OBAN

A good show of 4184 head of breeding sheep at United Auctions’ sale saw ewe lambs sell to £155 for Mules from Hugh Mackinnon, Braeside, Tiree; gimmers to £370 for Texels from Alexander Pirie, Machrihanish; and ewes to £250 for Beltex crosses from A Mackellar, Island View.

Leading Prices

Ewe lambs – Suff – Mid Farm £128, £105. Lln – Kilpatrick Croft £80. BFL – 4 Kilkenneth £150. Tex – Drimsynie £140; Glenamachrie £118. Chev – Strongorm £152; No4 Aros £142; Braefoot £125; Balure £122; Cailaich, Balure £120; Kingairloch £118; Caddleton £115; Caddleton, Wood Cottage £112. Mule – Braeside £155; Tyree £150; Scammadale £148; Braeside £138; Scammadale £135; Dalmore £132; 5 Craignich, Ederline, Braeside £128; Tyree £127; Fiart £126; Dalmore £122; Stronacroibh £120. CHM – Kingairloch £135; 13 Kiel Crofts £132; Caddleton £130; Cailaich £128; Caddleton £125; Kingairloch £122. BF – Fidden £98, £90; Turnault £85; Glenfeochan £84.

Gimmers – Suff – Mid Farm £115, £111. Belt – Island View £220. Tex – Machrihanish £370, £340; Overburns £320; Overburns, Drimsynie, Achnaba, Barcaldine HF £300; Machrihanish £280; Drimsynie £220. Chev – No 4 Aros £240; Torloisk, Strongorm £200; Caddleton, Kingairloch, Balnagown £185. Mule – Achalic £226, £222 x 3, £220 x 4, £202; Fiart (N Carmichael) £198; Lochnell HF £195; Achalic £192; Fiart (N Carmichael), 4 Baligrundle, 5 Craignich, Achalic, Balure of Shian £190. Chev/Mule – Kingairloch £188; Achnacree Beag £185. BF – Balnagown £185; Kilbride £152; 1 Baligrundle £130.

Ewes – Suff – Island View £148. Bel – Island View £250, £162, £160. Chv – Torloisk £138; Cailaich £130; Torloisk £108; No 4 Aros, 1 Savary, Braefoot, Barndromin £100; Drumfingal, No4 Aros, Wood Cottage £98; Maam £96; Cailaich £94; Drumfingal, No4 Aros, Torloisk £93; Kengharair £91. BF – Gallanach £90; Turnault £88, £72; Treshnish £66.

LERWICK

At the first breeding sheep sale of the season, 2439 head met a strong demand through Shetland Livestock Marketing Group in conjunction with Aberdeen and Northern Marts, with 1420 whole and broken mouthed ewes averaging £41.84 – up £4.78 on the year.

A full ringside of buyers, combined with buyers purchasing remotely online, saw prices peak at £110 for Cheviot crosses from Roadside.

Leading Prices

Ewes – Chev X – £110 Roadside, North Roe; £108 Reawick Farm, Reawick; £102 Roadside, Nia-Roo, Gott, Delhi, Ollaberry, Gunnister, Uyeasound; £100 East Gate, East Burrafirth, Vindas, Laxfirth, Virdick, Brough, South Lea, Tumblin; £100 Hametoon, East Burrafirth. Tex – £130 Roadside; £128 Solnabrack, Wethersta; £124 Solnabrack; £108 Susetter; £104 Ludi, Bridge End, Nia-Roo, Ruegarth, Baltasound; £100 Susetter, South Lea, Da Yard, Lochend, Serrang, Stromfirth, Ludi, Solnabrack. Suff – £90 Garthsvale, Voe; £86 Susetter; £76 Setter, Bressay. Shet – £64 Swarthoull, Skeld; £63 Newhouse, Unifirth; £61 Verdahill, Twatt; £60 Moustoft, Weisdale; £58 East Gate, Midhouse, Unifirth; £56 Moustoft; £53 Kurkigarth, Weisdale, Verdahill, Midhouse; £50 Moustoft, Verdahill, Westerloch, Burravoe; £49 Verdahill, Clymlea, North Newing; £48 Ludi, Varhjem, Aith.

MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE

Mule ewe lamb averages rose by £44.95 at Harrison and Hetherington’s sale of 1320 head which levelled at £147.54.

More than 300 lambs sold for £160 or more, with the champion pen of 10, from JC and J White, Rigg Farm, selling for a centre record of £300. The reserve pen from C and JC Stephenson, Pikestone made £210, with the third prize winners from HW and MA Alderson and Son, Howgill, selling for £260.

Leading Flock Averages

Farm Average (£)

Howgill Grange 174.50

Pikestone 158.68

Laneside 156.61

Pallet Crag 151.63

Step Ends 148.53

Rigg Farm 147.14

CASTLE DOUGLAS

Blackface gimmers topped Wallets Marts’ sale at Castle Douglas selling to £310 on two occasions from Messrs Hannah, High Balyett and Drannandow Farms, Newton Stewart.

Draft Blackface ewes peaked at £152 from Messrs Ramsay, Milnmark. Ewes averaged £103.34 (+£11.55 on the year) with gimmers cashing in at £183.69 (+£30.72).

Leading Prices

Ewes – £152, £122 Milnmark; £138 Stroangassel; £132 Knockdon; £130, £122 Drannandow; £128 Knockreoch; £128 Craig; £128, £120 Barlaes; £128 Fingland; £125 Glenmanna; £122 Cuil; £120 Blackcraig; £120 Largs; £120 Markdhu.

Gimmers – £310 High Balyett; £310 Drannandow; £235 Lorg; £235, £210 Altry; £230, £200 Largs; £230, £200 Barlaes; £220, £190 Kirkmabreck; £215, £195 Blackcraig; £205 Miltonise; £200, £195 Larg, Creetown; £200 Muil; £195, £190 Chirmorrie; £190 Greenside; £190 Corbiehall

Leading Flock Averages

Farm (No) Top (£) Avg (£)

Draft ewes

Milnmark (65) 152 137.69

Knockdon (20) 132 132.00

Fingland (25) 128 128.00

Drannandow (50) 130 125.20

Cuil (25) 122 122.00

Clanary (22) 120 120.00

Markdhu (19) 120 120.00

Stroangassel (39) 138 118.97

Knockcreoch (71) 128 117.10

Knockycoid (10) 115 115.00

Laghead (20) 115 115.00

Gimmers

Drannandow (6) 310 310.00

High Balyett (10) 310 271.00

Barlaes Altry (42) 235 223.10

Barlaes Lorg (42) 235 219.29

Largs (28) 230 217.14

Barlaes (42) 230 215.71

Kirkmabreck (41) 220 205.37

Larg (46) 200 191.52

Miltonise (22) 205 191.36

Blackcraig (36) 215 190.00

Chirmorrie (34) 195 190.00

Corbiehall (20) 190 190.00

LONGTOWN

Just shy of 7600 breeding sheep were entered for C and D Auction Marts’ main sale, where the champion pen of Mule ewe lambs out of Blackface ewes, sold for £240.

The pen from RW and SD Flintoft, Sourhope, Yetholm, was purchased by Messrs Mitchell, Mirkbooths, Raughton Head.

Judge Mike Kay, Cheshire, awarded the first prize pen of Mule ewe lambs bred from Swaledale ewes to entries from Hugh Montgomerie, Assloss, Kilmarnock, which sold at £155. Ewe lambs averaged £150.40 (+£37.22 up on 2023) .

The second sale of 1314 Cheviot Mule ewe lambs reached £194 from H Douglas and Son, Howahill, Bonchester Bridge, to average £150.52 (+£33.81 on 2023). And 857 continental and other breed ewe lambs sold to £192 for Texel cross Bluefaced Leicesters from Messrs Beard, Dormansteads, Roweltown.

Gimmers (1682) were topped by a pen of Texels at £320 from Downie Farming Co, Newton, Ballater, with 1072 ewes selling to a top of £190 for Texels from LR Howatson, Corrie Mains, Lockerbie.

The small show of shearling rams peaked at £800 for Texel shearlings from Messrs Hewson, Burgh Head, Carlisle.

Leading Prices

Ewe lambs – Mule ex BF – £240 Sourhope; £230 Mouldyhills; £220 Hillbrae; £205 Wanwood Hill; £200 Lawston; £185 Mouldyhills; £180 Sourhope; £178, £175 Hillbrae; £175 Wanwood Hill and Mouldyhills; £172 Wanwood Hill; £172 (x2) Lawston; £172, £170 Penepugh; £170 Mouldyhills. Mule ex Swale – £200, £178, £165 Orthwaite Hall; £170, £155 Mount Farm; £158 Parsonshields; £155 Heathery Knowe, Laverhay and Starrah; £150 Ragithwaite. CHM – £194 Howahill; £190 The Lonning; £188 Bankhead; £182, £180 Bankhead. Tex x BFL – £192, £180 Dormansteads. Tex – £180, £175 Kirkton; £160 Town Farm. Suff X – £182 Town Farm; £172 Douglas Square; £165 Banks Farm and Boreland. BTex – £170 Springwells.

Gimmers – Tex – £320 Newton; £260 Tower Farm; £250, £235, £230 Craigdarroch; £240 Easterhouse. CHM – £225 High House and Lawesknowe; £220 Thornship; £215 Marwhirn; £212 Cassington; £210 Commonside, Swinnie and Dunnabie. Mule – £250 Bank House; £225, £212, £205 Barron House; £225, £215 Bank House; £210 Bayldon. Suff – £240 Longrigg and Branteth; £215 Easterhouses; £200 Allfornaught. Lln – £182, £168, £162 Hyndlee. NCC – £230 Newton.

Ewes – Tex – £190, £162 Corrie Mains; £190 West Bolton; £150 Kirtleside. Mule – £182 Chapel; £175 Bayldon; £170 Kirtleside; £162 Chapel. CHM – £225 Mount Farm; £175 West Bolton; £165 Wedderlie; £162 High Dovecote; £160 Newbank. Lln – £128, £122, £120 High Dovecote.

Shearling rams – Tex – £800, £750 Burgh Head. Suff – £600 Burgh Head.

Ram lambs – Suff – £720, £680 Burgh Head. Tex – £550, £450 Burgh Head.

Leading Flock Averages

Farm (No) Average (£)

Mule ewe lambs

Mouldy Hill (84) 181

Hillbrae (68) 176

Wanwood Hill (75) 170

Penpeugh (28) 170

Lawston (203) 165

Parsonshield (22) 158

Mount Farm (3) 155

Orthwaite Hall (183) 152

Laverhay (27) 152

Greensburn (143) 151

Assloss (40) 151

MORE NEWS | Breeding rams soar to £2400 at Penrith for a Texel

ST BOSWELLS

Texel ewes from Rawburn, led Harrison and Hetherington’s sale of draft ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs, when selling for £220 per head.

Leading Prices

Ewes – Tex – £220 Rawburn; £150 Pennyhill. GF – £180 (3-crop) Crailing Nook; £152 Huntershall; £150 Craigend. Suff – £145 Pennyhill. NCC – £145 (2) Carcant.

Gimmers – CHM – £218 Springhill, Coldingham. NCC – £210 Bowershields; £200 (2) Springhill, Coldingham. SCC – £170 (2) Springhill, Coldingham. Suff – £170 Hardacres.

Ewe lambs – Suff – £180, £178, £170 Blackhill, Coldingham; £170 Marvingston; £165 Blegbie; £162 Blackhill, Coldingham; £160 Blegbie. GF – £175 Wester Dawyck; £172, £168 Burncastle; £152 Haystoun. Tex – £155 Berryhill. CHM – £135 Borthwickshiels. NCC – £112 Carcant.

AYR

Mule gimmers from Messrs Dunlop, Glengennet, topped Craig Wilson’s sale of 1605 breeding sheep when a pen of 19 sold for £220 per head.

Draft Blackface ewes peaked at £105 for two pens from Lagafater Farms, Barnvannoch, with 631 head averaging £92.62 (+£5.60 on the year for 181 more sold).

Blackface gimmers sold to £180 on two occasions – for a pen from Messrs Kay, Knockeen and a pen from Messrs Welsh, Glengonnar, to average £122 (+£3.73 for 74 more).

Cheviot gimmers reached £180 for three pens – two from Messrs Campbell, Brisbane Mains and another from Messrs Miller, Ashrowan.

Leading Prices

Draft ewes – BF – £105 x2 Barnvannoch; £100 South Bank (Arran), Craig, Lochgoin x2 and Pinvalley; £98 x4 Knockdon.

Gimmers – BF – £180 Knockeen and Glengonnar; £160 Linfairn and Glengonnar; £155 Knockeen; £152 Kilmore; £150 Clune; £140 Drannandhu (Arran). Chev – £180 x2 Brisbane Mains, £180 Ashrowan; £175 Brisbane Mains. Mule – £220 Glengennet; £185 Boreland; £172 Kelly Mains.

Ewe lambs – Mule – £148 North Moorhouse; £145 x2 Harplaw and Fechan; £140 Middlepart.

DINGWALL

Texel cross ewes topped Dingwall and Highland Marts’s sale of 3364 breeding and store sheep, when selling for £195 on two occasions from Muirton Mains, Urray.

Correct ewes (1562) averaged £87.94 with broken mouthed entries (592) cashing in at £60.26, having sold to £108 for Cheviots from Dalrachie, Ballindalloch.

Feeding ewes (268) averaged £58.18 and sold to £110 twice for Cheviots from Roneval House, Leverburgh and from 19 Gartymore, Helmsdale.

Cheviots topped the gimmer trade at £215 for a pen from Ard Achaidli, Conon Bridge, with the 685 head averaging £145.60.

Leading Prices

Breeding ewes – Tex X – Muirton Mains, £192, £142. Suff X – Muirton Mains, £172, £150. Chev – 27 Portgower, Helmsdale £148, £130; Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown on Spey, £140; Dalrachie, £140, £138; Suisgill Estate, £125; Pabbay Farm, £120, £118, £115; Achentoul Farm, Edderton, £118; 1Obbe Road, Leverburgh, £110; 43 Swainbost, Isle of Lewis, £110. HB – Muirton Mains, £128, (x2); Clynelish, Brora, £122, £120. Cross – Pabbay Farm, £120.

Broken mouthed ewes – Chev – 6/7 Borve, £98, Oronsay Island, £88; Carnlaggie, £85; Midfearn, £82; Castle Grant Home Farm, £82. Aberf – Clynelish, £92, £80. Mule – Roneval House, £80.

Feeding ewes – Suff X – Pabbay Farm, £108; Midfearn Farms, Ardgay, £78. Chev – Clynelish, £101; 27 Portgower, £90; Rhilochan, £89; 283 Torboll, £85; 2 Peinlich, Glenhinesdale, £83; 191 Muie, £81; Inver Croft, £80; 33 Portgower, £80; 287 Morness, £77; 33 Portgower, £74; 90 Portgower, £74; Kanangra, Helmsdale, £73. Cross – Ose Farm, £90, £88.

Gimmers – Chev – 27 Portgower, £205, £160; Ard Achaidl, £195, £142; Culmaily, Farm, £195; Carnoch, £190, (x2), £165, (x2), £150, (x2), £145; Mossburn, Geise, £170, £165, £160; 4 Moffat Square, Scourie, £168; Rhilochan, £160; Allangrange, £155, £148, £135, (x2); 68 Foindle, Lairg, £152, £142, £140, £138; 43 Swainbost, £150; 207 The Doll, £150; Achentoul Farm, £145, £135. Mule – Mossburn, £190.

STIRLING (CALLY)

All classes of rams and tup lambs met a flying trade with buyers looking to invest quality back into their flocks at Caledonian Marts’ sale of breeding sheep.

Texel shearlings averaged £935 (+£330 on the year) having sold to £1500 from JW Gibb and Son, Rusha, West Calder, while Bluefaced Leicester shearlings sold to £1300 from R Sibbald, Thorn, to level at £795 (+£200).

Beltex and Beltex cross shearlings averaged £655 with top prices of £880 paid twice – for a Beltex cross Texel from R McNee, Woodend, and a pure Beltex from DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill.

Ram lambs peaked at £750 for a Suffolk from J and C Tulloch, Riggfoot, Uplawmoor, with Texels to £620 from F Dandie, Hatton of Carse and Blue Texels to £450 from S Dick, Westerton.

Continental gimmers from Rusha, topped the females at £215.

Leading Prices

Breeding ewes – Cont – £165, Blairgots. BF – £96, £90, £88, £86, Glenturret; £86, £84, Edentaggart.

Gimmers – Cont – £215, Rusha. BF – £130 Aberuchill; £114 Glenturret.

KINTYRE

No fewer than 101 rams were forward for the annual sale of breeding sheep at C and D Auction Marts’ sale at Campeltown, where judge Greg Gillespie awarded the championship to a Bluefaced Leicester shearling from A and J Pirie, Machrihanish, which sold for £1400 to N and F McNaughton, Dalmore, Tayinloan.

Ten four-figure prices were achieved, with a Bluefaced Leicester from D Armour and Son, Kilkeddan, making £1200 to R Millar, Auchaleek and another two from the same home selling for £1000. Kilkeddan sold 11 rams to average £850.

Suffolks sold to £1200 for a shearling from N and F McNaughton purchased by R Millar, High Cattadale, with other Suffolks selling to £1100 and £1000 from Thomas Cameron, Gartvaigh.

Beltex cross Texel shearlings from R and J Lines, Killacraw, reached £1000 twice to average £815 for seven.

The reserve champion and top priced Texel shearling, from N McArthur, Brackley Parks, also sold for £1000. Overall, shearling rams averaged £639 with ram lambs levelling at £364.

The 450 breeding females reached £220 for Mule gimmers from F Lyons, Fernoch and store lambs sold to £101 for Suffolk crosses from High Dalrioch.

Leading Ram Prices

Shearling rams – BFL – £1400, £900, £850 Machranish; £1200, £1000 (x2), £900 (x2), £850, £800, £750, £700 Kilkeddan; £850 Dalmore; £550 Millknowe. Suff – £1200 Dalmore; £1100, £1000, £750 Gartvaigh. Tex – £1000 Brackley Parks; £850 (x2), £700 Machrahanish; £800 Dalmore; £800, £750, £700 Low Knockrioch; £650 Millknowe; £600 Ballywilline. Char – £700, £550, £500 (x2) Stewartfield. Belt X – £1000 (x2), £900, £850, £800, £700, £650 (x2) Killacraw; £850, £800 Machrahanish; £600 (x2) Kildaloig. Chev –£750, £650 Balure. DTex – £600 Low Ranachan.

Ewes – Mule – £120 Brackley Parks. BF – £130, £110, £105 Ifferdale.

Gimmers – Tex – £135 Ballycraggan. Mule – £220, £185 Fernoch; £160 High Tirfergus. BF – £175 Brennanlea; £140 Ballygraggan; £115 High Dalrioch.

Ewe lambs – £118, £112 Brackley Parks; £108 Corran.

LANARK

Some 4040 Blackface ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs entered for Lawrie and Symington’s sale on Tuesday, saw a top price of £800.

Selling at this price was a pen of six draft ewes from John Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk, purchased by Aberuchill Estate, Comrie.

Blackface gimmers sold to £400 for a pen of three from Alastair and David MacArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot, and ewe lambs peaked at £130 from Kirkland Farms, Sanquhar.

Overall, 1278 Blackface ewes averaged £118.65 (+£14 on the year); 621 gimmers levelled at £160.54 (+£31) and 1313 Blackie ewe lambs cashed in at £70.76 (+£9).

In the second ring, an entry of 1327 Mule, Texel and ABE ewes and gimmers passed through the ring, alongside 48 tups. Texel cross ewes from Messrs Fallows, Seathill Farm topped the trade at £182 with shearling rams to £950 for a pure Texel from Messrs Orr, Wester Walston.

Leading Prices

BF ewes – £800 Crossflatt to Aberuchill Estate; £340 Midlock to Newhouse of Glamis; £330 Dalwyne to Waterhead; £300 Whelphill to Largie Blackies; £285 Milnmark to Haspielaw; £270 Blackcriag to The Rushes; £250 Midlock to Overburns; £240 Mitchellslacks to Shankhead; £220 Midlock to Ashcraig; £200 Midlock to Toftholm; £190 Whelphill to Cockrigg; £190 Milnmark to Upper Kidston.

BF gimmers – £400 Nunnerie to Laggan View; £360 Nunnerie to Birthwood; £350 Crossflatt to Lendrick; £340 Greenside to Dalmore; £300 Nunnerie to Woolfords; £260 Midlock to Moss; £240 Nunnerie to Tigh Na Feidh; £230 Upper Wellwood to Williamsfield; £220 Showfield to The Rushes; £210 Showfield to Heol Las; £210 Tinnis to Carterhope; £205 Greenside to Sawerston; £200 Midlock to Culdoach; £195 Nunnerie to Woolfords; £190 Daldowie; £185 Greenside; £180 Midlock; £175 Upper Wellwood; £175 Gosland; 75 Mitchellslacks

BF ewe lambs – £130 Kirkland; £100 Culter Allers; £96, £94 & £92 Cronberry; £90 Eastfield of Coulter; £86 Midtown Cottage, Culter Allers and Cronberry

BF stock ewes – £135, £132, 3130, £125, £122, £112, Messrs Fleming, Cronberry Farm. BF stock gimmers – £135, Cronberry Farm.

Shearling rams – Tex X Belt – £950, £620 (x2), £520, £500 (x3) Wester Walston; £520 Toftcombs, £500 Wintermuir. Belt X Tex – £680, £620, £580, £500 Toftcombs

Ram lambs – Tex – £400, £350, £300 Haughhead

Ring 2 – Ewes – Tex – £182 (x2), £178 Seathill; £170, £155 Kirkton of Crawford; £140 The Firs, The Laithes and Seattor. Suff – £112 The Firs. NCC – £135, £125, £124, £114, £110 (x2) Yardbent; £122 Briaryedge; £115 Duntilland. SMule – £160, £148, £138 Hillhouse. Lln – £138, £135 Dallowie. Belt – £190 The Cheviots.

Ewe lambs – SMule – £165 Dreva; £162, £152 (x2), £148, £145 Kirkhouse; £135 Culter Allers.