Incheoch Wildfire sets on-farm sale alight

Incheoch Wildfire, a top index Texel shearling, sold at the ninth Working Genes on-farm sale for the record price of 3,000gns to joint buyers J Scott and Partners, Fearn, and Jim Logan, Pirntaton, Heriot.

Performance figures in the top 1% of the breed from a grass-only system gave these fellow breeders confidence in this particularly well fleshed ram.

With more Texels forward than before, quality had not been compromised and there was a complete clearance of the 47 shearlings to average £1,097.

Roseberry Estate, Dalmeny, again secured the top priced Lleyn going to 2,800gns for an eyecatching ram with top maternal and carcase figures.

Forty rams from the 1,000-strong Lleyn flock, selected on ewe efficiency and performance traits, averaged £865.

New buyers, encouraged by the confidence of repeat customers, were able to pick rams from all price brackets ranging from 280gns upwards.

Buyers were paying attention to performance figures, many particularly interested in rams showing a genetic resistance to worms.

“This Incheoch sale started nine years ago as a groundbreaking event and has matured into one of the most significant in the country,” said David Brown of United Auctions.

“It was heartening to see sheep sold to Wales, England, Ireland and Caithness, in a sale underpinned by a very strong commercial trade.

“These sheep are obviously working for those who have bought over the years.”

The sale was held on Thursday by auction in traditional farm buildings at the bottom of Glenisla, Perthshire, where a large ringside crowd included lots of local buyers as well as those from a distance, many of them repeat customers.

Overall 87 shearling rams averaged £990 (+£25 for 13 more sold).