Strong sales see Suffolk ram lambs hit top price of 40,000 guineas

Suffolk ram lambs met with a flying trade at yesterday’s Scottish area sale, with a top price of 40,000gns, nine five-figure prices and a new record average price of £ 2,841.87, up £722 on the year.

The overall champion from Northern Irish breeder, Mark Priestly’s Limestone flock had the audience on its feet when the price climbed to the 40,000 gns figure. Selling to a three-way split, this son of Strathbogie Its A Kind of Magic saw Priestly retain a third share, with Andrew Wilson, Castleisle, Shannagh and the Mclaughlin family, also from Ireland pitching in.

United Auction’s managing director, George Purves, said that there had been very strong demand for top level pedigree sires with the all-round excellent show seeing consignments going as far afield as Belgium - as well as to Ireland, the South of England and the North of Scotland and all point sin between.

Five other tup lambs broke the 20,000 gns mark, with Aberdeenshire breeders, George and Melvin Stuart, from Milltown of Birness, Ellon selling to the dys second top price of 30,000gns, this one going to stephen sufferin, crewelands, Northern Ireland.

Glenrothes breeder, Stewart Lathangie saw his Pystone flock top at 24,000 gns to Stephen Cobbold who is re-establishing his Suffolk flock in the breed’s home county. James Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly saw his Strahbogie flock top at 22,00 gns, selling in a split deal to Fife breeder, Stewart Craft, Dumfries breeders Iain and Judith Barbour and Welsh breeder, Paul Delves.