The annual Young Farmers overwintering competition hosted by Aberdeen & Northern Marts in conjunction with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), will be held at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Thursday 23^rd March followed by the sale on Friday 24^th March.

The objective of the competition is to encourage young farmers to take part in the buying and selling of cattle through the live auction system and, in particular to practice the art of stockmanship in the tasks of selection, feeding, presenting and parading animals for Show and Sale. Young farmers are offered the opportunity to purchase cattle at the autumn sales, feed them through the winter with a key part of the competition covering the commercial aspects of production in the feeders’ margin and daily weight gain categories.

Young Farmers from across the North of Scotland will be competing to win the Calladrum Cup and participate in categories such as best quality animal, best presented & paraded animal, highest average daily liveweight gain, highest feeders’ margin, best overwintered animal, the novice award, the junior Young Farmer award and the Young Farmers Club award.

Over 30 exhibitors are set to participate in this year’s competition, which is sponsored by Ledingham Chalmers, with a total entry of 86 calves featuring at the event including 47 heifers and 39 bullocks. The show will take place from 7pm on Thursday 23^rd March with Tommy Taylor from Heathery Hall Farm, Biggar judging the entries and the sale will commence from 9am on Friday 24^th March.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said “We are delighted to be hosting the event at Thainstone and it is great to see a strong entry forward. The exhibitors from Young Farmers Clubs across the North have worked hard over the winter months to get stock ready for showing. The overwintering competition provides a platform for young stockmen to show and parade cattle, as well as the opportunity to sell in the live ring.”

At last year’s event the winner of the Calladrum Cup for the best overwintered animal was Hannah Lorimer, Cadgerford, Kingswells and the top price of £3200 was achieved for a 13-month-old British Blue cross heifer from Finn Christie, of Garioch YFC, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple.