0:00:03 > 0:00:05Farming is a risky business.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08350. 380.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12- And when it's time to make money, the stakes are high.- 380, Fraser.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Thainstone Mart,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17one of Europe's biggest livestock markets.
0:00:17 > 0:00:1970. 80 bid. 80 bid. 81 bid.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Sheep, cattle and machinery
0:00:22 > 0:00:24auctioned to the highest bidder day in, day out.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26COW MOOS
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Farmers spend months getting ready for their big sales day.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33COW MOOS
0:00:33 > 0:00:34With livelihoods on the line,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36their animals have to look just right.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43This is the thing that puts the food on the table. Of course I'm nervous.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Fortunes can be made and dreams can be dashed...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49..all in the blink of an eye.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51- HE CHUCKLES - It's just another day at work.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Welcome to The Mart.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02It's early autumn at Thainstone and on today's programme...
0:01:02 > 0:01:03BIRD CAWS
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Colin and his team face their most challenging sale of the year,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08rare breeds day.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Come on. Get down and catch it. Come on. Good lads.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11Get in there. Come on, boys.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13A farmer selling sheep for the first time
0:01:13 > 0:01:16hopes a spray tan might boost his chances.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20It's amazing what that sheep'll look like once you've had a wee tidy up.
0:01:20 > 0:01:2132. 35.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25And there's a life or death sale at the car auction.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29We need to sell the car to save dogs like Zach and Snuggles.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Will a Porsche go for enough cash to save an animal sanctuary?
0:01:35 > 0:01:37COW MOOS
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Traditional livestock is Thainstone's bread and butter.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50But twice a year,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53the mart plays host to a special kind of customer...
0:01:56 > 0:01:58..at the rare breed sale.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03HE WHISTLES
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Hundreds of farmers and families who truly love their livestock
0:02:06 > 0:02:10come to buy, sell and admire the speciality stock on show.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Senior auctioneer Colin Slessor normally sells sheep,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25but the rare breeds day gives him a chance to spread his wings.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27COCKEREL CROWS
0:02:28 > 0:02:30We've certainly got a varied day today, that's for sure.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33The rare breeds day is a great family day.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34We've got everything.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36You've got turkeys here, you can see beside me.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowls, pheasants.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Our weekly sales are what we know and what we're used to.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47This is a wee bit different and there are challenges.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51All the people milling about, we've got to keep them safe.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55I wouldnae call it chaotic, but it's different and it's fun.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57But not everyone's so cheery.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59The customers may love their animals
0:02:59 > 0:03:02and the animals may love the customers...
0:03:03 > 0:03:07but mart staff, like head yardsman Robbie Cruickshank,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09can't wait for it all to end.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11This would be the day that everybody dreads.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13- HE CHUCKLES - The rare breed cattle
0:03:13 > 0:03:15and rare breed folk.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17- HORSE WHINNIES - This kind of day.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21A novelty kind of day. A lot of people come to these sales.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24We have a problem with them keeping the gates closed and everything,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26so stress levels get very high with the staff and...
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Ah, it's an interesting day if you're a spectator,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- but nae a worker. - HE CHUCKLES
0:03:33 > 0:03:36But people aren't the only potential headache.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Many of the beasts are well outside their comfort zone.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44The Highland cattle, they've never been inside in their lives
0:03:44 > 0:03:48and they're nae used to all this kind of environment.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51If the cattle goes wild on this kind of day,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53obviously, there's little kids going about,
0:03:53 > 0:03:55so you've to be careful with them, like.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01With over 1,000 animals to be penned, sorted and sold,
0:04:01 > 0:04:03it's going to be all hands on deck.
0:04:12 > 0:04:1425 miles away, near Kildrummy,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18one family is hoping for rare breed sale success.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25Ex-pub landlord John Bywater shares his 150-acre hill farm
0:04:25 > 0:04:27with partner Mary and their tribe of children.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34- There you go, boys. Some beans to nibble.- Thank you.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39John's reluctantly selling seven of their Gloucester Old Spot piglets.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41He's grown quite fond of them.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44If you've had a stressful day,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46sometimes, the best thing is just coming and sitting here
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and watch them play and it takes all your stress away.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54But with hungry mouths to feed and money tight, it's time to cash in.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- John, you're here.- Morning, Colin. - Morning. How you getting on?
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Colin has dropped by before the sale
0:05:00 > 0:05:02to check John's pigs are up to scratch.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- Right, where are they? Doon in this shed doon here?- Aye.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- There's...- OK, you've a mixture in here. What have you got?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- There's Gloucester Old Spots.- Aye.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- Three Berkshires.- OK. - Which will be breeding stock.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19- People always say pigs are dirty animals.- No.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- I disagree.- Yeah.- They'll always do their business in the same area.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24They're very intelligent animals.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Sheep and pigs and cattle, a lot of people say they're daft.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29- There's nothing daft about them. - Yeah. It's the people.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32It's the people who don't know about them that's daft.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- Kids are good with them.- Yeah. Kids, they learn a lot from animals.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Aye, of course they do. Of course they do.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41- Yeah, I was brought up on a farm myself and you don't beat it.- No.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43What are you thinking that'll make, John?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- I mean, are you hoping? - I'd like to make £40 of them.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50But really, realistically, probably, they'll make £30
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- if, you know...- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- Aye, well...- I'll show you our breeding stock if you want.- Aye.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Well, that's probably as good as any, John.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58Could take a look at them.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00What have you got? Just the one sow or...?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02No, I've two sows and a big, old boar.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Two sows and a boar, aye.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Yeah. Look at them. Yeah, he's some boar.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Big Lad is John's nine-year-old Berkshire boar,
0:06:11 > 0:06:12a hardy breed.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15They're one of the oldest recorded in Britain,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18tough enough to cope with the Aberdeenshire weather.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Look at him. He's got a haircut a bit like mine, John.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22- Eh?- Aye, well...- Aye.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- It comes to us all, Colin. - COLIN LAUGHS
0:06:25 > 0:06:29At 31st, Big Lad can hold his own.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Does he never have a wee chew at you, no?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Their teeth are razor-sharp. Yeah, they will...
0:06:36 > 0:06:38He looks like a boar that wouldnae be too keen on auctioneers,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- I would say. - COLIN LAUGHS
0:06:41 > 0:06:43- If we don't get our £30, £40 for these piglets...- Yeah.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45..I'll be in the first car home. I'll be heading home.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- Are we getting out of the wind? - Aye, get out of the wind.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Come on. Let's get up here. Brr!
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Now they've got a thumbs up from Colin,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56seven little piggies are packed up and on their way to market.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Back at the rare breed sale, sellers are flocking in.
0:07:09 > 0:07:10COCKEREL CROWS
0:07:10 > 0:07:12We just need to put them in the right pens now,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14make them feel at home.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Dean Anderson has been breeding ducks all his life
0:07:17 > 0:07:20and today, he's selling five dozen of his favourites.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Dean's ducks include golden runners...
0:07:27 > 0:07:28..Cherry Valleys...
0:07:29 > 0:07:33..and three white crested ducks with their distinctive hairdos.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39They're looking well. I like to see them nice and clean.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41That pen there. Look. Just looking tremendous.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44That's the only way to get a good price for them.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45They have to look the part.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49My realistic value is £6 a duck for these and that's...
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So, anything more than that, it'll be extra.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58If Dean can get more than his target of £6 per duck,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00he's going to treat himself.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03That ones there are the ones that I'm interested in
0:08:03 > 0:08:06because that'll be a new drake, new bloodline.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09I've got plenty ducks at home. I need a new drake.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13So, I'll try and buy either that two pairs
0:08:13 > 0:08:17to get me a new drake to mate onto the ducks I've got at home.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18See these ones here?
0:08:18 > 0:08:22While Dean eyes up his potential poultry purchase...
0:08:23 > 0:08:26..over in the cattle ring, the auction's underway.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31I'm bid 500. I'm bid 500. I'm bid 500. I'm at 50.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33650. 650. 700.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Backstage, Robbie and his team are working hard
0:08:36 > 0:08:38to get the Highlanders safely in and out.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41There was one wild beast we had to put out.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43It couldnae be sold. It was too wild.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47If it goes out of the ring, there's too many spectators going about.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Mind yersel this time cos some of these ones are a bit sharp.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Hey-up! Hey!
0:09:02 > 0:09:04And the cattle aren't the only tricky customers.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06COCKEREL CROWS
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Foul play is disrupting the poultry auction.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Here we go. Oh, me.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Someone's obviously bought... What is it? A golden pheasant.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18And as he tried to put it in the crate, he's let it go,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22so it's now in the very gods here.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23It's up on the rooftop.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Aha. Nearly. Nearly.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Get down there, boys. Come on. Get down and catch it. Come on.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37We want to catch that pheasant. Come on, boys. Good lads.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Good lads. Get in there. Come on, boys.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Somebody'll get it. Lads, come on.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Good lad. Gentle. Gentle.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Well done, young man.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Well done. Good action shot there. Well done, my boy.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Keep a hold of it this time. Well done.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Everything comes right in the end.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Don't worry. Don't worry. - HE CHUCKLES
0:09:57 > 0:09:59With the plucky pheasant behind bars,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Colin continues the poultry auction.
0:10:01 > 0:10:0360. 70.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Dean and his fancy ducks are next up.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09He's hoping for £70 for his first dozen.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Golden runners. Golden runners. Look at that. Laying ducks.
0:10:15 > 0:10:1720 bid. 20, 30. 30, 40.
0:10:17 > 0:10:2140, 50. 60. 70. 80.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25£80. 80 bid. £80 bid. 90. £90.
0:10:25 > 0:10:2990 bid. At £90. Don't stop, madam. At £90. You only get one chance.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33At £90, they go, then. At 90. 100. I'm at 100.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38100, lady's bid. 100. 100. Are you bidding?
0:10:38 > 0:10:41100. 100. 100. Thank you.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42225.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Dean's ducks go for more than he expected.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Lot number four. 491.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53So, he decides to bid for the drake duo he spotted earlier.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Onto lot number 513. Silver Appleyard pair.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59He's got a personal limit of £55,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01but some pint-sized competition
0:11:01 > 0:11:03might scupper his plans.
0:11:03 > 0:11:1020 bid. 20 bid. 25. 30. Five. 40. Five.
0:11:10 > 0:11:1250. £50.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16£50. Going to be sold, then. At 50. At £50.
0:11:16 > 0:11:17Mr Anderson.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Dean's on a roll. He buys the other drake pair too.
0:11:22 > 0:11:2455. 55. Same buyer.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Mr Anderson.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I'm quite happy. I got a good price for the ones I sold
0:11:30 > 0:11:32and I've reinvested into these.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36And I bought both pairs because I can mature one with two drakes.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38I'm absolutely happy with what I've bought.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42All in all, Dean is £840 in profit today.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Soon, it'll be time for his new drakes to earn their keep.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49DUCK QUACKS
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I'm at 300 guinea.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Over in the cattle ring,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55the Highlanders are still keeping the team on their toes.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Are you bidding? 280 guinea. I'm at 280 guinea. I'm at three.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Yeah, you don't want to get a horn going in the wrong place, no.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08The sheep can be just as tricky,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11as trainee auctioneer Rory knows only too well.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15It's quite a big ring and these are little sheep
0:12:15 > 0:12:18and they're really fast, so if they go the wrong way,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20they're quite hard to get a hold of.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23They can make a fool of you in the ring in front of all these people.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26It's probably quite entertaining for the people watching,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28but it's quite embarrassing for you.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Soon, it'll be the Bywater family's piglets in the spotlight.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Nervous. Just waiting for...
0:12:36 > 0:12:39You know, waiting to go in and see what they make.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42I'd like them to make at least £40.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45If they don't make £30, they're going home.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49It's not just the breeds that are rare. So is the currency.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Today, the mart is dealing in guineas.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53One guinea is a pound and five pence,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56so John's target is 38.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57You can get a pig if you want.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59All the little piggies went to market.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Yes, all the piggies went to market.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- They'll be ready for Christmas. - Starting at 100. 100 guineas.
0:13:04 > 0:13:0850 guineas. 40 guineas. 30 to start me.
0:13:09 > 0:13:1030 guineas. 25.
0:13:12 > 0:13:1425 guineas. You can get a pig if you want. 20 guineas.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Over here, Philip. - I'm at two. Five. Eight. 30.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22Two. 35. 38. 40 bid.
0:13:22 > 0:13:2442. Five. 45 bid.
0:13:24 > 0:13:2645 guinea. 45 bid. We're going to sell them now.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31They're on the market. Up in the front left, 45 bid. 45.
0:13:31 > 0:13:3548. 48 bid. 48 guinea. 50 bid.
0:13:35 > 0:13:3750 guinea. Two. 52.
0:13:37 > 0:13:4252. Your last chance now. 52. All done at 50. 50 guineas.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- Thank you. Excellent. - The number is...
0:13:44 > 0:13:47A good result. £382 for the lot.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Over £100 more than John's target.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53At 52 guineas a head, you can't knock it.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56I were expecting 30, 40.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Repeat customer, so, excellent.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01You know, it proves that my stock's good.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03All right, we've only sold seven piglets,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05but it's a few more coppers into the bank
0:14:05 > 0:14:08and, you know, pay a few more bills and...
0:14:08 > 0:14:09Every bit does count.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11So, you've got to make money where you can.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15And, you know, we've made a bit more today, so even better.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Hey-up, kid.- Hello, John. - How's the last lot of pigs doing?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Oh, fine. Fine.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Smallholder Andy Harrold has travelled from Dufftown
0:14:24 > 0:14:25to buy John's piglets.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Happy with the pigs I got the last time from him.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31They'll be worth a lot more when they're in the freezer.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Not for commercial at all. No, it's just for personal consumption.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Keeps me in pork for a year or two.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Early autumn is an important time for sheep and cattle farmers.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56It's when they buy and sell breeding stock,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00the animals who will produce next year's lambs and calves.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Colin enjoys visiting farmers to give advice before a sale.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07He's been involved with livestock all his working life.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I left school at 17
0:15:10 > 0:15:13and worked for a couple of years as a trainee shepherd.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17I then moved down to Edinburgh where I was a shepherd for six years
0:15:17 > 0:15:20and that was a great learning experience.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Moved straight from there to become a trainee auctioneer at Thainstone.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26That was in October, 1993.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Working with farming folk, you won't really get...
0:15:28 > 0:15:30You won't get better folk, so...
0:15:30 > 0:15:32No, it's been very...
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I've been lucky. Very lucky.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Today, Colin's visiting Ian Wilkie and his daughter Faye from Westhill.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Unlike Colin, the Wilkies are newcomers
0:15:43 > 0:15:47to the world of gimmers - young female sheep.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Well, this is the first year we've really done this ourselves.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54We've decided, instead of taking lambs in for over winter,
0:15:54 > 0:15:55we're going to...
0:15:56 > 0:15:58buy ewe lambs, try and keep them for the year
0:15:58 > 0:16:01and then we're going to sell them on.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03If Colin gives these sheep the go-ahead,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Ian will enter them into Thainstone's annual gimmers sale.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09But first, he has to round them up.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17We haven't purchased a dog yet, a sheepdog,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20so I just go with the telescopic loader
0:16:20 > 0:16:21and round them up.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Usually, they come in not too bad.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Now, who needs a dog when you've got a daughter
0:16:31 > 0:16:32to do all the running for you?
0:16:37 > 0:16:42- Hello.- How you doing?- Nae bad. Nae bad. Yersel?- Good to see you.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- Nae bother. Aye. How you doing? - Good.- You're fine? You're good?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Your gimmers are penned up here ready.
0:16:48 > 0:16:49You're going to be...
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- This is the ones we're going to sell next week, hopefully.- OK.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55It doesn't take long for Colin to give the gimmers the green light.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57No, they're looking well.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- We're going away to try and tidy them up a wee bit.- OK.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- And get a bit of colour into them.- OK.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- Somebody coming to gie you a hand?- Aye.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Alan and Ian Miller fae Midmar are coming down this afternoon.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07OK. They'll know what they're doing.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10It's amazing what that sheep'll look like once you've had a wee tidy up.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13A wee bit of colour. The Millers'll have a secret potion.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- Yeah.- I would leave them to... - Leave them to decide.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Leave them to make a wee potion of some sort and it'll come out bonny.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- Yeah, that's right.- You've room to, you know, take 130 quid
0:17:23 > 0:17:25- or whatever they make, you know. - I mean, if we got 130,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29- I'd be delighted, I think... - Yeah, yeah.- ..if they got that.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- OK.- OK, see you next week. - All right, good luck.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- See you, Colin.- See you later on. Cheers, guys.- Bye. Bye.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36His sheep are looking well. I'm not saying
0:17:36 > 0:17:38they're going to top the sale by any matter of means.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Ian's been speaking about hopefully getting £130.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43You know, maybe we'll struggle to get that.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44We'll certainly do the best we can.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47The auctioneer always tries his best.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49He doesn't always achieve, but he tries his best.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Sheep prices have been plummeting,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58so Ian's going to need all the help he can get
0:17:58 > 0:18:00to cover what he spent on his flock.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06He's called in the Miller brothers, sheep sprucing experts,
0:18:06 > 0:18:07to get his gimmers gleaming.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14We're just clipping their necks. Just shaving their necks just to...
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Just makes them stand out a bit more.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Just to get their heads up and just looks an awful lot better.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Like a sheep spa.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25A level teaspoon.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29A special fleece colouring is used, a dye that, mixed properly,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32should give the gimmers a biscuit-coloured coat.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33Go for it.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38But, like any spray tan, it's all about judgment.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40Are you sure?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Looks black.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53I think it's looking better than all the other ones.
0:18:58 > 0:19:0087 to go.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09I prefer them with their new look. I think they look better.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11I think they'll be better for sale as well.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Back at Thainstone, the team is gearing up
0:19:23 > 0:19:26for a very different kind of sale.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28The mart doesn't just auction animals.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Once a month, it's heavy-duty machinery that's bought and sold.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38And twice a week, it's cars.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41ENGINES REV
0:19:43 > 0:19:4710,000 motors pass through the mart's vehicle sales every year.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Lot number seven.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54It's a rolling auction and bidding is fast and furious.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59- 750. 800.- One car... - 850. 900.- ..every minute.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02At 1,200. I'm selling for £1,200 at the back.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Lot number 20 this time.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06From reliable run-arounds...
0:20:08 > 0:20:09..to wicked wheels.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14And tonight, a Porsche is on the market
0:20:14 > 0:20:19to raise some much-needed cash for animal sanctuary owner Karen Pullen.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Over the last six months, I've been poorly
0:20:23 > 0:20:26and we need some funding for the vet bills that we've incurred
0:20:26 > 0:20:28over the last six months.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31So, that's why we're here to sell the car -
0:20:31 > 0:20:34to save dogs like Zach and Snuggles.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39We have 38 rescue dogs, 18 rescue horses, five rescue pigs,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43two goats and five sheep and six rescue cats.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Karen's sanctuary has been going strong for nine years,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51but now she's forced to sell her car
0:20:51 > 0:20:55after a bite from a rescue dog left her unable to work.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58I had lots of operations, two skin grafts
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and I've not really been able to return back to work properly.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03The car has to go,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06so I'm just hoping that it goes for a good price.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09So, really, fingers crossed, I'll get as much as I can.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I've never sold a car at an auction before.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I'm really nervous, as you can tell by my hands. I'm really nervous.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20But Karen's Porsche Cayenne is ten years old
0:21:20 > 0:21:22and might not attract much interest.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- There's a lot riding on it, so this is it.- On to lot number 146.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30It's just a bit nerve-racking, that's all. It's just...
0:21:31 > 0:21:33It's all right. I'm fine.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Karen needs at least £5,000 to keep her rescue centre going.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43£5,000, surely. £5,000.
0:21:45 > 0:21:503,000 bid. 3,000 bid. At 3,000 bid. At 3,000. 3,000. 3,200.
0:21:50 > 0:21:543,500. 3,800. 4,000. 4,200. 4,400.
0:21:54 > 0:21:584,700. 4,700. 4,800. 4,800.
0:21:58 > 0:22:014,800. 4,900.
0:22:01 > 0:22:034,900. 4,950.
0:22:03 > 0:22:075,000. 5,000 a bid. At 5,000 bid. At 5,000 bid.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10At 5,000. 5,000. 5,050.
0:22:10 > 0:22:1750. 100. Offer is at 5,100 outside. Just come forward.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22That clinching bid of £5,100 is great news for Karen's sanctuary.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I can go back now and pay some vet bills
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and buy hay for the horses for the winter,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31so the horses will be warm and fed well
0:22:31 > 0:22:33and I won't have to worry.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36And it'll give me a chance to get on my feet again now
0:22:36 > 0:22:37without the animals suffering.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47A new day at the mart and 4,000 gimmers -
0:22:47 > 0:22:49young breeding sheep - are about to be sold.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54These gimmers will produce next year's spring lambs
0:22:54 > 0:22:55and are a prime commodity,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58so the team puts in that little bit extra.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01This is one of the only days
0:23:01 > 0:23:03that we put down a wee bit of sawdust on the ground.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05These guys have put a lot of effort
0:23:05 > 0:23:07into presenting their sheep properly,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09so we put down a wee covering of sawdust.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11It doesnae need much. It just keeps the sheep clean
0:23:11 > 0:23:14and helps the presentation of them as well.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16And with the sheep market in the doldrums,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19the farmers need all the help they can get.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21We've got a tougher year.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Probably last year, things were flying very high.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25We had an excellent trade.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27And this year might be just a wee bit different
0:23:27 > 0:23:30because, you know, the lamb trade - the prime lamb trade -
0:23:30 > 0:23:32is a bit less and guys might be...
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Maybe not so much money about.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38But same old story - the best end of the gimmers will sell well.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39They always do.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Ian and Faye Wilkie have brought in their spruced-up gimmers
0:23:51 > 0:23:52for the big sale.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Ian is aiming for £130 per sheep, an ambitious sum for a beginner.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Just shut that gate a wee minute. Let them out in here.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05To help get the best prices,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Colin splits them into three lots divided by size,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12but one or two buck the system.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Aye. Aye. This gimmer. This one.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16Go on.
0:24:18 > 0:24:19That's better.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Good morning.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27We'll make a start on the sale, the annual gimmer sale.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29We'll go straight onto Mr Barclay, I think.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Before Ian and Faye's sheep are sold,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34another farmer's gimmers go under the hammer.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39£82. 82 bid. Look at this, now. 85. 88. 90 bid.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43The auction begins well - cause for cautious optimism.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46190 bid. I'm at 190. Come on. At 190 bid. I'm at 190.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51192. 192. 192. They're away at 192. 192.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Mr Miller, all away.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57That first pen in were really good and they made good money.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58Thank you, sir.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00When we spoke to Colin for a start,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04he was thinking maybe £120, £130, something like that.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06If we could get an average about that, it'd be good.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Here's our first consignment. They're new consignors this year.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11This young lady here, look.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16£130 per sheep would earn the Wilkies around £10,000.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18That's great, strong sheep. Look at that.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21120 bid. 120 bid. I'm at 120.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Great, powerful sheep. 120 bid. I'm at 120.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26But the bidding gets off to a slow start.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28122, I'm bid. 122.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31At 122, I'm bid. 122, I'm bid. 122.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35At 122. Young lady. At 122, I'm bid. 125.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38125. 128. 128, I'm bid. 128.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Anybody else in? At 128. At 128, I'm bid.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46130. 130, I'm bid. Two. 132. Five.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50135. Strong gimmers. 135. Madam, I'll sell them for you.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Will I sell them, young lady? At 135.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56She's not saying yes, not saying no. At 135, they go for sale.
0:25:56 > 0:25:5838, they go for sale.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01138. 138, they're away. Mr Cook.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The sale's been a resounding success for Ian and Faye.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Their three pens go for over £11,000.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14That went really well, yeah. Better than expected, I think.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19We were thinking maybe 120, hoping 130, but that's really good.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Really good. Pleased with that, yeah.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Cattle farmer Ian's first foray into the sheep market has paid off.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29His golden gimmers have earned him
0:26:29 > 0:26:31nearly £1,000 more than he was hoping for.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- Hello, Ian.- How you doing?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- Not too bad.- Thanks very much. - That's all right.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37It was nice to see a young lady standing up there on the rostrum
0:26:37 > 0:26:40and I gave her a bit of encouragement to go again.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- Getting involved. - Are you happy with your price?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Um, yeah, I think we got more than we were expecting, so...- Yeah, yeah.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Well, if they do well, I'll be back here next year
0:26:48 > 0:26:50- looking to shake your hand again. - That's good.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52He may be a first-timer,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54but Ian knows all about the traditional luck penny
0:26:54 > 0:26:56given to successful bidders.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Here's a wee bit of luck for you, anyway, so...
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- Oh, thank you very much. - Thanks very much.- Thank you.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05- And hopefully, we'll see you next year.- Thanks.- OK, take care. Bye.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I think the Wilkies will be reasonably happy.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Their gimmers were looking well.
0:27:11 > 0:27:12A wee bit of colour and a wee tidy up
0:27:12 > 0:27:14and they were looking well, so, hopefully,
0:27:14 > 0:27:16they'll be satisfied with their first effort here.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19A young lass like that, you know, here sticking in
0:27:19 > 0:27:21and conscientious and working hard, you know,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I think she'll go far, that young lady. I'm sure she will.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26SHEEP BAA
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Colin's piglets, poultry and sheep adventure draws to a close,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32but he can't relax for long.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Soon, he'll be back in action.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Next time on The Mart...
0:27:42 > 0:27:46..young Ryan needs a new car and he's got a cow and calf to sell.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It's down to auctioneer John to get him the cash.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Pressure's on again. There's not a day that the pressure's on.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54You'll enjoy the pressure.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58There's a crisis in the kitchen when a deep fat fryer fails
0:27:58 > 0:28:02with lunch just minutes away and roasties in hot demand.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Farmers like their traditional roast beef.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06It's got to have roast potatoes with it.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08It's carnage if they don't get it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:09900.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12And Charlie auctions everything off the farm
0:28:12 > 0:28:16for two brothers retiring after 50 years.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18She was running like a sewing machine this morning.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20But their trusty tractor lets them down
0:28:20 > 0:28:22just when they need it most.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25ENGINE SPLUTTERS