Flockmasters from Shetland to Preston were forward either in person or online for Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ multi-breed sale of pedigree rams at Thainstone on Tuesday where prices peaked at 1300gns.

A total of 504 rams sold under the hammer with 81 of those selling to online bidders through the Thainstone Online platform.

Colin Slessor, deputy head of livestock at Aberdeen and Northern Marts said: “All breeds of rams sold well today and attracted a good ringside of buyers adhering to guidelines, as well as a strong internet audience who were active in both sale rings.”

The majority of breed averages were up on the year, with 36 Texel shearlings cashing in at £712.83 (+£208.68) and 106 Texel ram lambs at £468.65 (+£129.90).

Sale leader at 1300gns was a Texel shearling from Matthew Seed, Home Farm, Auchry, Cuminestown, who sold 10 rams to average £887.25.

Selling to Orkney with Ronald Anderson, Burnside, Orphir, was a Blaencar Bono-sired ram, out of a ewe by Douganhill Uno.

Mr Seed also sold the second top priced ram at 1200gns to Ronnie Wilkie, Tillboy, Echt. This was Auchry Cannon Ball, by Boghouse Atlanta.

The Stuart family, Milltown of Birness, Ellon, sold the lead priced Texel ram lamb, a Deveronvale Artios son online at 850gns to Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet.

Twelve Suffolk shearling rams averaged £507.50 (+£1.17) with 202 ram lambs levelling at £515.32 (+£111.65).

Top price here was 1100gns paid for ram lambs on three occasions. The first from Birness, by Ballynacannon Noah, sold to J Heggie, Carden Farm, Fossoway, Kinross.

Two others from the Bruce family’s Lochton flock from Tillyeve, Udny made 1100gns, with the first by Knockem Big Star, selling to Stuart Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, while the second by Lakeview Landslide, was bought by AJ Rae, Mains of Orchardtown, Udny.

Bryden and Joanna Nicolson’s Knockem flock all the way from Duns, sold to 1000gns for a ram lamb by Drimmie Knockout, purchased by Willie Brown, Hilton of Culsh, New Deer.

Craig Paterson’s Cranorskie flock from Aberchirder, also sold to 1000gns with his pen of nine Suffolk ram lambs averaging £764.17.

His leader, a son of Castleisle Capadi, sold to Neil Benzie, Meikle Whiterashes, Turriff.

Stuart Wood, Broadwater, Skene, led the Beltex trade at 900gns for a shearling and 800gns for a ram lamb. His shearling by Broxty Boxer, sold to CJ MacPherson, Dulsie Farm, Glenferness, Nairn, while the ram lamb was purchased by Zoe Rennie, Newmill, Keith.

Melissa Irvine of the Anside flock, Braehead, Drummuir, topped the Blue Texels at 900gns selling to the Meldrums at Shenval, Ballindalloch. Her shearling, Anside Dinky, is by Xana Black Magic.

Border Leicesters peaked at 1200gns for a ram lamb by Alticane Hitman, from Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead, Cairness, Fraserburgh, selling to Sandy Haggart, Muirmouth, Madderty, Crieff.

Cross-bred tups were also in demand selling 950gns for a Charollais cross Beltex from Howard and Andrew Davies, Hillhead of Cannahars, Whitecairns, selling to Faith Farms, Peattie, Inverbervie.

Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts.