More than 700 pedigree rams will go under the hammer at a special sale in the north-east next week.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ (ANM) annual multi-breed show and sale of pedigree rams takes place on Tuesday September 24, at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.
Entries includes: 265 Suffolks; 279 Texels; 15 Bluefaced Leicesters; 12 Border Leicesters; 46 Charollais; and 118 entries of other breeds including Beltex, Blue Texel, Rouge, Vendeen and cross-breds.
“We have a strong entry of pedigree rams forward from noted breeders in the north of Scotland,” said ANM deputy head of livestock, Colin Slessor.
“The sale gives sheep producers the opportunity to purchase rams suitable for commercial use, as well as a select number of entries suitable for pedigree breeding.”
Last year’s sale topped at 1,800gn for a Texel shearling, by Arkle Ying Yang, from Rodney Blackhall, The Green, Raemoir. He sold to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, when purchased by Stuart Stephen, Netherthird, Rothienorman.
The overall pre-sale show champion was a Texel shearling, by the same sire, from Kenny Pratt, Oldtown, Peterculter.
He sold for 1,200gn to the Guise Farm Partnership, Guise, Tough, Alford.
This year’s event starts at 8am with judging of Suffolks, followed by Bluefaced Leicesters at 8.30am, Border Leicesters at 9am, Charollais at 9.30am, Texels at 10am and all other breeds at 11am. The sale kicks off with the Suffolk rams at 9.30am in ring two.
The judges include: Mark Baxter, The Bungalow, Troup Home Farm, Gamrie, Banff for Texels; Stephen Sutherland, Sibmister, Thurso, for Suffolks; Steven Smith from Scobshaugh, Cortachy, Kirriemuir, for Beltex; Muriel Ross, The Arr, Nairn, for Bluefaced Leicesters; Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud, for Border Leicesters; and Ewan Gordon, Wellheads, Huntly, for the Charollais section.