STRONG demand coupled with an increased number of buyers from as far as the North-east of Scotland right down to Wales, Norfok and Nottingham, resulted in a flying trade for Caledonian Marts' Martinmas sale of 10,432 store lambs and feeding ewes, on Monday.
Top price was £99 per head paid for the first prize pen of Beltex – selected by judge, John Kerr, Midtown, Castle Douglas – which comprised no fewer than 90 head of lambs from Martin Kennedy, Lurgan, which sold to John Gilvear, Graystale.
The reserve, a pen of 25 Texel lambs from B Gudmundson, Goudiegrannet, made £82 selling to Joe Marrs, Broomhill, Orton.
By the end of the day, some 9746 averaged £62.87 (+£6.87 on the year). The 512 feeding ewes also improved by £5.18 on the same sale in 2017, to level at £38.02.
Individual store lamb breed averages saw Suffolks level £68.07 (+£3.19 on the year); Texels at £65.68 (+£3.09); Beltex, £77.07 (+£6.15); Mules, £58.27 (+£3.83) and Blackface lambs saw the biggest rise, up £8.33 to average £44.10.
OTHERLEADING awards
Pens – Belt – 1, Lurgan, £99; 2, Whitecross £84; 3, Newton of Logierait £86. Tex – 1, Goudiegrannet, £82; 2, Baluskie £76; 3, Easter Dullatur £74.50. Suff – 1, Baluskie £75; 2, Coull £73; 3, Devonshaw £73. Mule – 1, Poltalloch £65; 2, Coull £63.50; 3, West Kelt £64. Bf – 1, Brisbane Glen £66; 2, Ardchonnel £56; 3, Glenturret £61.
OTHER LEADING prices
Store lambs – Belt – £85 Coull. Belt X – £84 Parkhead. Cont – £83 Auchenhill. Tex – £80 Newton of Logierait and Bankhead. Suff – £79 Goudiegrannet. Suff X – £73 Leskine. Chev – £70 Baluskie and Balneathill. Mule – £73 Burnhead. BF – £60.50 Townhead.
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