Dingwall

Averages improved by a massive £30.67 on the year at Dingwall and Highland Marts’ opening sale of 4354 store lambs of all classes to level at £106.06.

According to the auctioneers, the event met ‘an atmosphere similar to that of New Year’s Eve where a truly phenomenal trade greeted vendors who decided to sell lambs despite many thinking their sheep had been held back due to the mixed summer weather. Buyers from all over the UK were present with many heading home empty handed.’

Top price was £153 paid for Texel cross lambs from Craiglands, Fortrose. The 1326 Texels averaged £111.04, against £75.04 at the same sale last year.

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Just behind, Suffolk cross lambs sold to £150 twice from Wester Craiglands Fortrose and Bogburn, Duncanston, to level at £109.28 against £80.52 in 2023.

Gaich Farms, Dulnain Bridge, topped the entry of 81 Beltex which averaged £123.63 (last year £73.97).

Cheviots (355) averaged £89.37 (£62.93) having sold to £108 from Tulloch Farm, Bonar Bridge, while 669 Mules averaged £100.7 (£79.14) with a top price of £132 from Milton Farm, Aberarder.

Cheviot Mule (138) averaged £102.16 (£83.62) and sold to £125 from Wester Craiglands, Fortrose with 42 Charollais selling to £151 from 2 Dounie, Edderton with the proceeds going to the Highland Hospice, to level at £118.10 (£74.94).

Tulloch, Bonar Bridge topped the 69 crosses at £154. They averaged £102.16.

Other breeds (160) averaged £91.05 (£69.83) having sold to £146 for Dorsets from Easter Glackton, Gollanfield and 42 tup and rig lambs sold to £154 for a cross from Tulloch Farm to level at £105.07.

Other Leading Prices

Lambs – Tex X – Easter Glackton, £145, Wester Craiglands, £144, £142, £134, £128, £121, £119, £117, Milton Farm, £143, £116, Lochbuie, Newtonmore, £141, £117, Tarn Howe, Tain, £136, Achtuie, Drumnadrochit, £135, 256 Rearquhar, Dornoch, £130, Balintore Farms, Fearn, £128, 1 Brae Farm Cottages, Dingwall, £124, South Clunes Farm, Kirkhill, £124, Craigard Cottage, Langal, £120, The Rowans, Sutherland, £143, £119, Keppoch Farm, Dundonnell, £119, Gaich Farms, £118, Auchmore Farm, Muir of Ord, £117, £115, Ivy Croft, Heights of Brae, £117, Tulloch Farm, £117.

Suff X – Gaich Farms, £137, £131, £122, Ralia, Newtonmore, £133, £122, £118, Tulloch Farm, £129, Wester Craiglands, £123, £122, £116, Invercharron, Ardgay, £121, £115, 196 Lednabirichen, Dornoch, £120, Balintore Farms, £120, 9a Loaneckheim, Kiltarlity, £116, 42 Mossmill Park, Mosstodloch, £115, 199 Lednabirichen, £115.

Belt X – Easter Glackton, £138, £128, 2 Dounie, £137, 9a Loaneckheim, £134, £119;Chev – 1 Brae Farm Cottages, £96, Tulloch Farm, £90, Erchite, Dores, £96, Leckmlm Estates, Ullapool.

Mule – Milton Farm, £114, £101, £100, £99, £96, £91, Abersky, Torness, £106. CHM – Wester Craiglands, £125, £119; CharX – Bogburn Farm, £129. Cross – Lochquoy Farm, Castletown, £138, Wester Craiglands, £135. BTL – Inverbay, Lower Arboll, £139, £135, £132. DST – Easter Glackton, £146, £122.

Tup and rig lambs – Cross – Lochquoy, £138. Tex X – Wester Craiglands, £132. Suff X – Ralia, £122. CHM – Wester Craiglands, £119.

Stirling UA

On Monday, United Auctions sold 5720 store lambs to a top of £151 for Texels from Auldhall.

Averages mainly improved on the week, with Texel crosses averaging £107.10 ( + £6.12 on the week), Suffolk crosses, £110.63 (+ £3.12), Beltex crosses, £108.73 (+ £6.50), and Cheviot Mules, at £86.86 (+ £9.10), and a slight decrease for Mules witnessed them cash in at £93.45 (- 0.20p).

Leading Prices

Lambs – Tex – Auldhall £151;Westerton £142; East Buchanty £136; Whitsome £135; Ashfield £134; Fairview £130; Knowehead and Ballikinrain £125. Blue Tex – Falgunzeon £144. Suff – Escart £117; Blackcruik £114; Cairncurran and Clachanton £113; Claylands £112; Ashfield and Escart £110. Belt – East Buchanty £120; Mains of Struie £112; Cairncurran £109; East Buchanty £108; Mains of Struie and East Buchanty £106. Mule – Cairncurran £113; Fairview £111; Burnhead £106; Millglen and Burnhead £104. Char – Quality St £134. Chev – Whitsome £133, £105; Milkieston £100. X – Barnsmuir £121. Chev Mule – Rawburn £111; Auchintibber and Rawburn £92. BF – Kirkton £81.

Hexham

A Texel lamb from DJ and W Sedgewick, Errington Red House, achieved £170 at Hexham and Northern Marts’ sale of 1685 store lambs, which averaged £118.30.

Leading Prices

Lambs – Tex – £148 Bank Top. Tex X – £170 Errington Red House; £156 West Bolton; £154 Errington Red House; £150 Low West House; £148 East Rackwood Hill; £147 Stonehall; £146 Errington Red House; £145 West Bolton; £144 East Flass; £143 Rennys Barn and West Bolton; £140 East Flass; £139 Errington Red House; £138 North Penny Hill, High Knitsley and Errington Red House; £137 Stonehall; £136 North Penny Hill. Blue Tex – £132 Greys Well. Belt X – £150 Hownsgill; £138 Castle Park and Hownsgill. Suff X – £125 High Keenley Fell. Mule – £121 Crindledykes; £119 Harsondale; £118 Burnbank; £117 Harsondale. X – £127 Castle Park.

Penrith

Penrith and District Farmers Marts’ opening sale of 800 store lambs, witnessed the champion continental pen from KM Wildman, Clickham Cottage, top the sale at £135.

The judge, R Carrick, Irishopeburn, found his reserve in a pen from Muncaster Home Farms, which sold for £115.

Leading Prices

Lambs – Cont – £135 Clickham Cottage; £107 Owl Barn; £98 Ulcatrow; £92, £90 Midtown; £92, £91, £86 Fell View; £92, £85 Todd. Tex – £130, £116, £109 Smithy Garth; £115, £105, £99, £96, £95 (x3), £94, £93, £91 (x2), £90 Muncaster Home Farms; £100 Cathow; £86 Burtree Ford. Belt – £113 Goodlie Hill Cottage. Mule – £108, £99 Owl Barn; £96, £86 Wythop Hall; £90, £89, £82 Knock Hall; £89 Ulcatrow; £88 Wythop Farms; £83 Sanders Close; £80 Fell View. Suff – £103, £94, £92 Midtown; £90 Grandy Close; £85 Burtree Ford. Chev – £101 (x2) Todd; £80 Grandy Close. Herd – £85 Ulcatow. Swale – £60 Fell View.

Hawes

Beltex crosses from Elm Gill topped Hawes Farmers auction marts’ store lamb sale at £130.

Leading Prices

Lambs – Belt X – Elm Gill £130, £104, £101.50; Dixon Bros £127.50, £101.50; I Brown £115, £105, £102; AT Lambert and Son £106; JW Porter and Sons £101; R Capstick £100, £98.50. Chev – A and TA Blades £122.50; M Hallam £97.50, £79.50; HM Hodgson £90. Tex X – T and G Farrow £121, £114, £109; JW Porter and Sons £118, £108; B Clarkson £116; BL Acton £115, £97.50; T and SB Procter £113.50, £107, £99.50; AT Lambert and Son £112, £99; Booth Brothers £110; HM Hodgson £110; JR Blades £109, £101; J and JH Whaley £108.50; Collier Holme £108.50; AD Lambert £107; A and TA Blades £106; Dixon Bros £105; A and AJ Lambert £100.50; AD Coates and Son £99, £95.50; MJ and JD Handley £95.50, £93; WT Metcalfe and Son £95; TK Styan and Ptns £94; A Burrow £90; S Troughton £90. Suff – R and R Gornall £105.50; SR Wilkinson £94, £91, £90, £85; A Burrow £88; K Raw £81. Mules – J Dixon and Sons, £101.50, £89.50; S and M Hallam £95.50, £87, £80.50, £79; T Metcalfe and Son £94, £81; SD Thompson £94; OR Hodgson £91.50; BL Acton £87.50; JL and JA Sunter £86.50, £79; AD Lambert £86; GJ and JM Scarr £86; J and SJ Bland £84; S Troughton £80; JW Bentham and Son £80; GS Milburn £76; WT Metcalfe and Son, £70.

Oban

An increase in average on the year was witnessed at United Auctions’ opening sale of 2713 store lambs, which cashed in at £99.42 (+£19.36).

Trade was topped by Beltex lambs from N and F McNaughton, Dalmore at £132.

Leading Prices

Lambs – Suff X – Achnacreebeag, Ichrachan £123; Balnagown £122; Achnacreebeag £119; Ardlarach £116; Ardlarach, Mid Farm £112; Balnagown £111; Dalmore £110; Ichrachan £107; Cornaigmore £102; Ardlarach, Mid Farm £100. Belt – Stronacroibh £104. Tex – Poltalloch £126; Kingairloch, Strongorm £124; Bailuacraich £121; Strongorm £120; Baligrundle, Balnagown £119; Ardlarach, Poltalloch £118; Borve, Fidden £117; Ardlarach, Dalmore, Glenamachrie £116; Kingairloch, Ardachy, Dalmore £114; Strongorm, Borve £113; 58 Tangasdale £112; Bailuacraich £110; Ardlarach £109; Ardencaple £108; Bailuacraich £104; Glenamachrie, Ardlarach £103; Acharonich, Borve £101; 123 Craigston, Tangasdale £100. Chev – Kingairloch £92; Cornaigmore £90; Tangasdale £88; Ben Haint £87. Mule – South Achinduin £115; Scammadale £99; Achuaran £98; Stronacroibh, South Achinduin £90. Chev/Mule – Kingairloch £96. BF – Plocaig £77.

Carlisle

On Monday, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of 587 store lambs, which cashed in at £104.91.

Topping the sale was a Black Texel gimmer from Thomas Illingworth selling for £156.

Leading Prices

Lambs – Blue Tex – £156, £120 (x4) Howgillside. Tex – £152, £130 (x2), £122 Cowgate; £133, £123 (x2), Howgillside; £124, £121 (x3), £116 (x3) Main Street; £123 (x7), £123 (x20) Beck; £117 (x3), £107 (x12), £117 (x22), £112 (x26), £108 Home; £116 (x16), £110 (x10), Foulskyke; £115 (x20), £110 (x16), Pallet Hill Barn; £109 (x11) Duncrahill Farm House. Belt – £140 (x2), £125 (x8) Millholme; £117 Duncrahill Farm House. Suff – £137 Cherry-tree £130 (x2); Millholme £119 (x2), £99 (x2), £95 (x7) Duncrahill Farm House; £113 (x15), £104 (x14) Batey Shield; £106 (x2) Main Street; £102 (x19) Dunrod. Dor – £124 (x2), £81 (x4) Low Fauld. DS – £118, £98,(x10) Low Fauld. GF – £99 (x30) Midtodhills; £90.50 (x50) Wythop Farms. Hill Chev – £86 (x17) Dunrod. BF – £73 (x4) Craigruie.