Scottish breeders bought the top priced Valais Blacknose sheep at a sale of rare breeds of sheep and a select sale of pedigree cattle at Beeston, last weekend, where two lots sold for 3000gns.

First was a September 2014-born ewe from Steve Jones and Richard Pilkington's Alpine flock from Wrexham, North Wales, purchased in a two-way split by Glen Blacklock, Know Farmhouse, Kirkconnel, Sanquhar and Carol Westby, Stranraer. Alpine Alisha, which has already been flushed successfully for export, sold due early July to Alpine Casper, a ram that sold last year for 4900gns to New Zealand. She boasts Swiss genetics on both sides.

Also making 3000gns from the same home was Alpine Fancy That, a March-born ewe lamb by Nobelesse Dante, sold nursing on a registered two-year-old Lleyn ewe. Bruce Goldie, Townfoot, Dumfries, was the final bidder, buying over the telephone.

Just behind, on 2800gns, Welsh breeder, N Cabb, Rhyddlan, Denbighshire, bought another from the Jones/Pilkington partnership in Gemstone Contessa, a September 2015-born ewe scanned with twins.

The same partnership also staged the first sale of Lowline Miniature Angus cattle in the UK, the same day which saw a lead price of 2400gns.

The breed which is being promoted for producing high quality, low cost beef, was topped by Bigtime Ernie, a fullblood Australian yearling son of Elandra Park Gotcha bred from Sapphire

Ernie. He went home with H Bowcock, Whitchurch.

Females peaked at 1100gns for Bigtime Diana, a 26-month-old three-quarter bred Lowline heifer which sold with her week-old calf at foot to JC Pinder, Dolgellau.

Auctioneers: Wright Marshall.