Final preparations are underway ahead of the annual two-day Christmas show which will take place at Quoybrae Auction Mart on Monday 4^th and Tuesday 5^th of December.

The show will commence on Monday 4^th December at 6.45pm, with the judging of the Prime Lambs and Prime Cattle sections followed by the new Baby Beef Competition, with the Sale of Store Cattle, Prime Cattle, Prime Lambs, Store Lambs and Feeding Ewes taking place on Tuesday 5^th December.

Entries for the Store Cattle, Store Lambs, Prime Lambs and Prime Cattle sections close on Wednesday 29^th November at 5pm, with the Prime and Feeding Ewes section closing on Friday 1^st December.

Scott Watson of Muirdram, Carnoustie is set to judge the Open and Young Farmers Prime Cattle section, kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual, Thurso and Dingwall and the Baby Beef Competition.

The Baby Beef Competition is new to the 2023 event and kindly sponsored by Vauldale Engineering. The aim of the competition is to encourage Young Farmers to showcase their young calves and practice showmanship skills ahead of the Caithness Overwintering competition in April. The competition is confided to Caithness Young Farmers only.

In the Prime Lambs sections, the open pairs of Prime Lambs section is kindly sponsored by Fiona and Cath of the Home Bakery, Wick and Duncan and Todd, Wick is lined up to sponsor the Young Farmers pairs of Prime Lambs. The Pen of 10 Untrimmed Lambs section, kindly sponsored Mr Wullie Gulloch, will be judged by Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Orkney.

At last year’s show a top price of £3,000 was achieved in the Prime Cattle section for a Limousin Bullock from G W Begg, scalling 635kg, selling to Mackay’s Hotel, Wick. The champion Pair of Prime Lambs consigned from Sibmister and Stainland Farms was a pair of 45kg Beltex which realised £580 to the same buyer. The champion Young Farmers Pair of Prime Lambs was a pair of 61kg Texels from Sophie Gunn, The shein, Hill of Forss, purchased by Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant. The champion Pen of 10 Untrimmed Lambs was awarded to Robin Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten and realised £122 per head.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “The annual Caithness Christmas show is a fantastic opportunity for exhibitors to show their top-quality prime cattle and sheep to a busy ringside of buyers from across the North of Scotland.  We encourage everyone to get their entries in before the closing date.

We are thrilled to also be supporting the next generation with the introduction of the Baby Beef Competition, which allows Young Farmers to get involved and showcase the art of stockmanship ahead of next years overwintering competition.”

Online bidding will be available at the sale.