Trademark tops Quoybrae rams

A SHEARLING ram from Orkney breeder, James Baillie, Sebay, Tankerness, topped the North Country Cheviot sheep breed’s annual sale of rams at Quoybrae, last week, selling for £3800.
His sale leader, Sebay Trademark, is by Longoe Regal and was knocked down to John Polson, Smerlie Road, Lybster.
The sale, which saw averages drop £67.46, to level at £704.36 for 65 against £771.82 for 55 last year, saw the reserve champion make £2300 selling to Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch. 
This was Biggins Titan, a shearling by Philiphaugh Tevez, from J and W Mackay, Biggins, Wick.
Biggins also took £1500 for a shearling from C and I Angus, Oldfield, Thurso.
The champion, selected by judges, Dallas Allen, Humbleheugh, and George Milne, Kinaldy, was Durran Taldale, a shearling son of Biggins Napier from DJ and M Allan, Durran Mains, Castletown. It made £2000 selling to Adie Gunn, Upper Dounreay, Thurso.
Meanwhile, the Caithness Sheep Breeders Association multi-breed ram sale staged the same day, saw the champion Texel, selected by judge, Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Orkney, sell for the top price of £1000. 
Consigned by D Webster, Lower Reiss Farm, this shearling ram by Drumpark Viceroy, was knocked down to T Sinclair, Reaster, Lyth. 
The reserve Texel, a shearling by Clougher Unanimous, from John Forbes, Boultach, Latheron, made £650 selling to DG Munro, Cyderhall, Dornoch. 
Mr Muir bought his choice of champion Suffolk, a shearling from Messrs Sutherland, Stainland and Sibmister Farms, at £750, while the reserve in the same breed, a shearling by Drimmie Rock Solid from W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten, made £650 to Caithness Livestock Breeders. 
Border Leicester champion – selected by the judge Liam Gunn, Caithness Livestock Breeders – was a shearling by Ditton Hitman from A Miller and Sons, Aimster, Thurso. It made £700 to D Miller, Buckies Farm, Thurso, who also bought the reserve, another the same way bred and from the same home at £500.