'Big, bulldozers of tups' meet animated demand at Dingwall Mart as stud gimmers attract 'ferocious frenzy of bidding'
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DINGWALL and Highland Marts sold 182 rams at its annual show and sale of blackface rams sponsored by HBS Ring Limited and judged by Mr F McIntyre, Dunallister Estate.
The overall champion was a shearling from Messrs. J Shearer, Croughly Farm, Tomintual realising £1000.
The Reserve Champion award went to second place shearling from R. Flett, Crackaig Blackies, Blackpark Croft realising £500.
Shearlings (151) sold to £2,100 from Clashnoir, Glenlivet.
Aged Tups (24) sold to £2,000 from Abersky, Torness.
Ram Lambs (7) sold to £550 from Crackaig Blackies, Blackpark Croft.
The verdict: “An increased entry of blackface rams greeted a ring full to capacity of buyers. Big, bulldozers of tups met an animated demand. Overall, a sharp trade was had, very much comparable on the year despite no signature '£10,000' being in the pens."
Other leading prices per head:
Shearlings – Achdregnie, Glenlivet, £1,600, £1,20 & £1,100 (Twice), Clashnoir, £1,500 (Twice) & £1,100, Abersky, £1,200 (Twice) & £1,100, Belnoe, Glenlivet, £1,100, Glenrinnes Farms Ltd, Dufftown, £1,100 Midlock Farm, Biggar, £1,100 SwaleX - Milton Farm, Aberarder, £1,100.
Aged Tups – Braes of Ardeonaig, Killin, £1,000 (Twice), £900, £800 & £750, Tulloch Farm, Dingwall, £600, Downie Farming Company, Newton of Crathie, £520, Croughly Farm, £500.
Ram Lambs – Crackaig Blackies, £500.
Also sold were 2844 store sheep at the sale of blackface and cross ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs.
Ewe lambs (232) averaged £58.87 and sold to £100 for a pen of Blackfaces from 17B Habost, Ness, Isle of Lewis.
Store Lambs (101) sold to £63 gross for a Blackface from Auchnafearn, Grantown on Spey.
Ewes (1,581) averaged £45.61 and sold to £102 gross from Tigh N’Ulaidh, Tomatin.
Gimmers (579) averaged £116.07 and sold to £550 gross from Midlock Farm, Crawford.
Breeding Ram (1) sold to £750 for a Blue Face Leicester from Downie Farming Company, Newton of Crathie.
Feeding Sheep (350) sold to £148 gross for a pair of Texel Ewes from Kilmaluag House, Duntulm.
The verdict: “Buyers were very selective amongst the blackface females this year. Anything with size and a good skin was keenly bid for, however ewes that have had a tough life out on the hill proved hard to cash.
"The signature lots of stud gimmers met a fierce enquiry and were privy to a ferocious frenzy of bidding setting a new centre record of £550 for a pair of beauties from regular consignors, Messrs Wight, Midlock Farm.
Other leading prices per head:
Ewe Lambs: BF – Tigh N’Ulaidh, £84 & £80, Glenbuchat Estate, Strathdon, £70 & £60, Croft Na Garn, Boat of Garten, £68, Achnabat, Torness, £68 &£60.
Ewes: BF – Torrish Farm, Helmsdale, £100 & £88, Keeper’s Cottage, Corrybrough, £100 & £64, 3 Badluarach,
Dundonnell, £85, £80 &£62, Durran Mains, Thurso, £82 & £70, Talisker Estate, Perth, £80, Auchnafearn, £80 & £67, Mullingarroch Steading, Boat of Garten, £70, Glenrinnes Farms Ltd, Keith, £68, Rumsdale, Halkirk, £65, 20 Borve, Skeabost Bridge, £63, Braebost Farms, Edinbane, £60; SuffX – Breackachy, Laggan, £100, Balmeanach, Struan, £64.
Gimmers: BF – Midlock Farm, £520, Crackaig Blackies, Blackpark Croft, £280 & £200, 20 South Bragar, Isle of Lewis, £260, Achnabat, £150, £145, £130 & £125, Keeper’s Cottage, £150 & £122, Torrish Farm, £135, Ballindalloch Home Farms, £130 & £128, Mill of Towie Farm, Drummuir, £128, 5 Totarder, Struan, £128; SwaleX – Mill of Towie Farm, £131 & £120 (Twice).
