BUYERS were selective in their bidding at Wallets Marts' two-day show and sale of Scotch Mules at Castle Douglas, where a plainer show of gimmers on the year was forward due to adverse weather conditions greatly affecting them.

In all, 2986 gimmers levelled at £128 compared to last year's 3482 which levelled at £116.93 and peaked at £175 for a pen of four from John Guild, The Laight, while two lots from Bogside and East Dykes made £162.

The pre-sale show was judged by John Thomson of Howick Estate, who found his champion pen from Messrs Johnston, Lower Porterbelly, Dalbeattie, which went on to sell for £168, while the reserve pen from H and A Hiddleston, Park Farm, Shawhead, Dumfries, made £154.

Two pens of Texel crosses realised £140 from RM Jamieson, Garrochtrie, while 86 young Mule ewes from Larroch, Monreith, topped at £122 and cashed in at £116.93.

Scotch Mule ewe lambs sold on Monday saw strong tupping lambs easier sold and up on the year, however a shortage of grass in the south resulted in a lack of confidence in the general sheep trade with gimmering lambs proving more difficult to cash.

Averaging £92.91 (-£7.92 on the year for 1208 less), the 7266 forward sold to £162 for a pen from RJ Shennan and Sons, Farden, when sold to Croy Cunningham Farms. Champion pen from J and A Brown, Macqueston, as judged by John Guild, The Laight, made £154 when sold to Messrs Smith, Towiemore, Keith, while the reserve pen from Mains of Larg Farms, went on to sell for £118 to R Templeton and Co, Carslae.

LEADINGprices:

Scotch Mule gimmers and lambs

Laight £175, £148; Lower Porterbelly £168, £152; East Dykes £162, £152, £150; Bogside £162; Finniness £158, £156; Coatston £158, £146; Park Farm £154(x2), £150; Birchwood Way £152; Mains of Collin £152, £150, £148(x2); Ingleston £148; Meikle Larbrax, £146, £142, £140; Glenhead £144(x2), £142 (x2), £140; Lagganpark £140.

Scotch Mule ewe lambs

Farden £162 £112(x2), £104; Culdoach £160,£146, £117, £116, £115, £107; Macqueston £154, £114, £108, £106; Sauchrie Mains £144, £142, £112, £106; Uppper Hardland £130; Tower, Sanquhar £126, £116, £104; Marr £126, £108, £105, £104; Guelt £123, £110; Mid Knockglass £122; Knockiebae £120, £112, £107; Kirkmabreck £120; Mains of Larg £118, £111, £110; Barlauchlan £116; Upper Glenlair £115, £106; Walton Park £109; Drumhumphry £109; Carscreugh £108; High Barcaple £108; Mossyard £105; Cairnhouse £105; Hall of Drumpark £105; Hannaston £104; Over Linkens £103; Castlegower £102.

FLOCKaverages:

Mule gimmers

Flock (No sold) Avg

Lower Porterbelly (40) 160.00

Finniness (49) 156.86

Coatston (38) 152.63

Laight (24) 152.50

M Ross (25) 152.00

Bogside (10) 151.60

East Dykes (82) 149.89

Park Farm (76) 148.22

Ingliston (75) 143.33

Meikle Labrax (75) 142.67

Laggan Park (18) 140.00

Glenhead (200) 139.95

Craigmuie (45) 135.53

Mains of Collin (314) 135.52

Dallowie (115) 135.00