Four rams sold for more than £3,000 in the recent Exlana sale at Tiverton.

Held at Ayshford Barns, near Tiverton on Tuesday, August 2, the annual Exlana ram sale was seen as a great success by the Sheep Improved Genetics (SIG) group.

Auctioneer Kevin Bateman of Bateman Hosegood praised SIG for all they have achieved, saying: "I say it every year but SIG and the Exlana breeding programme are to be applauded for such passion and commitment to the breed.

"The dedication of the whole group to performance recording is key to their growing profile in the sheep industry and they are to be congratulated for such an achievement."

This year several of the 81 rams catalogued for sale on the day reached big figures, with four rams making over £3,000 while the majority sold between £750 and £1,200 with an overall average of £1,250.

"It’s a fine line," explained chair of SIG, Bill Geen. "Of course we have huge ambitions for the breed and want to achieve recognition and returns on the work the group have input over the past 16 years, however we are very aware of our original intentions.

"The Exlana breed is about farming with precision, efficiency and high genetic merit whilst considering affordability. We produce fit for purpose and that will always remain our maxim."