Pedigree rams met a “realistic” trade at the annual show and sale of rams at Thainstone yesterday.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts deputy head of livestock Colin Slessor said: “Good quality Suffolk and continental rams met a sound demand. There was a realistic feel to the trade given the present climate.”
Leading at 1,800gn was a Texel shearling from Rodney Blackhall, Bogfon, Maryculter.
The Arkle Ying Yang son was being sold to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which is raising funds to aid research into motor neurone disease. He sold to Stuart Stephen, Netherthird, Rothienorman.
Next best in the Texels at 1,500gn was the reserve champion – a shearling, by Aman Vyrnwy, from Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly. He sold to J Gordon, Waterside, Forbes, Alford.
The champion – a shearling by Arkle Ying Yang from Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter – sold for 1,200gn to the Guise Farm Paternship, Guise, Tough, Alford.
Next best at 1,100gn was a shearling by Clinterty Yuga Khan from Willie Knox, Mid Haddo, Fyvie, Turriff. He sold to Guise Farm Partnership, which also paid 1,000gn twice.
First was a ram lamb, by Strathbogie Yes Sir, from Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, and second was another ram lamb, by Mullan Armani, from Graham Morrison, Inchbruich, Cornhill, Banff.
Another at 1,000gn, selling to J Gordon, Waterside, was a shearling, by Westside Vire, from J D & M M Leitch, Feolquoy, Evie, Orkney.
Suffolks sold to 1,500gn twice for the champion and reserve entries.
Champion – a ram lamb by Cairness Sir William from John Henderson, Barry House, Glenbarry – sold to LF Dunn, 25 Fair Muir Road, Muir of Ord.
The reserve – a ram lamb, by Crewelands Megastar from George and Melvin Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon – sold to T Linklater, Stonelea, Stenness, Orkney.
Other top Suffolk prices included 850gn for a ram lamb, by Lakeview No Lmits, from the Ewens at Waterton, Drumblade, Huntly. He sold to C Clark, Millfield, Haroldswick, Unst.
Border Leicesters topped at 1,300gn for the champion – a ram lamb, by Clola Touch the Stars, from Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead, Cairness, Fraserburgh. He sold to Duncan Whyte, 37 Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns.
Other top prices included 480gn for a shearling from Rodney Blackhall. He sold to W Clark & Son, Birkenbog Home Farm, Cullen.
The reserve champion – a ram lamb, by Muirmouth Showtime, from Keith Hourston, Skelbister, Orphir, Orkney – sold for 380gn to A Miller & Son, Aimster, Thurso.
In the Beltex section, a top price of 1,100gn was paid for the champion.
This was a ram lamb, by Woodies AC Milan, from Stuart Wood, Woolhillock, Skene. He sold to C Stewart, An-Cala, Gills, Canisbay.
Charollais sold to a top of 900gn for the champion from Eilidh and Erin Duncan, of Barnyards Farm, Clola, Peterhead. Their ram lamb, by Loanhead Single Malt, sold to Wales to MA Evans, Tan-yr-Accar, Llanrhaeadr, Denbigh.
Next best at 650gn was another ram lamb from the Duncan sisters, this time by Logie Durno Sargeant. This reserve breed champion from Keith Show sold to A Adam & Son, Ternemny Farm, Knock, Huntly.
Bluefaced Leicesters sold to 500gn for the champion – a ram lamb from Matthew Seed, Home Farm, Auchry, Cuminestown. Buyer was James Cowe, Little Howes, Holm, Orkney.
Blue Texels sold to 700gn twice for shearlings from Deborah Atkinson, The Manse, Duncanstone, Insch, while Millennium Bleus sold to 700gn for a shearling from the Hunters at West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, Insch.
RESULTS
Texel – Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter, with a shearling by Arkle Ying Yang and out of a dam by Sportsman Supreme. Reserve – Jim Innes & Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly, with a shearling by Aman Vyrnwy and out of a dam by Tullagh Saracen.
Bluefaced Leicester – Matthew Seed, Home Farm, Auchry, Cuminestown, Turriff, with a ram lamb. Reserve – James Cowe, Little Howes, Holm, Orkney, with a shearling by an Auchry sire.
Border Leicester – Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead, Cairness, Fraserburgh, with a ram lamb by Clola Touch the Stars and out of a dam by Lammermuir King. Reserve – Keith Hourston, Skelbister, Orphir, Orkney, with a ram lamb by the £4,500 Muirmouth Showtime and out of a dam by Ditton Grand Prix.
Charollais – Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards Farm, Clola, Peterhead, with a ram lamb by Loanhead Single Malt, out of a dam by Riverdale Noble. Reserve – H E G Davies, Hillhead of Cannahars, Whitecairns, Aberdeen, with a shearling by Wernfawr OMG and out of a dam by Logie Durno Lord Myers.
Suffolk – George and Melvin Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon, with a ram lamb by Crewelands Megastar, out of a dam by Ballynacannon Commander. Reserve – John Henderson, Barry House, Glenbarry, Banff, with a ram lamb by Cairness Sir William, out of a dam by Solwaybank Pound Stretcher.
Beltex – Stuart Wood, Woolhillock, Skene, with a ram lamb by Woodies AC Milan, out of an imported ewe.
Pure any other breed – Deborah Atkinson, The Manse, Insch, with a Blue Texel shearling ram.