A Beltex breeder from the north-east secured the top price at a select sale in Carlisle last week.
Stuart Wood of Woolhillock Croft, Skene, Aberdeenshire, sold 10 shearling gimmers and two ewes.
He took the top price of 4,400gn at the sale, alongside consignments from Curwen Hill and Edenfauld flocks.
Topping the trade was March-2014 born gimmer Woodies Winning Streak. She is an embryo transfer daughter by 9,000gn Padkin Sugard Daddy and out of Van Geens, which is by the famous Crocodile ram.
In total, the two ewes from the Woodies flock sold to average £1,732.50, while the 10 gimmers averaged £2,336.25.
Stuart Wood is no stranger to sale success and at the breed society’s premier show and sale last month, his flock achieved the sale’s highest ever gross income from one flock.
The sale saw 41 sheep from the Woodies flock gross more than £65,000.
And according to another north-east Beltex breeder, 132 sheep from the region sold at the premier sale to average more than £1,300 each.
The sale topper at 16,000gn was shearling ram Black Jack Well Hung from Ross and Kirsty Williams, who are based at Upper Tullochbeg, near Huntly.
In response to the growing number of pedigree Beltex breeders in the region, Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) has agreed to introduce a special show section for the breed at its major ram show and sale on Tuesday September 22.
Competitors at the show will get the chance to win a perpetual trophy which has been donated by an anonymous local breeder.
ANM sheep sales manager, Colin Slessor, said there were around 800 entries forward for the ram sale later this month.
“Fifty of these are Beltex and this section will be judged by Stewart Kennedy of Bortlick Farm, Aberfeldy,” added Mr Slessor.