Sheep farmers have enjoyed bumper prices all year and the trend looks set to continue going by the first of the breeding sheep sales in Scotland and the north of England.

While the record breaking trade for prime hoggs in the spring was most welcome and much needed, it also saw many flock masters cash in potential breeding females for the autumn sales. Hence there are fewer available to buy.

Add in the horrendous weather at lambing time, schmallenberg south of the Border and increased mastitis on farms and there have been more enquiries than normal for breeding females. Such is the demand that ewe lamb and gimmer prices are up £30-£90 per head on the year.

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“Breeding sheep are a far better trade than we expected,” said John Smith, auctioneer at Wallets Marts, who sold many of the Scotch Mule gimmers and ewe lambs at Castle Douglas earlier in the week.

“We had buyers who never got started on both days. They had their set price at the start of the sale they wouldn’t go above, but they’d increase that by £15 within an hour and they still never got started because the sheep were too dear for them.”

On the Saturday, Scotch Mule gimmers averaged £222.56, up £52.03 on the year while on the Monday, Scotch Mule ewe lambs levelled at £163.63, a rise of £31.64.

As always there was a two-tier trade too with a definite premium of £10-£15 for suckled gimmers, which although smaller sold for more money than their equivalent counterparts that had not reared a lamb, because they would make better mothers.

“Suckled gimmers were the easiest sheep sold, with countless numbers selling for £215-£255 per head and while the biggest and best of the ewe lambs were making £180-£200, you could still get big lambs at £165-£180 that could be tupped and rear a lamb,” said Mr Smith.

Cheviot Mule gimmers and ewe lambs reached record prices and averages at Longtown on Tuesday too, where C and D Auction Marts’ auctioneer, Daniel Lynn said the trade was far better than predicted.

Texel cross Cheviot Mule gimmers saw the greatest increase, rising £96 on the year to level at £284, while Cheviot Mule gimmers cashed in at £255, up £67. Cheviot Mule ewe lambs increased by £40 to £177.

“The ring was packed all day and we had buyers from Orkney to Wales willing to go above and beyond for good quality sheep especially when the numbers were back on the year,” Mr Lynn said.

Interestingly, while white faced breeding sheep and particularly Texel and Beltex crosses have always commanded a premium, Harrison and Hetherington auctioneer, Joe Bowman has noticed an increased demand for the more maternal breeds that boast higher lambing percentages of 200%.

“There is a strong demand for all types of sheep, with ewe lambs and gimmers up £40-£50 on the year. Everyone is looking to buy the best whether it be buying ewe lambs for gimmering or for tupping, but they are all looking for sheep that are easier managed and can look after their lambs without intervention,” he said.