2nd September 2022
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 1st) sold 2,372 breeding sheep also all classes of lambs and Lewis Livestock at its annual sale sponsored by Gow Transport.
Gimmers
1st - J.W.S Wishart, Knockhall, Orkney
2nd – A.J Stephen Hatton Cottage, Dallas
3rd – H.V & W. Stewart, Newmore, Muir of ord
Ewe Lambs
1st Gaich Farms, Lower Gaich, Dulnain Bridge
2nd – S.Owen, Caulternich, Beauly
3rd – R. A Stephen, Tombreak, Dallas.
Gimmers (782) averaged £157.18 (up £18.92 on the year) and sold to £250 gross twice for Texel crosses from Ballindalloch Home Farm.
Ewes (377) averaged £67.11 and sold to £170 gross for a Millenium Bleu cross from 25 Camult Muir, Kiltarlity.
Ewe lambs (377) averaged £94.73 and sold to £300 gross for a pair of Cheviots from Orrinside, Urray, sold for the MND Charity.
Cheviot Mule ewe lambs (607) averaged £104.50 and sold to £180 gross from Gaich Farms, Dulnain Bridge.
Store lambs (229) averaged £66.56 and sold to £94 gross for a pen of crosses from Druim Temple Croft, Gorthleck.
"The inaugural show & sale of Cheviot Mule sheep took centre stage today and there was some fierce competition in the judging ring. The unenviable task of judging today lay in the hands of Mr Mike Kay who drove all the way up from Cheshire. First place in the gimmer section Orkney Raiders J.W.S Wishart, the boat trip was well worth the effort as they achieved not only first prize but also second top price of the day of £230 being knocked down to Mr Munro, Pitkerrie.
In the ewe lambs section first prize went to The Laing Family, Gaich Farms, Dulnain Bridge. After a ferocious frenzy of bidding our judge had backed his decision shelling out £180 a head for easily the best pens of ewe lambs on the day. A special thanks must go to Gow Transport for their sponsorship today.
Trade overall saw the best-bred cheviot mule and continental gimmers a serious trade, cashing in at levels much dearer than the year. The overall averages would read less on the year but this was due to an influx of smaller weathered sheep which met a hesitant enquiry.
Strong tupping ewe lambs were well bid for and like the gimmers would be dearer, however as mentioned previously there were more running lambs this year which considering the lack of grass up and down the country saw these harder to cash.
A big thank you must also be said to all those who donated sheep to the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation today, Jane Thomson, Orrinside, J Fyall, Braeside, N Rose, Faebait and R D MacDonald, Castle Grant Homefarm. The top price sheep that were put forward for the charity were the pair of black cheviot ewe lambs from Orrinside which released 300 to Mabie Farm Park, Dumfries. We are ever so grateful to these purchasers that dug deep for this charity raising £1,229."
Other leading prices per head:
Gimmers: CHM – 1 Newmore, Muir of ord, £235, £230, £225, £220, £205, (twice), £190, (twice), £188, £185, £170, (twice), Knockhall, Orkney, £230 & £200, Hatton Cottage, Dallas, £200 & £185, Braeside, Strathpeffer, £188, Suisgill Estate, Kildonan, £175, Tombreak, Dallas, £170, Balloan, Farr, £150, (twice);MBX – 25 Camult Muir, £235; TexX – Ballindalloch Home Farm, £215, 3 Balnabeen, Conon Bridge, £200, £190, £180 & £160, East Croftmore, Boat of Garten, £195, Dell Farm, Farr, £160, (thrice), Cypress, Achterneed, £160, The Clachaig Partnership, Laggan, £155;LYN – Woodside, Muir of Tarradale, £210; BeltX – Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane, £208 & £165, (twice), 25 Camult Muir, £200, (twice) & £185, Fair-a-Far, Muir of Clunes, £200, £155, (twice), Craigiebank Farm, Forgie, £190 & £155, Braeside, £175 & £150, Cogle Farm, Quoybrae, £155; Mule – Lower Geanies, Fearn, £168 & £165, Dell Farm, £162; SuffX – Oir Na Coille, Wester Urray, £165.
Ewes: CHM – East Croftmore, £162 & £130; TexX – Easter Glackton, Gollanfield, £130, The Rowans, Brora, £124 & £110; CRX – Fair-a-Far, £116 & £106.
Ewe lambs: BeltX – 25 Camult Muir, £200, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay, £200 & £112; BTL – Broombank, Culloden, £138; Texel – Broombank, £132 & £106; Mule – Ardnamurchan Estates, £128 & £102 Gaich Farms, £125, Quarryhead, Huntly, £120, (twice); LYN – Woodside, £112; TexX – 4 Tomich, Beauly, £106; SuffX – 4 Tomich, £102, Muirton Mains, Urray, £100.
Cheviot mule ewe lambs: Caulternich, Kilmorack, £160, Suisgill Estate, £158, £138, Wester Craiglands, Fortrose, £142, £122 & £110, Hatton Cottage, £138, Tombreck, £130, Gaich Farms, £128 & £105, Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown on Spey, £125, The Workshop, Wester Cairnglass, £120, Faebait Farm, Muir of Ord, £102 (sold for the MND Charity).