Phenomenal interest in the Blackface sheep breed ensured another flying trade on the second day's trading of ram lambs at Lanark, when a new record average of £5713.56 was achieved – up a massive £638.56 on the year for 149

Such was the demand for the cream of the crop, that from a top bid of £80,000 for the No 2 from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, a further 26 lambs sold at or above the magical five-figure bracket.

Breeders had to wait until the very end to witness the big sale too, with the lamb, along with several other big hitters coming from the final lot. A son of a £3500 Dalchirla shearling bought last year at Dalmally, he is out of a ewe by a £100,000 Elmscleugh and sold to the Willie Dunlop and sons Quintin and William, Elmscleugh, Dunbar and Alastair and David McArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot.

Allanfauld enjoyed the best of the day's trading with other sales at £38,000 and £26,000 for sons of the same £3500 Dalchirla, with another at £20,000 being sired by the £160,000 Dalchirla.

Second top price was £70,000 paid for the pen leader from Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch, purchased by the Campbells at Glenrath, Peebles and Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk. He is by a £10,000 Midlock lamb and bred from a ewe by an £8000 Auchloy.

Northern Ireland breeders, John and Patrick Harkin, Loughash, were also in the money with three five-figure prices and a top of £60,000 for a son of a £24,000 Elmscleugh, bred from a ewe by the old £24,000 Elmscleugh. This big lad sold in a three-way split to the Wights at Midlock, Elmscleugh and Nunnerie.

Top price for Jimmy and Donald MacGregor's Dyke pen from Milton of Campsie was £42,000 for a son of a £17,000 Midlock. He also sold three ways to Willie Graham and son Billy, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar and daughter Una who farms at Kirklands, with the remaining third selling to Angus Kennedy and son Angus, Mitchellhill, Broughton, Biggar.

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