RAMS hit a top of £2000 at Dingwall and Highland Marts' annual show and sale of Blackface rams, where the 135 head cashed in at £444.96, up £53.03 on the year.

The 121 shearlings led the trade at £2000 for the best from Dalbuiack, Carrbridge, while nine ram lambs peaked at £800 for the pre-sale champion from Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Banchory which sold to Glenavon Estate, Badnafrave Farm, Tomintoul. The same home also stood reserve with a shearling which made £500 to Glenalmond Farms, Perth.

Top price among the five two-shears was £380 from Newton of Crathie, Ballater.

On the same day, the firm sold 2888 store sheep at its sale of Blackface and cross ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs, which saw 1819 ewes top at £150 for a pen of Blackfaces from Arnicle Farm, Glenbarr.

The 574 gimmers levelled at £70.05 and sold to £135 for a pen of Blackfaces from Newton of Crathie, Ballater, while 398 lambs cashed in at £40.49 and sold to £70 for a pen of Blackies from Bomakelloch, Drummuir, Keith.

Feeding sheep (97) sold to £41 for a Blackface wedder from Glenurquhart Farm, Cromarty.

LEADINGprices:

Blackfaces – Shearlings – Livetside, Achdregnie £1800; Dalbuiack, Blackford Farm, Croy, Clashnoir, Glenlivet and Corrybrough, Tomatin (shepherd) £1200; Abersky, Torness and Milton Farm, Aberarder £1000. Two-shear – Abersky £300.Ram lambs – Harestone Farm £300; Midlock, Crawford and Tigh N’Ulaidh, Tomatin £200.

Store lambs – BF – Bomakelloch £65; Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown £60; Isle of Canna, Canna £53.50. Ewes – BF – Croft 1, Badralloch £95; Isle of Canna £77; Woodside of Culloden, Inverness £70. Tex X – 25 Fasach, Glendale £45.

Gimmers – BF – Arnicle Farm £130; Tulloch Farm, Dingwall £126; Woodlands, Daviot £123. Mule – 25 Fasach £100; Crasky, Duncanston £85. Chev Mule – 25 Fasach £90; Crasky, Duncanston £88. Tex X – Crasky £85. Cross – Crasky £78. HB – Crasky £75.

Feeding sheep – BF wdr – Unakille Sheep Stock Club, Skeabost Bridge £36; Peingown, Kilmuir £33; North Raasay SSC, Raasay £32.

FLOCKaverages:

Flock (No) Top Average

Glenrinnes (3) 500 316.66

Tigh N’Ulaidh (5) 200 88.00

Midlock (7) 600 372.85

Buttery Brae (9) 800 376.66

Clune and Corrybrough Estate (3)300 233.33

Clashnoir (5) 1200 660.00

Abersky (14) 1000 472.85

Milton (6) 1000 566.66

Arnicle (8) 650 301.25

Ballindalloch (4) 350 292.50

Glenbow (5) 150 110.00

Livetside (8) 1800 747.50

Blackford (6) 1200 566.66

Upper Croft Na Garn (6) 900 583.33

Harestone (7) 900 528.57

Dalbuiack (8) 2000 956.25

Croughly (4) 350 350.00

Nunnerie (4) 400 325.00

Achdregnie (4) 450 287.50

Newton of Crathie (3) 380 243.33