The mood was buoyant on a warm but showery Tuesday in Lairg this week. Over 10,400 wether lambs went through the ring, averaging £51.06. However, prices at the trend-setting sale were back almost £3.40 on last year. North Country Cheviot’s (NCC) from CH Anderson, Achosnich, Dornoch, fetched the top price of £71.

Meanwhile, over 3,790 ewe lambs were sold for an average price of £76.52, an increase of £5.73 on last year. NCCs from Joyce Campbell, Armadale, Thurso received the top price of £160. The numbers of people at the sale was a little lower but it was noted that more buyers were round the ring including more English and Welsh buyers than usual.

Many commented that the quality of lambs had improved on the year due to the good conditions in spring. The good spring weather will also have increased the number of twins for sale.

Allan MacLean has worked on Welbeck Scottish farm, Caithness for 15 years: “This is a big week for the farm. It took us a week to gather them all in. It involved two men, three dogs and one bike. We are on the oldest Cheviot flock in the north of Scotland, originally taken up by the Sinclairs hundreds of years ago. Suppose we are part of history. There used to be 40,000 lambs sold here but many of the big flocks have gone in the area, meaning the numbers are down.”

William MacDonald, Dunbeath farm, Caithness, sold 700 ewe lambs and wethers: “I am delighted with my trade. I got £130 for my ewe lambs. This is the main cheque for the year. We run the pure Cheviots because of the type of ground we are on. It’s not been a bad year in Caithness but the weather has been mixed. It’s exposed up in Caithness and it can be harsh. Heading down to Helmsdale you can see a change in climate. We are limited with what we can do – sheep, beef and a little barley. If I could change one thing about farming it would be less paperwork.”

John and Kate Grant farm at Ardlarach at Tain: “This is the last time we will be selling at this sale. I have been coming here since 1982 but we have now decided to stop. It is not as profitable as it once was. There is a real lack of opportunity for younger people. Courtney works with us and has done five or six lambings and is keen to be shepherd. But there are very few chances like that. Bigger farmers are getting by but the smaller guy is struggling.”

Malcolm McCall, Inverbrora by Brora: “My sheep have done well. Top price was £115 for 19 ewe lambs, second draw was £100 for 56, a further 51 got £84 and the final lot of 45 received £67. All well above store price. I am retiring soon when the farm is sold. After that the plan is to travel the world.”

Dougie Grey, Peebles: “I am up buying sheep for breeding. This is the best place to buy hill-type Cheviots where I keep them pure down in Peebles. There seems to be fewer people here than usual but I am not sure why.”

Ken Greenland, Cambasmore, Dornoch: “Today I sold 300 wethers which topped at £60,” said the farmer who runs a 17,000 acre estate which has 2,000 ewes, mostly North country Cheviots with some mules and blackfaces. “The second draw came at £58 and thirds £38. I am happy because we are up on the year. I come here every year and perhaps there are too many advanced lambs for what the North Country Cheviot is aiming for. I am in the ewe lamb scheme which makes selling ewe lambs at the moment difficult, since keeping them gives you the payment. It almost makes up for the drop in region three payment but there is quite a lot of red tape. I am still waiting to be paid my scheme money for 2016.”

Allan Gray, Dumwhindle: “The sheep I am buying are back £3 to £5 a head. I plan to buy 500 to 600 to take back to Aberdeenshire to finish. I like a smaller lamb which I take through to April or May time. We have been coming here since I was very young with my Grandfather. He used to buy sheep which came back to Ellon on the train. Not too long ago it was a two-day event with two rings.”