SOME 1347 prime lambs sold through Caledonian Marts' Stirling centre, which included a show and sale of Suffolk prime lambs held in conjunction with the West of Scotland Suffolk Sheep Club.

The judge, A Argo from North Burn, awarded the champion ticket to a trio of Suffolk crosses weighing 45kg from Bankhead Farmers, who then purchased the pen for £128 per life.

Mr Argo also went to £109 per head for his reserve pen, a similar trio weighing 43.6kg from J Lawrie Tillyrie.

Outwith the show, top price of the day was £138 for a 51kg Beltex from I and G Farmer, Balbedie, Kinglassie and 290p for another Beltex weighing 41kg from G Whyte, Pett, Muthill. In all, the 446 prime lambs averaged 232p (-53p on the week).

Among the 435 cast ewes and tups, all classes of ewes sold slightly dearer on the week as heavy ewes averaged £82.25 and peaked at £133 for a Texel from M Jack, Carriston, Star of Markinch, while 276 export ewes levelled at £61.38.

LEADINGawards:

Champion – Bankhead Farmers, 45kg, £128. Reserve – J Lawrie, Tillyrie, 43.6kg, £109.

Suff X Mule up to 42kg – 1, HE Duncan, Bents; 2, W Raeside, Linnhead. Suff X Mule over 42kg – 1, WN McLaren, Blairgorts. Suff X AOB up to 42kg – 1, – J Lawrie, Tillyrie. Suff X Any Other Breed over 42kg – 1, Bankhead Farmers; 2, RA Campbell, Meikle Seggie; 3, M Jack, Carriston.

LEADINGprices:

Spring lambs – Per head – Tex – £137 Carriston. Char – £136 Bankhead (McKendrick). Cont – £129 Bankhead Farmers. Tex X – £125 Bents. Bel – £122 Easter Ochtermuthill. Suff – £115 Linnhead. Per kg – Tex – 248p Bents.

Bel – 279p Pett. Bel X – 277p Easter Ochtermuthill. Tex X – 277p Carriston. Cont – 274p Easter Ochtermuthill.

Tex X – 277p Carriston. Cont – 274p Easter Ochtermuthill. Suff – 248p Linnhead.

Hoggs – Tex – £99 Grange of Lindores. Suff X – £96 Mount Lothian. Mule – £95 Mount Lothian. Cont – £94 Meikle Seggie. BF – £85 Dalchirla. Per kg – BF – 189p Dalchirla. Tex –189p Mount Lothian. Chev – 188p West Thomaston. Chev X – 187p Nether Myres. Cont – 187p Grange of Lindores.

Cast ewes – Tex – £114 Carriston; £109 Easter Buchanty; £108, £104 Mawcarse; £101, £99 Easter Buchanty;

£99 Queenzieburn. BF – £65.50 East Mitchelton; £57 Dyke; £55.50 Dalchirla; £54 Harviesmailing.

Suff – £103 Upper Unston; £94 Easter Buchanty; £90 Ayton; £88 Grange of Lindores.

Chev – £92 Kinninmonth. Bord – £106, £98 Pitlessie. Char – £110 Bankhead (McKendrick). Bel – £81 Lochend.

Mule – £96 Pirnhall; £94 Easter Buchanty; £93 Keir Keepers Cottage; £89 East Whitesykes, Linnhead;

£83 Easter Buchanty.