A good trade with record averages was experienced at the Annual Ram Show and Sale held at Thainstone Centre on Tuesday 24th September, when a top price of 4,800gns was achieved for a Ram Lamb from Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff. Sired by Clanfield Golden, he went onto sell to R Mackay, Clyth Mains, Occumster, Lybster.
The event, sponsored by Harbro and supported by Elanco saw 557 pedigree and cross-bred rams sell onto new owners.
The Texel Championship was awarded to M Seed & Son, Home Farm, Auchry by the Judge Ewan Gordon, Wellheads, Huntly for a Shearling Ram sired by Ettrick Funtime Frankie, which went on to sell to G C Watt & Son, South Byebush, St Katherines, Inverurie for 1,100gns. The Reserve award went to a Ram Lamb from Kenny Pratt, Old Town Farm, Peterculter also selling for 1,100gns, this time to Cairness Ltd, Home Farm Cairness, Fraserburgh.
The second top price of 2,600gns was paid for a Shearling Ram sired by Craig Douglas Evoke, from Rodney Blackhall, The Green, Raemoir, Banchory which sold to Ardhuncart Farm, Ardhuncart, Kildrummy, Alford.
Another Shearling Ram from Rodney Blackhall tapped out at 1,650gns, sired by Ettrick Deja Vu, the ram went onto sell to W Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten, Wick.
1,600gns was smashed three times, first for an Aged Texel Ram from S Barclay, Harestone, Banchory, which sold to J A Smith, The Rowans, Victoria Road, Brora and secondly for a Shearling from Rodney Blackhall, The Green purchased by Alan J Rae, Mains of Orchardtown, Udny. The third tup to realise 1,600gns was a Texel Shearling from James Innes & Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly selling to W G Macpherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness.
Two Texel Shearlings from R W Blackhall, The Green, Raemoir were tapped out at 1,500gns, both snapped up by Firm I D Ross, Coldhome, Dallas, Forres.
The next top price of 1,300gns, was paid for a Texel Ram Lamb from R H Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff. Sired by Clanfield Golden, the tup sold to G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon.
Texel Ram Lambs also sold at 1,200gns from Messrs Innes, Dunscroft, with Kenny Pratt, Old Town, selling at 1,200gns and 1,000gns twice. Robbie Wilson, sold at 1,100gns and 1,000gns, with MessrsSutherland, Carran Mains, also at 1,100gns. The final 4 figure Texel Ram Lamb was from Helen Hunter, Braehead, Bainshole, Huntly at 1,000gns.
In the Suffolk section, the top price of 1,800gns was achieved for a Shearling Ram from J C Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly. He was sired by Frongoy Explosion.
Another shearling ram from J C Innes, also sired by Frongoy Explosion, fetched the second highest price of 1,500gns, purchased by C Wright of Prony Farm, Ballater.
A Ram Lamb from C & M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, Ellon, reached 1,300gns, selling to A M Watson & Son, Gaval, Fetterangus. This ram was sired by Culsh Cracker.
The overall Suffolk Champion, selected by judge Bobby Poleson of Findlins Farm, Shetland, was a Ram Lamb from G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon. The tup, sired by Dunfell Dynamite, sold for 1,200gns to A S Smith & S Foulzie, King Edward, Banff.
The Reserve Champion, a Ram Lamb from J Young, Muirton Corse, Alford, sired by Salopian Zoolander, was sold for 1,100gns to John R Burges, Lower House, Quendale.
Two rams tapped out at 1,050gns, first for a shearling from R M Greig, South Tillydesk, Ellon, sired by Forkins Foremost, which was sold to Smith Croft Ltd, Sandwick and secondly, a Ram Lamb sired by Muirton Hamish from C & M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, Ellon sold to J & A Nicholson, Breckon, Cullivoe.
Several rams smashed 1,000gns, first a shearling ram sired by Frongoy Explosion from J C Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, sold to Emslies Livestock, Mintlaw, Peterhead. Second to achieve 1,000gns was a first-prize shearling ram from Rachel Andrews, Home Farm, Auchry, Cuminestown, sired by Limestone Marksman, sold to Uyea Ltd, Roadside, North Roe.
Finlay Hunter from West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, Insch, sold his ram lamb, also sired by Frongoy Explosion, for 1,000gns to A Scott, Craiglewie, Cabrach.
Additionally, two ram lambs from C & M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, Ellon sold for 1,000gns, the first sired by Muirton Hamish, sold to D A Middleton, Laurencekirk, and the second sired by Culsh Cracker, sold to N Williamson, Setter, Bressay.
Last to be tapped out at 1,000gns, is a ram lamb sired by Dunfell Dynamite from G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon which went onto sell to K E Hay & Partners, Fairview, Shetland.
In the Charollais section, a top price of 1,200gns was achieved twice for the Champion and Reserve Champion Shearlings from E & E Duncan, Barnyards Farm, Clola, Mintlaw, both selling to J & J S Wilken, Raefin, Keith.
Beltex Rams sold to a top price of 1,000gns twice, firstly, for the Reserve Champion Shearling Ram from Miller Farms, North Lurg, Midmar, Inverurie going onto sell to I Mackenzie, Inkstack, Barrock.
Next up, was a Ram Lamb from S Wood, Broadwater, Skene selling to R McLeod, Blackhole, Finzean.The Beltex Overall Championship went to a Ram Lamb from S Wood, Broadwater, which sold to Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin for 900gns.
In the Blue Texel ram section, the Overall Champion was awarded to W J & M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Insch which went onto the second highest price of 700gns selling to G & D Livestock, Newtack, Crossroads, Keith. The Reserve Champion was awarded to J Duncan, Inchford, Cornhill, Banff which also achieved 700gns selling to D M McCallum, Shoreton Farm, Culbokie, Dingwall.
The top price for the Blue Texels was 900gns which was paid for a Shearling from W J & M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Insch selling to C L Sclater, Lorness, Shapinsay, Orkney.
The Border Leicester Overall Champion from J G Douglas, Woodhead, Cairness, Fraserburgh achieved top price of 1,600gns, with the Reserve Champion also from J G Douglas, taking the second highest price of 600gns both selling to W Mather & So, Shandford, Brechin. M Seed & Son, Home Farm, Auchry, Cuminestown secured both Overall Champion and Reserve
Champion titles in the Blue Faced Leicester section. The Champion sold for 1,000gns to C Shorten, 37 Braco Street, Keith. The Reserve sold to Brumber Hill Farm, Appleton, Roebuck for 800gns.
J Marshall from 3 Coventry Place, Kinross achieved the top price for his Dutch Spotted Gimmer selling to P D & E A Thorp, Overton of Ardo, Methlick, Ellon for 1,200gns. The Overall Champion a Shearling Ram from A Beattie, Carlaustan, Kippen went on to sell for 600gns to Ellen Riddoch, Seggiecrook, Grange, Keith. The Reserve Champion from M Simpson, Tardoes, Kilmarnock tapping out at 800gns to M & S Nesbit, Drumgesk Farm, Dess Aboyne.
Colin Slessor, Deputy Head of Livestock said: “Averages across all breeds are well up on the year with sellers being handsomely rewarded for putting forward quality shearlings and ram lambs. It was pleasing to see buyers dig deep to purchase their replacement stock rams. The usual strong contingent of island buyers were in attendance with 130 head selling to the Shetland and Orkney Isles. Our thanks must also go to our sponsors Harbro and Elanco, both helping to make a very successful day.”
Averages: 47 Texel Shearling Rams topped 2,600gns, averaging £987.39 (+£32.30), 96 Texel Ram Lambs topped 4,800gns, averaging £728.43 (+£125.32); 15 Suffolk Shearling Rams, topped 1,800gns, averaging £920.20 (+£207.78), 185 Suffolk Ram Lambs, topping 1,300gns, averaging £641.35 (+£49.39); 16 Charollais Shearling Rams, topping 1,200gns, averaging £722.65 (+£268.47), 17 Charollais Ram Lambs, topping 1,000gns, averaging £508.85 (+£65.38); 30 Beltex Shearling Rams, topping 1,000gns, averaging £561.75 (+£7.87), 10 Beltex Ram Lambs, topping 1000gns, averaging, £644.70 (+£10.20); 10 Blue Texel Shearling Rams, topping 800gns, averaging £456.75 (-£12.00), 8 Blue Texel Ram Lambs, topped 700gns, averaging £472.50 (+£49.00); 5 Border Leicester Shearling Rams, topped 600gns, averaging £388.50 (+£47.25), 7 Border Leicester Ram Lambs, topping 1,600gns, averaging £529.50 (-£34.87); 4 Blue Faced Leicester Shearling Rams, topping 1000gns, averaging £892.50 (+£371.00), 5 Blue Faced Leicester Ram Lambs, topping 1,000gns, averaging £567; 7 DutchSpotted Shearling Rams, topped 600gns, averaging £405, 9 Dutch Spotted Ram Lambs, topped 800gns, averaging £274.16.