Soaring demand for Scotch Mule ewe lambs ensured centre record averages at Wallets Marts’ sale of 7140 head at Castle Douglas, on Monday, where trade peaked at £172 on two occasions, to level at £121.35, up £28.53 per head on the year.

The top two highest priced pens were consigned by Messrs Shennan, Farden and Messrs Lockhart, Culdoach.

The award for the champion pen, selected by the judge, D Parrish, Hassendeanburn, Hawick, was presented to Messrs McKie, Finniness, Balmaghie which fetched £155, while the reserve from Messrs Hamilton, Marr, Thornhill, made £152, per head.

The 1775 Scotch Mule gimmers sold on the Saturday, averaged £179.73, with the 1142 head from association members levelling at £181.80 compared to 633 from non-members at £176.01. The 110 Texel gimmers cashed in at £176.13, having sold to £203 for a pen of 37 from Messrs Graham, Coatston.

Messrs McKie, Finniness, against secured the pre-sale championship honours with a pen that later sold for £205, whilst the reserve winners from Messrs Wallace, Mains of Collin, Auchencairn, made £202.

The 1455 store lambs sold to £95 for Texels from Messrs Wilson, Screel, with Beltex from Messrs McCulloch selling to £94. They averaged £70.82 was achieved.

LEADING prices

Ewe lambs – Scotch Mule – £172, £150 Farden; £172, £158, £138 Culdoach; £158, £148, £132 Macqueston; £155 Finniness; £152, £150, £136 (x2), £130 Knockiebae; £152, £132 (x2) Tower, Sanquhar; £152 Marr; £152 Upper Hardland; £150, £148, £140, £130 Sauchrie Mains; £142, £130 Romesbeoch; £140 Mains of Larg; £140 Little Torhouse; £140 Cullinaw; £138 Lagganpark; £138, £132 Walton Park; £136 Mid Knockglass; £135 Burnton; £135 Hannaston; £132 Guelt; £132 Burnfoot; £130 Upper Dullarg.

Gimmers – £208 Coatston; £205, £182 Finniness; £202, £198, £192, £185, £182 Mains of Collin; £195 Lagganpark; £190(x2), £185, £182 Derrie; £190 Hall of Drumpark; £190(x2) The Laight; £190, £185(x2) Whiteneuk; £185 Shangan; £185 Birchwood Way; £185, £182 Klondyke Farms; £182 Craigton Dairy House; £182 Tinwald Cottage; £180 Craigmuie; £180 Garmartin; £180 Upper Longbank. Tex – £190(x2) Denty; £180 Shangan; £175 Garrochtrie.

Store lambs – Tex – £95 Screel; £90 Achie; £83.50 Glenkiln; £81.50 Barcloy; £81.50 Queensberry Farming. Belt – £94, £90.50, £81 Glentoo; £87 Achie. Scotch Mule – £78 Slatehouse; £74.50 Glenlee; £70.50 High Drum. Suff – £76 Hastinghall; £75.50, £72.50 Glentoo; £75 High Drum. BF – £73.50 Slatehouse; £61 Garroch Estate. Chev – £73 High Drum; £60 Balmesh. Char – £72 Achie. Lleyn – £72 Auchenbainzie. Roussin – £68 Fauld O Wheat.

LEADING FLOCK averages

Name (No) Average (£)

Gimmers

Coatston (37) 208

Lagganpark (20) 195

The Laight (40) 190

Hall of Drumpark (32) 190

Finniness (79) 186.95

Whiteneuk (109) 184.27

Shangan (30) 183.40

Tinwald Cottage (30) 182

Craigton Dairy House (27) 182

Castlehill (12) 182

Birchwood Way (49) 181.57

Mains of Collin (337) 181.36

Derrie (360) 180.22

Ewe lambs

Marr (40) 152.00

Farden (204) 139.00

Tower, Sanquhar (152) 135.53

Finniness (143) 134.31

Little Torhouse (73) 133.29

Upper Hardland (140) 132.14

Sauchrie Mains (425) 128.24

Macqueston (398) 127.93

Lagganpark (128) 126.47

Culdoach (563) 126.09

Mains of Larg (291) 125.77

Mid Knockglass (108) 125.31