SOME 1273 prime sheep sold through Craig Wilson's Ayr Mart, this week, which included the annual show and sale of prime Suffolk lambs held in conjunction with the West and Central Scotland Suffolk Sheep Club.

Judge, A Bicket from Redwells Farm, Kilwinning, awarded a pen of 44kg lambs from A McMillan, Burnbank, Dalrymple, as champion, which later sold for £139 or 315.9p per kg when sold to McDowall Butchers Ltd, Paisley.

The reserve champion went to another pen weighing 44kg from A Hunter, Laigh Langcraig, Craigie, which made £128 or 290.9p to the judge, Mr Bicket.

In all, the 37 prime Suffolk show lambs forward cashed in at 267.3p (+ 13.6p on the year).

Outwith the show, 301 prime lambs averaged 261.8p (+10p on the week) and peaked at £142 for a 52kg Texel lamb from IJ and A Bothwell, Smithston, Patna, and 304.8p for Texels from J Wilson and Son, Wheatfield, Kilmaurs.

Another big show of 506 hoggs saw well-fleshed types easily cashed as they sold to £115 for a Texel from Messrs Craig and CO, Rankinston, and 227p for a well-fleshed Cheviot from Allan Baird, Langholm. They averaged 169p.

Cast ewes and rams (434) saw all classes prove harder to cash on the week as the 263 heavy ewes averaged £84.47 and topped at £137.50 for a Charollais from B Notman, Redding, while 13 tups levelled at £95.77 and sold to £126.50 for a Texel from W and E Cook, Glendoune.

LEADINGawards:

Prime lambs

Scotch Mule X Suff up to 42kg – 1, Perryston, £104, 253.7p; 2, Dallowie, £93, 238.5p.

Scotch Mule more than 42.5kg – 1 and reserve champion, Laigh Langcraig, £128, 290.9p; 2, Perryston, £122, 275p.

AOB X Suf up to 42kg – 1, Netherton £105.50, 251.2p; 2, Mid Brockloch, £107, 107p.

AOB X Suff more than 42.5kg – 1 and champion, £139, 315.9p; 2, Wheatfield £112, 261.6p.

LEADINGprices:

Prime lambs – Per head – Tex – £142 Smithston; £141 Netherton; £139 Netherton; £135 Rushaw; £134 Burnbank; £132 Netherton; £131 Rushaw; £131 Dustyhall; £130 x2 Wheatfield, Burnockstone. Suff – £134, £131 Netherton.

Per kg – Tex – 304.8p Wheatfield; 302.3p Burnockstone; 300p Blairbowie; 294.6p Rushaw; 291.3p Burnbank; 291.1p Dustyhall; 291.1p Rushaw. Suff X – 285.1p, 278.1p Netherton; 278.1p Harpercroft. Per head –

Tex –£115 Rankinston; £105 Perryston; £103 Mid Lowes; £95 Milton; £94 Broadshean; £90 Perryston. Chev – £113.50 Langholm. BF – £109 Middleton; £99 Blairmulloch; £90.50 Tulloch. Border X – £92 Moorfield Avenue. Char X – £91 Laigland.

Tups – Tex – £126.50 Glendoune; £114.50 Blindburn. Suff – £121 Broadshean. BFL – £117.50 Balcaimie.

Cast ewes – Char – £137.50, £115.50 Redding. Tex – £136.50, £118 Broadshean; £116.50 Oldwalls. Suff – £110.50 Brickrow; £104 Broadshean. BFL – £110 Kilpatrick. Chev – £101.50 Glendoune. Lleyn – £94 x2, £90 Kilpatrick. Zwart – £89.50 Barnahill. BF – £71.50 Dykes; £70 Meiklehill; £69 Mid Floak. Mule – £87.50 Broadshean; £87 Dallowie; £86.50, £85.50 Mid Lowes.