Female Sale Reports 2009

PRICES SOAR AT WORCESTER PREMIER SALE

A tremendous show of Charollais sheep at Worcester Market attracted support from breeders and commercial farmers alike and ensured average prices were well up across the board.

Enjoying by far the best trade of the day were two pens of remarkable animals from the Aberdeenshire flock of William and Carole Ingram.  Ably assisted by their two sons, Gregor and Bruce, they sold a total of 14 rams to average £3,382.50.   Top price of the day was for one of their 6 shearling rams, Mr Michael Power from Southern Ireland went to 8,200 gns for Logie Durno Judge & Jury.  This was sired by Foulrice Gladiator out of a Crogham Hannibal II ewe and had taken the award of champion shearling ram in the pre-sale show classes.  Also from this pen of strong and very well-fleshed tups were the next two best prices for yearlings.  Going to 4,400 gns for Logie Durno Jack Daniels sired by Crogham Hannibal II, was commercial Perthshire farmer, Mr A M Howie.  The ram will be used on Lleyn ewes, but Mr Howie was so impressed by the sheep at the sale that he hopes to purchase females later in the season.   Coventry breeders Mr and Mrs Cecil Thomas also took a Hannibal son, Logie Durno Jeeves at 3,000 gns for their Wolston flock.  This tup will be shared with the Dalby flock of Charles Sercombe. 

Runner-up in the shearling ram show section was a very fleshy ram from the Aberkinsey flock of Meilir Jones, Dyserth, Rhyl, Denbighshire.  Going to 3,000 gns for this one was the show class judge, Mr Brian Davies from Brecon in Powys.  Mr Davies was full of praise for the overall quality of the tups on offer and found his sale champion in the pen of ram lambs from the Arjane flock of Arwyn Thomas, Whitland, Carmarthenshire.  Selling late in the day their topper was their first prize lamb, Arjane Klansman for which the Ingram’s invested 7,200 gns to join the Logie Durno flock.  The champion Arjane Kukri went over the sea to Northern Ireland for Co Down breeder Mr Drew Cowan for a selling price of 2,800 gns.  Both these lambs were sired by Penrhos Ibanez. 

But it was the Logie Durno pen of ram lambs that took seven out of ten of the next best prices.  Their best lamb was sold for 6,200 gns to Mr Geraint and Mrs Sally Lloyd from Llanybydder, Dyfed.  Kings Ransome had an impressive performance index of 426 which put him in the top 1% for the breed.  He was sired by Royal Welsh Show interbreed winner 2008, Rockvilla Golden Promise out of a Foulrice Chieftain ewe.  The lamb had been through the CT scanner, which had showed up its excellent gigot shape.  Next was another top performance index lamb this time sired by Edstaston Jigsaw.  Going to 5,400 gns for Logie Durno Klassic was Mr Arwel Owen from Foel near Welshpool for his Banwy flock and joining forces with him was new breeder, Mr Williams, Ardudwy flock.

Mr Myfyr Evans from Llanrhaeadr, Denbighshire had a strong pen of lambs forward and was rewarded with a top price of 5,100 gns for Rhaeadr Kevin.  Taking this son of Parkgate Hurricane out of a Tullyear ewe was Mr Ian Matthews from Brecon in Powys for his Buckland flock.

Travelling over from Northern Ireland was Mr David Mawhinney with ram lambs from his Rockvilla flock in Newtownards.  In his pen was the first prize winner from Balmoral Show which attracted a final bid of 3,200 gns from Society Chairman, Mr Robert Gregory from Shropshire.  Rockvilla Klass Act was sired by Northern Ireland champion top stock ram in 2009, Honddu Investigator out of a Rockvilla Golden Promise ewe purchased at the Rutland dispersal sale. 

Tim Prichard from Llantrisant, Glamorgan was attracted by an Edstaston Jigsaw ram lamb from the Ingram’s pen.  Logie Durno Knock Out which sold for 3,300 gns was out of a Foulrice Gladiator ewe and joins the Castellau flock.  Two further Logie Durno rams sold for 2,600 gns apiece.  Kaiser Chief, also by Edstaston Jigsaw and an ET brother to the 5,400 gns Klassic went to Eire and the Ballybeg flock of Edward and Sheena McCarthy.  New breeder Mr Daykin from Southam in Warwickshire went for a Southam Exotic son out of a ewe purchased at the dispersal sale of Lionel Organ’s flock.  Just behind these two at 2,500 gns was the choice of Cambridgeshire breeders, Mr John Maxwell and Mr Ian Bradshaw; Logie Durno King Pin was also the product of the purchase from the Southam Dispersal sale and was sired by Carthorpe Grand Duke.

Heading the female trade were two bids of 2,000 gns; one for a Rockvilla Golden Promise shearling ewe from Tom Greenfield’s Wellsborough flock in Warwickshire and the other for the champion female, a ewe lamb from Mr Peter Vaughan’s Kings Land flock in Herefordshire.  Purchaser of the top-price yearling and a number of other ewes was Mr Peter Scott from Coleford in Gloucestershire for his Eastbach flock. 

Clearance rates were excellent with over 80% of the rams finding new homes, many of which went to commercial prime lamb producers taking advantage of the superb choice of top rams available at this venue. Nearly 30 commercial buyers were at the sale for the first time, emphasising the interest in Charollais for quality lamb production. 

Average Prices :-

33 Shearling rams sold to average £1315.36 (+£555.42) top 8,200 gns

152 Ram lambs sold to average £980.64 (+£31.66) top 7,200 gns

5 Shearling ewes sold to average £781.20 (+£322.70), top 2,000 gns

13 Ewe lambs sold to average £549.23 (+£212.23), top 2,000 gns

Auctioneer : Clive Roads, McCartneys

BUYERS DIG DEEP AT CHAROLLAIS SHEEP PREMIER IN DUNGANNON

Charollais sheep continue to make the headlines as the breed enjoyed the first sale of the season. There was some trepidation amongst breeders due to the change of time from an evening to a day sale but their worries proved unfounded as a packed sale ring and rising averages reinforced the impact that Charollais are having in the sheep world and with buyers present from around the UK and Ireland it shows that Northern Ireland sheep are a popular choice amongst breeders.

The Northern Bank sponsored Premier was certainly a bumper day for the Artnagullion Flock of William McAllister who had an enviable average of 1216gns for six ram Lambs selling to a top of 3000gns to Scottish buyer Mr Blair Dufton from Aberdeen.  This ram was sired by Loaningfoot Highlander and out of a Foulrice ewe. Highlander also sired two other lots from the same pen selling at 1400gns to County Cork Breeder, Albert Ferguson and 1100gns to County Antrim Breeder Alistair Hall.

 Following on from their success at the Worcester Premier the Rockvilla Flock of David and Liz Mawhinney also achieved a top of 3000gns for their January Born Rockvilla Kerrygold ram sired by Logie Durno Finnegan who was placed first in his class and went on to achieve Reserve Champion, Sheena Coghill securing this lot for her Orkney Island Flock, the Rockvilla Flock averaging 942gns for eight sold.

In the show ring Judge Kenton Foster from North Yorkshire chose the Loaningfoot Highlander son presented by the Club Chairman Jonathan Aiken as his Champion.  This big upstanding lamb won the December ram class and went on to take the Championship honours. This is the third consecutive year that Loaningfoot Highlander has sired the Dungannon Premier Champion.

Taking the Reserve Champion spot was the Rockvilla Flock of David and Liz Mawhinney with their January born Kerrygold Ram sired by Logie Durno Finnegan. The Rockvilla Flock also took the red rosette in the Shearling class with a Honddu Investigator son who later sold for 700gns to another Scottish Breeder.  Winner of the untrimmed class was the Beechview Flock of George Booth with a Riverdale Jupiter son who sold to a Southern breeder for 550gns

In the female class it was a December born ewe lamb shown by Sam Flannegan which took the prize, this big stylish lamb selling for 400gns to William Davidson, Moira

The Artnagullion Flock claimed the Thompson Feed Sponsored Group class for the second year in a row.

The NI Charollais Sheep Club would like to record their thanks to their sponsors for the show classes, Northern Bank, J Thompsons and sons and Dungannon Farmers Market.

Results from the Show Ring

Shearling Ram: 1^st David and Liz Mawhinney, 2nd Drew and Stephen Cowan, 3rd Kenny and Sheila Malcomson

December Born Ram Lamb: 1^st Jonathan Aiken.2^nd David and Liz Mawhinney, 3rd William McAllister

January Born Ram Lamb:  1^st David and Liz Mawhinney, 2^nd William McAllister, 3rd Drew and Stephen Cowan

Untrimmed Ram Lamb: 1^st George Booth, 2^nd Robert and Stuart Cromie, 3^rd Ian Craig

Group of Three: 1^st William McAllister, 2^nd David and Liz Mawhinney, 3^rd Jonathan Aiken

Female: 1^st Sam Flannigan, 2^nd Jonathan Aiken, 3^rd George Booth

Reserve Champion; David and Liz Mawhinney

Supreme Champion: Jonathan Aiken

Top Prices

William McAllister 3000gns, 1400gns, 1100gns David and Liz Mawhinney 3000gns, 1300gns, 1000gns. Robert and Stuart Cromie, 800gns. Stephen MaCauley 850gns. Drew and Stephen Cowan 850gns. Jonathan Aiken 800gns. William McAllister 750gns. Colin Barnes 700gns. David and Liz Mawhinney 700gns, 700gns. Norman McMordie 650gns, 600gns. Ian Goudy 650gns. Kenny and Sheila Malcomson 600gns.

Southam Dispersal tops at 4,050 gns

The renowned Southam flock of pedigree Charollais sheep came under the hammer at the weekend.  Lionel Organ has been a major player within the breed for the past 23 years and a large crowd of buyers gathered at his farm in Rhos, Llandysul to purchase the 350 lots on offer.  The excellent display of sheep were a credit to Lionel’s breeding policies and management and bidding was brisk throughout the long sale.

However it was the very last animal into the ring that topped the day’s selling; the stock ram Carthorpe Grand Duke was knocked down for 4,050 gns to Mr Michael Alford for his Foxhill flock in Devon. 

Leading the female prices was a 2006 born ewe sired by Rutland Ensign.  Going to 3,600 gns was Mr William Ingram from Aberdeenshire.  She was carrying twins to Southam Exotic and was considered by Lionel to be the best of the 2006 ewes.  Mr Ingram also took her full sister for 2,500 gns. 

Still looking an outstanding ewe was a 2005 born ewe that took the female and reserve breed champion and interbreed pairs champion awards at the Three Counties Show this year.  She sold for 2,800 gns to Mr J N R Jones, Llanddulas, Conwy. 

A tremendous run of 100 shearling ewes was topped at 2,000 gns by a daughter of Carthorpe Grand Duke and in lamb to Southam Exotic, interestingly out of the top priced ewe.  This one also stayed in Wales going to Mr Mark Davies, Pengarreg, Rhiwgoch.

Also selling for 2,000 gns was a March born shearling – quoted as Lionel’s favourite in the sale.  Sired by Southam Eros out of a Southam Speculator daughter she caught the eye of Mr Peter Vaughan for his Kings Land flock in Herefordshire. 

Joining the consignment going up to Aberdeen for the Logie Durno flock of William Ingram was the prize-winning show shearling, Southam Ice Maiden.  She was sired by Rockvilla Golden Promise and although lambing late, made 1,800 gns.

The run of 59 very well-grown ewe lambs saw bids of 1,100 gns twice.  The first was a daughter of Carthorpe Grand Duke and went to Scotland to Mr Russell Gray from near Lanark.  Mike Alford from Devon took the daughter of Southam Exotic at the same price; both lambs had exceptional conformation and scanned with high muscle depths. 

Averages were excellent and stock went to all parts of the UK and to Eire.  Lionel said after the sale “it is a very sad day for me as I had such enormous amount of pleasure and achievement with the flock but I look forward with interest to see how my ewes go on for their new flock owners.”

Auctioneers : Dai Lewis,

Averages :     8        Senior Ewes                      £286.12

                   36      2004 born ewes                  £362.25

                   34      2005 born ewes                  £503.69

                   68      2006 born ewes                  £652.35

                   47      2007 born ewes                  £514.05

                   99      Shearling ewes                   £702.17

                   59      Ewe lambs                         £403.45

For pictures of this sale follow the link

Foulrice Charollais females sell to 4,000gns at Skipton

The renowned Foulrice Charollais sheep flock of husband and wife breeders Charles and Valerie Marwood, based at Whenby, York, hit the headlines at the annual sale of pedigree females staged on behalf of the British Charollais Sheep Society at Skipton Auction Mart.  The couple headed the prices at an invigorating 4,000 guineas with a December, 2006-born two-shear ewe (DG7304), by Ash Charollais Filibuster, a Gold Award ram purchased by the Marwoods at the Worcester Premier Sale in 2005 for 2,100gns, whose parentage goes back to the celebrated Inglis flock of Geraint Lloyd.  Scanned for twins in December by Parkgate Insignia, bought last year at Lanark from Herbie and Alan Kennedy, she has been the Foulrice show ewe for 2009, standing second to the champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. She was also second at the Royal Welsh, won her class at Ryedale Show and was part of the winning group – along with Ballynoe House Isaac and the Foulrice champion show ewe DG8064 – at both Ryedale and Great Yorkshire shows.

The top price female moved to the south-west when acquired by Mike and Mel Alford, of Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon. The Alfords purchased a number of Foulrice females at Skipton, which will be used for breeding purposes in their well-known pedigree Charollais flock, first established some five years ago.  They paid 2,650gns for a 2005-born ewe (DG5497), the dam of their top price Skipton purchase - by Thackwood Dundee, bought at Kelso as a shearling for 2,000gns - and scanned for triplets by Ash Charollais Filibuster.  The Alfords also had successful bids for two further two-shear Marwood ewes - 1,850gns for DG7628, by Foulrice Eboracum, in-lamb to Parkgate Insignia, and 1,500gns for DG7192, by Thackwood Dundee and scanned for twins by Ash Charollais Filibuster.

A 2006-born Foulrice ewe (DG6216), by Rutland Ensign, itself sired by Foulrice Chieftian – sold as a Silver Award shearling at Worcester Premier for 4,200gns - became the fifth Marwood female to achieve four figures when knocked down for 2,000gns to South Welsh breeder A Davis, of Lllandeilo, Carmarthenshire.

The Marwoods sold a total of 129 females at Skipton at an average price of £569.

Their Foulrice Charollais flock was established 27 years ago and continues to sell successfully to pedigree breeders, though their bread and butter trade is sound commercial rams for the production of a quality end product. The couple have sold rams throughout the UK. “As our numbers had reached 570, we felt it was time to make a reduction, as well as reducing our workload at Foulrice,” explained Mr Marwood.

(Report by Robin Moule, Skipton Auction Mart)

2,000 Gns for Top at Builth Production Sale

Top price at the 12th Annual Production sale held at Builth Wells Market was 2,000 gns for a show gimmer from Herbie and Alan Kennedy's Parkgate flock.  Carrying a single to Foxhill Jake, she was the choice of Dumfriesshire breeder, Mr Brian Harvey for his Nether Kier flock.  The Parkgate flock had the next best price of 1,300 gns for a Ballyhibben paddy Power daughter, which sold to David Roberts from Shropshire. 

The Elmwick flock of Mrs Jennifer Curtis had two shearling ewes at 1,100 gns; the first by Sarkley Grand Prix sold to new breeders Messrs R & R Morgan from Carmarthenshire.  Taking another Grand Prix daughter was Mr Peter Scott from Gloucestershire.

A smart pen of six very well-fleshed yearlings from the Cold Harbour flock of Tony and June Gregory attracted much interest with their top three selling for 1,050 gns, 1,000 gns and another at 1,050 gns.

Heading the ewe lamb section was a show lamb from the Arjane flock of Arwyn Thomas.  Taking this ET daughter of Galtres Dominator was Northern Irish breeder, Mr David Mawhinney. 

Averages :     15 Older ewes      £424.90
                    62 Shearling ewes £581.05
                    6 Ewe lambs        £582.75

Auctioneers : Brightwells.

A Cracker of a sale for Charollais at Dungannon

Halloween might have been over but the frenzied bidding at the Charollais Female Sale held at Dungannon Mart in Northern Ireland, sparked a  scorching  trade as buyers competed for their purchases. If anyone was in any doubt that Charollais were the hot favourite at the moment then they only had to look at the packed ringside of enthusiastic buyers for proof. 

Topping the trade was the Tullyear Flock of Drew and Stephen Cowan who achieved 1900gns for an outstanding in-lamb gimmer, Tullyear Irish Dew selling to Scottish breeders, Herbie and Alan Kennedy for their Parkgate Flock. The Tullyear Flock followed on from this receiving 1200gns from Robert and Stuart Cromie for another big eye-catching  Logie Durno Finnegan daughter.

The Rockvilla Flock of David and Liz Mawhinney had an excellent nights trading averaging 661gns for their nineteen in-lamb gimmers,  Topping the trade in their pen were two full sisters sired by Rockvilla Golden Promise, a Logie Durno Finnegan son.  Robert Scott from Newtownstewart paying 1200gns for one Golden Promise daughter and a Donegal Breeder paying 1100gns to secure the other.

An excellent pen of ewe lambs presented by the Ballynoe Flock of Ian Craig attracted a lot of interest, Shropshire breeder, Dave Roberts having to pay 1000gns to secure the best in the pen, a very smart lamb sired by Castellau Formidable.  Another stylish lot from this pen selling to Ivor Wilson from Enniskillen for 700gns.The Ballynoe Flock averaging 592gns for six sold.

47 In-lamb gimmers averaged 572 gns. 33 ewe lambs averaged 430 gns.

This was a great finish to what has been a great year for the Charollais Breed with averages up at all their sales and rams now as scarce as hens teeth which generates a very positive outlook for the breed.