Suckled calves and store cattle sold at Islay fortnightly sale

Caledonian Marts had forward 801 suckled calves and store cattle at their fortnightly sale.

All classes of cattle would be dearer selling to the largest ringside of buyers this autumn.

Bullocks averaged 204ppkg selling to 393p for a Limousin from Gary Bell, Haasside, Lockerbie and to £1,240 for Sim X from H A Laird and Son, Auchmuir, Leslie.

Heifers averaged 195p selling to 397p for a Limousin from Haasside and to £1,450 for the same animal.

Black and white bullocks averaged 132p selling to 145p from A H Drummond, Glenside, Stranraer and to £850 from the same home.

The show prior to the sale was kindly sponsored by JRM Engineering, and ably judged by Alan Pettigrew, Faskine, Airdrie and the following were his awards:

Champion – a spring born Limousin Heifer from Gary Bell, Haasside, Lockerbie which realised £1,450.

Reserve Champion – a spring born Limousin Bullock again from Haasside which realised £1,200.

Champion pen of four bullocks - (Autumn born) W and T Nelson, High Kilphin, Ballantrae scaled 526kg and made £1,190.

Champion pen of four heifers - (Autumn born) M L Wilson, Baluskie, Barrhill making £1,100, £1,080 and £1,000.

Other leading prices: Bullocks per head - £1,240 Auchmuir; £1,200 Haasside; £1,190 High Kilphin and Auchmuir; £1,180 Auchmuir; £1,150 Baluskie and Haasside; £1,140 Haddockston; £1,130 Ardacheranmore and Auchmuir; £1,120 High Kilphin; £1,110 Hillcrest, Alton Muirhouse, Baluskie and Woodcockdale;

Heifers per head - £1,300 Haasside; £1,100 Blairmains and Baluskie; £1,080 Baluskie; £1,040 Hill O Harthill; £1,020 Priestside and Glenside; £1,010 Hill O Harthill; £1,000 Baluskie and Hill O Harthill.

Bullocks per kg - 387p, 383p 301p and 295p Haasside; 278p, 275p Murrayshall; 251p High Kilphin and Baluskie; 250p Baluskie and Murrayshall; 246p and 244p Taylorton; 235p Wester Crosshill.

Heifers per kg - 382p and 254p Haasside; 245p and 238p Murrayshall; 235p Ardacheranmore; 229p Baluskie; 220p High Kilphin.

Also sold were 2,399 store lambs and feeding ewes. All classes of lambs slightly easier on the week, selling to £68 for a pen of Texel lambs from Scott Cowan, Spinkhill.

Leading Lamb prices -Suffolk £66 Shannochill House; Beltex £64 Meikle Seggie; Hampshire Down £62 Lathro; Continental £61 Ballinkinrain; Texel X £61 Westside; Texel £59 Easter Dullatur; Cheviot £58 Coul Estates; Mule £56.50 Lathro; BF £50 Coul Estates.

Feeding ewe leading prices Cheviot £48 Wester Culbowie; Texel £46 Borlick; Mule £45 Culbhuirg (Isle of Iona); BF £40 Coul Estates; Cheviot £38 Astel.

Caledonian Marts LTD, held on Tuesday October 2, sold 1,835 prime lambs, ewes and tups.

All classes of lambs easier on the week with well fleshed lambs selling between 160p-175p depending on weight and type.

Overall average for 1035 lambs was 159.7p, which is -6p on the week.

Top price of the day went to Ian Campbell, Meikle Seggie at 213ppkg for a cracking pen of Beltex lambs at 40kg.

Top price per head went to Doune Farms, West Lundie at £94 (three times).

Lambs prices per head - Beltex £93 West Lundie; Beltex X £91 Mains of Strageath; Continental £90 Pett; Suffolk £85.50 Kinninmonth; Aberfield £79 Woodend;

Lambs prices per kg - Beltex 204p and 200p Meikle Seggie; Beltex X 192p West Lundie; Continental 190p Wester Kepdowrie; Suffolk 165p Parks of Aldie; Aberfield 160p Woodend; BF (Tups) 139p Braeleny

Also forward were 802 cast ewes and tups.

Following the national trend, all classes were easier on the week, although a very plain show of unfinished ewes were forward. Heavy Ewes sold to £95 for a Texel from JAC Stewart, Kinninmonth, Ceres.

Other leading prices - Texel - £80 West Carrabus; £78 Kinninmonth. BF - £48 Pringle Farming; £35 Neriby (Islay) and Redhall. Chev - £46 Easterton. Cross - £55 Greencraig. Mule - £58 Greencraig; £56 Redhall; Tups sold to £78 for a Texel from P J Laidlaw, Craigannet, Carron Bridge.