Prices peaked at £12,000 at the 'Kelso Ram Sale' Texel event of 1000 rams at Lanark, where overall averages mostly improved, albeit for fewer sold.

The sale, which comprised the Lawrie and Symington Kelso Rings 9 and 7, and Hexham and Northern Marts Ring 5 on behalf of the Border Texel Group, saw three lots sell at five-figure prices with the dearest at £12,000, being a shearling ram from Ring 7.

Selling at this price and producing a personal best for the Wester Walston team of James and Mara Orr and family of Robbie, Alison, Robbie and Emma, from Carnwath, was a son of the £16,000 Blackadder Albertz, bought at Kelso in 2018, in partnership with Toftcombs and Townhead. Forking out the cash for this big tup bred from a home-bred ewe by Scrogtonhead Yerman, were Ken Hodge, buying for the Greenarch flock from Cheshire and John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso.

Next best at £11,000 was the pen leader from Gordon and David Gray's Ettrick flock from Selkirk, which also sold in a two-way split, to Jim Innes, buying for his Strathbogie flock from Dunscroft, and Jim and Sandy Hunter, Wedderburn, both Huntly. Full brother to the 5500gns Ettrick Cockney Rebel ram lamb sold last year at Lanark, he is by the £29,000 Garngour Awesome and out of a home-bred ewe.

Steven Renwick's Craig Douglas flock from Peebles, was another in the money, securing £10,000 for his No 2, a shearling ram by Knock Bantastic, bred from a Haddo Whisky Galore daughter. The Whitefords from Tercrosset, Brampton, Carlisle, were the final bidders.

For full report and pictures see this week's Scottish Farmer