STUDENTS were urged to “attack their careers with a positive attitude” at the annual awards ceremony at the Barony campus of Scotland’s Rural College in Dumfries on Tuesday.

Prizes were awarded to students who had made particular achievements, progress or contribution to their course, with the winners nominated by tutors from each department.

Guest speaker Peter Landale, of Dalswinton Estate, presented the students with their certificates and awards.

He said: “As you start out on your various journeys, remember – build on the knowledge you learnt here, be proud of what you do, and take pride in doing it, and finally, attack your careers with a positive attitude and be happy.”

Market round-up

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 13 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1,396 per head for a Charolais and 243p/kg for a Limousin to average 225p, while three prime bullocks sold up to 220p and levelled at 192p.

There were also 125 cattle forward in the rough ring. Thirty-six cast beef cows sold to £1,340 or 161p for a pure Limousin and averaged 125p, while 72 cast dairy cows peaked at £910 and levelled at 102p. Clean, OTM cattle peaked at £1,050 for a Holstein heifer and 175p for a Montbeliard to average 139p.

Six dairy cattle sold to £1,820 for a Holstein Friesian Second Calver.

C&D Auction Marts had forward 601 head at their sale of ewes with lambs at foot at Longtown on Tuesday. The sale was topped at £88 a life for a pen of Suffolk x 2-3 crop ewes with strong single lambs. There were also Hoggs with singles that sold to £85 and ewes with twins peaked at £76. Geld ewe hoggs sold to £96 for Texel crosses.

Messrs Craig Wilson had 356 prime lambs forward at their weekly sale in Newton Stewart yesterday. Lambs proved scarce on the ground due to many farmers taking advantage of the good weather for silage. Top prices on the day were £110 for a Suffolk and 223p/kg for a single Beltex with the overall average levelling at 211p (n/c on the week).

Cast sheep were dearer on the week with heavy ewes selling to £128 for a pair of Texels, while light/export-type ewes peaked at £70 for Blackfaces.

C&D Auction Marts held their weekly sale of primestock yesterday in Dumfries.

Prime cattle sold to 230p/kg for a BB Heifer, while OTM cattle peaked at £1242 for an Aberdeen Angus.

There were also 346 prime lambs that sold to £100 for Texels and averaged 212p/kg. Prime hoggs made up to £80 for Suffolks, while 230 cast ewes and rams were reported as being dearer, selling up to £118 for Texels.