Blackface ram sale topped with £100,000 bid

Nine five-figure prices and a magical £100,000 bid were the highlights of United Auctions’ Blackface ram sale at Dalmally, where overall averages held up well following last year’s recordbreaking event.

With the 2015 event witnessing sheep from Ian Hunter, Dalchirla, selling for £160,000 and £62,000, keeping up with sale averages was never going to be easy.

However, an abundance of new buyers and a cracking show of sheep saw shearling averages rise almost £50 per head and for 18 more sold.

Overall, 525 shearling rams averaged £791.66 against 507 at £746 in 2015, while the 164 ram lambs sold cashed in at £2,033 compared to £2,274 for the same number.

Setting the trade alight this year at £100,000 was a lamb from Willie Dunlop and sons Quintin and William’s Elmscleugh consignment, from Innerwick, Dunbar. A son of a £20,000 Midlock, out of a ewe by a £12,000 Gass, he sold to breeders Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie; Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth; Alastair and David Macarthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot; Allan Wight, Midlock, Crawford; Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn; and John Murray, Crossflatt, both Muirkirk.

The Dunlops also received £25,000 for their second lamb, bought by neighbouring breeders John Hamilton of Aitkengall and Hector Macaskill, both Innerwick, and Peter McDiarmid, Shenlarich, Lawers, Aberfeldy.

Sons of last year’s record-priced £160,000 Dalchirla ram lamb also proved popular with sales at £18,000, £16,000 and £12,000 from John Murray, Crossflatt.

The dearest, was bought by a quintet of breeders: Rory Kerr, Drymen; Midlock; Dyke; Duncan MacGregor, Burnhead, Kilsyth; and James Cullens, Dollarbank, Dollar.

Crossflatt’s first lamb made £15,000 selling to Richard Carruthers of Merkland, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire; his brother John Carruthers, Silloans, Rochester; David Murray, Lurgan, Aberfeldy; and Willie and Andrew Walker, Crammie, Glen Prosen.

The £12,000 lamb sold to Ian Hunter, Dalchirla, Muthill; Robert Cockburn, Hill of Errol, Errol; and Troloss Farms, Elvanfoot, managed by Joe Cockburn.

Fellow Muirkirk breeders, Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, also enjoyed a great trade for £160,000 sons, taking £12,000 from John Murray, Crossflatt.

Hugh’s brother Jim, from Dalblair, Muirkirk, achieved a personal best, too, taking £13,000 from Billy MacFarlane and sons Joe and Alfie, Drumgrange, Patna. The sire is a £5,200 Allanfauld.

The last of the five-figure priced lambs came from Iain McArthur and son David, Arnicle, Campbeltown, which made £10,000, selling to Donald MacVicar, Lephinchapel, Strachur and Robert Hamilton, Laigh Balernock, Helensburgh.

Two shearling rams secured fivefigure prices with the dearest at £21,000 from Duncan MacGregor, Burnhead, Kilsyth, selling to Ewen Macmillan, Lurg, Fintry; Ian Hunter, Dalchirla; and Tay & Torridan Estates, North Amulree, Dunkeld.

Lurg received £16,000 for his first shearling, from North Amulree and Mary McCall Smith, Connachan, Crieff.

Setting the trade alight at the Dalmally sale: the £100,000 Blackface.