BLACKFACE ram lambs from the Dunlops at Elmscleugh, Dunbar, led the way at Dingwall and Highland Marts' multi-breed tup sale at Fort William, last week, when the dearest broke the £5000 bracket.

The sale, which saw 500 rams change hands, saw trade peak at £5500 for a tup lamb from William and sons, Quintin and William, who received this money for a lamb by a home-bred son of a £6500 Dyke. The buyers here were Jimmy and Graham Crookston, Heriot.

Elmscleugh also received £4200 from Colin Little, East Bracklin, Callander, for a tup lamb by a £13,000 Gass, while a ram lamb from Ian Hunter, Dalchirla, Muthill, Crieff, made £2400 to David MacArthur, Arnicle, Glenbarr.

Leading the shearling trade at £1000 was an entry from Clashnoir, Glenlivet, while aged rams peaked at £700 from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth.

By the end of the day, the 76 Blackface ram lambs averaged £478.22 with 259 shearlings cashing in at £265.44.

LEADINGprices:

Blackface – Ram lambs – Elmscleugh £4200, £1800; Dalchirla Farm, Muthill £2400; Midlock Farm, Crawford and Dalchirla Farm £1600; Laigh Balernick, Shandon £1400; Midlock Farm £1000 (x2. Shearlings – Clashnoir, Glenlivet £1000; Elmscleugh and Clashnoir, Glenlivet £800; Elmscleugh, £700 (x2); Balrazzie Farm, Ballantrae, Croughly, Tomintoul and Clashnoir £650. Two-shear – Craig Farm, Straiton £700; Knockdon, Straiton £550; Crookston, Heroit and Dall Farm, Killin £500; Crookston £420; Craig Farm and Shenlarich Lawers (x2) £400. Three-shear – Craig Farm, Straiton £450; Burnfoot Farm, Muirkirk and Shenlarich £300; Allanfauld Farm £220; Dall Farm (x2) and Allanfauld Farm £200. Aged ram – £700; East Bracklin £450.

Swale – Shearling – Cara View, £380. £220.

Cheviot – Shearling – Balmaglaster, Spean Bridge £250 (x2), £220; Pat Wilson Farms, Kinlochewe and Balmaglaster £200; East Durran, Castletown £180. Two shear – Keppoch Farm, Dundonnell £400 (x2); East Bracklin and Keppoch Farm £350; 80 Strathcaniard, Ullapool £280; Ose Farm, Struan and Keppoch Farm £250. Three shear – Achnasaul, Drimnin and Keppoch Farm £200; Ose Farm, Struan £150.

Beltex – Shearling – Crookston, Heriot £500; Clashnoir £250 (x2).

Bluefaced Leicester – Shearling – Crookston £400, £300, £250; The Arr, Lethen £240.

Texel – Shearling – Balmaglaster and 3 Glenrath, Kiarkton £320 (x3), £280; East Bracklin £220. Two-shear – Shenlarich £220.

Suffolk – Shearling – £320 The Arr; Newton of Crathie, Ballater £300; Ardchattan Home Farm, Connel and Newton of Crathie £280.