AVERAGES were well up on the week as Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 3703 prime hoggs last week, where a large entry of hoggs was forward considering the weather and met a fast selling trade. 

The sale included a special show of Beltex-sired lambs judged by Bill Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, who picked out a 44kg pair of hoggs from Angus Greenlaw at Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, as his champion, and later paid £120 per head of 272p per kg for them. 

In reserve was a 41kg pair from J Eddie and Son, Hallhill, Kinneff, which sold to C Anderson, Nether Strennies, Carrutherstown, for £120 or 292p. 

But it was 40kg Beltex from Quoymorehouse, Balfour, that topped at 293.8p per kg with 43kg Beltex from Newton of Crathie, Ballater, hitting £121. The sale averaged £100.26 per head or 228.3p per kg, a rise of 15.4p per kg on the week, with the 2436 SQQs at 232.8p (+15.5p). 

LEADING awards:

Beltex-sired prime hoggsLightweight (up to 43.9kg) – 1, reserve and 3, J Eddie and Sons, Hallhill, Kineff, 41kg, £120 and 40kg, £108.50; 2, T and J Leslie, Quoymorhouse, Balfour, 40kg, £117.50. Heavyweight (44kg and above) – 1 and champion – Sheep Park Farms, Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch, 44kg, £120; 2 and 3, Hallhill, 49kg, £117.50 and 51kg, £117.50.