Relief as sheep sale averages move higher

Wallets Marts Castle Douglas kicked off its breeding sale season on Saturday with a steady but lacklustre trade, when 3896 Scotch mule gimmers were sold to an average of £80.47 - a rise of some £1.26 on the year.

However, that changed yesterday when 9698 Scotch mule ewe lambs traded up £10 on the year to average £56.39. The mood of relief was palpable among sellers who had feared the worst.

One vendor at both sales was Stranraer breeder Neale McQuistin, High Airyolland, New Luce. He normally sells a pen of top draw ewe lambs at the first sale and holds most of his crop back for the second.