WALLETS Marts Castle Douglas staged its annual sale of Blackface ewe lambs yesterday.

Continuing uncertainty over Brexit and the general lack of cash was reported to have weighed heavy on the sale when the average fell by just short of £25 per head.

The sale was topped at £112 and the overall average levelled at £62.92 for 2281 lambs sold compared to £87.76 for 1,940 head last year.

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 44 prime heifers in St Boswells yesterday to a top of 241p/kg and an average of 206p (-4p), while 12 prime bullocks peaked at 229p and levelled at 207p (-1p).

In the rough ring 27 cast cows sold to £1,262 and 159p to average 127p (n/c).

There were also 1,662 prime lambs that sold to £107 and 218p for Beltex to average 176p (+5p).

In the cast sheep section 827 ewes averaged £58.46 overall (+£5.75). Heavy ewes peaked at £123 for Texels and averaged £82, while light ewes peaked at £78 for Cheviots and levelled at £48.

The firm also sold 26 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday to a top of 220p and an average of 196p (-1p), while 23 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 215p and levelled at 188p (-9p). Fifty-six prime, beef-bred bulls sold to 214p and averaged 176p (n/c), while 23 prime, dairy-bred bulls peaked at 178p and levelled at 146p (-5p).

In the rough ring 214 cast dairy cows sold to 153p and averaged 94p (+1p), while 116 cast beef cows peaked at 233p and levelled at 130p (+8p). Seven cast bulls sold to 164p and averaged 113p (+16p).

There were also 2853 prime lambs that sold to £113.80 and 256p to average 177p (+1p).

In the cast sheep ring 272 heavy ewes sold to £110.50 for Texels and averaged £66 (+£5.76), while 57 light ewes peaked at £53.50 for Hill Cheviots and levelled at £40.35 (+£1.56).

C & D Auction Marts Ltd had 235 head of mainly dairy cross cattle forward at their fortnightly sale of Store Cattle in Dumfries yesterday. However, suckler bred cattle met the greatest demand. Luing bullocks sold to £1,050, while Aberdeen Angus and Herefords both peaked at £1030. The heifers were topped by Charolais at £1,050.

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 2763 Prime Lambs at Ayr yesterday. Top price per head was £90 on five occasions for various breeds of lambs. Top price per kilo was 206p for a pen of 9 Beltex. he overall average was 168p (-5p).

There were also 847 cast sheep forward that sold to a top of £150 for a pen of heavy Texel ewes. Mule ewes sold to £89 and lighter/ export type ewes peaked at £58 for Blackfaces.