The annual sales of Scotch Mule breeding sheep met a strong trade at Wallets Marts' Castle Douglas centre where gimmer averages improved by £3.28 per head on the year to level at £131.28, while ewe lambs were very much on a par, with 7371 head levelling at £92.82 against £92.91 for 7266 last year.

The sale of 4500 gimmers on the Saturday peaked at £164 per head for a pen from R Wallace and Co, Mains of Collin.

Champion pen of Scotch Mules, as selected by the judge, John Linton, Sornfallow, came from Messrs Mckie, Finniness and later sold for £162 to the judge. The reserve pen from R Graham, Coatston, was bought by Messrs Morgan, Powys, for £146 per head.

Leading the ewe lambs on the Monday, at £166 per head was an unshown pen from Messrs Lockhart, Culdoach, purchased by RA Booth and Sons, Hesley Hall.

At the pre sale show, George Simpson from Huntly awarded the champion ticket to a pen of 40 from Messrs Shennan, Farden which went on to sell for £156 to Messrs Smith, Towiemore, Keith. The reserve from Finniness, made £122 to John Guild, New Cumnock.

LEADING prices

Gimmers – £164, £156, £152, £146, £134, £132 Mains of Colloin; £162, £154, £148 Finniness; £160, £138 Lagganpark; £156, £152, £150, £136 Derrie; £154 Laight; £152, £138(x2) Glenhead; £150 Highfield Place; £150, £144 Birchwood Way; £148, £144, £135, £134 Whiteneuk; £148 Hall of Drumpark; £146 Coatston; £144(x2) Eastlands; £144, £138 Lower Porterbelly; £140 Craigton; £138 Culdoach; £136 Garmartin; £136 Klondyke; £134 Shangan; £134 Garrochtrie.

Ewe lambs – £166, £114, £108, £101 Culdoach; £156, £110 Farden; £124, £116 Marr; £123, £121, £103, £102 Mains of Larg; £123, £118, £115, £108 Sauchrie Mains; £122, £110 Finniness; £120 , £118, £116, £107 Macqueston; £116, £115, £112, £109 Tower, Sanquhar; £115, £101 Guelt; £114, £106 Upper Hardland; £112, £110, £109, £108 Knockiebae; £111, £110 Lagganpark; £110 Over Linkens; £108 Kirkmabreck; £107 Mid Knockglass; £105 Walton Park; £103 Carscreugh; £101 Murrayton.

LEADING flock averages

Flock (No) Average (£)

Finniness (102) 111.25

Tower, Sanquhar (209) 110.51

Marr (165) 108.06

Farden (320) 103.88

Mains of Larg (283) £103.53

Macqueston (393) £102.05

Guelt (125) £101.96

Lagganpark (158) £101.30

Kirkmabreck (100) £99.05

Upper Hardland (145) £98.55

Sauchrie Mains (444) £98.50

Culdoach (552) £98.39

Over Linkens (52) £97.32

Cullinaw (21) £96.00