Around the markets
Dalmally – United Auctions held its annual breeding sheep sale at Dalmally auction mart on Friday September 21 when 7,747 sheep of all classes were sold. Blackface ewe lambs lacked condition and size. All other sections were shown in good bloom and sold at levels satisfactory to consignors. Despite an excellent ringside of buyers in attendance, prices failed to reach last year’s levels in most sections, this being a reflection on the present shortage of cash throughout the whole farming sector. The following are the averages obtained on the day. Blackface ewe lambs £45.82 (- £8.95). Cross bred ewe lambs £58.01 (+ £7.96). Blackface gimmers £83.10 (-£14.20). Cross bred gimmers £87.48 (-£9.38). Blackface ewes £46.31 (-£1.74). Cross bred ewes £47.86 (+£2.02). The stud sheep offered for sale drew interest from all over the country with M/s Jackson, Pole, leading the prices with a pen of Blackface gimmers selling to £1,000 per head to Fletcher Farming, Laigh Hatton.
Ewe lambs:
BF: £130 – Mill Park: £90 – Crammie: £78 – Acharonich: £75 – Crammie: £70 – Lurgan: £70 – Burnbank (Oban): £70 – Drumachar: £70 - Mill Park: £70 – Crammie: £70 – Tay and Torridon Estate: £70 – Kenknock .
MULE: £90 and £78 – Duallin: £75 – Pitcastle Estate: £75 – Saulmore: £65 – Culbhuirg, Iona. TEXx: £60 – Stonefield Farms. CHEV: £62 – Kilchoan. CROSS: £52 and £51
– Balnahard.
Gimmers:
BF (Studd): £1,000 – Pole Farm: £550 and £480 – Dalchirla: £450 – Tay and Torridon Estates: £390 – Lephinchapel: £350 and £320 – Dalchirla: £300 – Arnicle: £280 – Lephinchapel: £260 – Pole Farm: £250 – Arnicle: £250 – Lephinchapel: £190 – Nunnerie: £138 – Lephinchapel. BF (Commercial): £110 – Littleport: £108 – Tearman: £105 – Balliemeanoch: £100 – Laigh Balernock: £100 – Acharonich: £98 – Glenkiln: £98 – Auldallan: £95 – Pole: £95 – 20 Achnamarra: £95 – Invernahyle: £95 – Achalic Farm: £95 – Littleport (Ardveich): £95 – Balliemeanach. SWALE: Cross £80 – Achalic. MULE: £135 – Achalic: £122 – Culbhuirg, Iona: £110 – Achalic: £108 – Tullich Croft: £102 – Dall. CHEV: £100 – Cour Grazings. Ewes:
BF: £580 – Pole Farm: £200 – Arnicle: £140 – Balliemeanoch: £125 – Tay and Torridon Estates: £102 – Crammie: £82 – Barbreck (Neish): £82 – Croft 1 Fanmore: £80 – Gobagrennan: £80 – Crosshill: £80 – Pole: £78 – Gobagrennan: £75 – Antuim: £72 – Gobagrennan: £70 – Crosshill: £65 – Burnbank Oban: £65 – Balliemeanoch: £64 – Tullochcan: £62 – Littleport: £62 – Littleport (Ardveich): £60 – Maam: £58 – Luss Estate: £58 – Antuim, Mull: £55 – Luss Estate: £55 – Garraron and Melfort Farms: £55 – Croft 1 Fanmore, Mull: £55 – Pitcastle: £55 – Littleport: £55 – Roromore: £54 – Corrylorn; £54 – Bragleenmore.
CHEV: £60 and £58 – Maam: £50 – Keppochan: £50 – Machrins : £50 – Strathoich: £50 – Blackmount. MULE: £45 – Kilchoan.
Oban – United Auctions sold 3,199 lambs and sheep at Oban Livestock Centre on Tuesday September 18. A mixed show of smaller lambs were on offer and sold to level out at £33.29 recording a rise of £2.73 on the year. Lambs from Killiechronan, Mull, sold to £64 whilst ewes from Drumfingal, Mull, sold to £62. A small show of cattle was led by Simmental bullocks from Sorrisdale, Coll, realising £915 per head.
Principal lots and prices: Lambs:
SUFFx: £64.00 – Killiechronan: £59.00 – Tyree: £57.50 – Strongorm.
TEXx: £55.50 – Knock Farm: £55.50 – Baligrundle No2: £55.50 – Strongorm: £55.50 – Baleveolan.
CHEV: £55.00 – Rhu-Ard: £52.50 – Croig. CROSS: £50.00 – Strongorm. MULE: £52.50 – Balnagown. BF: £39.50 – Ardnamurchan Estate: £36.00 – Ardachy: £35.00 – Tyree: £35.00 – Achinduin. Ewes:
TEXx: £60.00 – Balnagown: £54.00 – Achnabreac. CHEV: £62.00 – Drumfingal. CROSS: £55.00 – Ricruin: £50.00 – Baligrundle 2: £50.00 – Frackersaig.
BF: £54.00 – Glenmore: £41.00 – Blarachouriunn.
SIMx BULLOCKS: £915 and £785(2) – Sorrisdale, Coll: £650 – Ardencaple: £605 – Sorrisdale. SIMx HEIFERS: £540(2) – Ardencaple.
Fort William – Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd on Friday September 21 sold 2,840 store sheep of all classes. Lambs (2,346) sold to £66 gross for a Cross lamb from South Laggan, Spean Bridge. Feeding sheep (494) sold to £82 gross for a pen of Lleyn gimmers from Tign An Uilt, Kilchoan.
Other leading prices per head: Store lambs: Chev – Glengarsk, Arisaig, £64, South Laggan, £53, Annbank, Kilchoan, £49.50; LlyX – Tign An Uilt, £62, Traigh Farm, Arisaig, £47, 1 Kinlocheil, Fort William, £40.50; TexX – Glendoe Estate, Fort Augustus, £61.50, Duror, Glenelg, £56, 7 South Laggan, Spean Bridge, £53; BF – 5 Aird, Ardvasar, £58, 4 Aird, Ardvasar, £50.50, 16 Moss, Acharacle, £45; Cross – Insh Farm, Spean Bridge, £57, Glengarsk, £56.50, 4 Aird, £47; Mule – Glendoe Estate, £54; SuffX – Market Stance, Fort Augustus, £46; CharX – Sanna, Kilchoan, £46. Feeding sheep: Chev ewe – 13 Calgarry, Ardvasar, £60, Traigh Farm, Arisaig, £49, Inverailort Estate, £46;
BF ewe – Traigh Farm, £54; TexX ewe – Myrtle Moss Croft, Strontian, £40.