Craigton Farm in Castle Douglas has been awarded a top cattle prize at the annual Scottish Tesco/McIntosh Donald producer club AGM competition.
Stock manager Stephen Williamson took home a prestigious silver Heifer Trophy with £600 prize money for supplying consistently high quality cattle throughout the year to the Aberdeenshire meat wholesalers.
The 2500 acre farm, owned by well-known local Jackie Craig, finishes 450 cattle each year for McIntosh Donald and sells around 150 store cattle. It has been part of the abattoir’s producer group, which supplies meat to Tesco, for five years.
Mr Williamson, who has worked at Craigton for 19 years and runs the farm’s breeding programme, commented: “It’s an achievement and we’re really pleased. We’ve been working towards improving the cattle for the last few years and we’re breeding a good standard of quality heifers.”
Other local winners are Andrew Sproat of Baldoon Mains in Wigtown, Newton Stewart and John Rome of Ingliston Farm in Irongray, Dumfries.
The prize-winning farmers are all customers of United Auctions (UA), Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers, who procure livestock for the Portlethen-based abattoir.
UA sales manager John Roberts attended the AGM competition and was delighted to see his customers’ success. He said: “The awards highlight the quality of stock in the south west of Scotland and it’s very satisfying to see the hard work Stephen puts into the breeding programme at Craigton recognised in this way.
“The type of cattle bred here is an ideal fit for Tesco/McIntosh Donald’s needs so it’s no wonder this area provides such a significant amount of stock for them.”
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