A NEW breed record for an in-lamb Blackface female was achieved at the Association’s  sale at Lanark, when a one-crop ewe from Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, sold for 11,000gns.

Superceding the previous in-lamb record of 8000gns paid for a ewe from Ewen Macmillan, Lurg, but falling 1000 short of the £12,000 best for a ewe hogg from Ian Hunter’s Dalchirla flock, was a daughter of a £90,000 Blackhouse lamb, bred from a ewe by a  £24,000 Elmscleugh.

Unshown at the pre-sale show, this cracker which collected a red ticket at Muirkirk Show last year as a gimmer, sold carrying a single lamb to the £58,000 Auldhouseburn Mourinho, to Paul Coulson, buying for the High Staward flock based at Langley, Northumberland.

At 6000gns, brothers John and Charlie Harkin, Loughash, Co Tyrone, sold a similarly aged ewe by a £40,000 Loughash and bred from a £6500 Midlock, back across the Irish Sea to Veronica Fullerton. She changed hands carrying twin lambs to last year’s £11,000 Nunnerie lamb.

The champion, a gimmer by a £3400 Lurg, purchased by Oliver Brannigan, made 5600gns to Ewen Macmillan, Lurg, Fintry. She was consigned by Robert Cockburn, who runs 110 Blackie ewes alongside his pedigree Texel flock at Hill of Errol, Errol, Perth. She was bred from a ewe by a son of a £5800 Connachan and sold scanned for twins to a Lurg-bred son of a £9000 Dalwyne that was used on loan from Lurg.

Reserve was a five-year-old ewe from the team at Midlock, Crawford, which stood champion at the Highland in 2015 and bred a tup by the £40,000 Dalchirla, retained for breeding. She is by the £90,000 Dalchirla shearling and made 1600gns.

By the end of the day, 18 ewes averaged £2356.67, with 45 gimmers at £1088.97. Overall, 63 lots, £1451.17.

For full report  see this week's Scottish Farmer