Highland Cattle breeders from England and Scotland descended on Dingwall at the weekend for a reduction sale from Heather Corrigall’s Earn fold.
The animals attracted keen interest. Mrs Corrigall, of Culnaha, Nigg, near Tain, said she was pleased with the trade and could not complain.
Sale topper at 2,000gn was the in-calf heifer, Krish of Earn, a May 2010 daughter of Brogach 1st of Auchtenny and Marida of Killundine. She had been running with Josh of Earn.
Ken and Eva Brown, of Craigowmill, Kinross, were the buyers. The Browns also acquired at 1,150gn the maiden heifer, Merle 3rd of Earn, a March 2011 daughter of Brogach 1st of Auchtenny and Merle of Earn.
Sunderland-based breeder Gary Braines, of the West Edmonsley fold at Millfield, paid 1,600gn for Floraidh of Earn, a March 2004 daughter of Paidhraig of Tordarroch and Mhairi 1st of Earn. She was sold with her March-born heifer calf at foot and has since been running with Josh of Earn.
He also bought at 1,000gn Milis Dubh 8th of Earn, a two-year-old maiden heifer by Howard of Earn and out of Milis Dubh 4th of Earn.
Making 1,000gn was Josh of Earn, one of Mrs Corrigall’s stock bulls. The five-year-old is a son of Howard of Earn and Eleanor 1st of Earn. R. Maclean, of 8 Corntown, Conon Bridge, was the buyer.
Her other main stock bull, Brogach 1st of Auchtenny, made 900gn.
Also at 1,000gn was Alice 1st of Earn, a July 2009 daughter of Brogach and out of Marida of Killundine. She was sold with her April-born heifer calf at foot to Roy Tylden-Wright, of The Roundhouse, Uvie, Lagganbridge.
The bargain of the day was, however, at 750gn for Kathleen 6th of Earn, a rising nine-year-old cow and her twin calves at foot, one a heifer and the other a bull.
The reduction sale coincided with the annual rare breeds auction held by Dingwall and Highland Marts. It featured 222 cattle, 12 goats, 452 sheep, 525 lots of poultry, eggs and poultry equipment.
Goats traded to £160 for a pygmy female from Rowanlea, Jenkins Park, while sheep topped £400 for Hampshire shearling rams from Pinkie Mains, Musselburgh. There were also Zwartbles at £300.
Best among the poultry was £310 for a pair of Becon Buff geese from Bracken, Dunnet.
Among leading prices in the poultry were:
Large fowl: trio of Araucana £80.
Ducks: trio Indian Runner – £50.
Call ducks: pair White – £100.
Bantams: two Pekin hens – £115.
Pigeons: 30 Old Kirk Loan, Aberfoyle, £90.
Quail: six white females – £40.
Geese: Brecon Buff – £160.
Turkeys: four Bronze poults – £60.
Guinea fowl: four – £40.