Trade at the first ram lamb sale of the season in Edinburgh yesterday was decidedly mixed.
Suffolk Sheep Society chief executive Lewis McClinton was, however, far from despondent at the 69% clearance, saying the 54 breed rams that went unsold would reappear at other auctions in the coming months.
Breed president Ronnie Black, of Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, said the use of other breeds had lowered the demand for Suffolks. He too said it may be the last sale in Edinburgh. But the average at £1,929.38 for 122 traded spoke volumes for an entry not viewed as vintage. Last year’s average was £2,136 for 154. In 2008, it was £2,407 for 156.
Top price at 20,000gn was paid by the Turriff partnership of Robbie Wilson and Charles and Kevin Proctor for the reserve champion, by Cairness Carbon and out of a ewe by Strathisla Sinatra, from Steven and Louise Buckley, of Sittinglow Farm, Dove Holes, Derbyshire.
Mr Wilson, of North Dorlaithers, had on Thursday judged the pre-sale show, and said Suffolk breeders needed to put more attention on fleshing to satisfy commercial lamb producers. He said there was little between the reserve and the champion from Jimmy Douglas, of Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh.
Mr Wilson took a two-thirds stake in the lamb that will become the new stock ram in his Strathisla flock, which has 100 ewes. The Proctors, who run the Conveth flock from Mains of Tollo, have 120 ewes.
Mr Wilson had earlier sold at 18,000gn a son of Strathisla Sea Bird, who goes back to Strathbeg Stan the Man. Buyers of this one, who won a first at the Royal Highland, were father and son Alfred and Norman Robinson, of Summerhill House, Downpatrick, Co Down. Mr Wilson also sold at 6,000gn a son of the 12,000gn Glenhead Golden Phoenix to Mark Evans, who has 60 ewes at Towergate Farm, Steeton, Yorkshire.
Going at 12,000gn was a Baileys BMW son to the Solwaybank flock of Iain Barbour, Beechgrove, Annan. Consignor was Myfyr Evans, of Tan-yr-accar, Denbigh.
Mr Douglas received 10,000gn for a Fyvie Classic son from H.P. Sleigh and Sons, of St John’s Wells, Fyvie, and Gordon Troup, of Shaggart Farm, Sauchen. The Sleighs are dispersing their flock of 55 females later in the year, while Mr Troup has 75 ewes. The champion from Cairness, a Baileys Bacchus son, sold for 5,000gn to Ross Lawrence, of Netherleigh, Winkleigh, Devon.
The Proctors were bid to 9,000gn for a Cairness Achievement son. Hugh Anett and Sons, of Widdrington, Morpeth, bought a two-thirds stake in him, while the remainder went to John Campbell and Sons, of Thrunton, Alnwick.
Shetland flockmaster Bryden Nicolson, of Garth Farm, Mossbank, acquired at 7,000gn a Strathisla Stoner son for use on the 45 ewes and gimmers in the Innfield flock he is dispersing in November. The ram was consigned by Mark Priestley, of Limestone Farm, Seaforde, Downpatrick. Mr Nicolson recently spent 3,400gn buying a sheepdog at Skipton.
Selling for 6,000gn was a Baileys Headstart son from S. and W. Tait, of Lisnaharney Road, Lislap, Co Tyrone, to R. H. Goldie, Harper Croft, Dundonald. Also going at 6,000gn was a Strathisla Sea Bird son from Barclay and Lucy Mair, of Kinnermit, Turriff. The ram lamb was third at the Royal Highland and out of a Meikleson Impression ewe that won a first at Highland as a gimmer.
Buyer was Chris Holmes, of Rookery, Broadway, Worcestershire, who also paid 5,500gn for another Strathisla Speed son from Andrew Knox, of Mid Haddo, Fyvie.
Patrick and Heather Machray and their son, Rory, of Bilboa, Daviot, Inverurie, achieved their best price yet from their Middlemuir flock of 5,000gn for a Cairness Stockbroker son. They run 30 ewes. Joint buyers of the ram were Bruce Watson, of Gaval, Mintlaw, and Mr Douglas.
Flock averages (flock, number sold, top price, average):
Sitlow, four, 20,000gn, £6,720; Strathisla, seven, 18,000gn, £4,635; Rhaeadr, eight, 12,000gn, £3,143.44; Cairness, nine, 10,000gn, £3,021.67; Burnview, five, 6,000gn, £3,003; Deveronside, three, 6,000gn, £2,660; Conveth, five, 9,000gn, £2,373; Lakeview, three, 2,200gn, £1,575; Balquhain, three, 1,800gn, £1,505; Meikleson, three, 2,500gn, £1,382.50; Stockton, four, 2,800gn, £1,358.75; Birness, five, 1,800gn, £1,344; Glenhead, three, 2,000gn, £1,120; Westcarse, five, 1,100gn, £955.50; Cairnton, five, 1,300gn, £756; Davishill, five, 1,600gn, £720.30; Solwaybank, three, 1,100gn, £672; Hallhill, four, 700gn, £571.25.