Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd (12th December) had forward 1136 suckled calves, store, breeding and OTM cattle at their annual Christmas Show and Sale. The judge on the day was Walter Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecraigs, Aberdeen and the following were his awards: Overall Champion a Limousin Bullock from E McPherson, Mill, Benderloch scaled 395kgs made £1300 to W Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecraigs. Reserve a pure Charolias heifer from D W Semple, Dippen, Carradale scaled 480kgs made £800 to W Young & Son, Mawcarse, Milnathort. Single Bullock Mainland Bred: 1st Champion E McPherson. 2nd E McGillvary, Barcaldine Home Farm, 320kgs, £900 to W Ritchie. 3rd R Lines, Killocraw, Campbletown, 410kgs, £590 to A Shand, Cortiecram, Turriff. Single Heifer Mainland Bred: 1st Reserve D W Semple. 2nd D Buchanan, Shenaville, 300kgs, £460 to W Young & Sons. 3rd E McGillvary, Baracaldine Home Farm, 335kgs, £470 to W Colquhoun, Bankhead, Kinross. Single Bullock Island Bred: 1st D McCormack, Baligarve, Lismore, 320kgs, £490 to A Wilson, Crawfordjohn Mill, Crawfordjohn. 2nd A McGillvary, Achuran, Lismore, 255kgs, £410 to J Gardner, Spittal Farm, Cardenden. 3rd D McCormack, Baligarve, 240kgs, £420 to D Low, Pittenkeerie, Glassal. Heifer Island Bred: 1st A McGillvary, Achuran, Lismore, 290kgs, £420 to Mackie, Backhill of Lenabo, Peterhead. 2nd J McCormack, Baligarve, 270kgs, £400 to T Milar, High Gameshill. 3rd J Carmichael, Fiart, Lismore, 255kgs, £350 to T Millar, High Gameshill. Senior Bullock: 1st Pat Boyd, Drumaglea, Tiree, 605kgs, £780 to A Dunlop, South Barr, Inchinnan. 2nd E McPherson, Mill, 655kgs, £880 to A Dunlop. 3rd Pat Boyd, Drumaglea, Tiree, 600kgs, £785 to A Dunlop, South Barr, Inchinnan. Senior Heifer: 1st J McPherson, Ballymeanach 385kgs, £515 to B Duff, Hill O Drip. 2nd A Livingston, Achnacreemore, 490kgs, £630 to B Duff. 3rd J McPherson, Ballymeanach, 330kgs, £465 to M/s Neil, Boghead. Champion Pen of 4 Bullocks T Glen, Saddell Home Farm, Campbeltown, 400kg Charolias Cross, £600 to D Low, Pittenkeerie. Champion Pen of 4 Heifers J McPherson, Ballymeanach, Charolais Cross, 260kgs, £400 to T Millar, High Gameshil. Bullocks 530 sold to 329p per kg for a Limousin from Mill and averaged 142.8p per kg. Heifers 501 sold to 190.4p per kg for Simmental Cross from Ballindore, Taynault averaged 128.2p per kg.

Oban - Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd (24th October) sold 932 suckled calves, store cattle and breeding cattle. Bullocks (417) averaged 135.5p per kg (n/c) to 181.8p per kg for a 220kg Limousin from Antium, Isle of Mull and £550 gross (twice) for four 385kg Limousin from Ardmaleish, Isle of Bute and 410kg Simmental from Balvicar. Heifers (361) averaged 135.1p (n/c) to 232p per kg for two 250kg Sim-Luings from Ardencapel, Scammadale, Kilninver and £660 gross for four 410kg Sim-Luing from Scammadale. A feature of the sale was 62 Sim-Luing spring born heifer calves from Scammadale and Ardencapel which averaged £483.82. Leading prices per head: Bullocks: Cha - Balure, Lismore £540; Lim - No 3 Ballevullin, Tiree £490; Sim - No 77 Borve, Barra £480; X - Homesteads, Ardfern £470. Heifers: AA - Saulmore £460; Lim - Achuran, Lismore £460; HighX - Rhudle £450; Luing - Cadzow Bros £430. Breeding cattle (143) sold to £1150 for a simmental X heifer calf from A McLarty, Glenshellach who sold seven with calves to average £916. In-calf heifers: BG - Stroneskar £950; Lim - Stroneskar £920 (twice); Sim - Cairnbaan £900; AAX - Saulmore £850; SHX - tiretigan £850; HighX - Pennygown £840; X - Knock £790. Bulling heifers: Luing - Arisaig £720; Slaterich £680; Roan - Laggan Farms £620; SalerX - Laggan Farms £620; X - Elderberry £500. Stock cows: AAX In-calf - Saulmore £710; AA 4 y o bull Saulmore £800.

Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd had forward 480 Rams at their annual sale at Oban on Wednesday 18th October. BF shearlings (103) sold to £600 averged £155.62 (+£57.08 on the year). The BF ram section was judged by Mr Robert Dixon, Kilbride and the following were is awards: 1st prize and Champion shearling - Brisbane Glen Estates £350 purchased by A McNicol Low Glenramskill. 2nd prize BF shearling - D Walker, Laigh Alticane £600 purchased by T Palmer Auchnacarron. 3rd prize BF shearling - Mr McTaggart, Muirhouses £180. 1st prize Ram lamb and reserve Champion - J & J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch £280 purchased by McCorkindale, Scammadale. 2nd prize Ram lamb - Brisbane Glen Estates £200 purchased by Miss McTaggart, Muirhouses. 3rd prize Ram lamb - J & J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch £180. Prices out with prize lists shearling: Laigh Alticane £380, £320, (twice), £300; Ardachy £300; Mingarg £280. Ram lambs: Mingarg £120; Balliemeanoch £120, £100; Sunipol £100; Inion £100. All other Rams: Chev rams averaged £156.25 (+ 44.01 on the year). Chev rams: Woodside £450, £420; Attonburn £350; Walton £320. Suff shearlings: Attonburn £500, £480. Suff ram lambs: Balevallin, Tiree £380, £250. Tex shearling: Inion £620; Veltigar £380, £350 (twice). Bel shearlings:Upper Auchenlay £250. Blue Face Leicester ram lambs: Inion £380, £280.

Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd (10th October) sold 2505 Store, Breeding and Feeding Sheep atOban Market. Leading prices: Store Lambs: Tex - Achnaba £45; Cont - Lochview £43; Suff - Ardlarach & Stalker Cottage £37.50; BF - Ardlarach £32.20. Overall lamb average up £6.65 on the year. Overall ewe average up £5.14 on the year. CH X - Ardlarach £39.50; Tex - Achnaba £38.50; Suff X - Ardachy £35.80; BF X - Sunipol £30. Cross Ewes - Frackersaig £27; BF - Sunipol £24. Ewe lambs: BF - Sunipol £30.

Caledonian Marts, Stirling (3rd October) sold 1071 Suckled Calves and Store Cattle at their sale at Oban on Tuesday. Bullocks (601) averaged 150.2p (n/c) to 197.8p per kg for six 240kg Simental X's from Scammadale, Kilninver and £655 gross for two 550kg Aberdeen Angus X's from Craignaich, Lismore. Heifers (470) averaged 122.8p (n/c) to 165.2p per kg for one 390kg Belgium Blue from Achnaba, North Connel and £640 gross for one Belgium Blue 390kg again from Achnaba. "An excellent enrty of spring born calves sold ahead of sellers expectations"

Caledonian Marts, Stirling (26th September) had forward 3382 sheep at their Annual sale of Registered Cast Ewes, Gimmers and Ewe Lambs on Tuesday. 1613 BF Ewes averaged £25.70 (+£8.71 on the year) selling to a top of £32 from S H Troughton, Ardachy. 495 CH X Ewes averaged £29.65 (+£7.07 on the year) selling to a top of £40 from J Meller, Knipoch, Bhaeg. 401 Cross Ewes averaged £42.10 (+£9.91 on the year) selling to a top of £61 for 1 crop ewes from I Campbell & Sons, Strongorm. Leading prices Ewes: Swale (U/X) Teanga £31; BF (U/X) Turnault £29; CH - Slaterich £37; Mule - Strongorm £53; Char - Ardonia £54; Tex - 5 Tomaig £56. Gimmers: Mule - Fiart £71; X - Lochnell Home Farm £70; Char - Ardonia £70; CH - Slaterich £37; Tex - Balliemeanoch £63; BF - Kintraw £60; BM - Pine Lodge £58. Ewe lambs: Mule - Seaview £55; X - Fiart £50; CH - Fiart £48; Char - Ardonia £46; BF - Slaterich £38.

Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd (Tuesday 19th September) had forward 3485 store lambs and feeding ewes at their sale in Oban o Tuesday. Top price of the day went to A McColl Ballimackillich, Isle of Lismore for a Cont X Lamb. Leading prices per head Suff - Kilbride £38; Tex X - Strongorm £37.50; Suff X - Dallachulish £36; CH - 117 Craigston, Barra £35.50; Mule - Ballimackillichin, Lismore and Tirfuir, Lismore £34; BF - Tiraghoil, Mull £35.50. Feeding Ewes: Tex - Balure, Lismore £33; X - Sithean, Iona £29; Suff - Frackersiag £28; Mule - Barguillean £27.80; BF (warranted) Achenreir £32; Frackersaig £19 (feeders)

Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd (15th September) had forward 261 Suckled calves, store and breeding cattle at the sale in Oban. Bullocks sold to 165.5p per kg for Limousin X from Fidden, Isle of Mull, sale average 140.1p per kg + 25.6p per kg on the year. Heifers sold to 150.6p per kg for Limousin X from Ardachy, North Connel, sale average 122.6p per kg +18.7p per kg on the year. Champion bullock a Limousin from Fidden scaled 455kgs made £720 to the judge A Orr, Sunwick Farms, Berwick Upon Tweed. Reserve a Belguim Blue bullock from Ardachy scaled 440kgs made £680 to J Smith, Lorn, Lochgilphead. Champion pen of 4 Limousin bullock from Achnaba, North Connel scaled 435kgs made £650 to A Paton, Cairnhill, Girvan. Reserve pen of 4 Limousin bullocks from Fidden scaled 365kgs made £565 to A Orr, Sunwick Farms. Champion pen of 4 Limousin heifers from Achnaba scaled 410kgs made £570 to J Smith. Reserve pen of 4 Limousin heifers from Ardachy scaled 330kgs made £460 to M A Blyth, Lochfield, Doune. Prices outwith prize list Bullocks: £660 Saulmore; £650 Inion & Achnaba; £630 Stalkers Cottage; £590 Stroneskar Heifers: £565 Ardionra; £550 Ardachy; £535 Saulmore; £500 Achnaba Bulling Heifers: £560 North Locheynort; £555 Achenreir; £370 Caimbaan Aged In-Calf cows: £490 Ardachy

Caledonian Marts, Stirling Ltd (12th September) had forward 3553 store lambs and feeding sheep at Oban on Tuesday. Top price of the day went to Mrs D McNeill, 21 Bentangavel, Isle of Barra at £39 for a pen of Cheviot lambs. Leading prices per head CH - £38.80 Rhulios, Barra; Suff - £37 Upper Largie; CH X - £37 Baligarve Croft, Lismore; Cont - £37.80 2 Allasdale, Barra; Mule - £36.20 Rossal & Achiaran, Mull; Suff X - £36 Scallastle, Mull. Feeding Ewes: X - £29 Scallastle; BF - £17 Callachally, Mull; CH - £24 2 Allasdale, Barra; Tex - £26 Croft 2 Fanmore, Mull.

Oban - Caledonian Marts had forward 4852 store lambs, ewe lambs and feeding ewes. In the ewe lamb section top price mule lams £48 J Carmicheal, Fiart. Top price BF ewe lambs £41 J McNciol & Sons, Turnault. Overall averaged Mule £40 + £5.32, BF £27.61 + £6.82. Other prices:- Mule £43 Fiart, Mule £40 Culbhuirg, Mule £39 Dalrannoch, BF £40 Achnaba, BF £35 Saulmore. In the store lamb section, top price £40 for a pen of Suffolk Lambs from J McLEan, 35 Kentangavel, Barra & Texel lambs from D McGregor, Slaterich, Isle of Kerrera. Overall sale average for 2063 Suffolk, Texel and Cross lambs £28.61 - £2.82. Overall sale average for 1654 Blackface lambs £25.46 + 2.82 on the year. Leading prices:- Tiragoil (SuffX) £38.20; Stalker Cottage (TexX) £37.50; Achnacreemore (Suff) £36.20; Poltalloch (Tex) £36.50; Bonawe (BDM) £38.80; Upper Largie (Beltex) £37.20; Tirfuir (Mule) £35; Invernahyle (BFX) £35; Glengorm (BF) £32: Feeding Ewes:- Achach Beag (Tex) £29.50; West Drimvore (Cross) £26; Park (Chev) £25.80; Oban Seil (BF) £23.50; Poltalloch (BFX) £19: