Shearlings in demand at sale of North-type Blackface rams

North-type Blackface breeders enjoyed a steady trade at the Perth Ram Society show and sale at United Auctions, Stirling, with more sold on the year.

While lamb averages were back on 2017’s sale – mainly due to there being an £18,000 lamb last year – shearling averages were up, with the majority of top prices coming from that section.

Leading the way, at £10,000, was one from Tom and Mairi Paterson’s Crieff-based Craigneich flock – a son of the £10,000 Auchnacloich ram which stood champion at the breed’s National Show in 2017.

Out of a ewe by a £4,500 Woolfords sire, he sold to Billy Grant, Cloughfin, Clonmany, Co Donegal.

Matthew Hamilton’s Woolfords pen, from Cobbinshaw, West Calder, produced £9,000 and £7,500 sales.

The dearer of the two, a son of a 6,500gns Harkin tup, sold in a two-way split to M McAleer, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone, and O McAvoy, Kilco, Newry.

At £7,500, a shearling son of a £200 Conway lamb, out of a daughter of a £4,500 Woolfords, sold to Conway Bros, Plumbridge, Northern Ireland. That one was champion at the pre-sale show.

Matching that £7,500 price tag, Archie MacKinnon, of Cadogan Estates, Dunkeld, sold an Auchnacloich shearling to Mark Smyth, Shields, Coleraine, and Tom and Sam Adam, Co Antrim.

Topping the lamb trade, at £8,000, was one from the Woolfords team, sired by a son of a £2,500 Bomakelloch and out of a ewe by a 6,500gns Harkin. He sold jointly to Haughton and Doldy Farms, Glenisla.

John Shearer and sons, Gavin and Neil, of Hillhead of Morinsh, Glenlivet, sold lambs at £5,000 and £4,800.

Dearer of the two – sired by a lamb that they sold for £7,000 in 2013 and bought back again last year – out of a ewe by a £3,500 Andy Hunterbred ram, sold to Tom and Mairi Paterson.

The other, at £4,800, is by a £1,000 Martin Conway ram and sold to Achdregnie and Calla.

North-type averages – 155 shearling rams, £945.29 (+£25.29 on the year, for 10 more sold); 65 ram lambs, £722.15 (-£218.85 for 21 more sold).

The overall champion at the Perth Ram Society show and sale, left, from Calla, and the reserve champion from Woolfords, with judges and sponsors.