An influx of pedigree Texel female sales all with increased entries, succumbed to the laws of supply and demand at the Lanark Cracker Sale, when only 56% of the catalogued entry were able to find new homes.

In a mirror image of most of the in-lamb female sales in recent weeks and from most breeds, only top end correct sheep boasting style, breed character and a cracking pedigree to match, changed hands.

Read more: Usk Vale tops Lanark Select Seven Texels at 26,000gns

By the end of the evening, only 55 of the 98 lots entered changed hands, with a top price of 6000gns paid for a ewe lamb from Myfyr Evans' Rhaeadr flock from Llanrhaeadr, Denbighshire.

His mid-March-born No 3, bred from a ewe by Garngour Alabama which was an ET sister to the 7500gns sold here in 2019, is sired by Sportsmans Dare Devil. Final bidder was Stewart Craft, buying for his new Balquhomrie flock based outside Glenrothes which is already home to the Lakeview pedigree Suffolk flock. Mr Craft bought all four Rhaeadr ewe lambs forward.

Read more: Texel tops a cracking line-up of pedigree lambs

The same buyer also went to 3500gns for a ewe lamb from Donald and Ross Macpherson's Hexel flock from Berwick upon Tweed. The result of a flush from a ewe by Procters Boby Dazzler, she is sired by Haymount Crackerjack.

Minutes later, Hexel took 4200gns for a ewe lamb bred from a Castlecairn Vavavoom daughter and sired by Procters Chumba Wumba. She was knocked down to Douglas Webster, Lower Reiss, Wick.

Gimmers were topped at 5000gns by the pen leader from Cammy Gauld's Cairnam flock from Auchterarder, purchased by Gillion Adams, Banchory. She is by Straidarran Casino, bred from a ewe by Garngour Alladin, and sold due to Procters Extra Special.

Top price for Stuart Barclay's Harestone flock from Insch was 4200gns paid for a gimmer bred from a Teiglum ewe by New View Awesome. She is by Rhaeadr Ace and sold served to Procters El Presidente, to Proctors Farm, Slaidburn, Lancs, managed by Jeff Aiken.

Three gimmers fetched 3000gns of which two were from Kerr Jarvie's Duncryne flock from Greenloaning, Dunblane. Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside Farms, Lamington, bought the first, a Milnbank Brooklyn daughter bred from a Kaker Mill ewe. The service sire was Procters Extra Special.

The second, by Knock Bantastic, sold served to Rhaeadr Equalizer to Jim and Sandy Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly.

The last of the 3000gns bids came from Morayshire breeder, EJ Green, Drumburn, Keith, buying a Strathbogie Bachelor II gimmer from Michael Leggat's Foreman Hill flock from Cairnton, Huntly. She changed hands due to Milnbank Dance Monkey.

averages: Allanfauld – Five gimmers, £1890.00; Brackenridge – Four gimmers, £603.75; Cairnam – Six gimmers, £1443.75; Dalwyne – Four gimmers, £945.00; Duncryne – Five gimmers, £1638.00; Haddo – Three gimmers, £1120.00; Hexel – Five females, £2793.00; Mitchellhill – Six gimmers, £787.50; New View – Six gimmers, £577.50; Rhaeadr – Four ewe lambs, £2310.00. Overall – 45 gimmers, £1284.50 (-£634.05 for 12 fewer); 10 ewe lambs, £2394.00 (+£35.54 for one less).

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.