This year's Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha will begin on the evening of 31 August and run until 4 September. Processors typically source animals two or three weeks before the festival, and the timing this year means that the sheep required will need to have been born before 1 March.

The festival is held approximately 70 days after the end of Ramadan and commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God, so it is incumbent upon every Muslim to follow in the footsteps of Abraham and have an animal slaughtered as an offering to God. Called the Qurbani, meat is received in three portions - one for the person buying, one for friends and neighbours, and one for charity.

During this period, the community looks for mature animals, aged six months or older that are fit, healthy and lean. Therefore, a pick-up in demand for that type of sheep over the next couple of weeks is expected.

Market round-up

C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 3348 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £113 per head and 283p per kg for the Champion prime lamb from the Dumfries and Lockerbie Agricultural Show, a Texel from Austin Hoggan, Maryholm, Dumfries. Lean or lightweight lambs, particularly hill types, proved harder to cash and the overall sale average levelled at 189.6p (-7.4p on the week).

There was also another large show of 5783 cast sheep forward when heavy ewes sold to £162 for Texels and averaged £76.11 (-96p), while light ewes peaked at £72 for Cheviots and levelled at £36.92 (-£1.47). Rams sold to £146 for a Suffolk and averaged £91.83.

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd held their first sale of the season of Mule gimmers and ewe lambs at Ayr on Thursday when there were 2879 sheep forward that also included Texel ewe lambs, Cheviot cross gimmers and store lambs.

The champion pen of Mule gimmers was shown by Mr J Paterson, East Dykes, Strathven and sold for £166, while the reserve ticket went to Mr W A F Cunninghame, Caprington, Kilmarnock and went on to fetch £151. The 610 Mule gimmers sold averaged £133.52 (-£2.02 on the year).

The champion pen of Mule ewe lambs was brought out by Stuart Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick which realised £118, while the reserve ticket went to Messrs W Murdoch & Co, Fleminghill, Kilmarnock and also went on to fetch £118. The 993 Mule ewe lambs forward sold to a top of £125 and averaged £103.30 (+£1.69).

There were also 998 store lambs forward that sold to £80 for Oxford Downs, £73.50 for Texels and £59.50 for Mules and £57.50 for Suffolks to average £56.46 (-£2.10).