Skiptons opening show and sale of gimmer shearlings saw 4,770 head sell to an overall all-breeds average of £177.43, well up on the previous years £152.05.

A new Valais Blacknose sheep record of 14,000gns was set at the society’s national show and sale at Carlisle for the reserve overall and male champion, Snowdonia Goliath.

The Thainstone Spectacular returned to its usual format at Thainstone where trade peaked at 5,200.

AVERAGES were up on the year across all sections at the Farmers Guardian supported Beltex Sheep Society’s premier sale at Carlisle.

Setting a new breed record of 1,350gns for an Oxford Down at Worcester was Vickie Jones, Lutterworth, with a shearling ram from her Billesdons flock.

Confidence in the breeding sheep trade looked to be holding up at Thame Summer Sheep Fair, where averages were generally up for most breeds and a clearance rate of 97.3 per cent for the 16,953 sheep penned was achieved.

The Dutch Spotted breed record was smashed when an imported aged ewe from David Roberts’ Boyo flock at Kenley, Shrewsbury, sold for 20,000gns at the Spotacular sale, held at Worcester.

For many farmers, the cost and availability of straw has focused the mind on other options for bedding sheep, with slats often high on the list.

Historically, most farmers use more rams than they need, according to veterinary surgeon Will Barker, of Castle Farm Vets, Barnard Castle.

THE Best of Berryholme sale was held on-farm near Kendal on behalf of the Wright family, followed their open day to celebrate winning Holstein UK’s premier herd title in 2019.