There is a well known saying, 'no pain, no gain' and that will be ringing true in the minds of Milk Link’s 1,600 producers, who are on the brink of reaping just reward for 12 years of loyalty and investment.Suffolk sells for 2,000gns at Carlisle
A NUMBER of sheep breed societies held shows and sales at Carlisle last Friday. Here is a round-up of some of the best prices.
Suffolks
The Carlisle and Northern Counties Society show and sale peaked at 2,000gns, and averages for shearling and ram lambs were well over £100 up on the year.
Top price was achieved for a ram lamb by Glenhead Infusion from D.M. Robertson, Hexham. Out of a dam by Glenhead Purely The Best, it sold A. Wilson, Melrose, Roxburghshire.
At 1,100gns was a ram lamb from Mark Evans, Keighley, Yorkshire. This Strathisla St Nicholas son is out of a Strath-isla Shirocco dam. It took the male and overall championship before being knocked down to J.R. and M. Richardson, Winston, Darlington.
Another four rams sold for 1,000gns.
Averages: 7 shearling rams, £676.50 (+£143); 55 ram lambs, 3565.85 (+£100.55); 1 aged ram, £420; 2 shearling gimmers, £220.50; 2 ewe lambs, £189.
Rouge
The Rouge Society’s show and sale had a top price of 1,400gns, realised for an aged ram.
Consigned by Percy Tait, Broughton Hackett, Worcester, this January 2008-born ram is by Broadwood Dickie and out of a dam by Happy Home Elegant Antoinette.
It took the male and overall championship in the pre-show sale before selling to P.M. Howie, Dunning, Perthshire.
Next best at 1,200gns was a ram lamb, Wrights Krakatoa, from S.J. Wright, Shute, Axminster. This son of Tullyvallen J2 was breed champion at this year’s Devon County show. It was knocked down to J. Smithson, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.
The female section topped at 1,300gns and 1,100gns both shearling gimmers sired by Garlic First Gold from David Jane, Bridgwater, Somerset. The top-priced lot took the reserve female championship and then sold to S. and J. Kerr, Moira, Co. Armagh.
The one at 1,100gns had earlier taken the female title and sold to J. Redfern, Onecote, Leek.
Averages: 2 aged rams, £866.50; 18 shearling rams, £386.83; 22 ram lambs, £397.59; 5 ewes, £254.10; 24 shearling gimmers, £389.81; 25 ewe lambs, £239.82.
Bleu du Maine
The Bleu du Maine Sheep Society show and sale saw prices rise to 900gns in the Millenium Bleus section.
Earning the day’s top call was a shearling gimmer, Inveresk Griselda, from Gavin Shanks, Carluke, Lanarkshire. Out of a home-bred ewe it took the Millenium Bleu championship before selling to Richard Pilkington, Hope, Wrexham.
Mr Shanks also sold two home-bred shearling rams at 750gns, each both going to W. and B. Nichol, Newcastleton, Roxburghshire.
William Baillie, Biggar, sold home-bred shearling rams at 850gns to P. Whyte and Sons, Crieff, Perthshire, and 840gns to Firm of R. Reid, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.
In the main Bleu rams section, top was 700gns for a Maximum Ever Ready-sired shearling from Messrs Vile and Norman, Taunton, Somerset. This ram took the overall championship before selling to Firm of R. Reid.
Averages: 11 shearling rams, £406.64; 10 ram lambs, £298.20; 1 aged ram, £315; 8 shearling gimmers, £284.81; 21 ewe lambs, £220.50. Millenium Bleu - shearling rams, £578.05; 3 ram lambs, £283.50; 10 shearling gimmers, £279.30; 2 ewe lambs, £147.
Vendeen
The four Vendeen rams on offer peaked at 700gns and averaged £498.75.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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