20th July 2023
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (July, 19th) sold 1,223 store cattle and 103 OTM cattle at their 20th Anniversary Sale sponsored by Conanvet, Veterinary Services, Ardlair, Conon Bridge.
The judging proceedings for Dingwall Marts momentous 20th Anniversary show and sale lay in the hands of renown show cattle extraordinaire Miss K Donaldson, Huby, York. It was her First trip across the border to Dingwall Mart and the consigners did not disappoint, providing our judge with classes of cattle of good numbers and oozing with quality. After much deliberation the champion ticket was awarded to the first prize heifer belonging to Messrs Munro, Invercharron which realised £1,900. The reserve Champion was then awarded to Mr I. Grant, Seaview Cottage, with his exceptional first prize bullock with realised £1,500.
The A M R Young, Bunchrew Trophy for the best pair of heifers with breeding potential was awarded M. C & J. C Ballantyne, Clynelish.
Best Bullock
1st Prize - I. Grant, Seaview Cottage, 380kg, £1,500.
2nd Prize - C. Hamilton, The Crossings, Killearnan, 620kg, £1,880.
3rd Prize – W & I Gunn, Murza, Bower, 550kg, £1,820.
Best Heifer
1st Prize – Firm of J Munro, Invercharron Mains, 530kg, £1,900.
2nd Prize – W & I Gunn, Murza, Bower, 540kg, £2,100.
3rd Prize – K & J Grant, 2 Lochend, Barrock, 485kg, £1,560.
Bullocks (796) averaged 283.9p per kg and sold to 394.7p per kg for a 380kg Limousin cross from Seaview Cottage, Gairloch and £1,900 gross for a 740kg Aberdeen Angus cross from Murza, Bower.
Heifers (423) averaged 277.0p per kg and sold to 433.7p per kg for a 392kg British Blue cross from Invercharron, Ardgay and £2,100 gross for a 540kg British blue cross from Murza, Bower
Young Bulls (4) sold to 237.4p per kg and £800 gross for a 337kg Limousin cross from Caplich Estate, Oykel Bridge.
"An extremely successful sale greeted vendors old and new today as a packed ringside of buyers the largest ever seen in the castle were out in force ensuring that averages soared on the year despite the recent the downturn on prime prices. Representatives were present from throughout Scotland and the north of England. All classes from short keep to grazing stirks met a firm enquiry, which then later were in particular demand."
Other leading prices per head and per kg:
Bullocks up to 250kg – 14 Port Henderson, Gairloch, £800, £770, 320.0p, 308.0p, Keppoch Farm, Dundonnell, £790, £560, 325.1p, 270.5p, 2 Achnagarron, Rogart, £670, 285.1p;251-300kg – 14 Port Henderson, £970, 334.5p, Abersky, £940, 321.9p, Druid Temple, Inverness, £920, Kennachy, £920, 332.1p, (twice), Keppoch Farm, £900, 341.0p, 318.0p, Dunain Mains, 328.8p;301-350kg – Coul of Fairburn, £1,160, 341.2p, Kennachy, £1,120, (twice), £1,110, 341.5p, 320.0p, Wester Craiglands, Fortrose, £1,120, 320.9p, 320.0p, 9 Lochussie, Dingwall, £1,080, Dunain Mains, £1,060, 325.2p, Lochdhu, Nairn, 337.7p, Balmacaan Farm, 323.0p;351-400kg – Coldhome Farm, £1,330, 369.4p, Tigh Na Clett, Ardendrain, £1,300, 335.9p, Druid Temple, £1,280, (twice), 345.9p, 335.1p, 328.0p, Craigiebank Farms, Keith, £1,250, Kinerras, £1,250, Dunain Mains, 340.8p, Lochussie, 325.3p, Lochdhu, 324.8p;401-450kg – Lower Whitebog, Fortrose, £1,410, 309.5p, 9 Lochussie, £1,400, 311.1p, Druid Temple, £1,370, £1,300, 340.8p, Seaview Cottage, £1,360, 312.6p, Conan Mains, £1,320, 317.3p, Milton Farm, 315.9p, Lochbuie, 311.1p, Wester Craiglands, 309.4p;451-500kg – Clynelish, £1,520, 326.2p, Woodend, Killearnan, £1,510, £1,490, £1,480, 319.6p, 317.0p, 311.3p, Guisachan Farm, £1,500, 14 Port Henderson, £1,480, Aldie Farm, 312.0p;501-550kg – Murza, £1,820, 330.9p, Rhevackin Farm, £1,660, 302.0p, 301.8p, Woodend, £1,620, 304.5p, Rothiemurchus Estate, £1,590, Aldie Farm, £1,580, 4 Glaick, £1,560, 304.7p, Rattar Mains, 304.2p551-600kg – Woodend, £1,760, £1,720, £1,710, £1,660, 311.5p, 297.4p, 280.4p, Milton Farm, £1,660, Glenside, £1,620, Allanglach, 272.6p, Murza, 270.5p;Over 600kg – Woodend, £1,880, 287.0p, The Crossings, £1,880, 303.2p, Murza, £1,840, £1,800, Glenside, £1,810, 287.3p, Upper Blairnain, 275.7p.
Heifers up to 250kg – Keppoch Farm, £690, 328.6p, 14 Port Henderson, £610, 249.0p;251-300kg – 14 Port Henderson, £810, Kennachy, £790, 303.3p, Balmacaan, £790, 1 Drummuie Farm, 288.9p, The Arr, 287.4p; 301-350kg – Invercharron, £1,250, 357.1p, Kennachy, £1,100, 321.6p, Seaview Cottage , £1,080, 313.0p, 312.0p, Fodderletter Farm, £1,070;351-400kg – Invercharron, £1,700, £1,300, 331.6p, Seaview Cottage, £1,220, 321.0p, Kennachy, £1,210, 325.3p;401-450kg – 9 Lochussie, £1,280, 312.2p, Shewglie Farmers, £1,250, Druid Temple Farm, £1,240, 301.7p, Kinerras, £1,240, Kennachy, 218.8p, Drumloan, 297.6p; 451-500kg – Achvaneran Farm, £1,580, 335.5p, Clynelish, £1,560, 345.1p, 2 Lochend, £1,560, 321.6p, Kennieshillock, £1,520, 308.9p, Juniperbank, 319.0p;501-550kg – Kennieshillock, £1,560, 283.6p, Upper Blairnain, £1,480, Aldie Farm, £1,460, 286.3p, Murza, 388.9p; 551-600kg – Upper Blairnain, £1,730, £1,410, 288.3p, 237.0p, Castle of Mey Trust, £1,650, 286.0p, 4 Glaick, £1,540, 270.0p.
OTM prime & feeding cattle (103) averaged 184.5p per kg and sold to 408.0p per kg for a 475kg Aberdeen Angus cross from 211 Upper Birichen, Dornoch and £2,100 gross for a 905kg Limousin cross from Tighnahinch, Alcaig.
"Cast cow trade was solid however cashing in at decreased values then of a month ago. Better end were extremely well bid for and many more of this commodity could easily have been sold."
Other leading prices per head:
OTM prime & feeding bulls: Swordale, (AA), £1,600, Wester Tomloan, (BRBX), £1,420, Rhives Farm, (MG), £1,320, Rothiemurchus Estate, (High), £960.
OTM prime & feeding cows: 211 Upper Birichen, (AAX), £1,940, Tighnahinch, (LimX), £1,860, £1,780, Kinnahaird Farm, (SimX), £1,860, £1,840, 14 Port Henderson, (LimX), £1,840, The Cloy, (BshoX), £1,820, (CharX), £1,760, £1,720, (BRBX), £1,740, (SalX), £1,660, Wester Tomloan, (BRBX), £1,780, Ashley, (BshoX), £1,740, Caulternich, (AAX), £1,740, Ashley, (SalX), £1,700, Rhives Farm, (MG), £1,520,
Other leading prices per kg:
OTM prime & feeding bulls: Wester Tomloan, (BRBX), 152.7p, Rhives Farm, (MG), 148.3p, Rothiemurchus Estate, (High), 126.3p.
OTM prime & feeding cows: Ashley, (LimX), 239.0p, Tighnahinch, (LimX), 232.0p, 226.0p, 215.8p, (BB), 225.0p, Wester Tomloan, (LimX), 229.0p, 14 Port Henderson, (Lim), 226.1p, Fodderletter Farms, (Lim), 226.0p, Kildun, (Lim), 225.5p, Shewglie Farmers, (BRBX), 223.0p, The Cloy, (CharX), 222.8p, 220.5p, (BshoX), 209.2p, Lower Whitebog, (LimX), 218.7p, 216.1p, Craigton, (ShoX), 211.0p.