Despite the ban on all ruminant exports from Britain following several incidences of bluetongue south of the Border, demand for in-lamb females at the Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association show and sale at Lanark held up well, with more than half the entry selling at four-figure prices.
From a lead price of 5800gns for the champion from John Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk, 39 lots found new homes to produce an 83% clearance.
John Murray and his daughter Iona produced their first pre-sale champion with a gimmer backed by home-bred genetics on both sides. She is by McCoy Look Alike – a son of a £150,000 Auldhouseburn retained for breeding and bred from a daughter of Spectre – a Crossflatt-bred son of the £90,000 Blackhouse. She sold carrying a single lamb by Titan – a home-bred son of a £160,000 Dyke lamb retained for breeding last year. Second in her class at Muirkirk Show last year and with embryos retained from her, the gimmer was knocked down to Robert and Iain Shaw, Acharonich, Ardfern, Lochgilphead.
Ewen Macmillan, Lurg, Fintry, enjoyed a great sale, selling five to average £2436, with a top price of 5000gns paid for a daughter of Highlander, a £14,000 Crossflatt. He is out of a ewe by a £3200 Midlock that was a twin to a £6000 Lurg, and sold carrying a single lamb to the £23,000 Dalchirla shearling. The buyers were John and Patrick Harkin.
The Highlander was also behind a 2400gns Lurg gimmer, to Andy Woodburn, Netherwood, Muirkirk. The dam of this entry which also sold carrying a single to the £23,000 Dalchirla, is by a £22,000 Dalchirla.
Mr Macmillan's last lot, a one-crop ewe again carrying lambs by the £23,000 Dalchirla made 2000gns selling to Isle of Mull breeder, Rhoda Munro. She is by an £18,000 Elmscleugh.
Top price amongst the ewes was 3400gns paid for a one-crop from Thomas Muirhead's 280-strong Orchilmore flock from Comrie. His ewe, by a £6000 Auldhouseburn bought at Stirling, is bred from a daughter of a £160,000 Elmscleugh. She sold scanned for a single lamb by the £32,000 Auldhouseburn to J McAlister.
The Wights' Midlock and Grains consignments, Crawford, were also in the money with sales at 3200gns, 2800gns and 2100gns. Dearest was a Grains gimmer by the £30,000 Midlock that was sired by the £200,000 Dalchirla. She is out of a ewe by Hawkeye, a home-bred son of the £35,000 Dalchirla retained for breeding, and sold carrying triplet lambs to the £30,000 Crossflatt. She headed home with Robert and Innes McKay, Millpark, Oban.
Matthew Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw, West Calder, bought the 2800gns entry, a Midlock gimmer by the same £30,000 Midlock son of £200,000 Dalchirla. The dam is by a home-bred son of £24,000 Connachan, and she sold due with a pair of lambs to a home-bred son of the £30,000 Crossflatt.
Buying back some of their own genetics, Donald and Jimmy MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie, bought the 2100gns Midlock gimmer, a son of a £40,000 Dyke shearling, out of a ewe by home-bred son of a £25,000 Nunnerie. She sold served to a £30,000 Nunnerie and carrying twin lambs.
David Morrison, Dalwyne, Barr, and shepherd Andrew McMillan, produced a second reserve champion along with sales of 2600gns and 2000gns for two-crop ewes. Their sale leader, by a £38,000 Crossflatt and out of a ewe by a £22,000 Dalchirla that last year bred a £4500 ram lamb and last year's show gimmer, was purchased by Welsh breeder, D Roberts, Heol Las, Penderyn, Aberdare. She sold scanned for twins by a £15,000 Auldhouseburn
Their pen leader, a daughter of a £4500 Loughash, was knocked down to Messrs Ridley for 2000gns, again carrying twins to the £15,000 Auldhouseburn.
Ewes from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, also proved popular with sales at 2100gns and 2000gns to J and MJ Hamilton, Wester Crosswoodhill, West Calder and Stevie Guild, Ashmark, New Cumnock, respectively.
The former, the dam of the first prize ewe lamb at the Royal Highland Show in 2022, is sired by a £5500 Elmscleugh and out of a ewe by a £32,000 Midlock. She sold scanned for triplet lambs to a £12,000 Dyke.
The latter, by the 26,000gns Tarmac sold carrying twin lambs to the £38,000 Allanfauld.
Tommy Renwick and son Tom, Williamhope, Clovenfords, also took 2100gns for a gimmer by a home-bred son of a £60,000 Glenrath. She sold carrying a single lamb by a home-bred son of the £78,000 Dalchirla, to JA Robertson and Partners, Linthills, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire.
Aberuchill Estate, Comrie, Perthshire, managed by Craig Paterson, took 2000gns for their show ewe, a daughter of a £22,000 Auldhouseburn that is a full sister to last year's one-crop ewe sold here that made 2100gns. Ewan Fraser, Balgowan, Newtonmore, was the final bidder on this entry which sold carrying twin lambs to an £18,000 Dalchirla lamb.
Mr Fraser also went to 1000gns for the sole ewe hogg forward from Aberuchill. She is sired by the £150,000 Auldhouseburn.
The three Northern Ireland entries which were sold via video link, peaked at 2000gns for a two-crop ewe from Charlie and Cathal Harkin, The Rock, Loughash. She is sired by a a £4800 Stroanbrack, and changed hands carrying twin lambs to a £15,000 Elmscleugh. Final bidder was Donal Breslin.
averages: 14 ewes, £1736.25 (-£910.37 for three less); 24 gimmers, £1675.63 (+£197.55 for 15 fewer); overall, 39 females, £1681.35.
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