Texel shearlings from the Brown family at Hilton of Culsh, New Deer, dominated United Auctions’ multi-breed show and sale of 524 rams and ram lambs at Huntly, where no fewer than 16 rams broke the £1,000 bracket.
With buyers more selective this year, topping the sale at £1,600 and securing a personal best for Willie Brown, son John and family, was a shearling by Wolfclyde Whisky Galore, out of a home-bred ewe.
He sold to Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin.
The family, which runs 120 pure Texels alongside 35 pure Suffolks and 395 commercial ewes, also sold three other sons of Wolfclyde Whisky Galore for £1,500, £1,400 and £1,200, and four at £1,000.
Dearest sold to Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, while Watson and Partners, Braeside of Culvie, Aberchirder, paid £1,400 for the second prize Texel shearling. The other shearling at £1,200 was bought by George Wordie, Mains of Cairnborrow, Glass, Huntly. In all, the 30 Hilton of Culsh Texel shearlings cashed in to average £830, while their 12 Suffolks levelled at £609. They sold to £1,100 for a son of Knockem Tank, to Henderson Farms, Bogtonlea, Dunning.
The first prize Texel shearling from Calum Gill’s 35-pure Texel flock at Rinaitin, Dufftown, sold for £1,100 to Ian Kellas, The Raws, Dufftown.
This was a home-bred shearling by a Brijon sire, a tup bought at Kelso two years ago for £1,400.
Texels also peaked at £1,000 for the third prize ram lamb from local breeder, Michael Leggat, Cairnton Farm. Selling to George Jack, Kilcoy Mains, Muir of Ord, was a son of the 32,000gn Strathbogie Upgrade, out of a ewe by Aman Vyrnwy which is a half sister to the £6,000 Foremanhill Apache.
In the Bluefaced Leicester section, two shearlings by a home-bred son of Duhnow E1 from Robert and Hazel McNee, made £1,100 including the reserve overall champion to Messrs Smith, The Leys, Tarland, while the other sold to WE Forbes, Dalrachie, Ballindalloch. The couple also made £1,000 for a similar bred shearling, while two from Robert Neill, Broadleys, Dunning, made £1,100 and £1,000.
Among the other breeds, Beltex cross Texel shearlings from the Frasers at Auchnarrow, Glenlivet, topped at £700 twice, while Blue Texels from the Hunters, West Cairnhill, Insch, sold to £650. Moir Livestock, Newmill Rathen, received £700 from Gordon Kemp, Waterside of Forbes, Alford, for a Beltex cross Suffolk shearling by a Beachy tup.
In show judged by Amy Reid, Overhill, overall champion was a Suffolk lamb from regular consignors, George and Melvin Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon, which sold for £420.