Around the markets

ON THURSDAY August 24 Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd sold 13,469 store lambs at its annual Dingwall sale.

Cheviot wedder lambs (7,411) averaged £42.62 (-£5.53 on the year) and sold to £72.00 gross from Burnbank, Isle of Canna. Cheviot ewe lambs (1,665) averaged £43.72 (-£2.67 on the year) and sold to £88.00 gross from 186 Migdale, Bonar Bridge.

Cross lambs (4,393) averaged £52.55 (-£1.08 on the year) and sold to £77.50 gross for Texel crosses from Beallachnagore Farm, Strathpeffer.

In the cheviot section only the tops that were looking as good as last year matched last week’s price. Second and third draw lambs were more difficult to cash. Cross lambs met a good demand with tight skinned and fleshy types selling particularly well.

Other leading prices per head and per area Mid Sutherland: Cheviot wedder lambs – Midfearn Farms, Ardgay, £59.50, Wester Fearn, Ardgay, £59, Humpton, Spinningdale, £57; Cheviot ewe lambs – Wester Fearn, Ardgay, £72; TexX – 12 Airdens, Bonar Bridge, £63.50.

Skye and Outer Isles: Cheviot wedder lambs – 5 Harlosh, Dunvegan, £58, Isle of Canna, Canna, £57, Uiginish Farm, Dunvegan, £56.50; Cheviot ewe lambs – Burnbank, Isle of Canna, £72, 5 Mill Park, Isle of Raasay, £53.50, Gesto Farm, Struan, £48; Cross

– The Millcroft, Claddach Kyle, £64.50; TexX – 25 Fasach, Glendale, £62. Caithness: Cheviot wedder lambs – Stonecroft, Thrumster, £58.50; Cheviot ewe lambs – Knockinnon, Dunbeath, £78; TexX – Guidebest, Latheron & Weydale Mains, Thurso, £63.

East Sutherland: Cheviot wedder lambs – Carrol farm, Brora, £58, 185 Migdale, Bonar Bridge, £55.50, Braelangwell Farm, Ardgay & Milton Muie, Rogart £55; Cheviot ewe lambs – Carrol Farm, £64; SuffX – Culmaily Farm, Golspie, £65.50.

West Sutherland: Cheviot wedder lambs – Saluscraggie, Helmsdale, £55; Cheviot ewe lambs – Saluscraggie, £53; TexX – Carnich, Gruids, £69.50.

Inverness and South: Cheviot wedder lambs – Tullyglens, Dunphail, £63, Erchite, Dores & Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown on Spey £59; Cheviot ewe lambs – Lynemore Farm, Grantown on Spey, £64, West View, Inverness, £57; BeltX – Tullyglens, £72; SuffX – Strone Cottage, Newtonmore, £63.50.

Ross shire and Black Isle: Cheviot wedder lambs – Kintail, Newton of Ferintosh, £56, Pithogarty, Tain, £55, Comar, Cannich, £54; Cheviot ewe lambs – Auchmore Farm, Muir of Ord, £54, Kirksheaf, Tain, £48; TexX – Beallachnagore Farm, £76; BeltX – Lower Geanies, Fearn, £72.50; Cross – Bogallan, North Kessock, £63; CharX – Craiglea Croft, Duncanston, £61.50.

Wester Ross: Cheviot wedder lambs – Aird, Shieldaig, £60, 13 Kirkton Gardens, Lochcarron, £55.50, Inverpolly, Ullapool, £55; Cheviot ewe lambs – Achnaclerach, Garve, £54; TexX – 13 Kirkton Gardens & Keppoch Farm, Dundonnell, £64.50. United Auctions, Stirling, Saturday August 26, had catalogue entry, with 4,911 Scotch Mule, TexX & SuffX gimmers sponsored by British Wool and ably judges by S Rodger, Firth Mains.

The championship was won by M/s McKenzie, Ardgate and purchased by SRUC Oatridge. Overall average £130.62 (+£7.14) on the year.

Prize List

1 M/s McKenzie, Ardgate £148

2 Drimsynie Est £145

3 M/s Paterson, East Dykes £142

4 M/s Milne, Kinaldy £152

5 Miss H Gray, Tomfyne £150 Averages

Acc Scotch Mule Gimmers £141.80 (+£11.77) on the year;

Non Acc Scotch Mule Gimmers £128.56 (6.31) on the year;

Suffolk Cross Gimmers £132.94 (+£5.77) on the year;

Texel Cross Gimmers £136.90 (+23.15) on the year.

On Friday August 25, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd sold 101 rams at its sixth annual ‘Great from Grass’ on farm sale of rams at Fearn Farm, Tain, on behalf of Messrs J Scott & Partners.

A great show of shearlings on offer met a stronger demand than the year before, with all rams finding a new home.

Texel shearlings (34) averaged £822.44 and sold to 1,250 guineas thrice; New Zealand Suffolk shearlings (24) averaged £815.94 and sold to 1050 guineas; Beltex & Beltex x Suffolk shearlings (5) averaged £504 and sold to 550 guineas twice; Aberfield shearlings (38) averaged £860.72 and sold to 1,300 guineas twice.

Other leading prices per head in guineas Texel shearlings – 1150g, 1050g, 1000g; NZ Suffolk shearlings – 950g (thrice), 900g (4 times), 850g (twice); Beltex shearlings – 450g (twice), 400g; Aberfield shearlings – 1200g, 1150g, 1100g (4 times).

Dalmally Auction Mart, Saturday August 26. United Auctions held its second sale of all classes’ lambs and sheep. With an increased entry on the year, 4,705 head was sold. A good show of quality lambs were on offer, consisting mainly of smaller long keeping types. A good ringside of buyers was present from across the country. PRINCIPAL LOTS & PRICES

TOP PRICES PER HEAD LAMBS

SUFFx:

£64.00 – Crinan : £62.00 – Kiloran Farmers, Colonsay.

BELTx:

£63.50 – Ichrachan.

TEXx:

£75.00 – Bonawe Home Farm : £72.00 – Ormsary Farmers : £67.00 – 2 Bonawe Croft : £65.50 – Stonefield Farms : £65.00 – Inchgarth Farm : £61.50 – Brackley Parks : £60.50 – Tullochcan & Clachan Farm. CHEVx:

£77.50 – Ormsary Farmers : £68.00 – 2 Bonawe Croft.

CROSS

£56.00 – Kilchattan, Colonsay : £54.00 – Ardsheal Farm & 14 Cleat, Barra. MULE

£61.00 – Maam Farm.

BF

£50.50 – Blarmafoldach : £48.00 – 83 Borve, Barra : £47.00 – Stroneskar : £46.00 – Garrogie Estates & Littleport : £44.50 – Ederline Estate : £43.50 – Castles Estate : £40.50 – Homefield Croft, Colonsay. EWES

TEXx:

£58.00 – 2 Bonawe Croft.

CHEVx:

£69.00 – Bonawe Home Farm CROSS

£40.00 – Bonawe Home Farm

BF

£52.00 – Garrogie Estate. WEDDERS

CHEVx:

£42.00 – Ichrachan.

BF

£48.00 - Garrogie Estate.

CAST RAMS

CHEV

£86.00 – 2 Bonawe Croft.

CROSS

£64.00 – Garoggie Estate.

TOP PRICES PER KILO

LAMBS

SUFFx:

183p & 174p – Kiloran Farmers, Colonsay : 173p – Barbreck : 171p – Strathoich. BELTx:

207p – Succoth Ardeonaig.

TEXx:

207p – Barbreck, Lochgilphead : 196p – Barguillean : 188p – Slatich : 184p – Inchgarth & Garvachy : 183p – Ederline Estate & Barbreck Lochgilphead : 181p – Brackley Parks : 180p – High Balantyre : 179p – Barbreck Lochgilphead : 178p – Tullochcan : 176p – 2 Bonawe Croft : 175p – Garvachy : 174p – Tullochcan : 173p – Stonefield Farm & Ormsary Farmers : 172p – Inchgarth, Garvachy & Keppochan : 171p – Ederline Estate, Stonefield Farm, Tullochcan & Slatich.

CHEVx:

180p & 179p – Strathoich : 175p – Machrins : 172p – Keppochan, Gallachoille & Machrins Farm : 170p – 2 Bonawe Croft. CROSS

164p – Balnahard, Colonsay : 163p – Ardsheal Farm & Bonawe Home Farm. MULE

159p & 157p – Ormsary Farmers.

BF

161p – Garrogie Estate : 157p – Stroneskar.

United Auction held its annual show and sale of suckled calves at Islay Auction Mart on Friday August 25.

An excellent selection of quality bred stock was presented to a large following of mainland buyers. Bullocks sold to average £978.01 per head or 253.3 per kilo against £905.52 or 235.3 last year whilst heifers levelled out at £882.80 per head or 237.6 against £844.84 and 230.4 last year. Judging the various classes prior to the sale was in the capable hands of Mr. J Cowie, Nicolson Park, Fordyce and the following were his awards. Bullock Calf: 1 & 2 Blackrock: 3 Ardbeg. Heifer Calf: 1 Starchmill: 2 Ardbeg. Champion calf & William A Low Memorial Trophy: Blackrock – Bullock – £1,320 (313pence per kilo) to G McFadzean, Woodhead of Mailer. Reserve Champion – Starchmill – Heifer.

The firm also sold the dispersal of cows with calf on behalf of the late Angus MacLugash, Blackpark which sold to £2100.00.

For full report around all the marts, visit www. obantimes.co.uk