Quoybrae: ‘Shortage of heavy ewes’ at Caithness sale
Caithness, Aberdeen and Northern Marts on Monday, August 26, sold 2304 prime and store lambs and feeding ewes and rams.
New season prime lambs (715) averaged 276.4p per kg and sold to 298.8p per kg for 44kg Beltex, 3 Upper Dounreay, Thurso, and £150 gross for a 53kg Texels from Hillhead, Dunnet.
Store lambs (936) averaged £90.62 and sold to £178 for North Country Cheviot ewe lambs from Balbeg, Mybster.
Feeding ewes and rams (653) averaged £76.10 and sold to £169.50 for Texel Ram from Plocan, Calder.
“A fantastic show of prime lambs were sold to average £130.65 per head. Best bred continental store lambs were very keenly bid for with many lots exceeding £100. With the majority of the ewes forward today being hill bred feeding sort, averages are back on the week although a shortage of heavy ewes were present.”
Leading prices per head and per kg
Old season prime lambs: Tex – West Durran £146.50, Lynegar 290.6p; Suf – West Durran, Brickigoe Thrumster £145.50, West Durran 292.6p; TexX – Tofts of Tain £144.50, West Brims 287.3p; SufX – West Watten (Thomson) £144.50, Achnabust, Reay 289.5p; DownX – Granton Mains £142.50, Upper Giese 281.9p; Blk – Sibmister, Castletown £136.50, 278.6p; ChvMule – West Brims Forss £134.50, Lynegar 278.1p; Bel – 3 Upper Dounreay £131.50; Mule – West Durran £129.50, Achavanich, Latheron 274.4p; HB – Sibmister £128.50, 267.7p; Cont – Latheronwheel Mains £121.50, 276.1p; Cha – Murza, Bower £122.50, 284.9p; Easy – Murza Farm £118.50, 269.3p.
Leading prices per head
Ewe lambs: ChvMule – Upper Geise £145; Tex – Balbeg, Mybster £112; Blk – Curlew £114; Chv – Tongue Mains £88, Wattenon Croft £87.
Store lambs: Tex – Old Stirkoke £117, Valleyview £116, Lhaid Croft, Curlew £114; Achairn, Balbeg £113. Chv mule – 3 Upper Dounreay £112; Suf – Balbeg £110, Old Stirkoke, SwineyHill £109; Valleyview, Tacher £108, Valleyview, Curlew, East Murkle £100; NCC – West Catchery £108, £91; Landhallow £91; Chv – 183 Strathtongue £94, Wattenon Croft, Keepers House £83; Tongue Mains £80; Mule – Netherside, Castletown £88.
Feeding ewes: Tex – Lynegar £159.50, £139.50; Latheronwheel Mains £157.50, £149.50, £139.50; Plocan £137.50; West Catchery £131.50; Swineyhill £125.50; Suf – Lynegar £151.50, Latheronwheel Mains £141.50, Knockdee £139.50; Chv – Hillhead, Dunnet £149.50, Melvich Hotel £97.50; 110 Kirtomy £88.50. Cha – Murza Farm £141.50. NCC – West Catchery £139.50, Blabeg £121.50; Landhallow £ 119.50. Cont – Knockdee £120.50, Balbeg £119.50, Murza £117.50; ChvX – Hillhead £119.50; Lynegar £99.50, Knockdee £89.50. Mule – 3 Upper Dounreay, Thurdistoft £95.50, East Murkle £94.50. Blk – Curlew £91.50; Chv mule – East Murkle £93.50. BF – Murza Farm £57.50.
Feeding rams: Chv – 3 Borgie £119.50.
