Strong demand for North-type Scottish Blackface breeding stock at the Dalmally sale pushed many ram lambs into five-figure territory and delivered substantial year-on-year increases for averages.
Top prices and pedigrees
The highest price in the lamb ring was £40,000 for the second entry from Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk. That lot was purchased by Charlie Harkin, The Rock. It is sired by last year’s £72,000 Auldhouseburn and out of a dam sired by a £9,000 Glenrath ram.
The first Auldhouseburn lamb from the same vendor made £30,000; it was bought by Richard Carruthers, Merkland Farm, and is bred from a ewe by a £160,000 Dyke. Two further Auldhouseburn lambs by the same tup reached £22,000 and £14,000, respectively, each carrying notable maternal lines.
Other major lots
Ian Hunter’s pen leader from Dalchirla made £35,000, selling in a three-way split to Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch; Elmscleugh and Auldhouseburn. Dalchirla also realised lots at £32,000 and £13,000. A high-priced shearling used as a lamb and out of a daughter of a £10,000 Elmscleugh sire featured among the top sellers and involved multiple buyers including Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Biggar; Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, Dyke; Andrew Kay, Gass; the Dunlop family, Upper Wellwood; and Eoin and Kirstyn Blackwood, Dalblair.
Across the lamb ring, the sale noted a marked lift in averages compared with last year, driven by fierce competition for well-bred, performance-proven animals.
- Top price: £40,000 — Auldhouseburn (second entry), purchaser Charlie Harkin, The Rock
- Second top: £35,000 — Dalchirla (fourth entry), multiple purchasers including Neil and Stuart Barclay
- Other notable prices: £32,000, £30,000, £22,000, £14,000 — various vendors and buyers
| Price (£) | Breeder | Buyer | Pedigree note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40,000 | Auldhouseburn (Hugh and Alan Blackwood) | Charlie Harkin, The Rock | Sired by last year’s £72,000 Auldhouseburn; dam by a £9,000 Glenrath |
| 35,000 | Dalchirla (Ian Hunter) | Neil and Stuart Barclay, Elmscleugh, Auldhouseburn (three-way split) | Son of a shared £13,000 Dyke lamb; dam by a £45,000 Nunnerie |
| 30,000 | Auldhouseburn (Hugh and Alan Blackwood) | Richard Carruthers, Merkland Farm | By same sire as top lot; dam by a £160,000 Dyke |
The prominence of Auldhouseburn, Dalchirla and other established hill-breeding flocks at the top end underlines the premium being placed on proven sires and high-value maternal lines. The sale also demonstrated active purchasing from a mix of commercial breeders and pedigree buyers prepared to pay significant sums for genetics they consider transformational for their breeding programmes.
Organisers reported that no fewer than 20 lambs achieved five-figure prices at the sale, reflecting robust demand for North-type Blackface rams and the continuing market for elite hill-breed genetics.
Buyers and vendors involved in the leading transactions included Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Biggar; Jimmy and Donald MacGregor, Dyke; Andrew Kay, Gass; the Dunlop family, Upper Wellwood; Eoin and Kirstyn Blackwood, Dalblair; John Marshall, Gosland, Broughton; and the Grahams Billy and Una and their father Willie of Craigdarroch and Kirkland.
Further flock and lot details, including averages and fuller sale returns, were provided in the day’s reporting from the mart.
