Bullish market sees lamb sell for a record £62,000

The Blackface ram, McTavish, was bought for double the expected price at an auction in Lanark by a consortium of three breeders.

The record price comes four years after the industry appeared to lie in ruins, when thousands of sheep were burned in heaps during the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The sum paid for McTavish - at six months old he is still classed as a lamb - could buy a small terraced house in parts of Scotland or a luxury Jaguar XKR Coup sports car.

Seller Willie Dunlop, from East Lothian, who has 1,400 ewes, said: "I didn't expect him to make that sort of money. Half of that, maybe. I certainly didn't expect him to be the most expensive sheep sold in Britain this year. But then McTavish does look the part. He's a big build for the breed. He's got sturdy legs, a terrific muzzle and real character."

Mr Dunlop, 53, of Elmscleugh, Dunbar, continued: "He walks with his head held high and shows himself off very well like he's on a catwalk. He knows he's something pretty special."

The sale price of McTavish nearly made up the total cost paid for his parents, a ewe bought for 41,000 and a ram for 24,000. McTavish could generate large sums of money for his buyers. The male offspring of a previous prize ram, called Menace, which Mr Dunlop bought for 18,000 in 1991, generated 340,000 in sales.

McTavish is thought to be the country's most expensive Blackface ram since before the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak of 2001, when the breed could fetch sums of up to 76,000.

Mr Dunlop said: "During foot-and-mouth we were in an area that was quarantined for two months and we feared we could lose our life's work. It was a very bleak time for all farmers. It's nice to see people still have faith in farming and it's all going to be put right again. Hopefully, the good times are back to stay. And that's what it's like in this industry - you live in hope."

McTavish's new owners are Hugh Blackwood and John Murray, both from near Muirkirk in East Ayrshire, and Archie MacGregor, of Allanfauld, Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire.

Mr Blackwood, 50, said the trio were happy with their buy: "This ram may be the country's most expensive and we probably could have bought a luxury sports car for the price but he's worth every penny. He's different from all the others. Any breeder worth his salt can see that at a glance.

"There was a bit of hype about the sale and competition for him. He's an exceptional sheep and was well known by reputation."

Mr Blackwood said McTavish will be put to work next month touring the farms of the three buyers to couple up with their ewes.

"He'll be at it for about three to five years, mating with nearly 100 ewes annually. After that he'll be put out to pasture - by which time he'll be in need of a good rest."