A new centre record for draft ewes was achieved at United Auctions' sale of 6090 Blackface ewes and gimmers, when a pen of five from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, sold for £1000 per head to J Shearer, Hillhead of Morinish, Glenlivet.

Just behind on £900 was a pen from Mary McCall Smith, Connachan, Gilmerton, Crieff.

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Blackface gimmers also met a sound trade selling to £1600 for a pen of four from Andrew Kay and sons Robert and Andrew, Gass, Straiton.

Averages were mostly up on the year with ewe lambs cashing in at £113.00 (+£24.08); accredited ewes at £108.62 (+£19.62) and non accredited ewes at £117.12 (+£28.24). Significantly higher numbers of gimmers however saw averages slip £22.32 amongst the accredited to £129.05 with non accredited gimmers balancing out at £134.34 (-£32.58).

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LEADING prices

Draft BF ewes – Allanfauld, £1000, £450; Connachan £900, £550, £340, £320 x2, £210, £200; Lurg £500.

BF gimmers – Gass £1600; Connachan and Midlock £480; Gass £400; Midlock £380; Gass £280; Hill of Errol £260 and £210; Lorgbaw £205; Midlock £200.