Local breeders, Rose and John Davies were completing the dispersal of their Old Hall flock and achieved a top price of 700 gns for a February born ewe lamb sired by Southam Freddie Flintoff.  Buying back some of his breeding was Mr Lionel Organ from Llandysul. 

Averages :

Ewes                 8 sold to average  £313.69
Shearling Ewes    52 sold to average £477.95
Ewe lambs          25 sold to average £355.74   

New Heights for Charollais Breed at Dungannon

The Charollais Sheep Breed continued to scale new heights at their recent Female Sale with twenty six lots selling at over one thousand guineas each.  Celebrating their 25^th Anniversary in the breed and topping the trade was the Tullyear Flock of Drew and Stephen Cowan selling to a top of 2200gns for an in-lamb gimmer and averaging 1140gns for nineteen sold. Achieving the top price was a big stylish Finnegan daughter who caught the eye of several buyers and was eventually knocked down to County Tyrone Breeders Robert and Gary Scott. Welsh Breeder Arwyn Thomas had to go to 2000gns for his pick out of the Tullyear pen, this choice lot sired by Knockychattaun Jack.  Castlederg Breeder, John Foster was adding to his Charollais Flock securing two lots from the Tullyear pen at 1800gns.  One a Finnegan daughter and the other sired by Beechlodge Jackpot.  Another Jackpot son from the same pen selling at 1700gns to the Scotts for their County Tyrone, Bunderg Flock.

A strong Southern presence resulted in thirty per cent of sheep heading South. Thomas McCormick from Roscommon going to 2000gns for his choice out of the Rockvilla pen of David and Liz Mawhinney, this one sired by Wernfawr Jet and out of a Finnegan daughter. Another Jet daughter sold to Welsh Breeder Arwyn Thomas for 1200gns. A new breeder from County Down had to go to 1300gns to secure her first choice from the Rockvilla Pen, this one sired by Drumsallagh Jaguar. The Rockvilla Flock averaging 908gns for nineteen sold.  

The top in the Ringclare pen of Kenneth Malcomson also went South, Eddie Buckley from Cork spending 1400gns to secure this lot scanned in lamb to Riverdale Kidd, Interbreed Champion at Castlewellan.  The Ringclare Flock averaging 1007gns for four sold. Top in the Lornbrook Flock of Diane Christie was a daughter of Parkgate Glenmorangie selling to a County Donegal Breeder for 1000gns.

Topping the trade in the ewe lambs was the Ballynoe Flock of Ian Craig,  his top at 1200gns going across the sea to Wales: this big stylish ewe lamb sired by Gogwell King of Trumps selling to Arwyn Thomas.  A new breeder from County Antrim had to go to 1100gns for his choice from the Ballynoe pen, this one also sired by Gogwell King of Trumps. Two others from the Ballynoe pen sold to 1000gns, these were both sired by Castellau Formidable with one purchased by Castlederg Breeder John Foster and the other selling to a County Wexford breeder. The Ballynoe pen averaging 775gns for nine ewe lambs sold.

The Beechview Flock of George Booth also celebrates twenty five years in the Charollais Breed this year, their top ewe lamb a big January born  Castellau Kingdom daughter selling for 1150gns to a County Wexford Breeder, the Booths averaging 593gns for nine ewe lambs sold.

Sidney Corbett’s Drumsallagh Flock generated a lot of interest with his top selling to 1100gns for a daughter of Drumsallagh Harcourt RUAS Champion 2010. The Drumsallagh pen averaging 638gns for five ewe lambs sold.

Top Prices:

Drew and Stephen Cowan 2200gns, 2000gns,1800gns,1800gns, 1700gns,1500gns,1100gns,1100gns,1000gns.
David and Liz Mawhinney 2000gns, 1300gns,1250gns,1200gns,1200gns,1100gns, 1100gns,1000gns.
Kenny Malcomson; 1400gns, 1150gns. an Craig 1200gns, 1100gns, 1000gns, 1000gns.
George Booth 1150gns;
Sidney Corbett, 1000gns.
Diane Christie 1000gns

To view pictures - click here

Champion Ewe Lamb top Bakewell at 1,400 gns

A pen of ewe lambs from Tina Ashley’s Lincs flock from Boston in Lincolnshire topped the trade at the annual sale of in-lamb ewes and ewe lambs at Bakewell Market.  First in their run took the championship award in the pre-sale show classes under the eye of Mr Cyril Dougherty.  In the ring she topped the sale at 1,400 gns to Welsh breeder, Mr Esmor Evans.  Esmor took a further three ewe lambs out of the pen at 820 gns, 650 gns and 440 gns.  Two were sired by a home-bred ram Lincs Jack Daniels and the others by Kelby Kenny.

Heading the shearling ewe trade at 680 gns was a Grimston Jefferson ewe from Stuart Dunkley in Northamptonshire.  She was scanned for twins to the well-known sire Rockvilla Ferrari.  Keen to purchase this breeding were D & W Livestock from Woodhall Spa.  They purchased a further three yearlings from the Hyde flock all in-lamb to Ferrari.

Other leading prices were achieved by Cecil and Janet Thomas, Wolston Flock at 620 gns for a Southam Jupiter shearling ewe and 560 gns for Thomas Mawer’s ewe lamb by Rutland Ensign.

Averages :

In-lamb ewes      £430.50     Top 410 gns
Shearling ewes    £418         Top 680 gns
Ewe lambs          £378         Top 1,400 gns

Shearling Ewes to 1,550 gns at Brecon Female Sale

A much enlarged consignment of ewes met steady trade at the Brecon In-lamb Ewe sale, which was topped with a price of 1,550 gns for a yearling ewe from Edward Morgan's Nantybwla flock. Their daughter of Skelton Whin Istabraq was carrying a single to Southam High & Mighty and was the choice of Huw and Bronwen Evans from Anglesey.

A regular face at this year’s female sales have been Mr and Mrs J Corbett, who have been rebuilding their Charollais flock after a long absence from the Society.  They paid 1,380 gns for the pre-sale show champion from the Glyn Coch flock of Adrian Davies, Carmarthenshire.  Her sire was Glyn Coch Igniter and she is due twins to the 3,000 gns tup, Highway Lloyd George.

Completing their dispersal sale were Eric and James Sleep from Trevadlock in Cornwall.  They had a large entry of shearling ewes which was topped with their first yearling into the ring at 1,250 gns.  This Foulrice Informer ewe will be joining the Linton Springs flock of Robert and Samuel Tindall in Yorkshire.  The Tindall’s also put in the final bid of 1,100 gns for the Trevadlock stock ram, He’s Got It.

The Castellau flock of Tim Prichard also broke the 1,000 gns mark for an Edstaston Juno yearling ewe.  Carrying triplets to Castellau Lord of the Manor, purchaser of this one was Justin Evans from the Vale of Glamorgan for his Sant Andras flock.

Averages :-

16 Senior Ewes           £397.25
59 Shearling Ewes       £515.92
20 Ewe lambs             £344.40

Trevadlock Dispersal Sale

8 Senior Ewes             £551.25
40 Shearling Ewes       £463.57
9 Ewe lambs               £287.00
3 Stock Rams             £812.00
4 Ram lambs              £467.25

Auctioneer : Clive Roads, McCartneys       

Topping the trade at a joint production sale of Charollais females held at Builth Wells Market at the weekend, were some stars from the summer show circuit. Mrs Jennifer Curtis from Wickhamford, near Evesham saw her multi-award winning shearling ewe, Elmwick Kit Kat (pictured right) knocked down for 2,400 gns to Mr Arwyn Thomas from, Whitland, Carmarthenshire. Kit Kat was sired by Glyn Coch JPR and was carrying twins to Lane End Lancelot and had won five breed champions, two interbreed and three reserve interbreed champions during 2011. Another successful show gimmer, Elmwick Kay this time in lamb to JPR sold for 2,000 gns this time to Ian Craig, Ballynoe House flock in Northern Ireland.

Top price from the Castellau flock of Mr Tim Prichard was also sold to Mr Arwyn Thomas at 1,700 gns. This Penrhos Ibanez gimmer was carrying triplets to the Worcester Sale top-priced tup, Logie Durno Kracket-it.

Trade was brisk throughout the sale with a further ten shearlings sold in excess of 1,000 gns. Paul Amphlett, Tawelfa flock sold a Southam Exotic daughter for 1,600 gns to Mr & Mrs Corbett from Newent in Gloucestershire.

Perhaps the highlight of the day were the ewe lambs which topped at 2,300 gns for the first to be offered from Ashton Selway, Wardshill Flock in Dorset. She had been shown twice during the season taking two first prizes. Her sire was another Glyn Coch tup and her dam a Galtres Dominator ewe. Putting in the final bid was Mr. Esmor Evans, Mold, Flintshire for his Maerdy flock.

Another smart ewe lamb sold to 1,850 gns from F.H. & M. Kennedy, Parkgate, Dumfries. She sold to Northern Ireland with another five also purchased to cross the water. Throughout the sale sheep were sold to sixteen different counties throughout the British Isles.

Averages:   11 Older Ewes           £521.18
                62 Shearling Ewes      £775.47
                12 Ewe Lambs           £775.03

Auctioneers
Brightwells Limited, Leominster, Herefordshire

View pictures from the sale.

Mr Foster’s title winner, earlier chosen as the first prize ewe lamb by judge Alan Kennedy, of Parkgate, Dumfries, is by the home-bred sire Garriston Kosher, reserve male champion at the 2010 Great Yorkshire Show, who is himself a son of the noted Ballynoe House Issac. The victor made 1,050gns when purchased by Ibrahim Jaeban, of Forth House Farm, Cockermouth in Cumbria. Top price honours also fell to Mr Foster with his second prize ewe lamb, a well-bred daughter of Coventry Judge. It was the last sheep to enter the sale ring, joining local buyer Michael Hall, of Airton, for 1,380gns.  Five ewe lambs from the Garriston flock averaged
806 gns. 

Ballynoe House Issac was also responsible for the reserve champion, the first prize shearling ewe from Charles and Valerie Marwood at Whenby, York, whose Foulrice flock, established for 30 years and currently with 500 pedigree ewes, annually consigns quality shearlings, the product of many years of selective breeding, to the Skipton fixture.  The runner-up also sold to Mr Jaeban at 950gns, one of a total of ten in-lamb females acquired at Skipton by the Cumbrian buyer at the outset of his quest to establish a pedigree Charollais flock.  He also paid 750gns for the Marwoods’ third prize shearling ewe, by Edstaston Head Master. The dams of both these prizewinners were by the Foulrice senior stock sire, Ash Charolais Filibuster, who is renowned nationally and still working well at six-and-a-half years old.  In addition, Mr Jaeban bought the second prize ewe at 400gns from Robert Towers, of Camp House Farm, Farleton, Lancaster, at 400gns.

Born in the Middle East, Mr Jaeban first came over to England as a student. He later worked in the motor vehicle engineering industry for 20 years, meeting his wife Sandra, who hails from the Penrith area, and moving to Cumbria.  For the past seven years, he has developed his passion for farming, running a 70-strong flock of Texels and around 100 Mules, now to be supplemented by pedigree Charollais. “I started as a hobby farmer – it has now taken over my life,” said Mr Jaeban.

AVERAGES

20 Ewe lambs sold to average £495.08
66 Shearling ewes sold to average £437.18

14 Aged ewes averaged £387.75.

Charollais Ewes up to 2,100 gns twice at Worcester Saucy Sale

The first in-lamb Charollais ewe sale of the season got off to a fine start when the annual Saucy Sale was held at Worcester market on Saturday.  Ten top breeders from all over the UK, including two from Northern Ireland presented an excellent run of ewes to tempt buyers.

Heading the prices at 2,100 gns were two in-lamb yearlings; one from the Edstaston flock of Robert Gregory in Shropshire and the other from the Geldard Family’s Wraycastle Flock from Cumbria.  The Edstaston ewe had enjoyed a successful show season taking a number of tickets.  Sired by Arjane Jumanji and carrying twins the final bid was made by David Roberts from Leasowes Farm in Kenley, near Shrewsbury.  The Wraycastle ewe was sired by the record breaking Banwy Immense and was the choice of Justin Evans from St Andrews Major in Glamorganshire for his Sant Andras flock. 

Adrian Davies from Carmarthenshire had a very smart pen of yearlings on offer and was rewarded with a top bid of 2,000 gns for his ET born ewe sired by Edstaston Juno out of his top grossing ewe by Southam Aztec.  Returning to the Charollais breed after a number of years was Mr Corbett from Gloucestershire, who selected this Glyn Coch ewe plus a further six sheep from the sale.  Another sister from the same flush attracted a bid of 1,900 gns from Northern Irish breeder Mr Keys for his Tullybroom flock.

Drew Cowan from Northern Ireland also achieved a top of 2,000 gns for his Logie Durno Finnegan ewe, carrying twins to Knockychattaun Leprechaun.  Buyer of this Tullyear female was Edward Morgan from Carmarthenshire for his Nantybwla flock. 

Highest priced in-lamb ewe at 1,800 gns came out of the Logie Durno pen from William and Carole Ingram from Aberdeenshire.  They had a smaller consignment forward as they are holding a special sale of in-lamb yearlings at Shrewsbury market on the 8^th October.   Logie Durno J-Lo is a full sister to the highly successful stock ram, Penrhos Ibanez and was carrying twins to Royal Welsh Champion 2010, Logie Durno Jackpot.  She went across the water to David and Liz Mawhinney’s Rockvilla flock.

Top price ewe lamb was sold for 1,250 gns which was a Drumsallagh jaguar daughter from the Edstaston flock.  She joined the Edstaston yearling going to the Boyo flock of David Roberts. 

Averages :                   14 Senior ewes            averaged £710.25
                                  55 Shearling ewes       averaged £775.27
                                  22 Ewe lambs              averaged £454.36

Auctioneer :                Clive Roads, McCartneys

View pictures here

Ffrwd Ram Lamb tops Builth Sale at 3,200 gns

For one Charollais breeder from Anglesey, the Main Builth Wells Sale was a dream come true, when his ram lamb topped the breed entry.  Dewi  Prichard Evan’s very muscular tup took the eye of many breeders on the day, but in the end was knocked down to the Logie Durno flock of William and Carole Ingram for 3,200 gns.   This son of a Rhaeadr tup had stood 1^st in the late December born class under the scrutiny of judge, Mr Geoff Biddulph from Cheshire. 

Next in line was the winner of the shearling ram class from regular vendor Geoff Probert from Herefordshire.  His Mortimer March born yearling was sired by Inglis Chalky out of a Lowerye Baldrick ewe and was the choice of another Builth regular, Huw Roberts for his Bachymbyd flock.  This one sold for 3,000 gns.  The Mortimer run of 30 shearlings again won the Champion Award for best pen in the sale and went on to see further prices of 2,000 gns, 1,800 gns and an excellent average of £893.00 with total clearance.

The Ingram’s Logie Durno flock travelling all the way from Aberdeenshire again had an excellent sale.  Their January born lamb sired by Edstaston Jigsaw took the individual show championship and went on to attract a bid of 3,000 gns from Northern Ireland breeders, David and Liz Mawhinney.  Their pen of 7 ram lambs went on to win the reserve champion pen award and the top pen average of the day of £1,399.50. A further five lambs in their pen sold for over £1,000. 

It was also the Logie Durno pen of 7 shearling rams that achieved the best average of the day in this section, finishing up at £930.00.  Top of this group was a full ET brother to LD Jackpot, which sold for 1,400 gns to Neil Oughton and Peter Scott from Gloucestershire.

Second top price in the shearling section was one from the Foulrice pen of 15 rams from Charles Marwood in Yorkshire.  Their April born son of Edstaston Head Master sold for 2,300 gns to Ieuan and Evlin Lloyd for their Nant-Y-Rhiw flock in Conwy.  The Marwoods also sold two further tups at 1,300 gns and 1,400 gns to finish with an excellent average of £910.

Taking the reserve ticket in the show classes was another January born lamb, this time from Alan and Herbie Kennedy’s Parkgate flock.  Purchased of Parkgate Looker at 1,500 gns was Northern Ireland breeder, Trevor Bell.  This tup lamb was sired by the Worcester Premier Sale champion 2010, Arjane Kukri.  Another son of Kukri in the Parkgate pen went for the same price this time to Thomas Hunter for his Skelton Whin flock.

Dilwyn Davies from Carmarthenshire continued his good season with three tup lambs over the £1,000 mark.  Leading the way were two ET sons of Artnagullion Jose out of the same ewe; Cyril Dougherty from Yorkshire took one at 1,500 gns and the second went to Laga Farms Ltd in Orkney at 1,350 gns.  A further Jose son sold for 1,300 gns to Anna Whitehead for her Samlesbury flock in Lancashire.

Results

Older Rams             3 sold        60% clearance    £472.50 average

Shearling Rams    297 sold       82% clearance    £615.32

Ram Lambs        244 sold        76.5% clearance    £490.70

Successful Sale for Charollais Breeders at Chelford

A new format for the Chelford Charollais sale proved most successful, when the sale was held on Saturday 13th August in conjunciton with the Texel "Elite" Show and Sale.  A large number of commercial prdoucers interested in buying rams of each breed where in attendance.

The first prize shearling and champion ram Parkgate Jack, was shown by Messrs. J A & R Geldard and Sons of Gilpin Bridge, Cumbria and sold for 750 gns to Messrs. L Hadfield & Sons of peak Forest, Derbyshire.  Messrs. Geldard's shearling rams averaged £796.25p.  Charles Marwood's run of 6 shearling rams sold to 740 gns to average £654.50.

The day's top price of 900 gns went to the first prize ram lamb and reserve champion shown by local vendor Geoff Biddulph and was purchased by R J tindall of Wetherby, North Yorkshire.  Geoff's 6 ram lambs averaged £494.17.

Averages :     Shearling Rams £604.94
                    Ram Lambs £381.35

Good Commercial Trade for Rams at Early Builth Wells Ram Sale

Commercial trade at the NSA Early Builth Wells ram sale was steady with an increase of £30.75 in average prices for shearling rams to finish the day on £632.97.  Topping the day at 1,050 gns twice were rams from Adrian Davies’s Glyn Coch flock, Carmarthenshire and Gerald Burrough’s Sheldon flock in Devon.

The reserve champion from Mr Burrough was by Carthorpe Juggernaught and was sold to breeders, R H Buckley & Sons, Oswestry, Shropshire. The Glyn Coch shearling was by Igniter and went to a commercial breeder, Claire Notely from Cardigan. Mr Burrough also sold his stock ram Sheldon Jack for 700 gns to Brecon breeder, Mr T Owen-Lowe for his Pontbren flock.   

The judge for the pre-sale classes was Mr Thomas Hunter from Yorkshire and he choose a tup lamb from the Wernfawr flock of Paul and David Curran as his champion.  Going to 1,000 gns to secure this son of Glyn Coch Korker was R J Morris for Knighton, Powys.

Clearance on the shearling rams was good, but there were a few too many ram lambs forward for this early sale. 

Averages :

Older Rams                3 sold to average £630
Shearling rams        115 sold to average £632.97
Ram lambs               43 sold to average £469.08

Auctioneers :      Brightwells

Carnew Flock Scoops Awards at Dungannon Premier Sale

Charollais Sheep Chairman Jonathan Aiken had a red letter day at the Northern Ireland Charollais Sheep Premier in Dungannon claiming the Champion and Reserve Champion Spots and also the top price of the day at 2900gns.

The Northern Bank sponsored pre-sale show, judged by Mr Brian Davies of the Honddu Flock in Wales,  proved a winner for the Carnew Flock of Jonathan Aiken.   His first prize January born ram was  the Judge’s top choice of the day.  This Champion ram sold to County Tyrone breeder, Gary Scott for 2900gns. In reserve place was the December class winner also shown by the Carnew Flock later selling for 1200gns to a Katesbridge breeder.  Both rams were sired by last year’s Champion,  Carnew Kingpin, a Loaning Foot Highlander son.  Kingpin sold at the Worcester Premier earlier this year for 2000 gns. The Carnew pen averaged 1288gns for four sold.

Topping the trade in the shearling market was a tremendous shearling from the Tullyear pen of Drew and Stephen Cowan, this ET son of Rutland Lightening was sired by Rockvilla Golden Promise selling to Stewartstown breeders George Booth and George Hammond for 2300gns.  Another Lightening son from the Tullyear pen, this time a January born lamb sired by Arjane Kukuri,  sold for 1300gns to Michael Powers,County Limerick.

The Doughery Flock of Robert and Stuart Cromie had an excellent days trading selling to a top of 1300gns for their  December born Logie Durno Klass Act son, which sold to a breeder from County Galway.  Another in the Doughery pen, a Logie Durno Jackpot son sold for 900gns to William Sherrard from Coleraine.

 A high index ram from the Riverdale Flock of Norman McMordie, a son of Foulrice Kinsman attracted a bid of 1000gns and sold to Mr Wilson from Co Fermanagh.  Also at this price was a son of Drumsallagh Harcourt shown by Sidney Corbett and purchased by John Foster, Castlederg.  This rams’ full brother sold for 3000gns at the Premier Sale in 2009.

Taking the red rosette in the shearling ram class were David and Liz Mawhinney with a powerful Honddu Investigator son, this ram later headed  South to County Cavan selling for 1500gns. The Judge’s choice in the untrimmed class was an upstanding ram from the Craig Brother’s pen selling for 580gns to County Donegal. 

 In the Female class George and Jason Booth took the honours with a Riverdale Jupiter ewe lamb.   Jupiter is a son of Rainbow Hermes, this stylish ewe lamb also made the top female price on the day selling for 820gns to County Clare Breeder Eamonn Quinlivan.

Averages at the sale were once again on the up with many astute commercial buyers there to secure a calibre ram; this demand early on the season a reflection of the confidence in the breed.  A strong contingent of Southern buyers drove prices up with several of the higher priced rams making their way South.

Averages :           11 Shearling rams averaged  £798.00
                          60 Ram lambs averaged £633.50
                           5  Ewe lambs averaged £634.00

Charollais Sheep Trade tops 10,800 gns at Worcester Premier Sale

A new centre record was set at the weekend for Charollais at Worcester, when a top price of 10,800 gns was achieved.  A shearling ram from the Logie Durno flock of William and Carole Ingram from Aberdeenshire was knocked down to Welsh breeders; Mr Tim Prichard of the well-known Castellau flock and new breeder Mr Justin Evans, who established his Sant Andras flock last year.  Their purchase was Logie Durno Kracked-it a son of Crogham Hannibal II out of a Foulrice Gladiator ewe with a performance breed index of 375, a top 5% ram.

The Logie Durno flock had another extremely successful premier sale; selling a total of 8 shearling rams and 8 ram lambs to gross £53,634 an average of £3352.12 per head.   

Next highest price was a ram lamb from the Highway flock of Dilwyn Davies in Carmarthenshire.  Liberator was sold for 6,500 gns to Mr Charles Sercombe, who held a highly successful sale of Charollais ewes in June, in a joint purchase with Mr David Mawhinney from Northern Ireland.  This lamb was an ET brother to last year’s top price lamb, Arjane Klansman out of the record priced ewe at the Arjane Dispersal sale for 5,800 gns.   

The Ingram’s were also in the money with their pen of ram lambs; their topper was another ET lamb full brother to Highway Liberator again a purchase from the Arjane Dispersal sale.  Logie Durno Lord of the Ring, had scanned with an eye muscle of 42.2 and caught the eye and final bid of 6,000 gns from Angus and Sue Howie.  He now joins their Millhouse flock, which enjoyed such success at this year’s Highland Show. 

A very smart individual from Peter Vaughan’s Kings Land flock in Herefordshire attracted a final bid of 5,600 gns from Alan and Herbie Kennedy, Parkgate flock and Brian Harvey, Netherkeir flock both from Dumfriesshire.  Kings Land Leading Light was sired by the dual supreme interbreed winner, Logie Durno I’m Yer Man out of a Southam Eros ewe. 

A top 1% performance index lamb, Logie Durno Laird sold for 4,800 gns and was the joint choice of Northern Irish breeders, Mr Norman McMordie, Riverdale flock and R & S Cromie, Doughery flock.  This was sired by last year’s top price lamb, Arjane Klansman out of the 2^nd placed shearling ewe from the Royal Welsh Show. 

The Foulrice flock of Charles Marwood had a strong pen of ram lambs forward and going to 4,200 gns for Foulrice Leon was Mr Arwel Owen for his Banwy flock near Powys.  This lamb was sired by Wernfawr Jim and was a top 25% performance animal.

There was a strong contingent of purchasers from Ireland, both north and south and a very smart shearling tup from Adrian Davies from Carmarthenshire attracted a final bid of 4,000 gns from Mr Jim and Frampton Jeffrey from Co Cork.  Glyn Coch Knight was by a home-bred sire Igniter out of a Wraycastle Dai Hard ewe

Also at 4,000 gns was a tup lamb from the Lowerye Flock of Mr Neil Oughton from Gloucestershire.  Lucky Lad was sired by the top price shearling ram at the 2009 Builth Wells ram sale, Mortimer Investment and had exceptional performance figures for muscle; an EBV of 5.09 the highest value for this trait for offer on the day.  Purchaser for this one was Mr C H Rees from the Vale of Glamorgan for his Llynfi flock.

The Logie Durno flock was victorious in the pre-sale show classes which were judged by Mr Albert Ferguson from Co Cork.  Their shearling ram Logie Durno Korker, sired by Crogham Hannibal II out of a Rutland Ensign daughter was the champion yearling and reserve overall.  He sold for 3,800 gns to Mr Sam Tindall from Yorkshire for his Linton Springs flock.

The supreme champion as a ram lamb, Logie Durno Lincoln also by Hannibal II and sold for 2,400 gns.  He will cross the water to Irish breeders Ed and Sheena McCarthy, Co Cork.

Probably the thickest animal in the market was a shearling ram from Huw Robert’s Bachymbyd flock in North Wales.  Going to 3,800 gns for Bachymbyd Kracker was a trio of breeders; Messrs Quick and Mike Alford from Devon plus the Probert family from Herefordshire.

The entry of females was headed at 2,800 gns for a shearling ewe from Adrian Davies’s Glyn Coch flock in Carmarthenshire.  She was sired by Galtres Dominator out of one of Glyn Coch’s most prolific show producing dams.  Her buyer was Messrs R & M Price from Staunton on Wye.  Female champion came from the Gogwell flock of Clive and Robert Hopper in Devon.  Their shearling by Gogwell Jacko was sold for 2,100 gns to McConnell Bros, Northern Ireland.  Another yearling ewe this time from the Parkgate flock of Alan & Herbie Kennedy sold for 1,900 gns and travels across the water also to the McConnell Bros.   Ewe lambs peaked at 1050 gns and 1000 gns for two from the Kings Land flock of Peter Vaughan.   

Trade throughout the day for a hugely increased entry was excellent, with good clearance rates and strong interest from local commercial farmers.  Average prices for shearling rams were just about on par with 2010 with more than twice the number of rams sold.  For lambs the average price increased to £1096 an increase of £116 on the previous year. 

Averages :       Shearling rams            -           69 sold to average £1288.00 (-£27.36)

                      Ram lambs                  -        156 sold to average £1096.24 (+£115.60)

                      Shearling ewes            -          19 sold to average £951.63 (+£170.43)

                      Ewe lambs                   -         10 sold to average £680.40 (+£131.17)

Auctioneer :    Clive Roads, McCartneys

Click here to view the images of top priced sheep. 

Dalby Charollais Flock Celebrates 7,000 gns ewe at Worcester Market

The auction record for a pedigree Charollais ewe was broken at the 25^th Anniversary sale of the Dalby Flock held at Worcester market, when the sale topper went for 7,000 gns.  The sale of all Charles Sercombe’s December lambing portion of his flock attracted fierce bidding from breeders keen to secure these top bloodlines.

The major buyers at the sale were Angus and Sue Howie from Dunning in Perthshire.  They established their Charollais flock in 2010 and added the four highest priced animals from the sale to their Millhouse flock.  At 7,000 gns was a two-year old ewe, Dalby Jezzabelle.  A daughter of Rockvilla Golden Promise, a former winner of the interbreed title at the Royal Welsh Show, the ewe herself was a show winner in 2010 and had top performance figures as well.  She and many of the top priced animals at the sale went back to one of the best Charollais females of recent years, Dalby Champagne; again a winner of the Royal Welsh Interbreed title.

Not far behind at 6,600 gns the Howie’s took a three-year old ewe, Dalby Ice Baby.  This one was out of Dalby Deidre at top show ewe sired by Dalby Geraboam.  Ice Baby had a impressive breeding record.  Leading the yearling trade was Dalby Kirsch,  a daughter of Dalby Champagne by Golden Promise; a unique mixture of two RWAS champions.  She joined the Millhouse flock at 5,100 gns.

Early on in the day the Howies went to 4,200 gns for a four-year old ewe, Dalby Hyacinth.  This ewe is the highest performance index ewe in the breed and a full sister to three proven stock rams, including Dalby Hickory Dickory  She is sired by Foulrice Garcia out of Dalby Clarissa. 

Taking 14 sheep on the day was well-known Charolais cattle breeder, Mr Esmor Evans from Mold.  Esmor re-started his Charollais flock again in 2010 having been a keen breeder in the 80’s.  Top price of his purchases was 2,600 gns for the shearling ewe Dalby Kiki.  This powerful, showy type ewe was sired by Rockvilla Golden Promise.  Also joining the Maerdy flock was Dalby Ingrid at 2,300 gns; a daughter of Champagne this time by Dalby Helix and one Charles Sercombe feels could feature in the show classes this year. 

Society Chairman, Robert Gregory from Shropshire went to 2,200 gns for Dalby Krystal.  Again a Golden Promise ewe out of a Champagne daughter and one of the favourites in the sale.  Different breeding featured in the choice of Peter Scott from Gloucestershire; he went to 2,100 gns to secure Dalby Kate the breed’s highest index shearling ewe for his Eastbach flock.  She was sired by Dalby Galactico out of the 4,200 gns ewe Hyacinth. 

The sale was a total sell out with very impressive average figures:

52 Shearling ewes averaged             £842.42

21 Two-year old ewes averaged        £999.50

18 Three-year old ewes averaged     £1232.58

15 Four-year old ewes averaged      £  913.50

Auctioneer : Clive Roads, McCartneys

Click this link to view images of the top priced sheep