0:00:04 > 0:00:06Farming is a risky business. SHEEP BLEAT
0:00:08 > 0:00:11And when it's time to make money, the stakes are high.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13I'll bring it out, then.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Thainstone Mart, one of Europe's biggest livestock markets.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20You want perfection? There it is. That is some machine. Brr!
0:00:20 > 0:00:25Sheep, cattle and machinery, auctioned to the highest bidder,
0:00:25 > 0:00:26day in, day out.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Farmers spend months getting ready for the big sales day.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32COW MOOS
0:00:32 > 0:00:34You fool brute.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38And 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 > 0:00:51Always expect the unexpected, eh?
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Welcome to The Mart.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03This week, the spring rare breed sale,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06with all creatures great and small.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08In the ring... GOAT BLEATS
0:01:08 > 0:01:10..and in the car park.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Rare breeds, there's always something escapes, I'm afraid.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15And, er...it looks like it's goats this year, so...
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Trainee auctioneer Scott steps into the box for his big break...
0:01:19 > 0:01:21- Eggs for selling, eh, boys? - MAN LAUGHS
0:01:23 > 0:01:27And cattle buyer Jim bidding big bucks on some beautiful backsides.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Needs to be a nice sort of shape about them.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32You know, a nice back end. That's what I'm looking for.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35But so is everybody else, that's the problem!
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Early morning at the mart.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Tough going today.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49And at the spring rare breed sale,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53auctioneer Colin Slessor is braced to expect the unexpected.
0:01:53 > 0:01:54SHEEP BLEATS
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Anything can happen on rare breeds day, aye.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58You got me last year, chasing a pheasant,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01a golden pheasant up in the roof ducts.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Come on, get down and catch it. Come on. Good lads. Get in there! Come on, boys.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07So, who knows? Could be a llama spitting at someone today,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11or a pig that, you know, gets stuck in a drain or something.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13But we'll hope there's nothing extreme.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15It'll be fine. Don't worry.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19The sale attracts a massive crowd.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24And coping with so many people is as challenging as corralling any cow.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29A lot of general public who don't know about livestock who are here,
0:02:29 > 0:02:31they'll leave the gates open behind them.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35But they've got to realise that it is dangerous to work with livestock.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39There's maybe three, four times more people in the mart today...
0:02:39 > 0:02:41more a novelty kind of day, so...
0:02:43 > 0:02:45A lot of kids going about as well, so...
0:02:47 > 0:02:50All of Thainstone's three auction rings are in action.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56And as the first animals go through, more arrive round the back.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Sam Stuart and husband Phil unload their pedigree Zwartbles sheep.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07This morning we're running a wee bit later than planned to come
0:03:07 > 0:03:10to the mart, so we're just away to get them settled into the sale,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14so people can have a look at them before the sale starts.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Come on, then! - SHE WHISTLES
0:03:18 > 0:03:19Sam may be late,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23but getting her sheep ready has taken weeks of preparation.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27At Buttery Bray, 35 miles from Thainstone.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Sam has a day job as a farm adviser,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35so the Zwartbles are a part-time passion.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Day-to-day, they don't need too much attention,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40they just look after themselves.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42But, erm...
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Getting ready for all the shows and sales and things,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49there's a lot of time goes into that, just getting everything ready.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54I love working with livestock.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Erm, just everything that comes along with it.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02I like having the responsibility of something to come home to at night.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06You know, something to look after. And as I said, it's just a hobby.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07But it's just, you know,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10rather than picking up the hobby and doing it whenever you want,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12you just have to do it every day.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13You can't...
0:04:13 > 0:04:15you can't not do it.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17I wouldn't change this for the world, to be honest!
0:04:17 > 0:04:19SHE LAUGHS
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Zwartbles are still fairly rare in Scotland,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27but Sam is not the only enthusiast taking the breed to the sale.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30- This is... - INDISTINCT
0:04:30 > 0:04:32..Dangerous Dave.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33He's a bit of a lad.
0:04:33 > 0:04:34He's named well.
0:04:38 > 0:04:4016-year-old David Moyer
0:04:40 > 0:04:43is bravely giving Dangerous Dave a bit of a trim.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45COW BRAYS LOUDLY
0:04:45 > 0:04:50David works on the family farm at Cairness near Fraserburgh.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Helping look after 750 commercial ewes,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57150 cows and a few dozen hens.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04David, like Sam, suffers from a serious case of the Zwartbles.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09He's going to the rare breed sale this coming Saturday, this weekend, so...
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Aye, here's hoping he does well.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14I'd like three, 400 for him, but obviously looking...
0:05:14 > 0:05:18At £300 to £400, Dangerous Dave's not going cheap.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22And for his owner, Saturday's sale
0:05:22 > 0:05:25has the added excitement of some rivalry.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29We'll be sitting next to Samantha Stuart, is selling as well, so...
0:05:29 > 0:05:32She's got good sheep, so it'll be a bit of competition to see who can get top price.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Rivalry between the two of us, it's good.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37It's a bit of a laugh, cos we show at most of the summer shows together...
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Last year in the national summer show, Turriff Show,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Samantha was put champion, I was reserve. So that was a bit
0:05:43 > 0:05:45of a sore point for me, I was hoping to beat her!
0:05:45 > 0:05:47But, well, she had a better sheep on the day.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Or so the judge thought, anyway.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56David's taking two young rams, or tups, to the rare breed sale.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59- Plenty due to get for a Zwartble, anyway.- Aye.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Brother William helps them get ready.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03He's never out of the shed.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06He's always going about at strange times, day or night,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08getting the sheep ready, and...
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Make him look as big as possible in his waders.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Enlarge him as such, could say.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14But making him, tidy him up at the same time.
0:06:14 > 0:06:15Very, very passionate.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Is going to be a bit of jiggery-pokery,
0:06:17 > 0:06:19trying to hide stuff at the same time as well, like, so...
0:06:19 > 0:06:22It's a lot of dedication, but he's doing well in the game.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Just like spruce him up to make him look good for the ladies.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Zwartbles is working, so...
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Time will tell.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43At Thainstone, the rare breed sale has brought in the crowds,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45as the auctioneers bring in the bids.
0:06:48 > 0:06:5048!
0:06:50 > 0:06:51So far, it's going OK.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53We've a lot of people still to get through here.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57I think it's dry outside and the kids are out, licking ice creams and, you know, it's good fun.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01But the real fun's about to start.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04What auctioneer Colin doesn't know
0:07:04 > 0:07:06is that escapees have been spotted in the car park.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11New recruit Scott Chapman enlists Colin's daughter Rachel
0:07:11 > 0:07:13- to help track them down. - Is there goats up there?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- Up there?- Aye.- Come on, Rachel!
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Hi. Aye, it's me, it's me.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23No, there's goats up here, in the car park.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24GOAT BLEATS
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Goats this year, I think.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Goats are pretty flighty. They can kind of clear over hedges and dykes.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Well, they're going out in the road, that's the only thing.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Things will come good, though.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Thainstone's visitors expect goats in the auction ring,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42not in the car park.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44There's one in here somewhere.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47It was running up and down behind up there.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Other two went far car park.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- Are they your goats?- Nope. - Ah, but you just caught one?
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- Yeah.- With one caught, more staff are sent out to round up the rest.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Aye, he's got somebody coming up.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Rare breeds, there's always something escapes, I'm afraid.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03And, er, it looks like it's goats this year, so...
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Anyway, there's plenty goats about here,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07so we'd better watch what we're saying!
0:08:07 > 0:08:09- Right, no worries. - LAUGHTER
0:08:09 > 0:08:10One up there.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Scott is 21 years old,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and has been working at the mart for only nine weeks.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24When not chasing goats, he's training to be an auctioneer.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27It's very different from his first choice of career.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Sheep. I've always kept a couple of sheep myself,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and a couple of cows as well.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36And, er... And I was doing an apprenticeship in oil and gas,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39and I done my apprenticeship and I just...
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It was... It just wasn't really for me.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46But a career as an auctioneer seems to suit him,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and an important part of Scott's job is going out on the road,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52meeting the farmers who come to Thainstone.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55You have to have a presence in the countryside.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Your presence in the countryside is the way to get your customers,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02is going about to places and making yourself known to customers.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03Especially being new to the job.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06You're buzzing when you get up in the morning.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07You get ready and you go
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and it's great to be helping out with people's stock,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12because you really do respect them for what they do.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15And I'm loving it, like, I'm loving it.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16I really am loving it.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20In the week before the rare breed sale, Scott visits Buttery Bray.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21- Hello!- Hi, folks.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- How are you getting on? - To see Sam and Phil Stuart
0:09:24 > 0:09:25and the Zwartble sheep.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Aye, she's looking well, eh? She's got a very tight skin,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32especially for being a Zwartble, like...
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Are they normally as tight-skinned as that?
0:09:35 > 0:09:37It's something I try to breed in, you know.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Getting a good, tight skin.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41You need it for the weather we've got up here.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43- Aye.- So...
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Sam wants to limit her flock to ten breeding ewes,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50so she's taking two ewes with lambs to market.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Aye, so, what are you hoping for, for on the day?
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Have you got a rough figure in mind, or...?
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Erm, well, I've never really sold at this May sale before,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and I've actually not sold lambs at foot.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04So hopefully they'll sell away well,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07but I've put a reserve of 150 per head on them.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09So... But hopefully they'll make that.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16At £150 a head, a ewe with two lambs would make £450.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Presented in top condition, possibly more.
0:10:21 > 0:10:2350 miles away in Cairness,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26rival David Moyer hopes his sheep will also impress the buyers.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Well, the difference between maybe a normal, a commercial sheep,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35as such and a Zwartble sheep, is that their wool's all black.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37The majority of their legs is black.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40You want your, both the back hoofs to be white.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And then the bonus if you've got the front two white as well.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Can't be no more than half their tail white, the tip of their tails.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Maybe the bottom half of their tail.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50They've got a bold white strip right at the top of the middle of their
0:10:50 > 0:10:52faces as well, called a blaze.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54And they're originally from Holland.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56And that's where they got their name.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Zwartble comes from the Dutch.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00It means black with a blaze.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06And David's expertise with the breed has already been recognised.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10It was 2012 the first year I showed a sheep and I was second,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13so I was quite happy, because I was just like 13 at the time.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16I've only been showing two years at the Royal Highland Show, Ingliston.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19I already have two firsts, a second, a fourth, and a fifth and a sixth.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21So I've done quite well there...
0:11:21 > 0:11:24For my age, I'm chuffed with what I've achieved.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25Now, now, boys.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27What are you going to do now, Scott? INDISTINCT
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- How's life, Scott? - Aye, grand, grand.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- You've made a grand job of dressing.- Aye.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- Fills your table, anyway. - Aye, oh, aye.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35He's mother was reserve female at the Highland Show
0:11:35 > 0:11:38two years ago, so there's a bit of good breeding about him like that.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42David must wait for the upcoming sale
0:11:42 > 0:11:46to discover if his Zwartbles make more money than Sam's.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49SHEEP BLEATS LOUDLY
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Rare breeds are only sold at Thainstone twice a year.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Number ten. 20, 30, 40, 50...
0:11:58 > 0:12:03The mart's core business comes from the regular livestock sales.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Week in, week out,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08hundreds of farmers' livelihoods depend on buying and selling
0:12:08 > 0:12:10the right stock at the right price.
0:12:10 > 0:12:151,800, summing up. 1,800 I'm bid. 1,800 bid.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Very expensive, very expensive.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19I bought a couple, but they're very dear.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Tim Watson is a seasoned cattleman,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25rearing livestock since he was a boy.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27I'd probably have been about 15 or 16
0:12:27 > 0:12:29and my dad used to take me to the mart.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33He's give me a start and say, "Just buy something there and we'll see how we get on."
0:12:33 > 0:12:35And so it just started off from there.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37I need 60...
0:12:37 > 0:12:39It is a wee bit addictive, yeah.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41If you think they're cheap, even though you don't need them,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43sometimes you'll buy them.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53Jim buys 1,000 young commercial cattle and 5,000 sheep every year.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57He fattens them up on his farm near Stonehaven.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00A farmer told me there's three ways to lose money,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04and he said, "That is fast women, slow horses and feeding cattle."
0:13:04 > 0:13:07So, I've done two of them, but I won't say which two.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10COW MOOS
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Jim's hoping to make money on these cattle,
0:13:12 > 0:13:17but there's something of a gamble about buying and selling livestock.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19There's one over there, they sleep quite heavily.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21See, that one hasn't cottoned on that we're here yet.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22It's probably sound asleep.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25They do sleep... You can go right up and touch them, you know,
0:13:25 > 0:13:26when they're sleeping.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Well, I hope it's sleeping!
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Thankfully, it wakes up.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35But cows, like any livestock, can die in the field,
0:13:35 > 0:13:36meaning a big loss for Jim.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42If it's not sleeping, about, er, £940, approximately.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47With risks like that, Jim needs to buy low and sell high.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52And this week, he's buying at Thainstone's next regular sale.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01I've come to buy maybe about 15 to 20 cattle. Erm...
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Just maybe a lorry load.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06With thousands of pounds at stake,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Jim get there early with his cheque book and a plan.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12The tactics are, probably, to get them as cheap as I can,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14but the tactics never work.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16One, two, three, four...
0:14:18 > 0:14:19So there's about 100 competitors in there
0:14:19 > 0:14:22and everybody thinks they're good. Everybody has their own ideas.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25All right, Gavin. That's Gavin, aye.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Gavin, turn round!
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Gavin usually bids against me quite a bit, that's right.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I bid against Gavin, so hey-ho.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36The sale gets underway - and trade is brisk.
0:14:36 > 0:14:37The number of buyers,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40coupled with the skill of auctioneer John Angus...
0:14:40 > 0:14:42£1,000, 1,000...
0:14:42 > 0:14:46..mean prices are rising above Jim's limit of £900.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Very expensive. Very expensive.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50I bought a couple, but they're very dear.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52£1,800 bid...
0:14:52 > 0:14:54So that went on.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58All Jim can do is pick up the odd one or two.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00725, 725...
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I'm looking for some, maybe...
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Heifers - I'll go between £800 and £900.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10There needs to be a nice sort of shape about them, you know?
0:15:10 > 0:15:11A nice backend.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14That's what I'm looking for but so is everybody else,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18that's the problem. Yeah. We'll get there yet.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22And he's right. As prices fall,
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Jim gets busy with his favourite bidding technique.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30Just maybe have a catalogue, just a wee flick of that.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Everybody has their own techniques.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35It's subtle, but under eagle-eyed auctioneer John Angus,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37no bid goes unnoticed.
0:15:37 > 0:15:4150, 60, 70, 80...
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Jim wins that lot but he's up against some serious players.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50It's like a card game.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Nobody wants to be seen, they don't want to show their hand,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54sort of thing.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57It's a poker-faced business.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Big money is bid on an eyebrow lift
0:15:59 > 0:16:00or a finger raise.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06It's very serious. I mean, it's thousands and thousands of pounds.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09You can't just do it for the fun of it.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13And across the ring, there's rival Gavin...
0:16:13 > 0:16:16bidding to bag the best bargains for himself.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18INDISTINCT
0:16:20 > 0:16:22But Jim's on a roll.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25And he can't seem to stop bidding.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I need 60 bid.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28I need 60.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34Looks like Gavin's out.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41And as the auction draws to a close, it's either tiredness
0:16:41 > 0:16:45or wallet fatigue that draws Jim away from the ringside.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48I think I've had enough.
0:16:53 > 0:16:5733 cattle were bought, so I got a wee bit carried away.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59So, 27,090, please.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03£27,090 for 33 cattle.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Let's hope the cheque goes through all right, Muriel.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- That would be the...- I hope so too!
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Jim's spent nearly 30,000 in one morning...
0:17:15 > 0:17:19..but he's bought his cattle at an average of £820 per head,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22well within his £900 target.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25HE ENCOURAGES
0:17:25 > 0:17:28All that's left to do is coax seven tonnes of prime beef into the
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- back of the truck. - Oh, hell.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47There's something for everyone at the rare breeds sale.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50From ponies to pigs.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55I've got three pigs here that I've had since they were piglets.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58And I would like somebody to take them on that will
0:17:58 > 0:18:01love them as much as I do.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05And bids are flying high in the poultry hall.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13It's just as busy at the back office.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Sammy and David Moir are there.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20With the sheep sale about to start, trainee Scott
0:18:20 > 0:18:24briefs colleague Mark McIntosh about Sam and David's Zwartbles.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26And David, he's got two ram lambs coming in today.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- I've seen them.- You've seen them, have you?- Yes.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Scott hasn't the experience to run the sheep sale,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34but is being given his biggest break yet.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Right, so you're off to do the eggs?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Aye, yes, I will start on the eggs.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- Good luck.- Time anyway, time.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- Cheers.- So you later.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47In a few minutes, Scott's stepping into the ring to sell the hatching eggs.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Beforehand, head auctioneer Alan Hutcheon takes him under his wing.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Right, Scott, as you can see, we start hatching eggs here at ten o'clock.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58And what you've got to remember today is there's a lot of people
0:18:58 > 0:19:01here that's not accustomed to coming to auctions, OK?
0:19:01 > 0:19:05So, you know, be clear, be in command and take your time.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10The rule is, you know, lot number, description, then sell the item,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12but be very, very clear...
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- On what I'm selling?- Exactly, what you're selling, before you start.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17And also, the golden rule of auctioneering is,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20you might have somebody waving at you here today,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22but you take two bidders at a time.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25So you stick to your two bidders and then you go round to the third bidder.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29So go in there, sell 150 lots and enjoy it, OK?
0:19:29 > 0:19:33No bother.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36As Scott makes his final preparations,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39David Moir is putting the finishing touches to his tups -
0:19:39 > 0:19:40Dangerous Dave and Dictator.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Basically, well, I've just given him a quick spray and I'll give him
0:19:47 > 0:19:49a quick tidy up, as such, you could say.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53You want them to look as well as possible.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57If they are nae looking right, there's nae point in trying to sell them.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02A few pens away, Sam and Phil are almost ready to go into the sale ring.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07Hopefully, the sale will be starting in 10-15 minutes.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11I am a wee bit nervous, just now, so it's just
0:20:11 > 0:20:17what you expect. A wee flutter before you go into the ring.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21You never know how they are going to do or, you know,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24if people are interested there to bid, so time will tell.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27SHEEP BLEATS
0:20:27 > 0:20:30And Sam's not the only one with pre-sale nerves.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Cup of cold tea, that's the trick.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Cold tea's the trick. So they tell me, anyway.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Scott's about to sell 150 lots of hatching eggs.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42That's if his voice doesn't crack.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Cold tea, that's what Colin's told me to drink.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50Cold tea. Cold tea seems to soften the throat, so...
0:20:50 > 0:20:53I'm a bit nervous just now, but I'll be fine once I'm going.
0:20:53 > 0:20:5620-30 lots in, then my nerves will settle a little bit.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Ah, they'll still be there, they'll still be there.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Hatching eggs are fertilised eggs that can produce live chicks and
0:21:03 > 0:21:06they're very much sought-after.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Eggs for sale today, boys!
0:21:09 > 0:21:11This sale could be Scott's big break.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14And he doesn't want to get egg on his face.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16What time is it?
0:21:16 > 0:21:1929 minutes past.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Bang on time, Scott gets selling.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26We'll start the hatching eggs here this morning.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29We'll start off with lot number 751,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31the Rhode Island Red Large Fowl eggs.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32£5.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34£5, surely.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37One there at one, one there at one, one there at one.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39One, two, three, four, five.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Are you bidding, sir? Five... five...
0:21:43 > 0:21:48five, six, six, six, six, all away at £6.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Lot number 753...
0:21:51 > 0:21:56He's doing well, yeah. He's taking his time and you can see he's just
0:21:56 > 0:21:58relaxing into it, which is good.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59One,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01two, three, four.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Four, five, six, eight.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06And he's very, very clear and in command.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- That's the most important thing. - £2...
0:22:09 > 0:22:12And you've got to be consistent, you know,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14you can't jump from £10 to £15 to £20.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16You go ten, 12, 14, 16.
0:22:16 > 0:22:1715 the bid...
0:22:19 > 0:22:22..18, 18, 18, 20 bid
0:22:28 > 0:22:32But as Scott discovers some breeds are easier to pronounce than others.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37890, there, the black ara... Black ara
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Ara... Araucana Large Fowl. Again, don't quote me on the breed, folks!
0:22:41 > 0:22:4525 I'm bid, at 25, 25 away, 25...
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Once a lot is paid for, it's collected straight from the ring.
0:22:48 > 0:22:49£15, I'm bid.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52At £15, all away - 743.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Thanks for the attention, folks, I'll pass you on to Tommy now.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Tommy Fairbairn.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02With 150 lots sold, Scott's finished his stint in the box.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- All right? Well done.- Aye.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09- Did I do all right?- You got on fine.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Did you enjoy it? - I was enjoying that today.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14That is the most I've ever enjoyed it.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16For Scott, it's over easy and ring free.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20As Sam steps out into ring two.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27Time to see who wants her Zwartble ewes and at what price.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44150, 150...
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Sam's first lot of Zwartbles get an enthusiastic response from the bidders.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55190, 200, 220, 220, 220...
0:23:55 > 0:23:58220, 220,
0:23:58 > 0:24:02220. And 240, come on.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05240. At 240, yes, sir.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13At 240 a head, it's a price well over Sam's reserve of 150.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Now for her second lot.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20One ewe lamb and one...
0:24:22 > 0:24:2790, 100, 110, 120, 130, all finished, then?
0:24:27 > 0:24:32It's not a great start, but auctioneer Mark McIntosh pushes harder.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37130, 130.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41140, 150, 150...
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Bids are moving again, but it's still slow.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46150 to go.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48150 to go.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50150, bang on reserve.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55And before Sam's even left the ring,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57rival David steps in with Dangerous Dave.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01500 guineas.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- 300...- David's tups are bid in guineas.
0:25:04 > 0:25:0821 shillings in old money or £1.05 today.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14Traditionally, the extra shilling, 5p, was the auctioneer's commission.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19200, 200 guineas. 220, 220...
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Auctioneer Mark's working hard, but David's disappointed.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25The tups should bid higher than Sam's ewes.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Dangerous Dave sticks at 220...
0:25:31 > 0:25:33..and isn't sold.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Will the second tup, Dictator, do better?
0:25:38 > 0:25:40100 guineas, 100
0:25:40 > 0:25:43It's another slow start.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48120, 140, 160, 180, 180...
0:25:48 > 0:25:51200, 220,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54240, 240...
0:26:02 > 0:26:06- 260...- 260. Again, not enough.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Both of David's tups are all unsold.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10I'd have liked a bit more money for them than that.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Both are coming home, not sold.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14There's a full ring of people today, obviously,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17but there aren't enough buyers. There's a lot of people there,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21sitting, just sitting, for example, none are interested a Zwartble.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24But they were interested in Sam's ewes.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26'It went well, yes. All the sheep are sold'
0:26:26 > 0:26:29and I'm happy with the price,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32so it can't really get much better than that.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37I don't think David sold any of his sheep, so you could say, since mine are all away to a home,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40then I maybe won this time round.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42SHE LAUGHS
0:26:42 > 0:26:45240 and then 150, so, yeah, I'm chuffed with that,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Yeah. I'm happy enough.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48David's taking his tups home.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- I'll see you, David.- But there will be other sales.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55We'll see you.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Though for some of the staff,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01there have been quite enough rare breeds for one day.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03HE CHUCKLES
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Tough going today. Half the stock and twice the folk.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10The stress of getting the stock up in the ring for the amount of spectators...
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Unbelievable. It would drive a man to drink!
0:27:13 > 0:27:14HE CHUCKLES
0:27:17 > 0:27:22Not too bad, all the livestock sold, so a lot of people are quite happy.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26A lot of people not happy to see their pets sold, but we can't help it.
0:27:26 > 0:27:27They just have to go.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33Overall, pretty good. Sammy got on pretty well with her Zwartbles.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35I'm sure she's pretty happy as well.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38One or two goats that were on the rampage...
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I'm nae sure we've caught them all them all yet, but anyway,
0:27:41 > 0:27:43hopefully we'll get them at some point.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44But everything's fine.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48It'll be fine to sit down and maybe have a single ginger beer later on.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Next time on The Mart...
0:27:55 > 0:27:57It's all change at Thainstone.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Oh, they've stolen the sheep.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04Can Carol Fowler transform the mart in time for the Taste Of Grampian?
0:28:04 > 0:28:06That's not your stall.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07Come on, now, girls.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12Alan Gibb's pregnant heifers give him the run-around...
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Come on, now, you coarse brutes.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16You want that one over there.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18OK, I'll go and tag it up now.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21And will turkey farmer Craig Michie's marketing masterstroke
0:28:21 > 0:28:23become the talk of Thainstone?
0:28:23 > 0:28:25There was no-one else to do it.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27I'm hoping that this covers my face well enough.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30- Do I look like a turkey. - Yes.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33HE LAUGHS