A new centre record price of 4,000gn was set for Texels at yesterday’s annual pedigree sheep sale held by Aberdeen and Northern Marts at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre.
Stuart Barclay, 30, who runs the AgriTracks farm machinery dealership from Blairdrummond, Stirling, received the price for his reserve breed champion, ram lamb Harestone Ultimate Warrior. He is by the 13,000gn Scholars Tiny Tempo and out of a Teiglum Pledge ewe.
It was the first ram he had sold at auction from his six-ewe Harestone flock, founded just two years ago and kept at Tocherford, Wartle, near Inverurie.
The young businessman plays an active role in the extensive pedigree and commercial livestock enterprise run by his father, Neil, at Harestone, Crathes, near Banchory. Buyers of the ram were the Scotts, of Wester Biffie, Maud.
Texels attracted keen interest at the Harbro an Novartis-sponsored multibreed sale, where prices were generally well up on last year, despite problems with prime lamb rates.
Graham Morrison, of Inchbruich, Cornhill, sold his Texel champion, a shearling by the 40,000gn Glenside Razzle Dazzle and out of a ewe by the 29,000gn Millar’s Outstanding, for 1,400gn to a publicity-shy buyer who did not want to be named by the mart, but who was identified from the ringside as the Jacks, of Kilcoy, Muir of Ord.
James Innes, of J.C. Innes and Son, Dunscroft, Huntly, marked the end of a successful sales season with an 1,100gn trade for another Razzle Dazzle shearling, out of a Claybury Lambert ewe, also to the Jacks.
Mr Innes had a ram lamb, by the £40,000 Scholars Twenty Twelve and out of a Castlecairn Kung Foo Fighter ewe, at 1,400gn to George Wordie, of Mains of Cairnborrow, Glass, Huntly.
Dunscroft shepherd Michael Leggat, of Cairnton, Forgue, secured 1,200gn for another shearling by Razzle Dazzle to S. Johnstone, Croftdhu, Tomatin.
Suffolks sold to 1,000gn for the reserve champion, a ram lamb by Rhaeadr Giggsy and out of a Rhaeadr Flash Harry ewe, from father and son George and Melvin Stuart, of Milltown of Birness, Ellon, to J.D. Lyon, of Lower Wanford, Banff.
The Suffolk champion, a Rhaeadr Ringading ram lamb out of a Lakeview Leeroy ewe, made 950gn from breeder Robbie Wilson, of North Dorlaithers, Turriff, to judge Bryden Nicolson, of Garth Bank, Mossbank, Shetland.
A. and S. Simpson, of Wester Coxton, Elgin, had the top Suffolk shearling price at 850gn for a Strathisla Spank the Banker son bought by Mr Emslie.
Best in Border Leicesters was 1,100gn for the champion, a Didcot Real Diamond son out of a ewe by Lammermiur King, from Jimmy Douglas, of Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh, to judge Duncan Whyte, of 37 Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns.
The reserve champion, a shearling by Ditton Diaegeo, from Andy Leslie, of Westside of Kingsford, Alford, made 550gn.
Bluefaced Leicester shearlings traded to 700gn for a son of Hassiewells Powehouse from W. G. Low, of West Mains, Nethermuir, Maud.
Jim Young, of Muirton, Corse, Alford, had the best Beltex price at 800gn for his breed champion, a ram lamb by The Godfather and out of a Clary Nutshell ewe. It sold to Colin Sclater, Lorness, Shapinsay, Orkney.
The Beltex reserve, a shearling by Woodies Pheunominal, from Colin Mair, of Muirfield, Everton of Auchry, Cuminestown, made 400gn, also to Mr Thomson.
Aberdeen firefighter Stuart Wood, of Woolhillock, Skene, topped the crosses at 880gn for a Beltex cross ram lamb bought by Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul.
Best price for a Charollais was 620gn for the reserve champion, a Braemuir Marcus-sired ram lamb, from sisters Eilidh, 12, and Erin Duncan, of Braemuir, Auchnagatt. The lamb, out of a Banwy Hornblower ewe, was male champion at Black Isle and New Deer for the sisters.
Charollais champion was a Logie Durno Lord Myres-sired shearling from the sisters and which made 520gn. He is a full brother to the former Royal Welsh Show champion, Logie Durno Jackpot.
Breed averages were:
Beltex: shearlings – 11 at £250.09, -£134.91; ram lambs – seven at £294, +£46.20.
Crosses: shearlings – 10 at £304.50; ram lambs – eight at £349.12.
Berrichon du Cher: six at £406.
Border Leicester: shearlings – five at £306.25, +60.14; ram lambs – six at £500.50, +£128.20.
Bluefaced Leicesters: shearlings – 19 at £476.36, -£98.90. ram lambs – five at £315, -£86.62.
Charollais: shearlings – 16 at £339.28, -£10.47; ram lambs – 25 at £300.32, -£19.62.
Suffolk: shearlings – 16 at £542.71, +£66.01; ram lambs – 221 at £455.44, +83.14.
Texel: shearlings – 80 at £594.16, +£127.61; ram lambs – 128 at £496.53, +£58.07; gimmers – seven at £244.50, +£45; ewe lambs – four at £157.50, -£12.50.