Farming Eye

Today’s sale of Scotch Mule ewe lambs at Caledonian Marts saw a centre record set for the champion pen from Douglas and Linda Graham, Burnbank, at £150/head.

Next best price of the day was a £140/head bid for the second prize pen from W Gray, Drumnessie, then at £130/head were the fourth prize pen from P J Laidlaw, Knowehead, with another pen from the same home at £122 and other lambs from the Grahams at £118, £114 and £112.

However, the overall trend in the sale was that seen at other breeding sheep sales already this season, with the average in the 2973 ewe lambs falling by £9.49/head on last year’s sale to sit at £92.68.

In the shearlings on offer Messrs Gray took the day’s joint best price of £142/head, with this price shared by gimmers from Gartenbantrick, with a pen from Glenquey making £141/head. The 838 gimmers averaged £124.37, a fall of £11.43 on 2011.

Meanwhile, in the south of the UK at Ashford a small entry of shearling ewes saw North Country Mules top at £139, with Suffolk x Mules hitting £131, with the Mules averaging £131 and the Suffolk crosses leveling at £121.

Store lambs were also well sought after at Ashford, with 2739 lambs sold to a high of £75 and averaging £59.67.

The overall trend looks fairly well set for the season now, with breeding sheep prices easing on the highs of last year, but still at very respectable levels and store lambs following a similar trend although the best may still look dear to many around the rings.

by Jonathan Long

That’s it for trade in Carlisle for Beltex and wrapping up proceedings was a run of ewe lambs from the Dooley flock. Sale leader at 500gns was Dooley Sandy, a Jef daughter out of Boria, an Argus daughter. This one knocked down to Messrs Jackson.

Next best was two calls of 420gns securing Dooley Seagull and Dooley Sevina, both Jeff daughters, while Neil Caul went to 400gns on two occassions buying Dooley Sunny, a Clovis daughter and Dooley Sparrow, a Jef daughter.

He ended the run of sheep with the 2010-born homebred Dooley Pretal, sire of previous females selling for 900gns. This one is a son of Clovis out of Dun-Mor Gretal, while the Belgian bred Cardinal Drie Musschen, a Harlembois-sired 2010-born tup went at 850gns.

by Chrissie Long

Pedigree and commercial breeders competed for the best of the stock on offer at Monday’s Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club Premier show and sale at Hilltown Farmers Mart  where trade topped at £1260.

Following him at £850 was a shearling ram from Cynthia Aiken’s Carnew flock, Dromara. Mrs Aiken’s pen leader was Carnew Rocket, by Artnagullion Prince Charming II and out of Carnew Penny, a Headlind Lackey daughter. He was bought by Messrs Blair, Dungannon. This was closely followed by his pen mate, Carnew Rodeo, another  shearling by the same sire and out of Carnew Pam, also by Headlind Lackey. He sold for £819 to Mark King, Castlewellan, leaving the Aiken’s with a pen average of £834.

Elizabeth McAllister’s Artnagullion flock then sold another shearling at £787. Taking this money was  Artnagullion Ringleader an Artnagullion Playboy son out of Artnagullion Goody-2-Shoes by 34,000gns  Tullygarley Elite. This one was knocked down to Mark King, Castlewellan.

Next best of the sale at £735 was a shearling from Matthew Burleigh’s Matt’s flock at Kinawley, Enniskillen.  Matt’s Rebound is by Eskdale Lionheart and is out of Vestry Look at Her, a ewe by Airyolland Jester. He sold to David McLoughlin, Donegal.

Following that was Munreary R&D from the Munreary flock of Patrick Brolly, Claudy, at £714 to Messrs Jardine, Aughnacloy. This April-born shearling is by Ardstewart Messr sire and is out of Munreary Lascivious, a Bishopton Jake daughter.  Another from the Burleigh pen sold for the same price, to Mr Gallinagh, Donegal. This time it was Matt’s Rocket, the second prize shearling ram also by Eskdale Lionheart and out of Burnside Kelly.

The show’s supreme champion, the first prize ram lamb from Matthew Burleigh, then traded at £630.  Matt’s Stardust  is another by Eskdale Lionheart and is out of Rocksolid Molly, a daughter of Rocksolid Knuckleduster and sold to Messrs Kearns, Southern Ireland.

Topping the female sales was a smart shearling ewe from the McAllister’s. Again by the 2012 Balmoral champion Clary Platform, Artnagullion Rita stood second in the shearling ewe class and is out of Artnagullion Janita, a Ulysses daughter and sold for £525 to J Ferguson, Newtownards.

Averages; aged rams £352, shearling rams £506.42, ram lambs £552, shearling ewes £318 (Hilltown Farmers Mart).

by Jonathan Long

Selling for 900gns on two occassions was the run of shearling gimmers from the Drumrash flock of the Cruikshank family. First at this money was Drumrash Rich Girl, a Burnside Phenomenon daughter out of the Brickrow Knockout daughter Drumrash Liddy.

Next at the same price was the following lot in the ring, Drumrash Rhiana, an ET-bred Phenomenon daughter out of the Headline Ee By Gum daughter Drumrash Hilda.

Three gimmers then followed at 800gns, the first of which was Drumrash Roni, an ET-bred Wonderboy daughter out of Drumrash Netty. she was knocked down to Messrs Sinclair. The next, Drumrash Rhonda, another Wonderboy daughter, sold to ian Carlisle, while Drumrash Rita, yet another Wonderboy daughter, this time out of a Van de Biesheuval daughter was the other to go at 800gns.

The flock’s run of older ewes topped at 1800gns for Drumrash Not Tonight, a Sinclairs Kaiser Chief daughter out of the Brickrow Knockout-sired Drumrash Laren. This one knocked down to Richard Wood for his Kingledores flock.

Next best was a Brickrow Jaguar daughter, Drumrash Presley, an ET-bred 2010-born ewe out of a Knockout daughter, This one sold to Messrs Davidson.

The run of ewe lambs from the same flock topped at 850gns for Drumrash Sultana, a Burnside Phenomenon daughter out of a Broughton McCosh daughter.

by Chrissie Long

Today’s sale of Beltex females in Carlisle from David Thornley’s Dooley flock is currently topping at 3200gns for shearling gimmers. Sale leader is the ET-bred Dooley Rosebud. This one is by Viagrow out of Dooley Karen, dam of the 18,000gns Dooley Napal and sold to Messrs Armistead, Cumbria.

Next best was a call of 2500gns which secured Dooley Rosey, another ET-bred full sister. This one went to Messrs Mellor, while another full bred ET-bred sister Dooley Roselee went at 2100gns to Messrs Morton.

At 1750gns Dooley Runner, a Jef daughter out of an Ira daughter was knocked down to George Cropper on the phone, while two then shared a 1400gns price tag, the first of which was Dooley Rasiste, the Stafford County champion, a Bacus daughter out of Dooley Montana, a Luggsmill Lennie daughter. Buyer here was Messrs Forsythe. The next at that money was Dooley Ratal, an ET-bred Dooley Pretal daughter out of an Alfred daughter Ben Van de Elzerij. She was knocked down to Neil Caul.

At 1000gns was Dooley Ramsetta, a Jef daughter out of Julie, while at 950gns was Dooley Rachel, a Dooley Napal daughter out of Jamus Duvels Vleesk.

His run of eight older ewes topped at 750gns for Dooley nina, a 2009-born Clovis daughter out of Dun-Mor Hilda.

by Chrissie Long

A son of 50,000gns bull Wilodge Cerberus has been sold in a private deal by the Eire-based Mistic Limousin herd of Frank Buckley to Stephen and Helen Illingworth’s Glenrock herd, Lockerbie.

Gucci, a September 2011-born calf is out of Bremore Victoria, a Nenuphar daughter that was a has been a prolific show winner for Dan Tynan’s  Ardlea herd and goes back to noted cow Luttrellstown Flossie.

He is also the number one SBV ranked Cerberus son  in Eire, with an SBV value of 171, placing him well inside the top 1% of Irish Limousins.

And backing up this performance is a successful junior show career, including being the 2012 Munster interbreed pedigree beef bull calf champion and the 2012 Cork Limousin club calf champion. He was also named the best bull born in 2011 in the Cork Limousin club’s herd competition under UK judge Rob Kirton.

by Jonathan Long

Taking the best price in the shearling rams here at Worcester was Nicola Hartwright with Whitehart Stig, a Hendre Oh Boy son out of a dam by Broomknowes Lion King.

Selling for 2000gns was another from the same home, Whitehart Special Edition, a Humeston River Dance son out of a dam by Ellen Valley Nemesis.

And at 1800gns was Roxburgh Strut from John Elliot. This Drinkstone Peacemaker son is out of a dam by Lumbylaw Malton.

The selling at 1500gns was Clun Statesman from A E Williams and Son. This is a Clun Panther son out of a dam by Clun Kojak.

by Jonathan Long

Selling for 2700gns was the last lot in the sale Scholars Turbo from William McCaffrey. This Gyrhos Rambo son is out of a dam by Mellor Vale Masterpiece.

Then at 2600gns was Whitehart Top Gear (lot 303). This one is by Cherryvale Shergar and out of a dam by Broomknowes Lion King. Following him at 2300gns was another Whitehart lamb. This unnamed lamb is by Humeston River Dance and out of a dam by Hendre Lionheart.

Following at 2200gns was Cambwell thunder from Robert Laird. Sired by Sportsman’s Supreme he is out of a dam by Cambwell Laird and sold to the Ashley family, Lincolnshire.

Overall the 150 ram lambs have averaged £823.76, with the 43 shearling tups averaging £764.42.

by Jonathan Long

Charlie Boden has collected the top call of the day at 6000gns wiith his pre-sale champion, Mellor Vale Tomahawk. This is a son of Milnbank Special One and is out of a dam by Clougher President and sold to the Claybury flock of the Draper family.

Alongside that Charlie sold his third lamb from the Sportsman’s pen at 3500gns to Andrew Bishop. This was Sportsman’s Thunder, another by Special One and out of a dam by Mellor Vale Officer.

At 1600gns was Sportsman’s Talisman, another by Special One and out of a dam by Officer. He’s a full ET brother to the 3500gns Thunder.

At the same money was Mellor Vale Thunderbird, a Special One son out of the same dam as the 6000gns lamb.

Then making 1800gns was Rascarrel Tiulouse from Tom MacTaggart. This Sportsman’s Sovereign son is out of a dam by Templand Megane.

by Jonathan Long

Taking the second best price of the day here at Worcester was the Wilkinson family’s Arkle flock, with Arkle Tyson (lot 220). This son of Larahirl Shamrock is out of a dam by Wardhall Nicefella.

Then at 1200gns was Arkle Toploader, a Cosyn Texels Scope son out of a dam by Arkle Matt.

A few lots later came Blaencar Top Gun at 2200gns. He’s by Knock Orion and out of a dam by Baltier Nailer. And at 1600gns was Blaencar Toyboy. He’s by Straidarran Ranger and out of a dam by Clinterty Notredam.

Messrs Pyman sold a few lots before that at 1300gns for Thacka Trooper. This son of Cambwell Stewart is out of a dam by Carran Perfection. And another by Stewart, Thacka Tribute then sold at 1100gns. He’s out of a dam by Broomknowes Invincible.

by Jonathan Long