A SPECIAL show and sale of Blackface hoggs at Caledonian Marts’ Stirling centre, on Tuesday, saw the champion pen from Colin Little, East Bracklinn, go on to top the Blackie offering at £80 per head. 

Picked out by judge, Dunbia’s Haig Murray, Colin’s pen headed up the heavy section and crossed the scales at 45kg apiece. 

In reserve and later selling for £74 was a 43kg pen from Jimmy MacGregor, Dyke, with the 240 show Blackies cashing in to level at 166.5p per kg. 

Overall, the 1406 prime hoggs levelled at 166.9p and sold to 214p for Beltex crosses from Doune Farms and £96 three times – for Beltex from both Doune Farms and Meikle Seggie, as well as for Texels from Newton of Crathie. 

Also on offer were 698 cast ewes and tups which averaged £56.08, broken down to 167 heavy ewes at £70.97 (+£5.33 on the week) and 465 export ewes at £50.99. They peaked at £120 for Texels from Carriston. 


LEADING awards:

Blackface hoggs – Up to 40kg – 1, J Smith, Midhouse, 39kg, £69.50; 2, JM Cullens, Dollarbank, 40kg, £67; 3, Remony Estate, Aberfeldy, 39kg, £65. 40.1kg – 44kg – 1 and reserve, J McGregor, Dyke, 43kg, £74; 2, T & I Paterson, Dunruchan, 42.5kg, £68.50; 3, C Little, East Bracklinn, 41.7kg, £68. 44.1kg and above – 1 and champion, C Little, East Bracklinn, 45kg, £80; 2, Remony Estate, 45kg, £77; 3, J Brown, Loanrigg, 44.5kg, £73.