Top price revealed as almost £5m changes hands in less than seven hours at Kelso ram sales
Last updated 12th Sep 2025
Almost £5 million has changed hands at the world's biggest ram sales in Kelso today (Friday).
The top price for a shearling sold was £32,000, while the top lamb went for £15,000.
Although slightly down on last year's figure, with more than three thousand going under the hammer, the average price of a ram rose - from £1,229 to £1,427.
Local farmer Laurence Laing, whose family have traded at the event since 1937, got proceedings underway with the traditional ringing of the bell.
"It means a lot," he told Greatest Hits Radio. "It was a good honour.
"I've never thought much about the bell-ringing until I got the call to do it. I didn't realise so many people watch it.
"I thought it was just ringing the bell to start the sale, but there were quite a few people up and down here, my family included."
Laurence's grandfather, James Laing, established the Oxmuir Suffolk flock in 1935, and the family business continues to thrive to this day.
When asked what the ram sales meant to him, Laurence, from Hume, Berwickshire, added: "It's a tradition for me, I need to be here. We've come here all our lives, and I'm maybe one of the oldest vendors now."
Despite movement restrictions as a result of the blue tongue virus, entries were up five per cent on last year; with visitors from as far afield as Orkney and Essex, Arran and Islay.
And £4,867,560.00 exchanged hands on the day.
WATCH: Click on the link below to view our video report...
The ram that fetched top price was from Cambwell Farm, run by Robert and Joyce Laird in Biggar, and is set to join Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock in Blackburn.
Dan Withall, Border Union executive director, said: "It's a tremendous day that's been in Kelso since the 1800s, and continues today with the finest of tups from across the country.
"It's nice that the harvest is finished earlier this year, which has meant folk can enjoy coming for a social event as well as the business that's done here.
"The car parks are full to the brim today, which is indicative I think of how important it is as an event in the Borders."
Crime prevention advice was also offered by Police Scotland following a series of high-value thefts over recent weeks.
It comes just days after invisible marking kits were handed out to farmers in Coldstream to help identify anything stolen - and deter thieves.
Inspector Jordan Low, National Rural, Acquisitive & Business Preventions Team, said: “It can be perceived that rural communities are easy targets for criminals, however the work we are doing with our partners across Scotland is vital to help prevent crime and protect our rural areas. Be assured we will pursue offenders and take rural crime very seriously.”
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/