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THE online sale of working sheep dogs hosted by Farmers Marts, R.G. Jones, Dolgellau, topped at 25,500 setting what is thought to be a new record for a male dog.

Having set a new breed record for the Kerry Hill breed last year, the Owens family of John, Philippa and daughters Hannah and Ellie, topped that this time at Ludlow when selling a shearling ram for 10,500gns.

It was the Charollais champion, a shearling ewe from Ben and Gemma Hinton’s Furrow Hill flock, Silverstone, which claimed the inter-breed title at Bucks Co Show.

Two new records were set at the Blue Texel Northern Supreme sale at Carlisle with a new breed record of 30,000gn paid for the shearling ram, Sunnybank Fergus from Henry Jewitt, Barnard Castle.

A new breed record of 28,000gns was set at the Dutch Spotted Sheep UK Society show and sale at Carlisle for the male and overall champion, Diamond Fireball, a ram lamb from Emma and Allen Shortt, Co Tyrone.

A record average of 4,831.02 was set at Scottish National Texel sale at Lanark which peaked at 160,000gns with three sales of 100,000gns or more and an 83 per cent clearance rate.

While arable might be the main focus on Sunderlandwick Estate, East Yorkshire, cattle play an important role in the enterprise.

A donated Beltex cross shearling has helped raise thousands of pounds for charity at Rugby Farmers Mart.