Blackie averages improve

AVERAGES improved in both the shearling ram and the ram lamb sections at United Auctions’ sale of 1108 Blackface rams at Stirling, where a ‘cheery sale’ saw three lots attract five-figure prices.
The addition of an extra ring to sell the ram lambs, also proved successful, enabling the ‘big shearling ring’ to sell it’s last sheep at just after 5pm compared to well after 7pm in previous years. The two other rings finished before 4pm.
“It has been a right good cheery sale, with increased averages and more tups sold reflecting the added confidence in the market place,” said George Purves, UA’s auctioneer and director. “There was a far better atmosphere about it and the three rings operating instead of just two, proved a real success.”
While the sale came to a close much earlier than in previous years, it was still two of the last lots sold that secured the two top shearling sales at £16,000 and £8000.
Dearest was the pen leader from Stephen Duncan and son Stephen’s Livet flock of 100 south-type ewes, who had earlier in the day enjoyed a cracking sale from their Achdregnie north, or Perth-type Blackface flock.
In previous years they have received up to £16,000 for a north-type shearling, secured the same money with a son of a £2700 Tinnis, which was by the £42,000 Upper Cleugh. The dam, a home-bred ewe, is by a £2800 Elmscleugh.
This tup sold to three second cousins in the McClymont clan – Alan and Sam, from Kirkstead and Tinnis, respectively, both Yarrow; and Colin McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, Newton Stewart.
Livet also received £3000 for a shearling selling to Ben Cluckie, Loch Ryan Farms, Cairnryan, and JB Pate and Sons, Moorfoot, Gorebridge.
The last consignment through the ring, from Willie and Euan Bennie, Merkins, Gartocharn, attracted an £8000 bid for a son of the £5500 Dalwyne, which was knocked down to Gavin Campbell and his daughter Susan, Larg, Creetown, Newton Stewart, and Danny Hair, Drumbreddan, Ardwell, Stranraer. His dam is by a home-bred son of a £9000 Nunnerie.
At the other end of the day, one of the first shearlings sold made £7000 for Michael Wood, selling from his 110-ewe Blackie flock from Shawsknowe, Crosshill, Straiton.
Producing a personal best, this tup is a son of a £7000 Connachan which bred a £6500 ram lamb for Shawsknowe last year and out of a Connachan ewe lamb bought at Lanark. He sold in a three-way split to Ian Bond, Glen, Gateshouse; Jim and Fiona Burns, Craignell, New Galloway; and Willie Stevenson, Balrazzie, Ballantrae.
Another from the same home and by the same sire then made £3800, selling to Burncastle Farming Co, Lauder, managed by Alan Rogerson.
Ram lamb sons of last year’s record priced £160,000 Dalchirla tup proved popular too, with sales at £13,000, £9000, £6500 and £3000 for Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk.
Dearest was the pen’s No 2, an ET bred from a ewe by a £24,000 Elmscleugh, purchased by Sam Wallace, Broughshane, Northern Ireland.
His full ET brother and pen leader, made £6500 to Willie and Euan Bennie, Merkins, Gartocharn.
Auldhouseburn’s No 4, bred from a £25,000 Auldhouseburn daughter, then made £9000 selling to Jack Fraser, Balgowan, Lagganbridge.
The £3000 lamb by the £160,000 Dalchirla headed down to the Borders with Ewan McMillan, Traquair Hill, Innerleithen, and John Renwick, Corsebank, Sanquhar.
Matching the £13,000 lamb sale, was the best from neighbouring breeder, John Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk.
His cracker is by Spectre, a home-bred son of the £90,000 Blackhouse, out of a ewe by the £26,000 Crossflatt. The buyers were Lanarkshire’s Malcolm Coubrough, for his Hartside and Whelphill flocks, at Crawford, and Andrew Provan, Parkhall, Douglas.