Dingwall Ram Sale 2021

DINGWALL

Auctioneers: Dingwall and Highland Marts

Averages: 193 rams, £646.07 (+£57.97)

Demand for Blackface sheep soared to new heights at Dingwall, where centre records were smashed on several occasions in both the male and female sections.

The event saw it's first five-figure sale when a shearling ram from Richard Thompson, shepherd at Clune and Corrybrough Estate, Tomatin and his partner and Becky Mussett, sold for £10,000 to Kenny and John Matheson, Milton Farm, Aberarder.

The couple, who moved up from Northumberland seven years ago, run 20 ewes from their base at Keepers Cottage, with all tracing back to Becky's late grand-father Herbert Flintoft's North of England flock. Sired by a £1600 Mountbenger son of a £16,000 Wanwoodhill, he is out of ewe by a £1000 Blackhouse bred from a North of England Blackface female.

Adding to the celebrations, Raymond Baynes, secured a record price for an aged ram, selling a home-bred three-shear ram from Blackford, Croy for £3000, also to Milton Farm Reserve champion at the pre-sale show, he is by a Blackford son of an Achdregnie sire. Blackford also sold the top priced two-shear ram at £1200.

The overall champion from Milton, made £1200, to Dava Farms, Wester Auchnagallan.

OTHERLEADING prices

Shearling rams – Abersky, £3000, £1,000; Clashnoir, £1600 (x3), £1400 (x2), £1200 (x3), £1000; Achdregnie, £1600, £1400; Harestone, £1200; Glenbow, £1200; Milton Farm, £1200; Livet, £1200; Midlock, £1000, Balchraggan, £1000.

Aged rams – Two shears – Milton Farm, £1000; Newton of Crathie, £500 (x2), £450. Three shears – Achdregnie, £700.

Ram lambs – South Bragar, £400; Harestone, £400.

FLOCK averages