The Royal Northern Spring Show held in conjunction with Aberdeen and Northern Marts has today announced the line-up of judges and confirmed entries for the upcoming show and sale. The annual event will take place on Wednesday 1st March at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie with the exhibitors and spectators set to flock to the first major event in the agricultural calendar.

In the Exhibition Cattle section sponsored by NorthLink Ferries, Michael Alford, Foxhill Farm, Devon will be set to judge over 50 entries including, 24 bullocks and 31 heifers. Michael is a highly experienced judge of pedigree and commercial cattle, judging across many well-known agricultural shows across the UK and he brings with him a wealth of knowledge. There is a strong entry of suitable stock for the forthcoming showing season forward for the sale, which will take place live and online from 2:30pm. In 2022 the top price at the exhibition cattle sale was £3,600 for a 11-month-old, Limousin cross heifer, weighing 480kgs from Lethendry, Cromdale, Grantown-on-Spey.

Gordon Mackay from Upper Ardnagrask, Muir of Ord is set to judge the Pedigree Bulls and Female Cattle with SBP Accountants & Business Advisers sponsoring the section. The show and sale will see over 90 Pedigree Bulls and Female Cattle forward including 25 Charolais bulls, 25 Limousin bulls, 22 Simmental bulls, 7 Aberdeen Angus, 4 British Blue/Shorthorn bulls and 7 female cattle. Following the show, the sale of Pedigree Cattle will commence from 12 noon with top class pedigree stock available. In 2022 the top price of the pedigree bull section was 8500gns for a first prize Charolais bull from Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Keith.

John Angus, Head of Livestock at A&N Marts said: “The Spring Show always attracts top quality stock from a variety of leading show and commercial breeders from across the country, providing a platform for farmers to showcase the best of their stock. With the integrity and transparency of the live auction this allows both buyers and sellers to achieve the most competitive price.  

Thank you to NorthLink Ferries for their continued long-standing support with the sponsorship of the Exhibition Cattle for the 2023 show. By providing integral services for the agricultural industry in the Northern Isles, NorthLink continues the support the rural and wider communities across Orkney and Shetland.

We would also like to thank SBP Accountants and Business Advisers for taking up the sponsorship of the Pedigree Bulls and Female Cattle section, it’s great to see local businesses getting involved. We look forward to holding another successful show and sale here at Thainstone Centre on Wednesday 1^st of March.”