Scotsman Andrew Baillie to judge Beltex Premier Show at Dungannon
Well-known Scottish stockman and judge Andrew Baillie is set to judge the Dungannon Beltex Premier Show and Export Sale on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August 2026.
Baillie will cast an expert eye over proceedings at the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeder Club’s event, in which purchasers will have the chance to buy MV Accredited and Scrapie Monitored pedigree sheep.
Hailing from Lanarkshire, Scotland, Andrew has proven his credentials on the showing circuit, having judged at numerous events including the Highland Show. He has also had great success with his own Callacrag Flock, achieving 18,000gns for Callacrag Jesus at Carlisle in 2024 and winning the Sheep Interbreed Championship at the Highland Show last year with a Beltex X ewe and lambs.
Now, some 20-plus years on from the establishment of his Callacrag prefix, his pedigree Beltex, together with crossbred and pedigree Texels, share a low input leader-follower rotational grazing system on his family’s sheep and dairy holding at Carstairs Mains in Lanarkshire. While Callacrag offerings have made some notable prices in breed society fixtures, sales of both tups and females to commercial lamb producers are also an important part of the business. The family’s dairy enterprise is in partnership and the rest of the farm is run by Andrew and wife Jennifer, along with their three children, Rachel who has graduated from Harper Adams and is a Relationship Manager in the Virgin Money Agriculture Team, Cameron who is at home and has established his own Carstairs Beltex prefix and younger daughter Lauren who is still at school.
Speaking ahead of the Premier Show and Export Sale, Baillie said: “I judged Balmoral Show for the Club in 2023 and I am really looking forward to getting back over and seeing how the breeders have progressed. At Dungannon I am wanting to see good, sound sheep with great conformation and style. Something that catches the eye and has traditional Beltex carcass characteristics.”
The Dungannon Premier Show and Export Sale is on Monday, 31 August at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart. Showing starts at 10.30am and the sale starts at 1.00pm. Bidding will be available online via MartEye. An online catalogue will be available on the Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club’s Facebook page.