'Exceptional' Cheviot ewes a highlight of Dingwall Mart sheep sale
DINGWALL and Highland Marts Ltd on Thursday sold 2261 sheep of all classes.
Lambs (846) averaged £66.59 and sold to £130 for a pair of Cheviot Mules from Lower Geanies, Fearn.
Ewes (416) averaged £71.19 and sold to £145 for a pen of Blue Faced Leicester from Whitebog, Rosemarkie.
In lamb ewes (682) averaged £109.70 and sold to £540 for pen of Cheviots from 185 Migdale, Bonar Bridge.
In lamb gimmers (216) averaged £105.13 and sold to £270 for a pen of Cheviots also from 185 Migdale.
Rams & Feeding Sheep (101) averaged £90.53 and sold to £127 for a Suffolk gimmer from Penifiler, Portree.
A spokesman said: “Hoggs met a firm enquiry from another busy ringside especially considering there were a lot of lean weathered sorts forward. Cast ewes again met a phenomenal enquiry and many more could easily have been sold.
"The in-lamb ewes saw a two-tiered trade. Any big strapping ewes of any breed were easily sold. However, anything leaner and more weathered met a more resisted enquiry.
"A special mention must go to the consignment from the dispersal of exceptional Cheviot ewes consigned by Fiona MacLeod, 185 Migdale, Airdens, years of selected breeding went into these sheep from the late George MacLeod and were a credit to the family and a pleasure to sell.
"Fiona wasn’t disappointed as the sheep realised the prices they well and truly deserved after a ferocious frenzy of bidding, her consignment topped at £540 per head from two crops carrying twins and averaged an astonishing £340 per head.”
Leading prices per head:
Lambs: CLX – Tigh Gael, Portree, £116; BF – Shepherds Cottage, Strathcarron, £110, Achdubh, Highfield Park, £105, North Rasaay SSC, £84, 53 Balallan, Isle of Lewis, £80 twice, Strone, Newtonmore, £79, £71, Cawdor Estate, £77; Cross – Glentruim Farms, £100, £81, Teanluick Croft, Beauly, £97, East Croft Roy, Newtonmore, £89, Balmacaan, Drumnadrochit, £88, Strone, £80; Chev – Carlee, Dornoch, £100, Strathvaich Farms, £99, £86 twice, Craiglands Fortrose, £93, £88, Shieldaig, Strathcarron, £89, 8 Sconser, Isle of Skye, £87, Ardchronie, Ardgay, £86, Dalcharn, Bettyhill, £86; TexX – Craiglands, £98, Balloan, Abriachan, £88, Flemington Hall, Gollanfield, £87, 5 Tomich, Beauly, £79; BeltX – 1 Drummuie Farm, Golspie, £94, £84, 53 Balallan, £89, Mulchaich, Conon Bridge, £79; SuffX – Balloan, £89, 53 Balallan, £79, Towerhill, Thurso, £75; Mule – East Croft Roy, £83, Cawdor Estates, £74, 53 Balallan, £70.
Ewes: Suff – Whitebog, £144, £140; SuffX – 66/78 Farr, Bettyhill, £140; CHM – Rovie Farm, Rogart, £137, Flemington Hall, £132, £100, Shepherds Cottage, Meddat, £88; BFL – Rovie Farm, £130; Mule – Rovie Farm, £124, Knockie Estate, Whitebridge, £109; Chev – East Brora, Brora, £115, Rannich Farm, Edderton, £110, North Talisker SSC, £108, £95, 14 Ormiscaig, Aultbea, £108, 185 Migdale, £107, Inverinate Estate, £105, 68/78 Farr, £105, Carlee, £105, Strathvaich Farms, £100, An Taigh Bearg, Lamington, £99, £88, Lienassie Farm, Inverinate, £95, 90 Portgower, Helmsdale, £95, 1 Sciberscross, Rogart, £89, 9 Drumfearn, Isle of Skye, £88; BF – Auchnafearn, Grantown on Spey, £103, Satran SSC, £89, Inverinate Estate, £87, 22 Achfrish, Shinness, £86; CharX – 17 North Erradale, Gairloch, £99; Cross – 30 Gravir, South Lochs, £90, Dell Farm, Whitebridge, £82.
In lamb ewes: Chev – 185 Migdale, £310, £300, £250, 1 Eyre, Snizort, £166, Carlee, £150, £130, Lower Geanies, £128, £106, 4 High Borve, Isle of Lewis, £110, £102, Feorlig SSC, £92, 14 Gravir, South Lochs, £90; TexX – Lower Geanies, £194, £134, Shepherds Cottage, £146, The Square, Inverinate, £140, Inverarnie House, Inverness, £136, £124, 2 Unachan, Spean Bridge, £100; ZwbX – Shepherds Cottage, £146; CHM – Lower Geanies, £120, £118; BF – Belcherrie Farms, £102, £98, £92, £86 twice, Inverarnie House, £94, £90; Cross – Inverarnie House, £99, Strathgarve Farms, £84; Herdwick – Carlee, £92, £90.
In lamb gimmers: Chev – Carlee, £174, Loch Shell, Wick, £100, Auckengill, Wick, £94; Herdwick – Carlee, £136, £112; Mule – Strathgarve Farms, £130; BF – Belcherrie Farms, £112, £84; TexX – 2 Unachan, £98.
Rams & Feeding Sheep: Chev ram – Strathvaich Farms, £123, £100, Syall, Ardgay, £123, 8 Duisdale Mhor, Ornisay, 120,Feorlig SSC, £120, 1 Sheildinish, Lochs, £118, 12 Balnaluib, Aultbea, £117, 11 Stirkhill, Inverasdale, £115, 4 High Borve, £113, 30 Gravir, £111, 6 Aird, Ardvasar, £111, Uilinish & Balgowan SSC, £110, Belcherrie Farms, £110, £108.Tex ram – Carlee, £120, 2 Unachan, £96; Belt ram – Dunlichity, Farr, £117; BF ram – Auchnafearn, £109, £108, 53 Balallan, £95, 28 Stenscholl, Staffin, £91, 30 Gravir, £89; Char ram – 1 Tong, Stornoway, £106; Swale ram – Auchnafearn, £99, £89, 19 Sconser, Isle of Skye, £95; Zwab ram - 33 Portgower, Helmsdale, £95.
Also sold were 25 Blackface & Cheviot females.
The annual blackface in lamb sale was held in conjunction this year with the cheviot in lamb females. Bringing the 2 breeds together and creating a special “in lamb hill sheep day” was a raring success as a packed ringside was out in force and will with the added bonus of the internet bidding platform in place trade was solid throughout.
Top of the tree was regular consigner M. R. Flett of Crackaig Blackies whose exceptional one-crop daughter of the 18K Glenrath and scanned as single to the I5K Crossflat was knocked down at £1000 to Mr. Martin, Hushinish, Tong.
Next in line was from another regular consigner Messrs MacFarlane, Drumgrange as the Ayrshire raiders put forward to the busy ringside a flashy gimmer. Scanned twins was later knocked down to Ms Fiona MacIver, 53 Balallan for £620.
Onto the Cheviots it was a two-crop hill type ewe from Messrs Kerr, Colony this girl oozed character as she strutted her stuff around the ring. This beauty was scanned carrying twins to a Dorrery sire and realised £500 to Mr Kevin MacDonald, 9 Coll who had also previously purchased a gimmer carrying twins to the same sire from the same stable for £440.
Other prices:
BF Gimmers – Crackaig Blackies, £500, Bomakelloch, Keith, £440.
BF Ewes – Drumgrange, £520.
BF Ewe Hoggs – Bomakelloch, £480 &£300.
Chev Ewes – Welbeck Farms, £320 & £300.