GIMMERS and ewe lambs met a highly satisfactory trade from start to finish as all sections recorded improved averages on the year at Dingwall and Highland Marts' sale of 3632 breeding females at the Highland Mule Breeders' Association's annual show and sale.

It was the champion pen of Mule ewe lambs from Billy MacPherson, and daughter Anne, of Blackford, Croy, that topped the sale at £175 per head when knocked down to the judge, D Leslie, Redhill, Mosstowie.

The champion pen of Mule gimmers from Mrs S Johnstone, Croftdhu, Ballindalloch, as picked out by P Law, East Cruichie, Drumblade, led the gimmer trade when sold to J and MH Brims, Thuster Mains, Bilbster, for £172.

Of the Mule females on offer, the 878 gimmers levelled at £144.87 (+£18.60 on the year) while 2729 ewe lambs cashed in to average £89.45 (+£6.42).

It was the 20 other gimmers that faired the best on the year to average £145 (+£38.22), having sold to that price for Texel crosses from Coxton, Cornhill.

Other breeds of ewe lambs (five) averaged £96.80 (+£15.09) and sold to £110 for Cheviot Mules from Achnabat, Dores.

A highlight of the sale was the generosity of the members of the Highland Mule Breeders' Association donating £1720 to Cancer Research UK, in memory of Mrs Winnie MacDonald, a past secretary of the association. One particular lot, a black Mule ewe lamb donated by the team at Blackford, raised £300.

LEADING prices:

Flock (No sold) Top (£) Avg (£)

Highland Mule gimmers

Milton of Aberarder (18) 140  140.00

Mountrich (130) 155  146.67

Achnabat (25) 138  131.92

Coxton (203) 150  148.47

Balloan (96) 140  131.25

Dalmigavie (12) 155  155.00

Tulloch (8) 110  110.00

Dell Farm (48) 150  150.00

Alvie Estate (41) 140  135.12

Gorthleck Mains (59) 155  143.30

Croftdhu (98) 172  155.83

Blackford (13) 150  143.07

Abersky (10) 160  156.00

Cawdor Estate (49) 145  140.10

Balchraggan (68) 150  148.23

Highland Mule ewe lambs

Milton of Aberarder (462) 140  92.94

Viewhill (341) 95  85.00

Balchraggan (213) 95  78.31

The Arr (201) 138  89.16

Tulloch (201) 110  89.66

Gorthleck Mains (196) 100  89.81

Glebe of Deisher (234) 105  84.85

Alvie Estate (52) 88  82.00

Blackford (259) 175  107.41

Glendoe Estate (88) 88  80.63

Bochruben Farms, (59) 82  74.40

Dalmigavie (103) 90  83.41

Achnabat (153) 125  97.16

Abersky (106) 95  88.38

Dell Farm (60) 102  94.00