Milnbank Texel leads Thainstone breeding ram sale at 6000gns

The event, which saw an increased entry of 635 pedigree and cross-bred rams forward, was topped by the pre-sale Texel champion from Mr Wilson’s Turriff-based flock. A son of Hilltop Invictus, he was knocked down to Graham Morrison of the Deveronvale flock from Inchbruich, Banff.

The third prize Texel shearling, selected by judge Stephen Sutherland, Caithness, sold next at 2800gns. The tup, from Rodney Blackhall’s Sheeoch flock from Banchory, is sired by Townhead Frank the Tank and headed home with D and I Mackintosh, Kirkton of Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir.

Other shearlings from Mr Blackhall sold at 2300gns, 2200gns and 2000gns selling to W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten; Ardhuncart Farm, Kildrummy, Alford and Alan Rae, Mains of Orchardtown,Ellon, respectively.

Second top price amongst the lambs was 2500gns paid for a son of Milnbank Hollywood from AM and L Sutherland, Carran, Crosskirk, purchased by J Cowe, Little Howes, Holm, Orkney. Carran also took 2000gns for a lamb from Melvin Stuart and family Milltown of Birness, Ellon.

Another two Texel shearlings made 2000gns to include an entry from KW Hourston, Skelbister, Stromness selling to GA Robertson, Tillyorn Corse, Lumphanan and from Matthew Seed, Home Farm of Auchry, Turriff, purchased by C Stephen and Son, Newton of Greeness, Turriff.

Two Texel ram lambs from SJC Livestock, Sunnyside, Ashfield, Garmouth also made 2000gns, selling to Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin and Matthew Seed, Home Farm of Auchry.

The cross-bred champion topped the any other breeds section selling at 2800gns. The shearling from S McRobbie, 3 Pirie Road, New Deer, Turriff, goes out to work at Smallburn Farms.

Suffolks peaked at 2600gns for the reserve champion, a shearling from Melvin Stuart and family, Milltown of Birness. The tup is sired by Pyeston Phoenix and sold to EM Smith and Son, Towiemore, Keith.

Four sold at 2000gns to include a shearling by Sitlow Style N Passion from C and K Stuart, Lettoch Farm, Glenlivet, purchased by C Wright, Prony Farm, Ballater

The Suffolk judge, I Laird of Yeldabrek, Orkney, bought his choice of champion at the same money. This was a ram lamb by Birness Hot To Go from Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder.

Two other ram lambs sold at 2000gns to include an entry from Jim Young, Muirton, Corse, purchased by A Cruickshank, Newmill, Crathes, Banchory and another from C and M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, bought by TA Sands, Southfield, Inchture.

Matthew Seed, Home Farm of Auchry, topped the Bluefaced Leicesters at 1600gns with the second prize shearling which sold to Drummuir Home Estate, Drummuir, Keith.

Judge Nicol Dow of Upper Sauchen, found his champion in another from Mr Seed which made 1100gns selling to C and K Stuart, Lettoch.

Bluefaced Leicester lambs also sold to 1100gns for the second prize winner from S Burnett, Kingswells Croft, Insch, which again sold to Drummuir Home Estate.

Border Leicesters hit a top of 1400gns and 1350gns for shearlings from KW Hourston, Skelbister, purchased A Miller and Son, Aimster, Thurso and Messrs Morrison and Mu, Hillhead, Birnie, Elgin, respectively.

Ram lambs reached 1200gns for the champion from Jimmy Douglas’ Clola flock from Cairness, Fraserburgh, which was knocked down to C Finne, Richmondhill House, Blackhills, Peterhead.

Charollais were topped at 1200gns by a shearling from Taylor Dalgarno, Clackriach Dairy, Maud, Peterhead, purchased by GR Marshall, Meikle Haddo, Newburgh, Ellon.

Just behind on 1100gns was a shearling from HEG Davies, Hillhead of Cannahars, Whitecairns, Aberdeen, that sold to GA Ingram, East Comalegy, Drumblade, Huntly.

Best amongst the Beltex was 1500gns paid for a ram lamb from Stuart Wood, Broadwater, Skene, purchased by Jimmy and Grame Sinclair, Crookston, Herriot.

Three shearlings from Grant Ireland, The Mull, Cormalet, Cairnie, sold for 1300gns to include the champion purchased by Tommy Linklater, Orkney. The other two were bought by Ellis and Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie, Alford and S and F Young, Nether Drumallochie, Glenkindie, Alford, respectively.

A shearling from Jennifer Mckilligan, Mains of Newtongarry, Huntly led the Blue Texels at 1200gns. The buyers were J and A Strathdee, North Retannach, Rothiemay, Huntly.

Dutch Spotted reached 1800gns for a gimmer from J Marshall, Fingask Farmhouse, Fingask Farm, Rhynd purchased by AJ Pirie, Bogallie, Botriphnie, Keith.

Averages: Suff – 198 ram lambs, £759.13 (+£55.86 for 29 less); 40 shearlings, £1095.94 (+£137.50 for 15 mores). Tex – 95 ram lambs, £1000.82 (+£127.86 for nine more); 64 shearlings, £1319.88 (+£15.25 for four more). Charollais – 21 ram lambs, £547.50 (+£37.95 for four more); 16 shearlings, £915.47 (+£97.09 for one less). AOB – 24 ram lambs, £780.94 (+£82.83 for 10 more); 59 shearlings, £858.15 (+£160.04 for 15 more). BL – Six ram lambs, £997.50; 11 shearlings, £959.32. Belt – Four ram lambs, £945 (+£17.50); 29 shearlings, £767.70 (-£30.11). BFL – Six ram lambs, £717.50 (+£126.88 for two less); 14 shearlings, £778.50 (+£131 for eight more). BTex – Three ram lambs, £472.50; five shearlings, £819 (+£294 for 10 less). DS – Nine ram lambs, £554.17 (+£186.67 for two less); seven shearlings, £637.50 (+£100.84 for two less).

Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts