The champion pen – 10 Mule hoggs with 10 Texel cross lambs at foot – from A McKenzie and Partners, Ardgate, achieved the top price of £185 per life, at United Auctions’ sale of 4279 breeding sheep, on Monday.

Judge Douglas Adam, Muirdean, awarded his reserve to Aberfield cross hoggs with Beltex lambs from D Hamilton, Allanton, which later realised £165.

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Cheviot Mules with Texel lambs from S Knox and son, North Balloch, topped the gimmers with lambs at £132. Ewes with lambs at foot reached £128 on two occasions, firstly for Suffolk cross ewes with Suffolk lambs again from A McKenzie and Partners and for Texel crosses with Texel lambs from T Greer and sons, Wharlawhill.

Averages improved in all sections on the year, with Scotch Mule hoggs with lambs achieving £143.50 (+ £14.22); Aberfield cross hoggs with lambs at £134.36 (+ £12.01); Texel cross hoggs with lambs at £138.40 (+ £9.12) and Suffolk cross hoggs with lambs and Cheviot Mule hoggs with lambs cashing in at £114.00 (+ £3.77) and £134.36 (+ £1.83) respectively.

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Leading Prices

Hoggs with lambs – Scotch Mule – £185 A McKenzie and Ptns, Ardgate. Aberfield X – £165 D Hamilton, Allanton. Tex X – £162 D Hamilton, Allanton. Chev Mule – £150 R McNee Ltd, Woodend. Suff X – £130 RH Steel, Wester Mye.

Gimmers with lambs – Chev Mule – £132 S Knox and son, North Balloch. Tex X – £126 M Steel, Powblack. Scotch Mule – £112 K Campbell, Claylands.

Ewes with lambs at foot – Suff X – £128 A McKenzie and Ptns, Ardgate. Tex X – £128 T Greer and sons, Wharlawhill. Scotch Mule – £118 G Hodge, Craighead. Chev Mule – £117 K Dickson, Strewiebank.

Leading Awards

Mules with lambs – 1, A McKenzie and Ptns, Ardgate £185; 2, R McNee Ltd, Woodend £162; 3, D Hamilton, Allanton £160.

Texel cross or any other breed with lambs – 1, D Hamilton, Allanton (Aber X) £165; 2, J W Kay and Co, Gass (Tex X) £158; 3, D Hamilton, Allanton (Tex X) £155.

Flock Averages

Flock (No.) Top (£) Avg (£)

Mule hoggs with lambs at foot Easter Bucklyvie (154) 145 138.96

Woodend (128) 162 142.56

Ardgate (785) 185 155.35

Over Finlarg (164) 168 152.05

Claylands (89) 150 133.55

Allanton (300) 160 143.59

Clunebeg (97) 168 151.24

Polnoon (228) 124 100.02

Mid Auchencarroch (40) 150 150

Texel hoggs with lambs

Overhil Cott (12) 115 115

Wester Mye (12) 124 112

Kirkwood (92) 142 130.87

Allanton (178) 162 147.19

Ardgate (10) 152 152

Carse of Trowan (338) 150 134.65

Gass (80) 158 152.25

Woodend (40) 148 148

Suffolk hoggs with lambs

Wester Mye (44) 130 127

West Carse (38) 128 117.89

Mains of Foveran (90) 104 102

Aberfield hoggs with lambs

Allanton (142) 165 138.99

Cheviot/Mule hoggs with lambs

Woodend (24) 150 150

Noth Balloch (113) 148 132.74