More than 36,000 store lambs are set to go under the hammer at auction marts in the north of Scotland next week.
The main autumn store lamb sale season kicks off at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ mart in Quoybrae, Caithness, on Monday.
Auctioneer Stuart Slesser said almost 4,000 lambs were entered for the sale, which starts at 10am. This includes around 2,600 Cheviots and 1,300 Texel and Suffolk lambs.
He said: “We have had enquiries from buyers in Wales, the north of England and Scotland. Having had a good summer there is plenty of grass. Also with the buoyant trade for prime lambs there will have been a larger number of lambs killed earlier in the south.”
The following day, more than 18,000 lambs are set to enter the ring at the historic Lairg Auction Mart. The sale commences at 10am.
Luke Holmes from United Auctions, which runs the mart at Lairg, said numbers forward were similar to those seen last year.
He said: “The sheep trade is buoyant at the moment and the fat trade is staying up, so it should reflect in the store market.”
Lastly, Dingwall and Highland Marts is holding its first store lamb sale of the season at its base in Dingwall on Thursday.
The sale, which starts at 10am, will feature 14,000 lambs.
The mart’s managing director, Ian Tolmie, said: “Hopefully we will be able to maintain last year’s price.”
