A NEW record price of £4200 for a cross-bred shearling ram, was achieved at United Auctions' Ram Rendezvous sale of 1217 head when a Beltex cross Texel from Dalchirla Farms, sold to Glenalmond Farms.

Dalchirla Farms also topped the averages league, selling 40 Beltex and Texel cross rams at £889.

A good trade throughout saw the majority of breeds sell well, with Ian Reid, selling the top priced Beltex at £1400 to Messrs Warnock, Gartfinnan, while Texels peaked at £1300 from J Buchan, Torrax, to JS McLaren, Dalcapon.

Mrs Helen Goldie, Harpercroft, topped the Suffolk trade at £1000 with an entry purchased by Coull Farm, Islay.

Two Cheviots from George Pate, Stobshiel Mains, also sold for £1000 to Messrs McLaren, Dalcapon and George Milne, Kinaldy, respectively.

And, a traditional-type shearling topped the Bluefaced Leicesters when Hazel Brown, Leadburn Lea, sold her best to C McMillan, Ardbeg, Islay.

Overall breed averages were mostly on the up too, especially amongst the shearling rams which saw Suffolks cash in at £444.75 (+£26.78 on the year); Lleyns at £188.26 (-£71.02); Beltex at £571.07 (+£119.46); Texels £505.78 (+£39.64); Charollais £233.81 (+£12.06 on the year); Bluefaced Leicesters at £326.69 (-£13.31) and crosses at £527.15 (+£9.08).

Ram lambs proved slightly more difficult to cash with Suffolks levelling at £322.22 (+£75.79); Texels at £285.00 (-£45.32); Bluefaced Leicesters (-£131.92) and cross lambs at £252.00 (-£24.86)

FLOCK averages

Flock (No) Top (£) Average

Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams

Knowes (4) 300 395.00

Greenfield (4) 480 425.00

Over Finlarg (3) 420 350.00

Cherryfield (8) 620 468.00

Leadburn Lea (9) 850 478.00

Haystoun (5) 420 384.00

South Slipperfield (4) 700 420.00

Clunebeg (4) 500 400.00

Broadleys (8) 700 436.00

Winnyhall (9) 650 419.00

Ram lambs

Newhouse of Glamis (5) 320 268.00

Cheviot rams

Gilston (8) 500 334.00

Stobshiel Mains (6) 1000 747.00

Toxside Cottages (4) 700 612.00

Suffolk shearling rams

Barbarafield (6) 700 528.00

Bogfon (3) 500 387.00

Kininmonth (8) 750 535.00

Southfield (18) 750 401.00

Stanley (9) 700 494.00

Dere Street (8) 650 334.00

Stoneyford (23) 800 452.00

Chalmerstone (5) 750 560.00

Ram lambs

Southfield (3) 400 333.00

Newton of Collessie (5) 420 300.00

Suffolk cross rams

Stanley (4) 480 355.00

Chalmerstone (4) 650 533.00

Llyen rams

South Bowerhouses (10) 550 342.00

Balthayock (10) 320 176.00

Border Leicester rams

Bogfon (4) 350 290.00

Beltex and Beltex cross rams

Dalchirla Farms (30) 4200 922.00

Cuiltburn (12) 600 402.00

Low Espley (7 ) 780 609.00

East Bracklinn (4) 800 668.00

Over Buttergask (9) 650 416.00

Isle Cottage (3) 1400 1067.00

Witton (4) 350 325.00

Chalmerstone (11) 750 495.00

Torrax (22) 1250 580.00

Kininmonth (8) 1200 600.00

Todhall (3) 600 483.00

Easter Ochtermuthill (16) 1000 508.00

Walkerdyke (4) 750 525.00

Collielaw (11) 850 609.00

Knockhill (10) 500 385.00

Beltex and Beltex cross rams

Easter Ochtermuthill (3) 550 367.00

Texel and Texel cross shearling rams

Greenbank (4) 380 357.00

Riddell Cottage (10) 420 292.00

Mitchellhill (5) 580 468.00

Hilton of Culsh (12) 750 522.00

Wanton Walls (4) 700 400.00

Torrax (24) 1300 838.00

Carriston (10) 1100 715.00

Halbeath (11) 700 452.00

Sunnycroft (4) 750 538.00

Nethermill (5) 550 460.00

Riverview (4) 600 488.00

Nochnary (5) 850 650.00

Veltigar (12) 600 500.00

Allanshaws (8) 550 488.00

Hill of Errol (3) 700 583.00

Allanfauld (7) 700 530.00

Cherryfield (4) 1000 763.00

Dalchirla Farms (10) 1100 790.00

Stobshiel Mains (3) 500 420.00

Felton (5) 550 460.00

Pitlochie (11) 750 515.00

Crumhaughhill (8) 650 556.00

East Bracklinn (3) 800 690.00

Wester Middleton (7) 750 593.00

Hillridge (6) 750 575.00

Threepwood (5) 520 444.00

Blue Texel shearling rams

Walkerdyke (4) 350 313.00

Texel ram lambs

The Knock (4) 350 325.00

Cherryfield (3) 300 283.00

Hill of Errol (5) 600 360.00

Auchenbart (6) 400 325.00