A sound trade for good, big, commercial shearling rams for the Blackface Sheep Breeders' association sale at Newton Stewart saw a top price of £8000 for the best from Gerard McGinn's Chirmorrie flock from Barrhill.

Leading the sale was a son of a £3200 Knockdon, purchased by Colin McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, who sold the second top priced shearling ram at £6000 to the McIlwricks at Balmurrie and Keith Brooke, Carscreugh, New Luce. 

Ram lambs peaked at £7000 on two occasions to include the pen leader from Jim and Fiona Burns' Craignell flock from New Galloway, which also sold in a two-way split to Ian Bond, Glen Gatehouse, and David Ferguson, Markdhu, New Luce. He is by a home-bred ram.

Matching the £7000 bid was a lamb by a £52,000 Crossflatt, from John Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk, purchased by fellow Muirkirk breeders, Sanny Blackwood, Greenside and Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn.

Overall averages saw shearling rams slip £111 on the year for 10 more sold with ram lambs improving £114 for 25 fewer.

For full report and pictures see this week's SF