Scotch Mule averages jump at Castle Douglas

 A brace of Scotch Mule sales in three days saw tremendous prices at Castle Douglas on Saturday and Monday, with Saturday’s sale of shearling ewes selling to a top of £240 for the champion pen from H J Paterson, East Dykes, Strathaven. This pen set a new centre record when selling to the pre-sale judge Robert Somerville, New Abbey.

Selling at £180 was a pen from Balker Farms, with the reserve champions from J and M Kerr, Craigskean, Maybole, selling at £176/head to H R and C Dalrymple, Kings Arms, Ballantrae.

The auctioneers report an animated trade throughout the sale with the overall entry of 3615 levelling the day at £154.68, up by £24.60 on last year.

Monday’s sale of ewe lambs also saw centre records tumble, with a top price of £165 paid for the pre-sale champions from J A Brown Macqueston, Tynron. These sold to the pre-sale judge H J Paterson, East Dykes, Strathaven.

Then at £158 were the reserve champion pen came from Messrs Shennan, Farden which sold again to the judge. The average for the ewe lambs also climbed heavily on the year, with the entry levelling at £113.84, up by £11.89 on 2010 (Wallets Marts).