averages: seven three-year-old heifers, £3571. 42 (+£1576.42 for one more sold); seven two-yearold heifers, £2500 (+£1152 for the same number sold); 16 yearlings, £1118.75 (+£242 for six more sold); 20 calves, £918.75 (-£201.25 for four less sold)

Trade hit 8000gns at the Highland Cattle Society’s annual autumn sale held at Oban on Monday – with positives mostly in the section averages.

The in-demand three-year-old heifers saw them up by more than £1500 on the year for more numbers compared to last year’s sale.

Gordon McConachie, president of the Highland Cattle Society, said: “We’ve seen an excellent increase in average sale prices in the older age groups with calves slightly down on the year. The total numbers sold is up on the year which is encouraging, and we have had a strong contingent of foreign buyers present again this year.”

Sale leader at 8000gns was the reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Anna of Eilean Mor, from Karen and photographer husband, Michael MacGregor, Port An Aiseig, Glenborrodale, Acharacle – with their trusty helper, Jade Brown, on the halter.

Securing a personal best for the 10-cow fold, this 'first-time off the farm' three-year-old heifer is by Ceannard 16 of Cnoc – a bull purchased as a young calf three years ago and which bred the champion yearling bull at Oban in February, 2018.

Bred out of Sobhrach of Eilean Mor, and having ran with Harris of Balemartine, she headed to North Yorkshire with Julia Carr, Marrick Park, Richmond.

Next, at 5500gns, was the overall champion from John Cooper’s 15-cow fold at Tordarroch Estates, Farr, Inverness. This was Heather 12 of Tordarroch, a three-year-old heifer which ruled supreme at Sutherland, Nairn and Black Isle this summer.

Brought out by Bryon MacNaughton and Sarah Noble, she is by Moluag of Kilpatrick – a bull which had been bred by Pat Knox, but which was purchased as an older bull from John and Lesley Lacey – out of Heather 11 of Innisard, and sold in-calf to the Iona-bred Macrae Charles of Maol, when purchased by German breeder, Falko Steinberg.

Julia Carr paid 5000gns for the reserve champion two-year-old heifer, Sine Dhubh 7 of Craigowmill, from Ken and Eva Brown, Ledlanet, Kinross. She is backed by home-bred genetics being an AI daughter of Seumus Dubh of Craigowmill and bred out of Sine Dhubh 2 of Craigowmill.

The 50-cow Craigowmill fold also produced one at 3000gns – a three-year-old heifer by the same sire selling to Philip Stokoe, Balnagowan, Aboyne. This was the first prize Victoria 22 of Craigowmill, bred out of Victoria 18 of Craigowmill and in-calf to Lasgaire 21 Vom Lehstener Moor.

Mr Stokoe also paid 4000gns for the next animal through the ring from Alan Prentice, who runs the Hyndford fold at Ravenstruther, Lanark. This was his second prize winner June 21 of Hyndford, a three-year-old heifer by Alexander of Hyndford, out of June 11 of Hyndford, which is in-calf to Alasdair 4 of Douglas.

Also selling for 3000gns to Yann Guisnel, France, was William and Tom Thomson’s champion two-year-old heifer Morag 69 of Woodneuk, from Woodneuk, Barrhead. She previously stood third at Dalry and Largs shows and is by Jock 14 of Woodneuk, out of Morag 35 of Woodneuk.

Joining her on the float to France was a similarly aged heifer, by the same sire, which made 2000gns for the Thomsons. This was Dossan Mor of Woodneuk, out of Dossan Mor 2 of Inchmarnock, which was second in her class.

Michael Poland’s Mottistone fold, kept local to Oban, topped at 2600gns for Ruby 5 of Mottistone, when she sold to Alan Kennedy, West Kilbride. She is by Donnachadh Ruadh vom Sunderberg, which stood champion aged bull at Oban in February, and out of Ruby 2 of Mottistone.

Aberdeenshire breeder, Craig Finnie's Richmondhill fold, Peterhead, paid 2500gns for the two-year-old heifer Mhairi of Corntown, from Ron MacLean, Conon Bridge, Ross-shire. She is by Josh of Earn, out of Neonag 7 of Brucefield.

Ewan Mackay’s Glengoyne fold from Killearn, Glasgow, got 2000gns for the two-year-old heifer Suisan Bheag 2 of Glengoyne. By Angus Mor of Glengoyne, out of Suisan Bheag of Glengoyne, she sold in-calf to Ceannard of Eilean Mor, when knocked down to A MacKay.

Tordarroch also sold Tara Geal of Culloden, for 2000gns to Neale and Janet McQuistin, High Airyolland, New Luce. This three-year-old heifer was fourth in her class and is by Moluag of Kilpatrick, out of Tara Geal of Ceannacroic, which is a successful show winner. She sold in-calf to Ceannard of Eilean Mor.

Yearling heifers peaked at 2500gns for Carlin 5 of Culfoich from Gordon McConachie. A daughter of this year’s Royal Highland Show male champion, Jacob 2 of Benmore, she is out of Lara 1 of Culfoich, which stood junior champion at the Highland in 2010. She is a full sister to the yearling champion at Oban in 2017 and sold to A Hyslop and Son.

Sydney and Maureen O’Hara, Cnoc Lodge, Appin, received 2000gns for Marsili 1 of Cnoc, from Yann Guisnel. This yearling heifer is by Adhamh 2 of Lagg, out of Marsili Ruadh of Ceannacroic.

Also selling at 2000gns was the champion yearling heifer Senga 2 of Borland, from Keith Howman, Ashemere, Shepperton, Middlesex. By Balach Dubh of Craigowmill, out of Nighean Dhubh 2 of Borland, she sold to M Smith.

Among the heifer calves, a top of 2000gns was paid for Queenie Strickland’s reserve heifer calf champion, Lady Jane Stuart 2 of Cladich, from her fold near Dalmally. She is sired by Monadh Mor 2 of Cladich, out of Lady Jane Stuart of Cladich, and sold to Aikenshill Farm.

Two other heifer calves from the Cladich fold peaked at 1600gns and 1400gns, with the dearest being An Ros Ruadh of Cladich, which was purchased by J and L Fraser and Son, Tilbouries, Maryculter. Cladich fold also topped the bull calves at 1000gns for the first prize winner in the section, a son of Whitelaw of Killochries, out of Cassie Buidhe 3 of Knockendon, which sold to Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton, for their Allanfearn fold at Strathpeffer.

Caroline Cuthbertson’s Jedderfield dispersal from Peebles, peaked at 1800gns for Kate 9 of Jedderfield – a four-year-old cow by Allt Ruadh of Crannich, out of Kate 2 of Jedderfield. She sold with a calf at foot to Mrs Queenie Strickland.