The Blackface sheep breed enjoyed a good year in 2009, with good price rises at all the sales, which culminated in higher prices at the main ram sales and an increase in the overall tup levies paid to the association from £43,880 in 2008 to £49,031.

However, while the income from tup levies increased by more than £5000 on the year, the interest received due to low bank interest rates, fell by almost £5000. Nevertheless, the association ended the year at December 31, 2009 with a surplus of £1191 on the year, with a total balance of £198,120 compared to £197,373.

“We’ve had a successful year,” said breed president John MacPherson. “There have been good price rises for all classes of stock at all the markets and we’ve seen our tups sell to a wider market with more selling south of the Border and into Wales.

“Our breed has also shown itself to be just as easycare and wool shedding as any other with quality females highly sought after,” added Mr MacPherson.

More importantly, Haig Murray, one of two lamb buyers for Dunbia, stressed the growing demand for top quality branded lamb such as Borders Blackface lamb, in various supermarkets and for lightweight export lambs, typically Blackfaces from southern Europe.

On the home front, he added that the Border Blackface lamb range, sold in Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Range from January to April, was continuing to prove a great success and is likely to continue again next year.