The annual three-day sheep fair hosted by Aberdeen & Northern Marts was held at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae last week from Thursday 14^th of September to Saturday 16^th of September. 

The three-day fair kicked off with the Annual Show and Sale of Multi Breed Rams with a 114 Rams sold under the auspices of the Caithness Sheep Breeders Association on Thursday the 14^th of September, with the first event kindly sponsored by HRN Tractors.

The Champion Suffolk judged by Scott Dey, Bogbeth Livestock, Kemnay was a shearling from J B & L

Swanson, East Murkle and sold for a new centre record of £2,000 to J R Burgess Lower House, Hillwell.

Nicola Wordie, Cairnborrow Mains judged the Texels with a shearling from R Mackay, Clyth Mains, Wick taking Champion and going on to sell for £1,800 to R & A MacKIntosh, Glengolly Farm, Thurso. Taking top price for the Texels was the Reserve Champion shearling from R Mackay, Clyth Mains, which sold for £2,000 to J S Baillie & Co, Sebay Farm, Tankerness.

In the Any Other Breed section, judge Tracey Nicol, Balthayock Farm, Perth tapped out her Champion, a Beltex shearling from James Swanson, Framside, Thurso that went onto sell for £800 to J MacDonald, West Brims, Thurso.

On Friday the 15^th of September Aberdeen & Northern Marts under the auspices of the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, sponsored by Agri-Lloyd sold 59 rams to the average of £1,385.83 (+£100.12) against £1,282.56 for 85 last year, 1 Ram Lambs sold to £1,200 (+£516.67) and 4 gimmers to average £1,156.25 (+£474.59).

On day two, a new breed and centre record of £5,000 was achieved for a North Country Cheviot Gimmer, sired by Biggins Xerick and bred by James Mackay Biggins who also took Overall Champion. The Gimmer also took 2^nd prize at Caithness county show earlier this year.

Overall Cheviot Champion judged by Norman Robinson, Summherhill House and James Metcalfe Hardenclough Farm, Edale was a shearling Biggins Dictator, by Cairnside Craftsman from J & W Mackay, Biggins, Wick, which sold for £4,200 to Firm of Mackay, South Balkierh, Tain. Reserve shearling Bardnaclavan Dazzler by Cairnside Action Man from D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Thurso and sold for £3,500 to Andrew Gunn, Upper Dounreay, Thurso

On Saturday the 16^th of September, 2,460 store, breeding and feeding sheep were sold incorporating consignments from Dunbeath, Bettyhill, Forsinard and North West Sutherland areas.

Gimmers (315) averaged £105.13 to £240 for Cheviots from Braemore, Dunbeath (McGonigal) Breeding ewes (955) averaged £113.02 to £200 for Cheviot Ewes from Brackside, Reay. Store lambs (613) sold to £110 for Cheviots from 8 Upper Dounreay, Thurso. Feeding ewes & rams (577) averaged £74.83 to £162 for Texels from Sibmister.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “Caithness Ram Breeders came out in style at the show and sale smashing centre records for the Texels and Suffolks when a fantastic price of £2,000 was achieved for both on day one. The momentum continued on day two with another centre and breed record smashed by a Biggins Bred Gimmer from J & W Mackay, Biggins which achieved £5,000 selling to David Bruce, Hagg House, Scarborough.

There was an outstanding show forward across all classes over the three-day sheep fair which met an electric trade from start to finish with a packed ringside of buyers. We would like to thank our sponsors HRN Tractors and Agri-Lloyd for supporting the events.”