the Limousin lines where a new class has been introduced for the breed this year.

Show secretary Nici Smith said that Limousins have traditionally been incorporated in the “any other breed” category.

“However there seems to be enough interest for there to be a separate class which is great, although it does mean numbers will be down in the other continental class,” she said.

“There are strong entries in all the native breeds, including Aberdeen Angus. We also have dairy entries, although numbers are down on last year, which is no surprise given the problems in the industry. Three dairy farmers will be taking livestock to the show this year.”

Angus Show is one of the last opportunities for breeders to test their animals in the ring in advance of the Royal Highland Show at the end of June.

“We have breeders coming from as far north as Fraserburgh and down to Perth, so we have a good spread and I know that many of the animals are bound for the Highland this year,” said Nici.

Angus Show always has popular goat classes and a strong native horse section, with Mountain and Moorland, Shetland, Clydesdale and Highland ponies.

Four judges will officiate in the sheep shearing competition and spinning experts will demonstrate the end purpose of the wool. Young farmers will run their own stockjudging competition and there are strong classes of light legged horses.

One of the highlights this year will inevitably be the display of more than 60 Ferguson tractors and agricultural implements which has been organised by Ferguson heritage enthusiasts.

Nici explained: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the Friends of Ferguson Heritage to celebrate their 70th anniversary.”

The Ferguson celebrations will culminate in a competition in the main ring where dedicated enthusiasts will go head to head with Forfar young farmers to rebuild an old tractor.