Centre records for ewes were smashed at United Auctions’ sale of 4513 prime sheep at Huntly, where Texel ewes from Mid Haddo, sold for £250 per head.

Another highlight of the ewe trade was the run of 164 Texel cross ewes out of traditional Bluefaced Leicester females, from Messrs Blackhall, The Green and Milton of Durris, which averaged a phenomenal £197 per head.

The weekly sale – which was staged at the height of public stockpiling as the UK advised further social distancing and working from home due to coronavirus – saw a flying trade for all types of prime sheep, with the 3455 old season lambs averaging 230.14p per kg.

Top price per kg was 316p paid for 42.4kg Beltex from Logie Durno, Pitcaple and £147 per head for 71kg Texels from Tomnavoulin, Glenlivet.

A flying trade all round, allowed the whole sale to average £128.30.

LEADING prices

Old season lambs – Suff – £141 Hillhead, 257p Wester Dunnet; Suff X – £140 Quarryhead, 256p Davmor; Tex – £134 Daies/Laighmuir, 288p Standingstones; Tex X – £132 Gibston, 280p Brae Edge; Cont – £129, 293p Hilton of Culsh; Chev – £128 Daies, 264p Woodbank/Netherton; Mule – £120 Daies, 246p Murraypark; BF – £119 Tombreackachie, 242p Auchorachan; Bel – £138, 300p The Mains; Lleyn – £130, 265p Barflat; Char – £134, 279p Logie Durno; Char X – £132 Easter Badentyre/Woodbank, 274p Rothiemoon; CHM – £126 Allaloth, 250p Dukeston of Brux

Ewes – Suff – £200 Cairnton, £199 Mins of Allathan; Suff X – £196 Cairnton, £195 Leitcheston, £195 Hilton of Culsh; Tex – £245 North Dorlaithers, £242, £238 The Green; Tex X – £228, £224 Milton of Durris; £221 Hilton of Culsh; Cont – £220 Milton of Durris, £219 The Green, £217 Hilton of Culsh; Chev – £150 Newmill of Rathen; Mule – £147 Upper Scotstown; GF – £145 Auchnarrow/Ballintomb; BF – £102 Auchnascraw; Cross – £215 Milton of Durris; BFL – £171 The Green, £171 Smallburn; CHM – £203 Hilton of Culsh; HB – £198 Sibmister and Stainland; Bel – £200 Conval Street/£190 Muirton, Newmill of Rathen; Lleyn – £188 Milton of Gollanfield; Char – £220 Rough Park; Char X – £194 Logie Durno; Hill Chev – £139 Rhemullen.

Rams – Suf – £180 Birkenburn; Suff X – £190 Hilton of Culsh; Tex – £203 Hilton of Culsh; Tex X – £199 Smallburn; Cont – £200 Cobbleheugh; BF – £129 Smallburn; BFL – £171 Smallburn; Cross – £179 Cairncoullie; Lleyn – £159 Lower Mill of Tynet; Char - £178 Newton; Dors – £165 Smallburn; Hamp – £130 West Lyth; Zwar – £160 Leithestown.