0:00:04 > 0:00:05Farming is a risky business.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07SHEEP BAAS
0:00:08 > 0:00:11And when it's time to make money, the stakes are high.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Thainstone Mart - one of Europe's biggest livestock markets.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19You want perfection, there it is. That is some machine.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Sheep, cattle and machinery
0:00:23 > 0:00:27auctioned to the highest bidder, day in, day out.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Farmers spend months getting ready for their big sales day...
0:00:33 > 0:00:38- You foul brute.- ..and buyers need nerves of steel to bag the bargains.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Folk can easily get carried away.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43It's a bit of an adrenaline thing, bidding.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Fortunes can be made and dreams can be dashed...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49..all in the blink of an eye.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Always expect the unexpected, eh?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Welcome to The Mart.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02This week at Thainstone...
0:01:02 > 0:01:06there's panic at the Mart as bad weather holds up sheep farmer
0:01:06 > 0:01:08- Willie Miller.- Five inches of snow this morning,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10which I wasn't expecting.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Husband and wife farmers struggle over the fate of a favourite heifer.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19I think it's yet to be decided whether she goes tomorrow.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22She would like to keep them all if she could have it, probably.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24But it doesn't work like that.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29And can auctioneer Colin Slessor find a home for an orphaned lamb?
0:01:29 > 0:01:31£2, quickly, or we'll pass it by.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34£2, surely. £2 for a pet lamb?
0:01:34 > 0:01:35Bargain of the day.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38LAMB BLEATS
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Lying deep in the heart of Aberdeenshire, Thainstone Mart,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48the largest farmer-owned livestock co-op in Britain.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Hundreds of thousands of sheep and cattle are bought and sold at
0:01:54 > 0:01:55auction here every year.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Spring is one of the busiest times in the farming calendar...
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Need four lambs yet.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08..and head sheep auctioneer Colin Slessor has his hands full,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10sizing up today's lambs.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11There's a lamb here.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14With 23 years in the auction game,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16there's not much he doesn't know about sheep.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Which lamb there?
0:02:20 > 0:02:24And new recruit Scott Chapman has a lot to learn from the master.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26You don't get many like that.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Scott left a career in the oil industry to begin
0:02:29 > 0:02:33training as an auctioneer two months ago.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36I wouldn't say I'm learning fast but I'd like to think
0:02:36 > 0:02:38that if he tells me something I'll remember it.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42He is listening and learning quite quickly, I would say.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Keen to work, as well. That's a good sign.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46I don't like people leaning on gates.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49I like them with a wee bit of zoof about them.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53And Scott will need all the zoof he can muster to sort the sheep for
0:02:53 > 0:02:57today's auction. They need to pair up each lamb with its own mother.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00They're all numbered and got marks on them.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03If you sell them wrong, it's a complete, you know, mess up,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05so we've got to get it right.
0:03:05 > 0:03:0634, 34, 34.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08The numbers are a bit faded.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11There are a bit like my memory. They're sort of quite distant.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I mean, that's obviously number... how-yah-how-yah-hah!
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- You can tell.- 25.
0:03:16 > 0:03:1725?
0:03:18 > 0:03:19I can see it easily.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22But there's more to this game than good eyesight.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Helps when you've got wee short legs and a wide body.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29You sort of act as a gate at the same time.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32You're a physical barrier.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Whoa!
0:03:34 > 0:03:35Whoa!
0:03:39 > 0:03:42All right there. Scott nearly got a doof on the nose with a lamb.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45It's all right. It wouldn't have been a disaster.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48He's not the best looking lad, anyway. I wouldn't worry.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50- You can't get the staff. - Bit of a problem
0:03:50 > 0:03:52if it happens to somebody like me, but...
0:03:53 > 0:03:56If Scott can handle Colin's banter,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58then frisky lambs should pose no problem.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Sorting sheep for sale starts on the farm
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and, like any job, is easier when the weather is fine.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16But it's been a long, harsh winter for Scotland's farmers and,
0:04:16 > 0:04:17at Tealing, near Dundee,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20sheep farmer Willie Miller is dealing with late spring snow.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25It's come at the worst time of year, lambing.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31People who are lambing outside in this last ten days
0:04:31 > 0:04:32wouldn't have been too clever.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Cold winds chill a lamb as soon as it's born, get hypothermia.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38There has been deaths.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Livestock do better when the sun's on their back.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43With more snow forecast,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Willie is anxious to get his ewes and lambs off the hill as soon as
0:04:46 > 0:04:50possible. The late spring means he doesn't have enough grass
0:04:50 > 0:04:52on his 750 acres to feed all of his livestock,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55so his flock is destined for the Mart.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58The more lives I have to sell, the more money I make, basically.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02The protective new mums can be feisty,
0:05:02 > 0:05:07so Willie has had to call in his niece, Isla, to help sheepdog Jack.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10They'll often charge the dog.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12This dog, although 90% of the time he's very good,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15he's not powerful enough to stand up to a sheep that does that to him.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19At this stage, it's not easy working with sheep and lambs
0:05:19 > 0:05:21when the dog's not up to it.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22HE LAUGHS
0:05:25 > 0:05:27HE WHISTLES
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Willie lambed his first ewe at the age of eight,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37and knows when to step in
0:05:37 > 0:05:40as the sheep give Jack and Isla the run-around.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Isla, go to the side, Isla.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Once rounded up, they have to be sorted in batches for the auction.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Not as easy as it sounds.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51We just need to wait five, ten minutes now,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53till each ewe finds its own few lambs again.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57But there's always a few escapees.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02And with Willie hoping to average £57 per head at the sale,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04he can't afford to let them get away.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11It can get exasperating, but you just work away at it.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12You get there.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16Catch it.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20With mums and lambs reunited, there's one more crucial task -
0:06:20 > 0:06:21colour coding.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25We're going to mark the mothers the same colour.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27So if there's any mix-ups on the lorry,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30we know which batch they're from, basically.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Each batch will be done a different colour.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33This is probably the most important part.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36If you go to the market and buy a batch of ewes and lambs and there's
0:06:36 > 0:06:40one or two lambs in the wrong pen or gone missing, you've obviously...
0:06:40 > 0:06:43They're not going to survive without their mother.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46There's worse jobs you could be doing.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47It's all part of the job that we do.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50We breed ewes, we sell the wee lambs, hopefully get good prices.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53That's the enjoyable part. The important thing is that the guy who
0:06:53 > 0:06:55buys them has to make a profit as well.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57You know, we all have to get a bit...a cut of the cake.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01DOG BARKS
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Helping farmers to get their cut of the cake is senior Mart auctioneer
0:07:06 > 0:07:09John Angus, a man who loves this time of year.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14It's coming to turn out time with the stock, when spring arrives,
0:07:14 > 0:07:19so we get busier with the sales and that's when we get the bulk
0:07:19 > 0:07:21of the spring cattle coming out.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26So it's busy and you know fine it's going to fly in.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30In Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Charles Webster is expecting a visit from John
0:07:32 > 0:07:34before his cattle go to auction.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I like my beasts and they like me.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41They don't speak back and they're always pleased to see you.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Charles too has had a tough winter.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48He's relieved that spring has finally come.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52It's been a long winter, this time.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56If the weather had been more amicable with us,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00as you would put it, we'd have definitely been further on, like.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Ideally, Charles's cattle would have been out to pasture
0:08:03 > 0:08:05at least three weeks ago.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Previous years I was letting them out, outside,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11prior to the sale so that they're acclimatised for the next buyer.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13But this last couple of years,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16winters have been poor so they've been inside up till sale day.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20And that's meant taking a big financial hit
0:08:20 > 0:08:22for extra feed and bedding.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Oh, straw bales can...
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Two, three lorry loads extra.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32But when you love farming as much as Charles,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36you take a £2,000 overspend on straw in your stride.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40It's my job, it's my hobby, it's just...
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- It's my life.- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45His wife, Alison, is every bit as
0:08:45 > 0:08:47passionate as he is about their cattle.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- They can have it as well? - I think so.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53They're preparing for the most important sale of the year,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and selecting the best of the three-year-old heifers
0:08:56 > 0:08:58to sell with their recently-born calves.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01So I've seen them since day one.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03So hopefully they'll go to good homes.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Where's that calf, Alison?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Last year, the Websters did really well at the sale
0:09:09 > 0:09:11but the market has recently slumped.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14A lot of it is down to cash flow this year.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17There just seems to be a general lack of it circulating,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19and when farmers have money, they spend money.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22This is going to be one of the difficult years
0:09:22 > 0:09:23for selling, I think.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Nervous wouldn't be the right word.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Apprehensive might be more like it, like, ken?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32And it's not just losing money that Alison's worried about.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37This is one of my favourites. This is 726.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40I think it's yet to be decided whether she goes tomorrow.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42She's really quiet.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45She'll lie in the field with you
0:09:45 > 0:09:51and you can sit down with her and she's very docile.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53She would like to keep them all if she could have it, probably.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55But it doesn't work like that.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58You have to just look at it as a business sort of type of thing.
0:09:58 > 0:09:59It's just...
0:09:59 > 0:10:01They're here for a purpose, to be sold.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06Well, how are you doing today?
0:10:06 > 0:10:08It's fine to see the sun shining, isn't it?
0:10:08 > 0:10:09It is much, much better.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Auctioneer John Angus will be selling the cattle.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Are you happy with them this year?
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- I am, aye.- I'm happy with them. - Aye.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20And they're strong. Tremendous beast...
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- But they're in first.- Well, she's a good one to start with.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26This is what we've been working on for the last three years.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28- For three years, yes, aye. - Three years.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30This is when the payday is, tomorrow, then,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32for the three years' work.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35The cattle are looking really well, the heifers and calves.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40They're big, strong. The calves have a bit of power about them.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44I think it will be between £2,000 and £2,500...I think.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48But there's still the question of heifer 726.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It's which of these do we keep, which of these do we sell.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Charles decides to let sentiment get the better of him.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- Pick her out.- Really? - No, no, she'll be our cow.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02He's submitted.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Oh, you're spoiled. Oh, lass, you'll have to come out of here.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Decision made, it's time to say goodbye
0:11:10 > 0:11:13to the chosen heifers and their calves.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17I'm being quite honest.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20No, I didn't enjoy seeing them going in a lorry to go away.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27It's not an enjoyable experience, selling beasts.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Because you're at the mercy of the buyers.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33They dictate what your income is.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44At the Mart, Colin Slessor and his team are preparing
0:11:44 > 0:11:45for a sheep auction.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50There is some tremendous lambs in there.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52There is a lamb there with a tremendous back end.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55About as wide as me, which is fairly wide!
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Behind the scenes...
0:12:01 > 0:12:02Get on!
0:12:02 > 0:12:04..George Donald is in charge of the team who ensure
0:12:04 > 0:12:06the sheep are at the right place at the right time.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12They're always watching for things that can go wrong,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14rather than enjoying the moment.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19It's a bit stressful, but, at the end of the day, when things go well,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22you think, "Well, that was a job well done."
0:12:22 > 0:12:24George has spent all of his working life with sheep
0:12:24 > 0:12:28and even he is astonished by the scale of the operation at the Mart.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34The busiest day we had last year was just about the first week I started.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36It was about 8,500 that day.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38We were quite busy that day.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45With 21 loading bays, over 500 pens and a site covering 30 acres...
0:12:45 > 0:12:46Get on!
0:12:46 > 0:12:49..George and his staff walk miles every day.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51I average about 13.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54On sales days, that can double.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56You have to pace yourself.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58You can't go flat out all day.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Amongst the thousands of sheep and lambs here today,
0:13:03 > 0:13:04there are a few without a mother.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Well, what we've got here is a couple of orphan lambs.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11You know, some of the breeds,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14the ewes are very prolific and they'll have triplets,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19so what they do is they sometimes remove one of the triplet lambs,
0:13:19 > 0:13:20just to leave the ewe with two.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22She'll make a good job of the two lambs
0:13:22 > 0:13:24and there won't be a runty wee lamb left behind.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29If a foster mum can't be found, they can end up with Colin.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32You know, they can make just £2 or £3, £4, £5.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34A strong lamb can make a bit more.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I would say these lambs will sell fine.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38It's a specialist job.
0:13:42 > 0:13:48At a starting price of just £5, lot three is still a tough sell,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50even for Colin.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Lot number three. What do you say for that? Pet lamb.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Five. Two. £2. £2 quickly or we'll pass it by.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59£2, surely.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04Two bid. Lady's bid. Two. £2 for a pet lamb?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Bargain of the day.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07At £2, it's going to be sold.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09At two.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Three. Four.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12£4. £4.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Lot three's new owner is farmer's daughter Lorna Edward.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20She only came to the Mart to watch her dad sell his cattle,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22but wandered into the sheep ring for a wee look.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Very much an impulse purchase, yes.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28They're always best purchases, as you say.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Thanks very much.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32It just came in the ring and it looked like a bit of a bargain,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34so I thought, "There's a few at home,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37"so it could just come and join some at home," so...
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It was cute. You couldn't let it go past.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Cute it may be, but when Lorna gets home,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45she'll have some explaining to do.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51In the pens, another youngster has just arrived at the Mart.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- Dad, I can see them, look. - Oh, yeah.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Young Jack Thompson is here all the way from Orkney
0:14:58 > 0:15:01to sell his best friend.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04This is my calf. His name's Toofey.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09When we were cleaning out the cows, I used to hug him.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11And when I was cold,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13I used to cuddle up to him and he warmed me up.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17It's nine-year-old Jack's first time at a sale
0:15:17 > 0:15:21and he hasn't acquired an older former's business instinct yet.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Whatever he makes, I'll be happy with it.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26However, he does want Toofey to go for more
0:15:26 > 0:15:28than any of dad Hamish's cattle.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32He's here to sell eight of his herd
0:15:32 > 0:15:35and doesn't want to be bested by his nine-year-old.
0:15:35 > 0:15:4150, 60, 70. 75...
0:15:42 > 0:15:43What was it?
0:15:44 > 0:15:48£770, a respectable figure.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50And it gets better for dad Hamish as
0:15:50 > 0:15:55the highest price for his stock comes in at £850.
0:15:55 > 0:15:5850.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02It's now down to Toofey to help Jack beat it.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08And it doesn't take long. How high can Toofey go?
0:16:08 > 0:16:16885. Nine. 910.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19910 bid.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23What was it? 910.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25That's right. 910.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Nine...
0:16:27 > 0:16:28Ten.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Well done, Toofey. That's one in the eye for dad.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36My cow made the most out of all of them.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40For Jack, it's his first paycheque as a farmer.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43That's my one.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45But there's more to life than just money.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46- Are you happy?- Yeah.
0:16:46 > 0:16:52Back in the pens, there's time for one last goodbye.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Where's my cow, where's my cow?
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Toofey! Hi, boy.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Goodbye.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Bye, boy.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Bye-bye.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13It's goodbye to Toofey.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16But, sadly, not to winter.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Just when everyone thought spring has arrived,
0:17:18 > 0:17:21the weather has turned again.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22Hey, hey!
0:17:22 > 0:17:25It's 10.20 at the Mart and there's a panic on.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Willie Miller's sheep sale begins in ten minutes
0:17:31 > 0:17:32and he's only just arrived.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Five inches of snow this morning, which I wasn't expecting.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38The heavy snow held him up.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41That's them coming in, Willie, aye?
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- Yeah.- And Colin still has to separate his sheep into lots.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- Divide into four.- OK.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51OK. Just two lots to split.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Green neck and red rump.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56There's two lots gone.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01Just this one. That's all right, all right. Get down.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Willie's hoping for at least £57 per head,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07but he's concerned the bad weather will put off customers.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10I very nearly cancelled because I thought
0:18:10 > 0:18:13the buyers won't be in a positive mood for bidding.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15I could have just cancelled and brought them next week.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17You never know. You only sell them once.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19They may be dearer next week, cheaper next week, so...
0:18:19 > 0:18:23They're here anyway, it would suit me to sell them today.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Willie's attention to detail with the spray paint
0:18:26 > 0:18:29means the sheep are easy to split.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I'll see you up there, Willie. See you up there, OK?
0:18:33 > 0:18:37But Colin's got to get a move on if he wants to start the sale on time.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47No, we're fine. We'll make it.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57OK, good morning, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00We start with the ewes and lambs.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02All sold so much per head.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05OK? Mr Miller's here.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07He had a wee bit of a rush to get here this morning.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08- The snow was on, you said?- Aye.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12The lambs and their mothers are sorted in the nick of time,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14but will anyone be interested?
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Willie wants well over £55 for each of the animals in the ring.
0:19:18 > 0:19:2150. 40 bid.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24£40. 41. Two.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Three. Four. 44.
0:19:28 > 0:19:2944 bid.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Five. 46. 47. 48.
0:19:31 > 0:19:3549. 49 bid.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Come on, spend them up here. £49.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39You want to get good lambs? 50.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41£50 bid. £50 bid.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43£50 bid. Anybody else?
0:19:43 > 0:19:45I'll sell them. At £50, away now.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46One.
0:19:46 > 0:19:5151. 52. Three. 53. 53.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52They're away. 53.
0:19:52 > 0:19:5453, Nichol.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56Mr Nichol.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00£53 each, way below what Willie wanted.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02He'll have to do better with his mother and twin lambs.
0:20:04 > 0:20:0660. 50.
0:20:06 > 0:20:0740 bid.
0:20:07 > 0:20:08Two. Four. Six.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Eight. 50. Two.
0:20:10 > 0:20:11Three. Four.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Five. 55.
0:20:14 > 0:20:15Who's going now? Six.
0:20:15 > 0:20:2057. 58. 59. 60.
0:20:20 > 0:20:2361. 61. 62.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I'll tempt you back. They're going to be sold.
0:20:25 > 0:20:2762. They're away, sir.
0:20:27 > 0:20:3162. Away at 62. 62. Singer.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Mr Singer.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37£62 a head.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41And when Colin secures prices in the 60s for the remaining lots,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44it makes Willie's snowy trip worthwhile.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46- Thank you very much, Colin. - That's all you've got.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Thank you, sir. OK, Mr Miller, thank you indeed.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51We move on. Who have we got now?
0:20:51 > 0:20:53I think I got on quite well, to be fair.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55The ewes, the single lambs are a wee bit less.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Don't know why, really.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59But there was only 19 lambs there,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02but I had more than 100 of the other, of twins.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06So I was making £60, £62.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08It gives you a wee lift to keep going
0:21:08 > 0:21:11and keep farming and keep carrying on, you know.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14It's somebody else's responsibility to make money out of them now.
0:21:16 > 0:21:22Willie's ewes and lambs sold for a grand total of £11,500.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27Averaged 59.50, which was £2, £3 more than expected, so, very good.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40The work never stops at Thainstone and with a new day comes a new sale.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Shut that to prevent breakaways.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Yard supervisor Robbie Cruickshank is preparing
0:21:46 > 0:21:50for today's cattle auction and with 3,000 gates to deal with...
0:21:51 > 0:21:55..he's up and about early doors.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57You're better to get going in the morning.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00And hour in the morning is worth two at night.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04But this morning there's a problem with one of the gates.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06A broken hinge, like, so, it'll be
0:22:06 > 0:22:09fixed before I can get cattle in here.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12We don't want beasts breaking away the day of the sale.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17We'll get the boys onto the job. Always expect the unexpected.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22And as far as Robbie's concerned, one broken hinge is one too many.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Can make a difference between stock
0:22:24 > 0:22:27being in the right place and the wrong place
0:22:27 > 0:22:30or somebody getting hurt or cattle getting hurt, as well.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It was a cow that did the damage in the first place.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35It was just a fat beast from yesterday
0:22:35 > 0:22:37just happened to stand on the gate and it broke a hinge.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- Job done.- The sale can go on.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53There are 400 livestock auctions at the Mart every year
0:22:53 > 0:22:55and auctioneer John Angus is gearing up
0:22:55 > 0:22:57for one of his biggest sales of the season.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00This is really the main breeding sale of the spring.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05This is the first. This is the cream of the stock today.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07It's also the most crucial sale
0:23:07 > 0:23:10of Charles and Alison Webster's farming year
0:23:10 > 0:23:13and the stress is beginning to show.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Where's...?
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Oh, she's in the pen in the corner.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20With the sale due to start in little over an hour,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23they're anxious to get their animals looking as good as they can.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Right, that's OK.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Just clean the worst dirt off.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32I like to see them looking their best.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36It's been a lot of work to get them to this stage.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38The sale's the most important bit.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40This is just to show our wares.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Charles and Alison are aiming for an average of 2,500.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51But the market for cattle has recently been in the doldrums.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Prices have baulked from last year.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I just hope it's enough to pay the bills
0:23:56 > 0:23:58and meet the rent, which is due.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Prices are less good than we were expecting, like,
0:24:01 > 0:24:02so a wee bit of nerves.
0:24:03 > 0:24:051,500. 15.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07It's time for Charles to sell
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and even John Angus has his reservations.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12What am I going for today?
0:24:12 > 0:24:17Well, I'd like them at 2,500, but I can't see
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- me getting it today.- No.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23And as predicted, things get off to a slow start.
0:24:23 > 0:24:272,000. To start with.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30At 2,000. 2,250. 2,250 bid.
0:24:30 > 0:24:342,250. Three.
0:24:34 > 0:24:362,400 bid.
0:24:36 > 0:24:392,400. 2,400.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40All done.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Mr Fraser, Wester Clune.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46That's 100 less than the Websters need and not enough to cover all
0:24:46 > 0:24:49that extra straw bought in because of the long winter.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52And with the next pair, things get even worse.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56At 2,350 bid. 2,350 to Maggie Dalton.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02That's poor, as well.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04But things finally start to get better...
0:25:04 > 0:25:08- 26. Mr Bunsen.- Oh, very good.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09..and better...
0:25:09 > 0:25:142,657. 27. 27. 27 to Maggie.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15..and better.
0:25:15 > 0:25:162,800's bid.
0:25:16 > 0:25:212,800. 800. Maggie Whiteside.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Not quite as bad as we thought it would be, is it?
0:25:24 > 0:25:25No.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30And it's smiles all round for Charles now.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33That concludes it. Thank you very much.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38His heifers have averaged £2,530 each for their efforts.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39A great result.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45Good price. I couldn't actually tell you. I had to look at the ticket.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49It was the same buyer. If they're buying the beasts...
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Repeat buyer, so it's a good thing. So they must...
0:25:51 > 0:25:54You're dealing with folk coming back, needing them again.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00I'm happy. I'd better go and find Alison, see if she is pleased, like.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Alison's already in the Mart office,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06working out what to do with the money.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08That's nine.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10I'll only get a passing glance at the money
0:26:10 > 0:26:13because there are so many bills we have to pay,
0:26:13 > 0:26:14so I see it with this hand
0:26:14 > 0:26:16and it goes with this hand to the next person.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Start again for next year.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Now, that's fine. Thank you very much.
0:26:31 > 0:26:3540 miles from the Mart at the family farm near Keith,
0:26:35 > 0:26:36a sheepish Lorna Edward is
0:26:36 > 0:26:40explaining her latest purchase to her mum, Dorothy.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48£4 for an orphan lamb?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51This is my friend that I bought at the Mart.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55- And you bought it because? - I felt sorry for it.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56It needed a home.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01And it was quite cute looking. Got in for a wee cute lamb.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08Mum's reaction was, "Oh, for goodness' sake, Lorna."
0:27:08 > 0:27:11So nothing new there really, just the usual.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15- So...- And what did Mother say? Probably I'll feed it.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Well, Mum's at home more often than I am.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21So, what's one more when there's three, you know?
0:27:24 > 0:27:27It was an impulse buy, you know, just a spur of the moment thing.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30And then you think about it after.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32It's a bit of an adrenaline thing.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Once you start, you know, it's when to stop.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Folk can easily get carried away.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41I think she's happy in her new home.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44They're never as happy as what they are with their mothers.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47At least she's got company now and she's not just herself.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Next time on The Mart -
0:27:57 > 0:28:02the Spring Rare Breed Sale, with all creatures great and small...
0:28:02 > 0:28:04in the ring...
0:28:04 > 0:28:05and in the car park?
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Rare breeds, there's always some escapes, I'm afraid,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10and it looks like it's goats this year.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Trainee auctioneer Scott steps into the box for his big break.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16Eggs for sale today, boys.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23And cattle buyer Jim bidding big bucks on some beautiful backsides.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25A nice sort of shape about them.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27A nice back end. I've had a look at them.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29But so has everybody else, that's the problem.