Hundreds of sheep producers flocked to the sale of ewe hoggs at the close of yesterday’s Highland Sheep event.
Organisers, the Scottish branch of the National Sheep Association (NSA), were still finalising attendance numbers last night but it is thought yesterday’s event was the best attended out of all three Highland Sheep fixtures.
The sale of ewe hoggs, as conducted by Dingwall and Highland Marts, followed a show earlier in the day judged by Robert Patterson jun, of Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane.
Leading the charge and selling for 700gn apiece were a pair of Blackfaces from Archie MacGregor’s Allanfauld flock at Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow.
Two telephone bidders battled to buy the pair, and in the end the successful bid came from Stephen Small of Glenarm, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The top-priced pair comprised one lot by a £24,000 Lurg and one by a son of a £20,000 Dyke.
The second best price of the day of 550gn apiece was paid for the first entry in the ring – a pair of Suffolks from Irene Fowlie’s Essie flock at Adziel, Strichen.
The home-bred pair – one by Essie Ugie and the other by Essie Ulysses – sold to Louise McAuley, of Woodside Croft, near Fochabers.
Next best at 500gn apiece was another pair of Blackies from Archie MacGregor, this time selling to Charlie McIntyre, Upper Croft Na Garn, Boat of Garten. The pair comprised one lot by a £35,000 Dalchirla and one by an £11,000 Auldhouseburn.
The pre-sale show champion pen – a pair of home-bred mules from Jim Simmons – sold for 160gn each to a buyer from Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris. Mr Simmons farms at Ruthven Farm, Kirkmichael, Ballindalloch.
