A QUALITY show of 524 breeding rams met a sound trade at United Auctions' multi-breed show and sale at Huntly, where no fewer than 16 rams broke the £1000 bracket.

With buyers more selective this year, it was Texel shearlings from the Brown family – Willie, Jennifer and children John, Morag and Grace – from Hilton of Culsh, New Deer, which dominated the sale when they attracted the top four prices of £1600, £1500, £1400 and £1200.

Sale leader at £1600 and securing a personal best for the family who run 120 pure Texels alongside 35 pure Suffolks and 395 commercials ewes, was one of the first sons of Wolfclyde Whisky Galore, a tup purchased at Kelso in 2016, out of a home-bred ewe. He sold to Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin.

Other shearlings by Wolfclyde Whisky Galore peaked at £1500 when sold to Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing Dundee, while the second prize Texel shearling sold with a £1400 price tag to Watson and Partners, Braeside of Culvie, Aberchirder. George Wordie, Mains of Cairnborrow, Glass, Huntly, paid £1200 for another son, while four rams peaked at £1000. In all, the 30 Hilton of Culsh Texel shearlings averaged £830, while their 12 Suffolk shearlings levelled at £609 and sold to £1100 for a son of Knockem Tank – a stock tup bought privately in 2016 as lamb – to Henderson Farms, Bogtonlea, Dunning.

Texels also peaked at £1100 for the first prize shearling from Calum Gill's 35-ewe flock at Rinaitin, Dufftown. By a Brijon tup bought at Kelso two years ago, he was snapped up by Ian Kellas, The Raws, Dufftown.

The third prize Texel lamb from Michael Leggat, Forgue, Huntly, made £1000. He is a son of the 32,000gns Strathbogie Upgrade, bred out of a ewe by Aman Vyrnwy which is a half sister to the £6000 Foremanhill Apache.

Bluefaced Leicesters from Robert and Hazel McNee, peaked at £1100 twice for two shearlings by a home-bred son of Duhnow E1 including the reserve overall champion to Messrs Smith, The Leys, Tarland, while the other sold to WE Forbes, Dalrachie, Ballindalloch. The couple also made the same money for a similar bred shearling, while two others from Robert Neill, Broadleys, Dunning, made £1100 and £1000.

Among the other breeds, Beltex cross Texel shearlings peaked at £700 twice from the Frasers, Auchnarrow, Glenlivet, while Blue Texels from the Hunters at West Cairnhill, Insch, sold to £650. David Moir of Moir Livestock, Newmill Rathen, received £700 from Gordon Kemp, Waterside of Forbes, Alford, for a Beltex cross Suffolk shearling by a Beachy tup. 

Overall champion in the pre-sale show judged by Amy Reid, Overhill, was a Suffolk lamb from regular consignors, George and Melvin Stuartt, Milltown of Birness, Ellon, which sold for £420.

OTHER LEADINGprices:

Shearlings

Suff – £900, £850, £700 Hilton of Culsh; £700, £600 Barnyards. Tex – £1500, £1400, £1000 (x4) Hilton of Culsh

BFL – £1100, £1000 Broadleys; £1100 (x2), £1000 Over Finlarg. Blue Tex – £650, £600 West Cairnhill. Belt X Suff – £700 Newmill Rathen. Belt X Tex – £700 (x2), £600 Auchnarrow. Belt X Char – £600, £500 Auchnarrow; £650, £550, £500 Newmill Rathen. Llyen – £320 Nether Toughs. Cheviot – £620, £500 East Brachmont. Char – £550 Southfield; £400 Hilhead of Cannahars.

LEADINGawards:

Suff shearling – 1, Kennieshillock, £550; 2, Barnyards, £700; 3, Kennieshillock, £500. Suff lamb – 1, Milltown of Birness, £420; 2, Bareflathills, £600; 3, Milltown of Birness, £480. Tex shearling – 1, Rinatin, £1100; 2, Hilton of Culsh, £1400; 3, Hillhead of Cannahars, £400. Tex lamb – 1, North Dorlaithers, £500; 2, Dunscroft, £400; 3, Cairnton, £1000. BFL shearling – 1, Over Finlarg, £1100; 2,Westhall, £600; 3, Low West Mains. Non-MV shearling – 1, Conval Street £600; 2, Middle Weachyburn, £520; 3, Biggins £420.

LEADINGaverages:

Flock (No sold) Top (£) Avg (£)

Suffolk shearlings

Hilton of Culsh (12) 1100 609

Stonyford (10) 700 385

Mains of Orchardstown(11)550 332

Suffolk lambs

Bareflathills (11) 600 401

Midtown of Birness (8) 550 413

Lethenty House (5) 380 273

Texel shearlings

Hilton of Culsh (30) 1600 830

Wedderburn (9) 900 664

Rinaitin (7) 1100 721

Harestone (5) 850 626

Dunscroft (4) 500 410

Haughs (8) 700 481

Texel lambs

North Dorlaithers (14) 500 (x2) 370

Corsairtly, Keith (10) 650 (x2)369

Dunscroft, Huntly (12) 550 356

Inchbruich (8) 380 253

BFL Shearlings

Broadley (16) 1100 634

Middle Weachyburn (8) 500 440

Newton of Hassiewells (8) 950 683

Overhall (4) 600 (x2)562