NSA Highland Sheep 2013 was the place to be

A packed programme of events, the feature show and sale of ewe hoggs pairs and numerous outdoor and indoor trade stands meant Dingwall Mart was definitely the place to be yesterday. Euan Emslie, Event Organiser, said: “The attendance exceeded our expectations and it was a very successful event.”

The event was officially open by Lady Claire MacDonald, who spoke of the fantastic quality of Scottish lamb and its place in high quality food offerings across the UK, as well as its contribution to tourism and hospitality in Scotland. Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead then took to the stage, focussing on the importance of sheep farming to the economy and social fabric of Scotland, and of the importance of effective CAP support to underpin the industry. He is clearly supportive of calls from some quarters for recoupling of payments (headage payments) although this was challenged by NSA Scotland Chairman Sybil McPherson who said recoupling was not an option favoured by NSA Scotland due to its effect on market drivers and creating additional barriers to new entrants. Mr Lochhead also answered a question about the need to increase the level of money spent on promoting Scottish red meat with a statement of intent to repatriate red meat levy collection, a regulatory issue that would require political will across the UK as a whole. 

Show and Sale

Also at NSA Highland Sheep, it was a day for the Suffolks with Mr and Mrs Fowlie of Adziel, Aberdeenshire, taking the top two spots in both the show and the sale. Both pairs were bought by Andrew Duguid for 1,000gns and 1,100gns respectively. Mary McCall-Smith of Connachan, Crieff, travelled up with her pair of Scottish Blackface hoggs to stand first in their class, with the duo going on to sell for 900gns to R. Munro. Full show results can be found below; click here for more photographs.

Other leading prices included 800gns for a part of North Country Cheviot Parks from G.R.G. McCallum and Son, Balmaduthy, sold to J. Ruciman and Sons, and another 800gns for a pair of Beltex hoggs from Donald Douglas, Braes of Coulmore, sold to M.W. Munro Esq.

Mr and Mrs J. and B. McCallum donated a pair of Highland Mule hoggs for charity and these were sold to Messrs F.J. Ross and Co, with the 700gns paid going to Imperial Cancer Research. The McCallum’s also donated their prize money and the Mart waived the commission on this lot.

Young Shepherd of the Year

First place in this competition went to David Colthart, who has recently completed a degree in agriculture and is under-shepherd at Atholl Estates, Pitlochry, Perthshire. David was also the highest placed under 21-year-old. He and Ian Christie, who was placed second, will do on to represent Scotland at the National Finals in 2014, and (awaiting confirmation) the European Finals later this year. In equal third were Martin Scott and Gavin MacDonald.

Sheepdog Trials

Results: 1^st, Hamish MacLean and Roy; 2^nd, Jock Sutherland and Jess; 3^rd, John Mckillop and Joe; 4^th, Michael McNally and Finn; 5^th, Ross Meikle and Lyn. The overall team award went to the Lochaber team, captained by John MacKillop.

Young Handlers (under 18 years of age): 1^st, Joe MacKenzie and Died; 2^nd, Racheal Urquhart and Jen; 3^rd = Greg Meikle and Lynn, and Farquhar Renwick and Lee.

Best Trade Stands

Breed Societies: 1^st, Scottish Blackface Sheep Association; 2^nd, Texel; 3^rd, North Country Cheviot.

Outdoor trade: 1^st, Allans of Gillock; 2^nd, HRN Tractors; 3^rd, Quattro.

Indoor trade: 1^st, Allflex; 2^nd, Stockcare; 3^rd, Scottish Crofting Federation.

Show of ewe hogg pairs

Beltex: 1^st, Donald Douglas.

Bluefaced Leicester: 1^st, Firm of K. MacKenzie; 2^nd, Gordon U MacKenzie; 3^rd, A. and J. Adam.

Charollais: 1^st, W. and C. Ingram; 2^nd, Firm of K. MacKenzie.

Jacob: 1^st, Mr J. Milton; 2^nd, Sophie Brown; 3^rd, Mrs C. Urquhart.

Lleyn: 1^st, John Campbell; 2^nd, David and Rebecca Henderson; 3^rd, John Campbell.

North Country Cheviot (Hill): 1^st, Mr Robert Marshall; 2^ndand 3^rd, A.R. MacKenzie.

North Country Cheviot (Park): 1^st A. McKenzie; 2^nd, G.R.G. McCallum and Co; 3^rd, J. and J. Farquhar.

Scottish Blackface: 1^st, Mary McCall-Smith; 2^nd, J.W. Kay and Co.

Mule: 1^st and 2^nd, Scott Rorison; 3^rd, Mrs and Mrs J. and B. McCallum.

Shetland: 1^st, Messrs A. and P. Dow.

Suffolk: 1^st and 2^nd, Irene Fowlie.

Texel: 1^st, Robert Cockburn.

Zwartbles: 1^st, Jim and Linda Mair; 2^nd and 3^rd, Alistair Culbertson.