A young farmer from the north-east has set a new breed record for Zwartbles.
David Moir, of Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh, set a new price record of 3,500gn for the breed when one of his home-bred ewe lambs went under the hammer.
The young farmer, who together with his brother William is a well-known face on the agricultural show and sales circuit, set the record while dispersing his Cairness flock at Borderway Mart in Carlisle.
David said: “The Zwartbles flock was dispersed as we are focusing more on the family’s Suffolk flock which has just been newly established with the purchase of top females from Cairness, Whitestone and Slackadale.”
Leading the charge at the dispersal sale, which achieved a 100% clearance rate, was the final entry in the ring.
Cairness Dare Devil is by Eildon Hill Am Yer Man and out of Eildon Hill Wait ‘n’ See. She is a full sister to the flock’s 2015 show shearling, Cairness Barbie Gill, and sold to Messrs Byrne, Co. Cork, Ireland.
The second best price in the Cairness dispersal of 750gn was achieved twice.
First at this price, selling to R.M. and W.P. Heigh and Son, Brook House Farm, Lancaster, was Cairness Barbie Girl.
Also by Eildon Hill Am Yer Man and out of Eildon Hill Wait ‘n’ See, this one was female and reserve overall champion at the Scottish National Show in 2015.
The second lot at 750gn sold to another north-east breeder – Faye Wilkie of Whitestone, Skene.
She bought Cairness Camera Shy, by Cloverfield Toke and out of Cairness Tremendous Isla.
In all, six ewes sold to average £231, while six gimmers averaged £327.25 and three ewe lambs averaged £1,529.50.