Blackface rams subject of strong demand at Lanark
Despite the background of huge uncertainty in the livestock industry, Blackface rams met a strong trade at the annual twoday sale at Lanark, with lambs selling to £150,000 and shearlings to £100,000. Shearling rams achieved a record average and record top price, with 241 selling through Ring 1, to average £3125, an increase of £845 on the year. Best price there was £100,000, for one from Alastair and David Macarthur, Nunnerie, Biggar, who sold a lamb for the same price back in 2014.
Surpassing the breed’s previous top for a shearling of £90,000, paid for one from Dalchirla in 2010, this son of a £6000 Elmscleugh, sold to the Campbell family at Glenrath, Peebles.
Lawrie and Symington auctioneer, Archie Hamilton, said that shearlings were noticeably better in quality, which accounted for the boost in prices:
“They have more size and better skins, which is what the commercial buyers are wanting – it’s the end product that’s important. The lamb trade, however, was definitely more of a breeders’ market, with the bottom end far harder to sell,” he said.
A total of 15 shearlings sold at five-figure prices, with the second top being £38,000 from Donald and Jimmy Macgregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie. It went in a four-way split, to the Grahams at Craigdarroch, Sanquhar; the Marshalls at Gosland, Biggar; John and Richard Wood, Kingledores, Biggar and Matthewhamilton,southcobbinshaw, West Calder.
The second day of the sale saw a 17 lambs reach fivefigures, although overall trade was back by £485 per head on the year.
Leading the way at a phenomenal £150,000, was one from Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk, who also sold others at £35,000 and £22,000. The pen leader is a son of the £160,000 Elmscleugh lamb bought by Auldhouseburn and Glenrath at Lanark last year. He sold to John Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk, and Paul Coulson, High Staward, Hexham, who paid £50,000 apiece, with the Blackwoods retaining a third share.
John Murray had himself enjoyed a tremendous trade earlier in the day, with lambs from his Crossflatt consignment selling up to £38,000 and £35,000, to average £20,400 for five.
AVERAGES
● Ring 1: 241 shearlings sold to average £3125.73 (+£845.58 for 26 fewer sold).
● Ring 2: 214 shearlings levelled out at £431.21 (-£70.13 for 3 fewer sold). Lambs - 152 lambs, £5075 (-£485.58 for three fewer sold).