Gimmers and ewe lambs met a steady trade from start to finish at the Highland Mule Breeders’ Association’s annual show and sale at Dingwall & Highland Marts’ Dingwall centre yesterday.
The event, with an increased entry on the year of 3,719 breeding females, saw averages slip on the year as 1,018 Highland Mule gimmers averaged £143.03 (-£1.84) and 2,649 Highland Mule ewe lambs levelled at £85.85 (-£3.60).
Dingwall & Highland Marts’ sale director Paul Spencer said gimmers sold well throughout the sale, while buyers were more selective of ewe lambs.
“We had an excellent show of gimmers forward today and the ewe lambs which were sold have done well after a good summer,” he said.
“Ewe lambs were very selective and it was evident to see that producers were after ewe lambs with plenty power and good colouring.”
Mule gimmers sold to a top price of £170 per head for a pen from Susan Johnstone, Croftdhu, Tomatin, who led the trade last year. They sold to John A Ross Rhynie Ltd, Tain.
Taking the championship in the Mule gimmers, when tapped out by Arnott Coghill, Skinnet, Halkirk, was a pen of 20 from Danny Leslie, Redhill Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin. They sold in two cuts for £168 per head as 15 sold to Kenny Macgillivray, Glastullich Farm, Nigg, Tain, with the remainder selling to S Montgomery, 30 Balallan, Lochs, Isle of Lewis.
The champion pen of Mule ewe lambs from Kenny and John Matheson, Milton of Aberarder, Inverness, as picked out by Gordon McKilligan, Coxton, Cornhill, led the ewe lamb trade at £142 per head when sold to Iain Robertson, Lower Inchcorsie, Rothiemay, Huntly.
Among the other breeds of sheep, the 44 gimmers cashed in at £138.41 (-£6.59) and sold to £145 for Cheviot Mules from Achnabat, Dores, while eight ewe lambs averaged £72 (-£24.80) having sold to £72 for Charollais crosses from Tulloch Farm, Dingwall.