Dingwall

Averages improved across the board at Dingwall and Highland Marts’ sale which attracted an entry of just shy of 1500 breeding and store sheep and incorporated the HISHA accredited sheep and 656 on behalf of Lewis Livestock Producers.

Gimmers (389) averaged £130.74, up £30.85 on the year, having sold to £172 for a pen of Texel crosses from three from Balnabeen, Conon Bridge.

Ewes (231) levelled at £89.11, a rise of £18.34 on the year and sold to £162 again for Texel crosses from the dispersal of Keppernach Farm, Nairn.

Cheviots from Tombreck Dallas, topped the 590 ewe lambs at £126, with the average levelling at £92.93, again up £30.01.

The 278 store lambs averaged £52.21, which represents a rise of £6.01, and sold to £90 for a Suffolk cross from Spierfield, Balblair while Lewis Livestock Producers Lambs sold to £68 for Texel cross lambs from 10 Valtos, Uig.

OTHERLEADING prices

Gimmers – Rouge X – Woodside, Muir of Ord, £170; Tex X – 3 Balnabeen, £170, £160, Fanblair Farm, Kiltarlity, £152, £150, Smerral Farm, Bower, £150; Belt X – Upperton, Balnain, £170; CHM – Cypress, Achterneed, £162, 3 Balnabeen, £150, Lyn – Woodside, £160; BTL – Inverbay, Lower Arboll, £160; Mule – Dunlichity Farm, Farr, £154; SuffX – Bluebell Cottage, Fleuchary, £150, Smerral Farm, £150, 3 Balnabeen, £140; Chev – Upperton, £150, Cawdor Estate, Nairn, £129; Cross – Cawdor Estate, £130; Zwb – Keppernach Farm, £130, Old School, North Strome, £105; Char X – Morvich Farm, Rogart, £100.

Ewes – Mule – Birchwood, Rearquhar, £150, £130, £110; SuffX – Badrain, Culbokie, £140; Chev – Keppernach Farm, £112, £100; Tex X – Keppernach Farm, £100, Easter Achnacloich, Ardross, £95; Zwb– Keppernach Farm, £100, £98, £82; Cross – 2 Englishton Muir, Bunchrew, £67; Hdw – The Tundra, Upper Lybster, £63; BF – Roalma, Culbokie, £45.

Ewe lambs – Suff X – Muirton Mains, Urray, £122, £116, £98, Bogburn Farm, Duncanston, £84; Chm – Wester Craiglands, Fortrose, £120, £109, West Bruiach, Kiltarlity, £98; BTL – Inverbay, £100; Chev – Tombreck, £92, Carrol Arm, Brora, £90, Tex X – Bogburn Farm, £90, Spierfield, £86, Bluebell Cottage, £77; Mule – Invereen, Tomatin, £90, £88; Lyx – Cawdor Estate, £85.

Store lambs – Belt X – 2 Englishton Muir, £71; Tex X – Bluebell Cottage, £70, Spierfield, £66; Mule – Lower Gartally Farm, Drumnadrochit, £59; Suff X – Davidsons Croft, Heights of Fodderty, £57, CHM – Balmore, Bogallan, £55; Chev – Redfield, North Kessock, £54.50.

Lewis Livestock Producers Lambs: Chev – 37 Carloway, £62, £51, 25 Breasclete, £50, 37B Breasclete, £50; Tex X – 6 Timsgarry, £61, 14A Carishader, Uig, £61, 10 Valtos, £61; BF – 10 Valtos, £60, 1B Breasclete Park, £54; Cross – 10 Valtos, £50, North Gisla, £50.

Newton Stewart

Some 862 breeding and store sheep were forward for Craig Wilson’s sale which was topped at £118 by a pen of Scotch Mule ewe lambs from J McKenna, Gass, Kirkcowan, while ewes sold to £100 for Texel crosses from A Wright, Pinmore Mains.

Store lambs hit a top of £83 for Texels from W and E Cook, Glendoune, Girvan.

LEADING prices

Ewe lambs – Mules – £118, £114, Gass, Kirkcown; £99 Bents, Barrhill. Chev – £70 Bardrochwood. Suff – £77, Gass, Kirkcowan.

Ayr

Almost 4000 breeding sheep were forward for Craig Wilson’ sale comprising 453 Blackface ewe lambs, 675 Mule gimmers, 674 Mule ewe lambs, 171 any other breed gimmers, 372 stock ewes, 70 Texel ewe lambs and 1497 store lambs.

Blackface ewe lambs sold to £160 from JW Kay and Son, Sclenteuch Farm, to average £84.05, up £12.47 on the year.

Mule gimmers hit a top of £182 from Messrs Craig and Son, Rankinston, to level at £171.53, up £48.87, with ewe lambs to £130 from Messrs Fleming, Shawhead, to level at £107.44, a rise of £28 on the year.

Continental gimmers peaked at £520 for a Texel from S Heads, Aitkenhead.

Some 1497 store lambs were also cashed which sold to £100 for Texels from A Clark, Woodside, Sorn, and to £95 for Hampshire Lambs from Bell, Knowes, Lochwinnoch.

Store lamb averages saw 707 Texels at £75.93; 277 Beltex at £77.68; 70 Roussin, £75.50; 62 Suffolks £79.50; 30 Lleyns at £73; 10 Hampshires at £84.50; 50 Cheviots £65.68 and 289 cross-bred lambs at, £64.60.

LEADING prices

Ewe lambs– BF – £160 Sclenteuch; £135, £130 Gass; £108, £92 Craig; £88 Largs; £82 Low Drumclog; £80 Largs; £78 (x2) Knockendon and Knockeen. Mule – £130 Shawhead; £116 Craig and Harplaw; £141, £112 Pinvalley; £112 Shawhead; £108 (x6) Pinvalley, High Woodston, Pennyvenie, Fechan, Harplaw and Garpel; £106 Brockloch, Craig, Pinvalley, Glenside and Garpel.

Gimmers – Mule – £182 (x2) Rankinston; £180 Rankinston; £178 Auchenflower; £178 Rankinston; £176 Auchenflower; £175 Rankinston; £172 Laigh Langcraig, Middlehouse, Gowlands, Altgolach and Laigland. Cont – Tex X – £175, £172 Craigalbert; £158 Fairlynne; £150 Dunjop. Roussin X – £152 Knocknaib. Chev X – £138 Pinmore Mains.

Stock ewes – 176, £175 (x2), £172, £170 Carslae; £152, £150 Dormieston; £148, £142, £140 Carslae; £126, £122 (x2) Dormieston.

Store lambs – Tex – £100, £89, £76 Woodside; £79 Routanburn; £79, £76 (x2), £75.50Tormitchell; £78.50 Laight; £78 Flatterton; £78 Knockdaw; £75.50 Birtlebog, Balligmorrie and Whatriggs; £75 Kilpatrick. Hampshire – £95, £82.50, £82 Knowes. Kerry – £93 Knowes. Belt – £83, £80, £77 Weels; £82.50, £78.50, £76 Tormitchell. Mule – £81 Laight; £75 Gowlands. Suff – £81 Barncorkrie; £77 Nether Heilar. Roussin – £75.50 Tormitchell. Lleyn – £73 Nether Heilar. Chev – £70 Bonnyton Moor.

Lanark

Texel gimmers from Alastair and David McArthur, Nunnerie, topped Lawrie and Symington’s sale of 4000 breeding sheep, selling at £400 per head.

The same home sold Texel cross gimmers at £190.

Scotch Mule gimmers were topped at £192 from Finlay Smith, Cloverhill, with Cheviot Mule gimmers to £170 from Messrs Mitchell, Newton of Wiston.

Ewe lambs achieved a top of £142 from the Firm of Shawhead, Shawhead, and to £99 for Beltex crosses from Messrs Warnock, Eastfield.

By the end of the day, 872 ewes averaged £99.97 (+£29.50 on the year.); 412 Texel gimmers, £163.60 (+£38.06); 1006 Mule gimmers, £175.55 (+£44.08) and 602 Mule ewes, £120.67 (+£29.55).

LEADING prices

Ewes – Scotch Mule – £150, £148 Wardhead; £146 Robiesland; £138, £136 (x3), £131 Wardhead; £122 Robiesland;£118, £114 Wardhead; £100 Westerton; £96 Middlestead; £95 Blackpark; £94 Grayside. Tex – £134 Middlehouse; £98 Burnhead; £96 (x2), £94, £92, £90 Brae Edge; £94 Haswellsykes; £88 Westerton. Suff – £92 Woodhouse; £92 Burnhead; £84 Haswellsykes. Belt – £86 Haswellsykes. Chev Mule –£84, £82 Hilltop. NCC – £100 (x2), £98 Hilltop. Aberfield X – £132 Robiesland.

Gimmers – Scotch Mule – £192 Cloverhill; £190 Crookboat; £190 Tinnis; £190 Cloverhill; £186 Nether Abington; £186 Ingraston; £186 Nether Abington; £185 Crookboat; £184 Lupus; £184 Glendouran; £184 Tinnis; £184 Tollishill; £183 Cocklaw; £182 Allanton; £182 East Dykes; £182 Tinnis; £182 Crookboat; £182 Cocklaw; £182 Townhead; £181 Cocklaw. Tex – £400 Nunnerie; £250 Craighead, £200 Nunnerie; £200 Eastfield. Tex X – £190 Nunnerie; £188 Townhead; £186 Ingraston; £180, £170 West Mains; £165 Cloverhill; £165 Eastfield of Coulter; £162 Newton of Wiston; £162 Glendouran; £162 Wardhead; £162 Townhead; £160 Newton of Wiston; £160 Wardhead; £160 Westmains; £160 Wardhead; £155 Strichen. Chev Mule – £170 Newton of Wiston; £166, £158 The Dairy; £157, £154 Castlehill; £148 Newton of Wiston. Char – £120 Overfield.

Ewe lambs – Scotch Mules – £142 Shawhead; £136 Lochlyoch; £134 Nunnerie; £132 (x2), £128 Lochlyoch; £125 Burnton; £124 Nunnerie; £122 Shawhead; £122 Perryflatts; £121, £120 (x2), £118, £116, £112 Lochlyoch; £108 Nisbet; £106 Nunnerie; £103, £101 Sweetshawhead. Tex – £99 Eastfield of Coulter; £94, £91, £90 Barmulloch.

Longtown

Some 1760 breeding sheep were forward for C and D Auction Marts’ sale, where trade peaked at £240 for Texel cross gimmers from G and CE Edminson, Middle Farm.

LEADING prices

Ewes – Tex – £135 Easterhouses; £122 Croft House. Mule – £125 Kilncroft; £120, £116 Frankstown.

Gimmers – Tex – £240, £205, £200, £190 Middle Farm; £178, £172 Shankfieldhead; £175, £172 Hallburn. Chev Mule – £175 Patties Hill. Suff – £168, £155, £145 Patties Hill; £160 Hallburn. Mule – £150 Frankstown and Easterhouses; £140 Longburgh Fauld; £138 Whinneyknowe.

Stirling UA

All sections met a strong demand at United Auctions’ sale of 10,504 store lambs, feeding and breeding sheep, where gimmers sold to £195 from Monzie Farms and ewe lambs peaked at £128 for a pen of 10 from GGF Milne, Kinaldy.

Store lamb averages saw Texel crosses at £72.92 (+£2.00 on the week); Mules at £70.58 (+£4.13); Cheviots, £59.61 (-£0.49); Chev Mules £70.58; Suffolk crosses, £74.57 (-£0.62) and Blackfaces at £52.76 (+£2.44).

LEADING prices

Breeding sheep – Gimmers – Chev Mule – £198, £185 Monzie; £190, £178 Backmuir; £190, £180 Lathocker; £185 North Balloch.

Ewe lambs – Chev Mule – £128 Kinaldy; £118, £116 Philiphaugh; £118 Auldallan; £118 Monzie. Tex – £125, £120 Philiphaigh; £118 Sundhope; £112 Knowes. Suff – £96 Claylands; £90 East Laggan; £90 Burnhouse; £88 Rossieochil.

Store lambs – Tex – £92, £90 Knowes; £86 Brandon; £85.50 Blairgorm. Mule – £80.50 Fullarton; £77 Backhills; £73 Old Manse and Beannie. Chev – £68 Fidden; £68, £65.50 Cosyden. Chev Mule – £78 Wester Culbowie; £76 Kinaldy. Suff – £86 Blairgorm; £83.50 Dalmahoy; £80 Glenehervie, Blairgorm and Low Craigton. BF – £70 Merkins; £64.50 Steading Cottage; £64.50 Glenernie; £64 Merkins.

Carlisle

A flying trade for continental breeding sheep saw prices peak at £1400 with several others at four-figure values at Harrison and Hetherington’s Euro sale of 3500 head.

Many consignments saw averages improve £15 per head on the year.

A pedigree Texel gimmer from the Four O Boot dispersal, on behalf of MT Watson, topped the trade at £2200 with others from the same home selling at £1400, £1200 and £1000 (x2).

Non MV entries were led by four Dutch Texel gimmers from Messrs Skelton, Newhall Farm selling to £290, while ewes sold to £250 for a Texel from Messrs Ritson, Triermain.

LEADING prices

MV – Gimmers – Tex – £2200, £1400, £1200 (x3), £1000 (x2), £900, £800, £780, £750, £650, £600 (x2), £550 (x4) Four O Boot; £700, £620 Midlock. Belt – £305, £195, £190, £178 Brow Top Farm; £200 Mesona; £190 Rigghead Farm. Char – £205 Rigghead Farm.

Non MV – Ewes – Tex – £250 Triermain; £198, £188, £178, £172, £170 (x2), £166, £152 Flimby Hall; £196 Little Orton House; £174, £166 Springfield Farm. BDM – £180, £156 Uppercleugh. Char – £178, £145 Glebelands; £145 Stone House.

Gimmers – Dut Tex – £290 Newhall Farm; £185, £180, £170 Thoneyland; £178 Dormanstead Farm. Tex – £245, £230 (x2), £220 Courthill; £235, £215 Shatton Lodge Farm; £225, £220 (x2), £215, £210, £205 Newhall Farm; £230, £215, £210 Shatton Lodge Farm; £220 (x2) Highside; £215, £210 Terregles Town; £205 Dunjop. Belt – £240, £220 (x2), £180 Baggrow Farm;’ £240, £230, £225 (x2), £210, £200, £195, £192, £180, £175, £170, £168 Bankdale Farm; £182 Newhall Farm; £178 Kedzlie Farm; £172 Lough Green; £165 Feriaeth Farm. Tex – £192, £162 Dickstree. BDM – £190 Lough Green. Suff – £160 Longrigg.

Ewe lambs – Belt – £160, £158 Waterside Farm; £150 Stone House; £148, £146 Castlehill; £138 Baggrow Farm. Dut Tex – £145, £135 Miller Hill. Tex – £142, £140 Low Meadow; £134, £120 (x3), £116 Greenshields; £120 Dallowie; £110 Miller Hill. Rouge – £130 Surrone.

Castle Douglas

Miserable weather failed to hamper trade at Wallets Marts’ sale of 1974 Blackface ewe lambs which averaged £98.94, up £36.02 on the year.

Topping the sale at £190 per head was a pen of three from A Paton, Craig, Straiton selling to Messrs Robinson, Letterkenny.

LEADING prices

BF – £190, £140, £118, £108 Craig, Straiton; £150, £115 (x2), £100 Milnmark; £148, £135, £102 Fingland; £145, £122, £115, £98 Little Larg; £142 Gass; £132, £112, £95 Knockdon; £118, £98 Balmurrie; £115 Largs, Straiton; £112, £102 Knockreoch; £108 Cuil; £108 (x2) Larg, Creetown; £102 Laghead; £100 Miltonise; £100(x2), £95 Drannandow; £100 Milnmark (Duchrae); £98 Glen; £98 Craigdarroch; £95 Clanary.

FLOCK averages

Farm (No) Ave (£)

Gass, Straiton (35) 142

Fingland (73) 129.59

Craig, Straiton (105) 123.90

Craig(Largs) (30) 115

Milnmark (138) 114.49

Knockdon (95) 110.53

Larg, Knockainse (25) 108

Balmurrie (60) 108

Larg (21) 108

Little Larg (120) 104.38

Miltonise (34) 100

Lairg

All classes hit new levels at United Auctions’ second sale of 3495 lambs, this week, where 2543 wedder lambs averaged £60.85, up £14-£16 on the year.

Texels topped the sale at £82 per head for a pen from Ardmore, Edderton, whilst North Country Cheviots attained £79 from Achlich, Lairg.

The strong entry of 952 ewe lambs balanced out at £64.92, up £9.24 on the year. Top price in this section was £100 for North Country Cheviot lambs from Migdale, Bonar Bridge.

LEADING prices

Wedder lambs – £76 Thistlehouse, Thurso; £75 Ardmore, Edderton; £73 Achosnich, Dornoch; £70 Cartomie, East Amat; £70 Gruids, Sutherland; £69.50 Migdale, Bonar Bridge

Ewe lambs – £95 Clyneish, Brora and West Gruinard, Ardgay; £80 Armadae, Thurso and Thistlehouse; £75 Balnakeil, Blackhaugh; £71 Cassley Cottage, Rosehall

Riggs and tups – £68 33 Ord Place, Lairg; £60 Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath