'Astronomical' store lamb trade in Dingwall for farmers and crofters as 'ferocious frenzy of bidding' exceeds all expectations
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DINGWALL and Highlands Marts Ltd sold 12,987 store lambs at their annual district sale.
Cheviot Wedder lambs (7,595) averaged £70.27 (up £6.12 on the year) an sold to £93 from Tournaig, Lairg and from 8,14 & 15 Struanmore, Isle of Skye.
Cheviot ewe lambs (1909) averaged £80.55 (up £2.78 on the year) and sold to £140 from 9 Lochussie, Dingwall.
Other breeds (3483) averaged £76.70 (up £6.89 on the year) and sold to £120 & £110 for Beltex crosses from Ousdale Farmhouse, Berriedale.
The enthusiastic verdict: “There ain't no mountain high enough as trade hits the peaks in Dingwall. An astronomical trade greeted the farmers and crofters venturing down from the hills and heading back with armed escorts as their cheques well and truly exceeded all expectations.
"Buyers from all over Scotland and the north of England participated in a ferocious frenzy of bidding which saw averages soar on the year, despite many small lambs being forward. Top draw wedders were £8/10 Sharper and ewe lambs were in short supply and many more with good skins and character could have easily been sold.”
Other leading prices per head per area:
Helmsdale & Brora: Chev wedder lambs – 9a Victoria Road, Brora, £84, Vaila, Brora, £81, 27 Portgower, Helmsdale, and 194 Navidale, £80.50, West Clyne, Brora, Carnlaggie, Helmsdale & 19 Gartymore, Helmsdale, £80, 192 The Doll, Brora & 33 Portgower (MacDonald), Helmsdale, (twice), £79, 7 Achrimsdale, Brora, £78.50, 81 East Brora, Brora, £78, Kanangra, Helmsdale, £77; Chev ewe lambs – 81 East Brora, £128, 33 Portgower, (Jappy), West Clyne, 145 Badnellan & 165 East Clyne, £112, 7 Achrimsdale, £102, 9a Victoria Road, Carnlaggie & 19 Gartymore, £100, 165 East Clyne, £96, 145 Badnellan, £94, West Clyne, £92, Carnlaggie, £90, 33 Portgower (Jappy), £88 & £82, West Clyne, £80, 7 Achrimsdale, £76, 33 Portgower (MacDonald), £70, 81 East Brora, £75; Other breeds-Valia, £84.50 & £82, 81 East Brora & 192 The Doll, £80.
Dornoch & Golspie: Chev Wedder lambs – 283 Torboll, Dornoch & 11 Backies, Golspie, £81, Fleucharry & 211 Upper Birichen, Dornoch, £80.50, 283 Torboll, £80; Chev ewe lambs – Fleucharry, £116, 283 Torboll & 11 Backies, £98, 283 Torboll, £94; Other breeds – 211 Upper Birichen, £108, 67 Balvraid & 256 Rearquhar, £97, 67 Balvraid & Fleucharry, £91, 256 Rearquhar, £85, 11 Backies, £78.
Ardgay & Bonar: Chev Wedder lambs – West Drumliah, Bonar Bridge, £82, Wester Fearn, Ardgay & Ardchronie, Ardgay, £81, Braelangwell Farm, Ardgay, £80.50, Humpton, Spinningdale, £79.50, Croick Estate & Tulloch Farm, Bonar Bridge, £79, Ardchronie & West Achnahannet, £78, Rhinamain, Bonar Bridge, £76.50; Chev ewe lambs – Ardchronie, £102, Wester Fearn, £98, Strathkyle, West Achnahannet, Rhinamain & Ardchronie, £90; Other Breeds - 2 Byre Park, Glencalvine & Tulloch Farm, £90, Invercharron Mains, £88, £83 & £81, 2 Byre Park, £80.50, Tulloch Farm, £80.
Rogart: Chev wedder lambs – 46 Blairmore, Rogart, £83, 1 Sciberscross, Rogart, £82.50, Rhilochan, Rogart, £81.50, 83 Inchcape, Rogart, £81, 287 Morness, Rogart & Blairach, Rogart, £80.50, 21 Ardachu, 83 Inchcape & Coul Croft, £80, 15-16 Achvrail, Rogart, £78.50, 46 Blairmore & 127 West Langwell, £78, 43 Farlary, Rogart, £77.50; Chev ewe lambs - 43 Blairmore, £110, 1 Sciberscross, Coul Croft & 132 West Langwell, £96, Blairach, £94, Eiden, Rogart & 287 Morness, £92, Rhilochan, £88, 191 Muie, £76, 46 Blairmore & 132 West Langwell, £70; Chev ewe lambs – 15-16 Achvrail, £85, Milton Muie, £83, 8 Acheilidh, £82.50 & £81, Morvich Farm, £82, 39 Banscol, £79.
Lairg: chev wedder lambs - Tongue Mains, Tongue, £91, £90 & £88, Tournaig £83, Achanny Farm & Tournaig £82, Coloboll Farm, Lairg, £81, 158 Scullomie, 18 Strathnaver, 5 Achininver, Tongue Mains, 3 Druim Bhlar & Achanny, £80, 10/11 Croft at Syre, Strathnaver & Tongue Mains, £78, 1 & 2 Achnabourin, Strathnaver £77.50, 18 Strathnaver, £77; Chev ewe lambs – Tongue Mains, £128, £112 & £102.
Wester Ross – chev wedder lambs- Kintail & Hillcrest, £80, Clachan Farm, Inverbroom, £78, Ardheslaig, Shieldaig, £77; Chev ewe lambs – Croft 110 Drumbuie, £94, Hillcrest, £74; Other Breeds – Slattadale, Gairloch, £86 & £78.
Islands: chev wedder lambs - 7 & 8 Borreraig Parks & Uiginish Farm, £84, 2 Peinlich, £82 & £77, Raasay Home Farm & 2 Peinlich, £81, 8, 14 & 15 Struanmore & 4 Balgowan, £80, Gesto Farm & Brae Eynort, £79, 1 Kilbride, £78; Chev ewe lambs – 8, 14 & 15 Struanmore, £110, £86, Gesto, £100, £88 & £78, Uiginish, Gesto & Peinlich, £98, Uiginish, £94, 8, 14 & 15 Sturanmore & 9 Ullinish, £92, 1 Kilbride, Broadford, £74; Other breeds – 8, 14 & 15 Struanmore, £107, £102, £92, £90 & £84, Oronsay Island, £92, £91, £87 & £84, 4 Balmeanach, £82, 6 Valtos, Isle of Lewis, £82.
Inverness & Ross – Chev wedder lambs – Wester Muckernich, Tore, £85, Linnie, Tore, £83 & £82, 9 Lochussie, £80, Carnoch Farm, Strathconon & 1 Dounie, Edderton, £80, Strone Farm, Banavie, Greenacres, Dingwall, Erchite, Dores, Wester Muckernich & Lynemore Farm, Grantown on Spey, £78, Carnoch Farm, £77; Chev ewe lambs – 9 Lochussie, £134 & £93, Lynemore Farm, £130, 1 Dounie, £110 & £80, Greenacres, £90, Erchite, £88; Other breeds – Dulsie Farm, £8 & £98, Fendom Farm, Tain, £97, £87, £86, £83, £80, Milton Farm, Aberarder, £96, £94, £89, £87, £84, £83, £78, (twice), Achtuie, Drumnadrochit, £96, £90 & £80, Lynemhor Croft, £96 & £85, Wester Craiglands, £91, £88, £87, £86, £85, £84, £83 & £80, Gaich Farms, £90 & £87, Balchraggan, Torness, £86 & £80, Pithogarty, Tain, £85, Abersky, £84, Bochruben Farms, £84, Glen Mor, Invergarry, £84, Aberarder Estate, £83, 1 Laurel Avenue, Inverness, £81, The Arr Lethan, £78
Caithness: Pynag, Dunbeath, £79; Other breed – Ousdale Farmhouse, £91 & £90 £84, Ham Farm, £90, £81.
