Wallets Marts Castle Douglas Limited continued their Breeding Sheep sale season on Wednesday 20th September 2017 when they staged their annual sale of Blackface Ewes and Gimmers. A greatly increased entry of 4867 sheep were sold to buyers throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. Northern Irish buyers were extremely active taking almost 1400 sheep out of the sale. Sheep in general, as with all breeding sales this backend, were showing the adverse effects of the recent atrocious weather conditions. Trade was probably as selective as has been seen at this sale for many years with the emphasis for both ewes and gimmers focusing very much on quality and power. Smaller, hill type sheep proved difficult to cash and looked good value on the day.
The ewe section was topped at £182 for a pen of 15 from Glen Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet followed at £155 for another pen of 15 from the same home. 13 out of 15 top priced pens making £100 or more went to Northern Irish bidders.
Topping the Gimmers at £320 was a pen of three from J Mitchell & Sons, Little Larg. This was followed at £300 for a pen of 20 from Larg Farming Company, Knockainse whilst another pen from this homemade £280.
Sale averages whilst being well back on last year were still ahead of 2015 values. 2833 BF Ewes levelled at £68.74 a drop of £14.10 on the year whilst 2034 BF Gimmers averaged £122.08 a drop of £17.12 on the year.
Leading Prices
BLACKFACE EWES
£182 Glen Farm; £155 Glen Farm; £140 Knockdon; £135 Glen Farm; £132 Blackcraig; £125 Larg Farming; £122 Fingland; £118 Clanary; £118 Blackloch; £110 Cuil; £102 Grimmet; £100 Wood of Dervaird; £100 Milnmark-Duchrae; £100 Knockdon; £100 High Croach;
BLACKFACE GIMMERS
£320 Little Larg; £300 Larg Farming; £280 Larg Farming; £240 High Croach; £220 Blackloch; £205 Blackcraig; £205 High Croach; £200 Blackcaig; £195 Fingland; £190 Garroch Cottage; £185 Larg Farming; £180 Fingland; £170 Gass Farm; £170 Fingland; £170 Blackcraig (x2); £165 Garroch Cottage; £160 Larg Farming; £160 Barlaes; £160 Blackloch; £160 Shawsknowe;
