Episode 3 The Mart


Episode 3

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Episode 3. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

Farming is a risky business. SHEEP BAAS

0:00:030:00:06

315. 318.

0:00:060:00:08

And when it's time to make money, the stakes are high.

0:00:080:00:11

Thainstone Mart, one of Europe's biggest livestock markets.

0:00:130:00:17

We have 80 there. 81 there.

0:00:170:00:19

Sheep, cattle and machinery

0:00:190:00:22

auctioned to the highest bidder day in, day out.

0:00:220:00:25

Farmers spend months getting ready for the big sales day.

0:00:270:00:31

With livelihoods on the line,

0:00:330:00:34

their animals have to look just right.

0:00:340:00:37

This is the thing that puts the food on the table,

0:00:380:00:40

of course, I'm nervous.

0:00:400:00:42

Young lady...

0:00:420:00:43

Fortunes can be made and dreams can be dashed...

0:00:430:00:46

..all in the blink of an eye.

0:00:470:00:49

It's just another day at work.

0:00:500:00:51

Welcome to the Mart.

0:00:510:00:53

It's late summer at Thainstone.

0:01:010:01:03

And in today's programme...

0:01:030:01:06

auctioneer Finlay is under pressure to get top prices

0:01:060:01:09

at the Pedigree Ram Sale.

0:01:090:01:11

Better. A wee bit better.

0:01:110:01:14

Will a bust up among the Blackhall family sheep

0:01:140:01:16

make them less attractive to buyers?

0:01:160:01:18

The butterflies are starting, yes.

0:01:180:01:20

We're wondering what we'll do in the ring.

0:01:200:01:22

And it's all hands on deck...

0:01:220:01:24

..when highly strung cattle arrive to be auctioned in Caithness.

0:01:250:01:29

Felt safer in a cage of lions.

0:01:290:01:31

Can the Mart team get local farmers top prices...

0:01:310:01:34

Watch your back, watch your back.

0:01:340:01:36

..and escape unscathed?

0:01:360:01:38

Watch your back.

0:01:380:01:40

Early morning and the back of house team is dividing up sheep

0:01:480:01:51

due to be sold today.

0:01:510:01:52

-SHEEP BAA

-138, 139, they're going to pen 21.

0:01:520:01:56

It's been a poor summer for Scotland's farmers.

0:01:560:01:59

And the Mart team needs to pull out all the stops

0:01:590:02:01

to help their customers get top prices.

0:02:010:02:04

So, sheep auctioneer Finlay McIntyre regularly visits farmers

0:02:050:02:09

due to sell at Thainstone to give them advice.

0:02:090:02:12

I can safely say, hand on heart, my customers,

0:02:130:02:15

I respect them because I respect what they do,

0:02:150:02:18

I respect what they do in the climate and how they do it.

0:02:180:02:20

The summer was pretty grim and generally in agriculture,

0:02:200:02:24

people would be hard up.

0:02:240:02:26

So there's a lot of stress this year.

0:02:260:02:28

I like to think I try and go the extra mile.

0:02:280:02:30

I always feel like it's almost my stock that I'm selling.

0:02:300:02:33

As long as you know you're making the effort,

0:02:330:02:35

and you're there when they need you.

0:02:350:02:37

SHEEP BAA

0:02:400:02:42

Finlay's destination is the Blackhall family farm,

0:02:420:02:46

near Banchory.

0:02:460:02:47

Go on, lads. Go on.

0:02:480:02:50

There, sheep farmers Rodney and his wife, Gillian,

0:02:500:02:53

are rounding up their pedigree rams, or tups, for Finlay's inspection.

0:02:530:02:57

So far, so good.

0:02:570:02:59

If I get the right ones in here, it will be a bonus.

0:02:590:03:03

Rodney hopes to sell a dozen of his Texel tups

0:03:030:03:05

at the Mart's Pedigree Ram Sale in five days' time...

0:03:050:03:08

He's been breeding Texels for 20 years.

0:03:090:03:12

They're just a lot less maintenance than some breeds.

0:03:120:03:16

The rams dinnae need to be prepared with a lot of trimming

0:03:160:03:19

and clipping before they're sold.

0:03:190:03:22

They look the part, they're a breed to have.

0:03:220:03:25

Rodney is very passionate about his sheep.

0:03:260:03:29

Go on, boys.

0:03:290:03:30

He strives for perfection.

0:03:300:03:31

I'd think, most breeders, you know,

0:03:310:03:33

are looking to breed the perfect sheep.

0:03:330:03:36

One fit and healthy tup can father hundreds of lambs...

0:03:390:03:43

Yeah. Hi, Finlay.

0:03:430:03:44

..so buyers will be looking for strong back legs

0:03:440:03:47

and a lust for life.

0:03:470:03:48

Aye, that's a number one.

0:03:480:03:51

It's a fair lad, this lad here.

0:03:510:03:52

-That's a number one.

-He's got his legs in all the right places.

0:03:520:03:55

He has a fair bit of character about him, that sheep, too.

0:03:550:03:58

He's not just a...

0:03:580:03:59

Slouch. No, no, he has a bit of go about him. Yeah.

0:03:590:04:03

Aye, what ends, they've got on 'em.

0:04:030:04:04

Skin's so important, and then the carcass is so important.

0:04:040:04:07

That's one thing Rodney's aye got spades -

0:04:070:04:09

good carcasses and good skins.

0:04:090:04:10

-Wee bit of stretch about them.

-And stretch. Aye, rib.

0:04:100:04:12

Plenty rib. So, that's my kind of sheep.

0:04:120:04:14

-Yeah, long and clean.

-Long and clean and bare.

0:04:140:04:17

And a big end on him.

0:04:170:04:19

Rodney's worked hard to get his sheep in top shape.

0:04:190:04:23

He'll need to at least match last year's price of £750 per tup

0:04:230:04:27

to cover costs and pay upcoming bills.

0:04:270:04:31

If we can be on a par with last year,

0:04:310:04:32

I'll be quite happy with the way things are.

0:04:320:04:35

-Well...

-But, well...

-..we can but try.

0:04:350:04:37

We want to give folk a feather in their bonnet,

0:04:370:04:39

but the coins are no' falling just as in favour

0:04:390:04:41

as what we'd like it this year.

0:04:410:04:43

Things are a little bit more under pressure.

0:04:430:04:45

For getting animals ready for a ram sale, it's a lot of work.

0:04:480:04:51

I mean, you look at Rodney there,

0:04:510:04:53

every night of the year he has to think about his tups.

0:04:530:04:55

He's got to get them clipped early,

0:04:550:04:57

he's got to get them dosed, mineralised.

0:04:570:04:59

You know, the work never stops.

0:04:590:05:01

-RODNEY:

-Go on.

0:05:010:05:02

In fact, it's barely started.

0:05:020:05:05

Rodney's taking his tups for a presale scrub up.

0:05:050:05:08

Daughters Emma and Kirstie are rounded up too,

0:05:100:05:12

and Team Texel swings into action.

0:05:120:05:15

We're going to give these sheep the beauty treatment.

0:05:150:05:18

It's a bit like a hair salon for a sheep.

0:05:180:05:21

We make them try and look as good as we can.

0:05:210:05:23

We don't want them looking sleepy.

0:05:230:05:24

Perfect.

0:05:280:05:30

He's been my favourite one. Big hindquarters here.

0:05:300:05:33

Good, deep gigot on him and plenty of width as well.

0:05:330:05:36

-How's he looking front end, Emma?

-Fine.

0:05:360:05:38

Not bad. I don't think is too enamoured with that, is he?

0:05:380:05:41

You're always trying to breed the best you can,

0:05:410:05:44

and the proof of that is when you go to the sale.

0:05:440:05:47

You know all you can do is do your best

0:05:480:05:50

because that's the joys of farming.

0:05:500:05:52

We don't ever really know what we're going to get.

0:05:520:05:54

And I hope to make a good price

0:05:540:05:55

cos I really need a new pair of leggings.

0:05:550:05:58

They've seen better days.

0:05:580:05:59

A new day at Thainstone and a big machinery sale is underway.

0:06:040:06:08

MESSAGE OVER LOUDSPEAKER

0:06:080:06:10

Once a month, the Mart auctions heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.

0:06:100:06:14

Ten to the blue. £10 bid.

0:06:140:06:17

From JCBs and tractors...

0:06:170:06:20

16. 1,600 bid.

0:06:200:06:22

..to dumpers and lawnmowers,

0:06:220:06:24

over 4,000 lots to get through.

0:06:240:06:27

3,200, £3,200.

0:06:270:06:30

Head yardsman Robbie Cruickshank and his team

0:06:320:06:34

must collect the keys for every vehicle and piece of machinery.

0:06:340:06:38

But there's a problem.

0:06:390:06:41

A key's missing.

0:06:410:06:42

There's one who's never up because it's nae marked down in the book.

0:06:420:06:46

That set of keys needs to be found fast,

0:06:460:06:49

or the Shogun's owner will miss his slot.

0:06:490:06:52

We're going to see if we can find this key.

0:06:540:06:56

But Thainstone is a 350-acre site.

0:06:570:07:00

Robbie has a lot of ground to cover and not much time.

0:07:000:07:03

Still not found our keys.

0:07:030:07:05

Have you seen the key?

0:07:070:07:08

I'll go up to the office and have a look,

0:07:080:07:10

-see if something's...

-Well, we've had a look.

0:07:100:07:12

-Oh, you've had a look?

-We can't find it there.

0:07:120:07:14

So, it's maybe wandered back down to the main office.

0:07:160:07:18

I just hope it's down there. I'll go in there and ask.

0:07:190:07:23

A Shogun for you, one of the Thursday night sales.

0:07:240:07:28

With no luck in the main office,

0:07:280:07:29

Robbie hopes one man might hold the key to unlocking the mystery,

0:07:290:07:33

vehicle yardsman, Davey.

0:07:330:07:35

Davey here, Jody?

0:07:350:07:37

There's keys missing for a Jeep, and he might know something about it.

0:07:370:07:40

Is he up here?

0:07:400:07:42

OK, on the move again.

0:07:420:07:45

No, I cannae see him.

0:07:450:07:46

The car's auction slot is minutes away.

0:07:460:07:48

And as far as Robbie's concerned, the Shogun must go on.

0:07:480:07:53

Over in the pens, a fresh batch of sheep is arriving to be sold.

0:07:570:08:02

Suffolk yearlings, round to the exhibition hall, please.

0:08:020:08:06

With 750 tups expected,

0:08:060:08:08

it's going to be a busy day for Finlay and the team.

0:08:080:08:11

We're getting there, getting there.

0:08:110:08:13

The grim weather is good news for sellers.

0:08:130:08:16

Farmers won't be harvesting,

0:08:160:08:18

so they're more likely to come to the sale.

0:08:180:08:20

It's ideal conditions for a tup sale.

0:08:200:08:23

It's raining, so nobody else will be doing very much the day.

0:08:230:08:25

We cannae put our hands in their pockets and pull the money out,

0:08:250:08:28

but hopefully, if they're here

0:08:280:08:29

and they're needing tups, they'll get them.

0:08:290:08:32

More potential buyers will be welcome news for the Blackhalls,

0:08:320:08:35

arriving with their 12 two-year-old Texel tups.

0:08:350:08:38

But the good news ends there.

0:08:410:08:42

The tups have been in the wars, and that might affect their price.

0:08:420:08:47

Oh, that is a mess. Aye, well done, well done.

0:08:470:08:51

-We'll clean it up.

-Well, we'll have to...sticky plaster.

0:08:520:08:55

And unfortunately, you can see the tups have been boxing a bit.

0:08:550:08:59

There's a bit of competition between them to see who's boss.

0:08:590:09:02

Boys will be boys.

0:09:020:09:04

Texels don't have any horns,

0:09:050:09:07

so when they box, it tends to be the top of their skulls

0:09:070:09:10

that it splits open.

0:09:100:09:11

Cos there's four of us here, I'm going to be the head stock myself,

0:09:110:09:14

I'll just hold them. I think he's saying, "Do you have to?"

0:09:140:09:17

Back at the machinery sale,

0:09:200:09:22

Robbie's managed to track down elusive yardsman, Davey.

0:09:220:09:26

Mind the traffic.

0:09:260:09:27

And Davey's given Robbie a new lead.

0:09:280:09:31

We're going way down to the compound where they store all the cars.

0:09:330:09:36

There's a wee office down there,

0:09:360:09:37

I think the keys might be down there, hopefully.

0:09:370:09:41

There's just enough time for the Shogun to catch the auction.

0:09:410:09:44

When they employ somebody here, they say,

0:09:450:09:47

"If you're fast, you're sure to last.

0:09:470:09:48

"If you're slow, you'll have to go."

0:09:480:09:50

Eureka!

0:09:550:09:56

That's it. What a boost.

0:09:560:09:59

At least the key was in a safe place.

0:09:590:10:01

Well, somebody's taken it back in their pocket

0:10:030:10:05

and just put it down there by mistake.

0:10:050:10:07

When you're handling so many keys,

0:10:070:10:08

there's bound to be an odd mistake now and again.

0:10:080:10:11

Bingo.

0:10:130:10:14

Now, all Robbie has to do is drive the car to the sale.

0:10:140:10:17

It's the right key, but there's no power.

0:10:190:10:21

We'll have to jump-start her now.

0:10:210:10:23

ENGINE STARTS

0:10:250:10:27

That's it, success.

0:10:270:10:30

We're going to sell it now.

0:10:300:10:31

Perfect. When's it going under the hammer?

0:10:320:10:35

Mission accomplished for Robbie.

0:10:350:10:37

Surely nothing can go wrong now.

0:10:370:10:39

AUCTIONEER LEADS BIDDING

0:10:390:10:42

The reserve price is £2,000.

0:10:420:10:45

At 1,500, come on, wave out.

0:10:450:10:49

At 1,500, 1,500,

0:10:490:10:51

£1,500. All done?

0:10:510:10:53

£1,500. I'm sorry, it's below my instructions, take her out.

0:10:530:10:57

Maybe the Shogun wasn't destined to be sold after all.

0:10:580:11:02

Over in the sheep ring,

0:11:100:11:11

Finlay is struggling to get the Pedigree Ram Sale

0:11:110:11:14

started on time.

0:11:140:11:15

It's not working.

0:11:180:11:20

Sandy, could you turn that mic, the back pen microphone on,

0:11:200:11:22

could you ,please?

0:11:220:11:23

-OVER MIC:

-Ready to start the sale of Bluefaced Leicesters,

0:11:250:11:27

Bluefaced Leicesters in ring three.

0:11:270:11:29

Bluefaced Leicesters in ring three, thank you.

0:11:290:11:31

You get a wee bit of the shakes before you go in,

0:11:320:11:34

but it's a good thing, keeps you sharp.

0:11:340:11:36

I'll shoot round here.

0:11:360:11:37

Pensive. Pensive. A wee bit pensive.

0:11:370:11:41

I'll just have to work away quietly and see what they do.

0:11:410:11:44

The Blackhalls have tried to patch up their tussling tups.

0:11:440:11:47

Have they done enough to save the day?

0:11:470:11:50

Farming's an unusual business.

0:11:500:11:52

When we buy stuff, we're told what price it is,

0:11:520:11:54

but when we sell, we're very much vulnerable to where the market is.

0:11:540:11:58

And at the moment, with every different sector of farming

0:11:580:12:01

going through a very difficult time,

0:12:010:12:03

there was never going to be as much money floating about at this sale.

0:12:030:12:07

It's difficult because you've got bills to pay

0:12:070:12:09

that never seem to get any less, but you just have to manage.

0:12:090:12:14

But anyway, we're still quite optimistic.

0:12:140:12:16

We won't be all doom and gloom until it happens.

0:12:170:12:20

The butterflies are starting.

0:12:200:12:22

We're just wondering what we'll do in the ring.

0:12:220:12:24

Come on, boys.

0:12:240:12:26

Will the Blackhalls get the £750 per tup they need

0:12:260:12:29

to cover their costs and feed the rest of their flock over winter?

0:12:290:12:33

They've done everything they can, now it's down to Finlay.

0:12:330:12:36

Lot number 84. Big powerful sheep here, again,

0:12:360:12:39

from this good home this time.

0:12:390:12:41

Each tup is shown separately to allow him to strut his stuff

0:12:410:12:44

and catch a buyer's eye.

0:12:440:12:46

FINLAY LEADS BIDDING

0:12:460:12:48

Lot number 84. Now, that's one big powerful brute of a boy

0:12:480:12:51

here this time. Full of scouth, how about that? 500, 550,

0:12:510:12:55

600, 650.

0:12:550:12:57

650, I'm bid. 650, 650, 650, 650 700.

0:12:570:13:00

700, now I'm bid, 700. 750.

0:13:000:13:02

750, 800. 800, I've been bid, 800.

0:13:020:13:05

800, 850,

0:13:050:13:07

850, 850.

0:13:070:13:08

850, I've a bid at 850 and done then. 850.

0:13:080:13:12

That's a good start,

0:13:120:13:13

but next, one of the bashed up tups enters the ring.

0:13:130:13:16

He's a big scouthy lad.

0:13:160:13:18

Look at that, look at the skin of that lad now -

0:13:180:13:20

bare as a badger.

0:13:200:13:21

It starts now at 550, I'm on a bid 550.

0:13:210:13:23

550, 550.

0:13:230:13:25

At 550, 550, 550, 550,

0:13:250:13:27

600, 600, 600,

0:13:270:13:30

650, 650, 650, 650, 700, 700.

0:13:300:13:33

700. All bid at 700, 700.

0:13:330:13:38

The last-minute patch ups did the trick.

0:13:400:13:42

In total, the Blackhalls tups make well over £8,000,

0:13:420:13:47

with the highest average prices of the entire sale.

0:13:470:13:50

Thanks very much. Well done, ladies. Thank you very much.

0:13:510:13:53

Good. Yeah, that was fine.

0:13:550:13:58

It went quite well,

0:13:580:13:59

on the day when a lot of the prices are not quite so good.

0:13:590:14:02

Mum made a good job of putting them in.

0:14:020:14:04

I think it's all down to Mum putting them in.

0:14:040:14:06

-It's the brushing up the hips, that's what does it.

-Yeah.

0:14:060:14:08

Very happy with how things have gone the day.

0:14:080:14:10

Good sheep, they've got good price,

0:14:100:14:12

and I think most people will be fairly satisfied

0:14:120:14:15

with how they've done.

0:14:150:14:17

-Well done, everyone.

-Yeah.

0:14:170:14:18

Yeah, I think I'll need a dram the night.

0:14:200:14:22

Thainstone also runs satellite auction houses.

0:14:330:14:36

200 miles north, in Caithness,

0:14:360:14:38

Quoybrae is the last mart to survive in the area.

0:14:380:14:41

Local farmers, like Iain Gunn, rely on its services to make ends meet.

0:14:430:14:48

It's a nice morning, for a change.

0:14:500:14:52

Iain hopes to sell 48 young beef cattle

0:14:540:14:56

at the big Caithness annual sale tomorrow.

0:14:560:14:59

There's a lot of contented farmers when the weather is good

0:15:000:15:03

on a morning like this,

0:15:030:15:04

and you see the cattle grazing in the fields chewing their cud.

0:15:040:15:08

Some of them just laying back in the sunshine.

0:15:080:15:10

We haven't had many mornings like this, this summer.

0:15:100:15:14

Poor grazing has forced Iain to invest in specialist food

0:15:160:15:19

to fatten them for the sale.

0:15:190:15:21

It's a more expensive fattening process,

0:15:220:15:25

but just the year that we've had, we've got to work round it.

0:15:250:15:29

Our main income is on sale day.

0:15:290:15:31

You're really trying to get them in as good a condition as you can.

0:15:310:15:37

So, Iain's bringing them in

0:15:370:15:38

to spruce them up before the big day,

0:15:380:15:40

but his Belgian Blue and Limousin cross-breeds

0:15:400:15:43

can be a real handful.

0:15:430:15:44

Inside, inside.

0:15:440:15:47

You don't normally go around there but trust him.

0:15:470:15:50

Watch yourself.

0:15:510:15:52

Limousin especially - a highly strung animal.

0:16:020:16:05

Helping Dad out with the lively herd, 14-year-old Ben

0:16:080:16:13

and his younger brother, Craig, who's 12.

0:16:130:16:15

Wild. She's probably bred from a Limousin or something.

0:16:170:16:21

She just wants company.

0:16:210:16:23

Well, I used to be scared of them, but I'm not as scared any more.

0:16:230:16:27

Right, Ben, you can open up, if you want.

0:16:270:16:29

We're about to take them into a pen,

0:16:290:16:32

which will lead them into our cattle race.

0:16:320:16:36

My dad will clip them and get them all ready for the show.

0:16:370:16:41

Iain's going to enter four of his best beasts

0:16:480:16:51

in the presale show.

0:16:510:16:52

Prizes there can lead to higher bids in the auction.

0:16:520:16:55

Cross-bred bullock Malky is one of the chosen ones.

0:16:560:17:00

Showtime, we'll maybe just give him a wee comb

0:17:020:17:04

just to exaggerate the fact

0:17:040:17:06

that he's got a good backside on him, really.

0:17:060:17:09

But Iain's worried the rest of his cattle

0:17:110:17:13

aren't fat enough to make decent money.

0:17:130:17:15

So, he's asked mart auctioneers John Bremner and Stuart Slessor

0:17:150:17:19

to give them the once over.

0:17:190:17:21

That'll be good carcass cattle when they're finished.

0:17:210:17:24

-A lot of buyers coming up?

-There's plenty interest, Iain, yeah.

0:17:240:17:27

Yeah, yeah. Especially for this kind of stock.

0:17:270:17:31

-Is that right?

-For the good stuff.

-Aye, aye. Yeah.

0:17:310:17:33

You're going to present them well, and you've been trimming them,

0:17:330:17:36

and I think you would be speaking roughly about 900-odd quid, Iain.

0:17:360:17:40

Aye. Aye.

0:17:400:17:42

Iain's cattle are looking good for the spring and summer they've had,

0:17:420:17:46

but he has been giving them a little extra than a trough.

0:17:460:17:49

That kind of quality - they've got the length, they've got the shape -

0:17:490:17:53

they'll be good carcasses when they're finished.

0:17:530:17:55

A thumbs up from John is a big relief,

0:17:550:17:59

but Iain isn't out of the woods yet.

0:17:590:18:02

If his boisterous beasts misbehave in the ring,

0:18:020:18:04

it could cost him dear.

0:18:040:18:06

Back at Thainstone, in the Porterhouse restaurant,

0:18:120:18:15

preparations have started early for a pedigree sheep club's

0:18:150:18:18

annual dinner this evening.

0:18:180:18:20

Auctioneer Finlay has been asked to make a speech,

0:18:210:18:24

but he's a nervous public speaker,

0:18:240:18:26

so he's practising on colleagues, Rory and Tim.

0:18:260:18:30

Listen to these jokes and tell me what you think.

0:18:300:18:32

What are you doing?

0:18:320:18:33

I'm away to speak at the Suffolk club dinner the night,

0:18:330:18:36

-up the stairs.

-They must be getting desperate.

0:18:360:18:38

They must be hard up for folk. I'm going to say,

0:18:380:18:40

"Aye, through the winters, I only survived by wearing hand-me-downs.

0:18:400:18:43

"It wouldn't have been so bad, but I had three big sisters."

0:18:430:18:46

WOMAN LAUGHS

0:18:460:18:48

-OK.

-I'm sure you'll be fine, Finlay.

0:18:500:18:52

You won't be asked to do it again, so...

0:18:520:18:53

That's all right, thanks for your moral support.

0:18:530:18:56

Looks like Finlay needs some new material.

0:18:560:18:58

Over in Caithness,

0:19:070:19:09

auctioneer Stuart is checking in cattle for the big sale.

0:19:090:19:12

Getting a bit of excitement now, we're getting closer to the sale.

0:19:130:19:17

After weeks of building up to it, it's finally the big day.

0:19:170:19:19

With 1,200 cattle expected, head yardsman Robbie Cruickshank

0:19:210:19:25

and his Thainstone team have been drafted in to help.

0:19:250:19:28

It's a different way of life up here.

0:19:300:19:32

It's like down a gear up here, like.

0:19:340:19:36

There's always tomorrow up here.

0:19:360:19:38

Also just arrived,

0:19:410:19:42

the Gunn family with their four best beasts for the presale show.

0:19:420:19:46

Time for a last-minute makeover.

0:19:480:19:50

They actually quite like this brush up when they get used to it.

0:19:520:19:55

The show starts.

0:19:580:20:00

All the bullocks, also called stots,

0:20:000:20:02

parade in front of the judge.

0:20:020:20:04

He's made his decision...

0:20:180:20:20

The pairs of bullocks. Go to the Blue stots here.

0:20:200:20:23

..and it's good news for the Gunns.

0:20:230:20:25

Got Reserve Champion and First Prize Bullock here today.

0:20:270:20:30

We're all delighted. It's been a good morning,

0:20:300:20:33

successful so far, and now we're looking for a good price.

0:20:330:20:37

And Iain's more likely to get a good price,

0:20:410:20:44

if the potential buyers have a decent breakfast.

0:20:440:20:46

That's where Joanna Mackay

0:20:480:20:49

and the renowned Caithness catering team come in.

0:20:490:20:52

It's quite hectic today because it's a big sale.

0:20:520:20:56

I absolutely love baking and cooking,

0:20:560:20:58

so when my family left home, I got roped in to come here.

0:20:580:21:02

Auctioneer John needs to build up his strength, too.

0:21:040:21:07

There's already been porridge first thing in the morning,

0:21:070:21:10

but we're now going to have a pie.

0:21:100:21:12

There should be quite a lot of buyers through there, hopefully,

0:21:160:21:19

and it'll help the Caithness economy

0:21:190:21:21

because this year the weather has been pretty rotten,

0:21:210:21:24

and we need everything we can get.

0:21:240:21:27

John's fuelled up and raring to go.

0:21:300:21:33

The auction begins.

0:21:330:21:34

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this show and sale.

0:21:340:21:38

Senior mart auctioneer John Angus

0:21:380:21:40

has also come up from Thainstone to help.

0:21:400:21:42

The buyers we get up in Caithness, they're serious buyers.

0:21:420:21:45

-Are you needing anything?

-Can I get a...?

0:21:450:21:47

The tea lady will come around with the teas and the pies about 11.30,

0:21:470:21:51

so they don't have to leave the ringside.

0:21:510:21:53

It's not just the catering team that needs to be on top form.

0:21:560:21:59

Robbie and his crew have their hands full

0:21:590:22:01

moving the sometimes cantankerous cattle from pen to ring.

0:22:010:22:05

And there's no prizes for guessing whose beasts

0:22:060:22:08

cause the yardsmen most problems.

0:22:080:22:10

Splitting Iain's highly strung herd into smaller pens

0:22:110:22:14

-to be sold separately... ROBBIE:

-Come on! Come on!

0:22:140:22:17

..is no easy task.

0:22:170:22:19

Hey! Hey!

0:22:200:22:22

But Iain thinks they'll soon be on their best behaviour.

0:22:240:22:27

Once they're in their pens, they settle down,

0:22:270:22:29

and Robbie here, he knows what he's doing.

0:22:290:22:32

He's been coming up here for years.

0:22:320:22:34

I've seen them worse, like. Aye, murderous.

0:22:340:22:38

There's some of his cattle, you'd have felt safer in a cage of lions.

0:22:380:22:41

But it's not just Iain's beasts that are feisty.

0:22:420:22:44

Caithness cattle have a reputation for taking no prisoners,

0:22:460:22:49

especially in the auction ring.

0:22:490:22:51

Watch your back! Watch your back!

0:22:550:22:57

Ha, they're off!

0:22:580:22:59

Iain's first lot should give the team in the ring

0:23:110:23:13

a well-deserved breather.

0:23:130:23:14

He's selling a short-horned heifer on its own

0:23:150:23:18

to try to boost its price.

0:23:180:23:19

Iain needs to average £900 per beast today to break even.

0:23:200:23:24

AUCTIONEER STARTS BIDDING

0:23:240:23:26

980, 1,100...

0:23:300:23:32

Iain's already £200 in profit, and it gets even better.

0:23:320:23:36

1,350, 1,400,

0:23:360:23:39

1,450, 1,450, 1,480,

0:23:390:23:43

1,500,

0:23:430:23:45

1,500, 1,500,

0:23:450:23:48

1,550.

0:23:480:23:49

1,550, 1,550,

0:23:490:23:52

1,600, 1,600.

0:23:520:23:55

1,600.

0:23:550:23:57

Thank you.

0:23:580:24:00

So far, so good.

0:24:000:24:02

And Iain's prizewinners do well, too.

0:24:020:24:04

1,180.

0:24:050:24:06

But his last pen could undo all that good work.

0:24:080:24:11

If his temperamental heifers kick-off in the ring,

0:24:110:24:14

they might go unsold.

0:24:140:24:15

800, 810.

0:24:170:24:19

AUCTIONEER CONTINUES THE BIDDING

0:24:190:24:21

50, 60, 70,

0:24:230:24:26

80, 890, 900,

0:24:260:24:28

910, 910.

0:24:280:24:31

910, 910,

0:24:310:24:34

910, 910,

0:24:340:24:37

910, if you're all finished.

0:24:370:24:39

910.

0:24:390:24:41

Iain's last pen was on best behaviour,

0:24:420:24:45

helping his total reach nearly £46,000,

0:24:450:24:49

5,000 more than he hoped for.

0:24:490:24:51

Well, there's a bit of prize-money, boys, keep you going.

0:24:510:24:54

And there's the £70 prize-money to collect as well.

0:24:540:24:56

You'll be able to get two with that.

0:24:580:24:59

A good day for the Gunn family

0:25:010:25:02

and a good day for Robbie and his team, too.

0:25:020:25:05

They return to Thainstone with no broken bones.

0:25:050:25:08

Back at the Suffolk sheep dinner, guest speaker Finlay is worried.

0:25:140:25:17

His audience is arriving in droves.

0:25:170:25:20

I'm nervous tonight. If I make a bad job of it,

0:25:210:25:23

I'm going to make myself look like a neep, so...

0:25:230:25:26

-You've not got any grey hair yet, so...

-No, I know.

0:25:260:25:30

I like to hear people laugh, so that's nice, if you can.

0:25:300:25:33

Maybe I won't the night, but it's nice if you can.

0:25:330:25:36

-Right, are you ready to roll?

-I'm ready to roll.

0:25:360:25:38

Ready to rock and roll.

0:25:380:25:39

Fellow auctioneer Colin Slessor is on hand for support.

0:25:390:25:43

-I'm pleased to see you've had your hair cut anyway.

-I know.

0:25:430:25:46

It's tidied the job up a bit.

0:25:460:25:47

-Cow's lick, Dandy brush...

-Aye.

0:25:470:25:50

-..talcum powder.

-Aye, the cows should have finished it off,

0:25:500:25:53

it's just licked one side.

0:25:530:25:54

-Right, OK.

-Thank you.

-You'll be fine, you'll be fine.

0:25:540:25:57

APPLAUSE

0:25:570:25:59

I'll now hand over to Finlay.

0:25:590:26:03

Thank you, sir.

0:26:030:26:04

Well, Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,

0:26:060:26:08

I'd like to thank you all for your kind invitation here tonight.

0:26:080:26:12

I was having a wee pep talk with Colin there before I started,

0:26:120:26:14

and he said, "I hope it's no too long."

0:26:140:26:16

So, I've abridged chapter four for yous.

0:26:160:26:19

The last place I did an after-dinner speech,

0:26:210:26:23

I got a standing ovation.

0:26:230:26:24

So, it's always a pleasure to speak at the Knockando district

0:26:240:26:28

of the National Hemorrhoid Society.

0:26:280:26:30

LAUGHTER

0:26:300:26:33

With the crowd on his side, Finlay's on a roll and the jokes flow.

0:26:330:26:37

He even risks the gag that bombed earlier.

0:26:370:26:40

Talk about poverty, I knew poverty.

0:26:400:26:42

The only way I survived the winters was by hand-me-downs.

0:26:420:26:45

It wouldn't have been so bad, but I had three big sisters.

0:26:450:26:48

LAUGHTER

0:26:480:26:51

Ladies and gentlemen, I would just like to say that

0:26:520:26:54

I'm very, very honoured to have been asked to speak to yous tonight.

0:26:540:26:57

The show of sheep up here is absolutely first-class,

0:26:570:27:00

and I always admire all your hard work and efforts

0:27:000:27:02

every time you bring sheep to the Mart here.

0:27:020:27:04

I hope your ears aren't bleeding too much,

0:27:040:27:06

and I'll see you again some other time. Thank you very much.

0:27:060:27:09

Well, I think he did well.

0:27:130:27:15

I think he was very good.

0:27:150:27:17

Absolutely brilliant.

0:27:170:27:19

He's hopeless as an auctioneer, Finlay.

0:27:190:27:21

You can't understand a word he says, like.

0:27:210:27:24

But he's been clear tonight, he's been really brilliant.

0:27:240:27:28

I was a wee bit nervous but not too bad.

0:27:280:27:31

You've got to enjoy what you do,

0:27:310:27:32

and I'm fortunate that I do enjoy what I do.

0:27:320:27:34

It's always better to try leave somebody

0:27:360:27:37

with a feather in their bonnet than a sore head.

0:27:370:27:40

It's a triumph for Finlay,

0:27:420:27:44

but tomorrow he'll be swapping quips and gags

0:27:440:27:47

for tups and gimmers when he's back in the ring once more.

0:27:470:27:50

Next time on The Mart...

0:27:550:27:58

Here we go.

0:27:580:27:59

..Colin and his team face their most challenging sale of the year -

0:27:590:28:02

rare breeds day...

0:28:020:28:03

Come on, get down and catch it.

0:28:030:28:05

Come on. Good lads, get in there. Come on, boys.

0:28:050:28:07

..a farmer selling sheep for the first time

0:28:070:28:09

hopes a spray tan might boost his chances...

0:28:090:28:12

It's amazing what that sheep will look like

0:28:120:28:14

once it's had a wee tidy up.

0:28:140:28:16

..and there's a life or death sale at the car auction.

0:28:160:28:19

That's why we're here to sell the car,

0:28:190:28:21

to save dogs like Zach and Snuggles.

0:28:210:28:25

Will a Porsche go for enough cash to save an animal sanctuary?

0:28:250:28:29

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS