A Blackface shearling ram from Colin and Angus McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, topped the breed sale at Ayr, when selling for £11,000.

The tup, a son of a £9000 Elmscleugh is out of a ewe by an £8000 Chirmorrie and sold jointly to Gerard McGinn, Chirmorrie, Barrhill and the Mitchell family, Little Larg and Cairnerzean, New Luce, Stranraer.

David Ferguson and Jim McEwan of Drannandow Farms, Newton Stewart, produced the second highest priced shearling at £7000 selling to Danny Hair, Drumbreddan, and Norman Hurcomb, Barnvannoch, both New Luce. Their No 3 ram is by a Gass son of a £48,000 Midlock, used on loan.

First time consignor, Craig Paterson, who manages the Blackface sheep at Aberuchill Estate, Comrie, had the best day when he topped the lambs at £8000. A son of an £18,000 Allanfauld tup, he was knocked down to David Ferguson, Drannandow. The dam is by a £12,000 Nunnerie.

Just behind, on £7000 John Murray, Crossflatt, sold his No 2 lamb to Gerard McGinn, Chirmorrie. His is sired by Titan, a home-bred son of a £160,000 Dyke retained for breeding and out of a ewe by a £32,000 Dalchirla.

Averages: 150 shearling rams, £1496.66 (-£53.28); 29 ram lambs, £1626.89 (-£1226.74).

For full report and pictures see next week's Scottish Farmer