North Country Hill Cheviot breeders from across the UK will gather at Dingwall Mart next week for one of the largest one-day tup sales of the breed in the UK.
Auctioneers Dingwall and Highland Marts are readying to put 815 Cheviot rams under the hammer on Friday October 28.
The fixture starts at 8am with a pre-sale show, which is to be judged by Martin Cook of Baligill Farm, Caithness. The sale follows at 10am.
Auctioneer Paul Spencer said 815 rams had been entered from breeders from across the Borders, Highlands and west coast of Scotland.
Last year’s fixture saw 613 Cheviot tups exchange hands with 20 selling for £1,000 apiece or more.
A top price of £3,500 was paid for an aged tup from R. and T. Dun, Cilston, Heriot. It sold jointly to Messrs Renwick, of Keppoch, and J. Renwick, Badcaul.
Next best at £3,000 was the pre-sale show reserve champion. Judge Neil Montgomery, of Ose on Skye, gave his reserve rosettes to a three-shear tup, by the £1,400 Golval Atomic, from the Torrish Shepherds Pack at Saluscraggie, Helmsdale.
This one was snapped up by Suisgill Estates at Helmsdale.
Next week’s sale will also feature a sale of 381 crossing tups comprising Beltex, Texel, Charollais, Bluefaced Leicester, Suffolk and Lleyn.