Sales round up: Suffolk sales to 55,000gns, sheep dogs at Skipton, dairy sales and online sheep sales

Suffolks reach 55,000gns at Ballymena

SUFFOLKS met a 77% clearance rate at the Northern Ireland Premier Sale at Ballymena where a top of 55,000gns was followed closely at 50,000gns.

Leading the trade when knocked down to Jim Innes, Strathbogie flock, Aberdeenshire, was the overall champion and winner of the novice ram lamb class, a Craigdoo lamb from Patrick Grant, Newry.听Its pedigree features Limestone Juggernaut on to a home-bred ewe by Blackbrae Humdinger.

Close behind on 50,000gns was a Limestone lamb from Mark Priestley, Seaforde, whose three lambs sold to average 34,000gns.

Selling to Richard and Lilia Hutchinson, Howgillfoot flock, Cumbria, was the pen leader and winner of the new Masterclass section, a Limestone King of Diamonds son bred from a Limestone ewe by Castleisle A Kingsman.

Messrs Priestley's next two, at 26,000gns apiece, were also by the King of Diamonds ram.听Selling to A. Barkley, Blackbrae flock, Ballymena, was one bred from a Cairnton Chaos daughter, while a full brother to the first sold to Dennis Taylor, Ballynacannon flock, Coleraine.

Allen Shortt, Derg flock, Strabane, paid 22,000gns for Jack Smyth's Bessiebell lamb, a Tullywinney Trend Setter-sired lamb from Newtownstewart. Its Ballyhunsley-bred dam is by Castlewood Highlander.

Another Tullywinney Trend Setter son from Messrs Smyth, this time bred from a home-bred Theviews V6 daughter, sold to John Elliot, Rawburn flock, Kelso, for 18,000gns.

Messrs Priestley paid 15,000gns for an Annakisha Bright Eye son from D. Duncan, Duncans flock, Crumlin.听

A Ballynacannon lamb by Islandmoyle Spartacus from Messrs Taylor sold to Robin McAdoo, Threeways flock, Cookstown, for 14,000gns.

A total of 147 sheep were sold, achieving an average price of 拢3,803.39/head.

Auctioneer: J.A. McClelland and Sons.

Hawksridge females hit 5,600gns

MORE than 100 young cows and calved heifers, plus 200 youngstock, most under six months, went under the hammer at the on-farm sale of Hawksridge females on behalf of Robert and Faye Wills, Wadebridge.

The top two milkers were both purchased by Messrs Pierce, Pulford, including the sale leader at 5,600gns which was Willsbro Perennial Mudonna 6356 VG86. Bred from the Knonaudale Mud family, it changed hands yielding 47kg in its first lactation.

Making 5,000gns when sold to Messrs Pierce was an Aurora Mitchell daughter form the Lila Z family, which gave more than 12,000gns in its first and sold giving 63kg in its second.

The Harris family from the Winkleigh herd bought another VG two-year-old by Farnear Delta Lambda for 4,800gns.听Its grand-dam was Warnelview Final Cut Nita, a celebrated brood cow that classified Ex97, gave more than 170 tonnes of milk and bred 13 EX daughters as well as numerous high priced bulls.

Its six-month-old calf by Beyond Shpstr Golley was the top price among the younger cattle making 4,500gns.

Principal buyer of young stock was the Baltier Farming Co, Whithorn, which purchased 87 head.

The other principal buyer was Dave Stewart of Ferney Lees Farm, who bought 36 head in both departments for his Cheshire herd.

Averages 鈥� 105 cows and calved heifers, 拢3,295.05; 2025-born calves, 拢1,456; 177 2026-born calves. 拢1,155. Overall, 312 head, 拢1869.90.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank and Kivells.

Ewe lamb leads Drumcon Diamonds sale

A EWE lamb attracted the top price of 拢6,400 at the Drumcon Diamonds online sale when it sold in a two-way split to two fellow Northern Irish breeders.

The sale, conducted on behalf of the Drumcon Pedigrees team, Co Antrim, was led by a February-born ewe lamb and the first female on offer by the 60,000gns Auldhouseburn Italian Stallion.听Its dam is a 7,000gns Corbro ewe and it sold to Messrs Browne, Co Tyrone, and Messrs Liggett, Co Omagh.

Next at 拢3,800 when sold to Messrs Mccrystal, Co Londonderry, was a gimmer shearling by Sportsmans Double Diamond bred from an 8,000gns Usk Vale ewe.

Its full sister, also a gimmer shearling, made 拢3,600 when sold to Messrs Thompson, Co Antrim.

Two ewe lambs made 拢3,400 apiece.听First when sold to Messrs McAuley, Co Antrim, was another Auldhouseburn Italian Stallion daughter while the other, which sold to Messrs Surtees, Lancaster, was by the 55,000gns Auldhouseburn Illusion.

Auctioneer: Harrison and Hetherington.

Trim tops Skipton sheep dogs

SHEEP dogs peaked at 6,800gns at the recent on-field sale at Skipton when Craig Kempson, Rossendale, sold his two-year-old red and white bitch, Brobar Trim.

By David Woods' Hilltop Jon and out of Graham Brierley's Ruby, Trim has already completed a successful nursery trials season and also secured a winter open win. The buyer was Dylan Whittaker, Burnley.

Next at 5,500gns was Peggy from Devon-based Daniel Heard. Bred by Arfon Pugh, Peggy is out of Whiterose Silk and sired by Dewi Jenkins' Clwyd Bob and heads back to Wales with its new owner.

Close behind on 5,000gns when sold to Maurice Gregory, Peak Forest, was Sidan Jill from Peter Blain, Bala. Its pedigree includes W.R. Hughes' Lark on to Lynn Williams' Cilgwy Haf.

Hawick-based Robin Bell saw his best sell for 4,800gns to Frank Hickson, Jedburgh, on behalf of a customer. Hugo is by John Allan's Joe and out of Mrs K Wood's Mable.

Bob, a Clwyd Bob son from Skipton regular, Tony Birkett, Carnforth, sold to J.D. Yeats, Haltwhistle, for 4,400gns.

Recently retired shepherd, Ian Murdoch, Easingwold, saw his brace of workers sell to 4,100gns for Gin, a grand-daughter of Dewi Jenkins' Jock which sold to John Fisher, Bolton.

In the pup pen, Co Durham regular Jean Howes, claimed 850gns top call with a red and white bitch, followed at 800gns by Henry Hughes, Welshpool, with his black and white dog, Myfyrian Mot, a just turned 12-month-old son of Dewi Jenkins' High Hills Jo.

Auctioneer: Craven Cattle Marts.

Drointon entry tops Carlisle

AN October-born heifer led the pedigree dairy day at Carlisle when Andrew and Debbie Mckellar's Drointon Alpha Seisme Red sold at 5,000gns.

Consigned as part of the Drointon Summer Heatwave sale from the Staffordshire-based herd, the red and white entry was bred from national show-winning dams in the top two classifications. It sold to Paul, Jane and Daniel Knight, Leicester.

The Ellway production sale from the Graves family, Southwaite, peaked at 4,600gns when Wormanby Farms, Burgh by Sands, paid that for Ellaway Dreambig Wheatley which calved its third in March. It goes back to a 12,000kg grand-dam.

Messrs Robinson, Brampton, bought the next four highest priced Ellaway lots, including Ellaway Morfor Judyann at 3,800gns. Its dam line features at 100-tonne cow.

Earlier on in the sale, Wormanby Farms received 3,900gns from Tack Farms, Bromyard, for Wormanby Eyecandy Betty 2, a June-calved heifer with many high yielders in its lineage.

Three hit 3,800gns, with the first two selling to Bromfield Farms, Wigton. First was the reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Berryholme Ferraro Flo from David Wright, Kendal.听

Also selling to Bromfield Farms for 3,800gns was Newtonmoss Tarmac Petula from Messrs Fisher, Penrith, while the third at that price, this time selling to Messrs Frame, Strathaven, was Grayridge Royal Ashlyn from James Gray, East Kilbride.

Averages 鈥� 99 heifers in-milk, 拢3,444; 9 cows in-milk, 拢3,430; 1 faulted cow, 拢2,520; 2 maiden heifers, 拢1,023.75. Ellaway production 鈥� 80 cows and heifers in-milk or dry, 拢3,153.60. Drointon Summer Heatwave 鈥� 18 heifer calves, 拢2,266.76.

Auctioneer: Harrison and Hetherington.听

Penrith dairy day hits 拢3,000

THE largest dairy entry to date was on offer at Penrith where a top of 拢3,000 was reached several times.

One at 拢3,000 was Holstein from C. Scott and E. Harryman, Aspatria, which calved its second 29 days previous and changed hands yielding 38 litres.

Heifers reached 拢3,000 three times for C. Dent, Penrith, whose run of ProCross heifers were all two to three weeks calved and yielding in excess of 30 litres. Messrs Dent's consignment averaged 拢2,860.

A run of Holstien heifers milking through the robot and giving 36 litres from D. Graham, Penrith, also reached 拢3,000.

More than 70 dry cows were forward and sold to 拢2,750 for a second-calver due in early August from A. and G. Innes, Inverness-shire, with others from the same home to 拢2,700.

Messrs Innes also sold 20 in-calf heifers due at the end of August which regularly achieved 拢2,400 plus, and reached 拢2,700.

A run of well-bred British Friesians from W. Williamson, Appleby, sold to 拢1,650 and 拢1,600, while R. Forrest and Son, Appleby, sold 31 British Friesian heifer stirks to average 拢817 having topped at 拢1,020 for a pen of four.

Auctioneer: Penrith and District 草榴社区 Mart.听

Hank the Tank heads up online dispersal

A DUTCH Spotted stock ram led the online dispersal of Oliver Watson's C-View and Irt Vale Spotted and Badger Face Texel flocks when Milltown Hank the Tank sold for 拢4,200.

The two-shear ram by Milltown Golden Balls was originally purchased for 10,000gns and has since bred daughters to 8,000gns. Bred from Sunnybank Fergie, it sold for the top price to Messrs Isaac, Powys.

Badger Face Texels peaked at 拢3,000 to an undisclosed buyer for a January-born ewe lamb, Irt Vale Happy. It is by Broadwater Gladiator and out of Knockmult Easy Pleasing.

Badger Faces commanded many of the top prices and up next at 拢2,100 when sold to Messrs Smith, Uttoxeter, was Cleenagh Dolly, another former 10,000gns sale. It is by Cleenagh Bodybuilder and out of an imported ewe.

An undisclosed buyer paid 拢2,000 for Cleenagh Forever Young, a two-year-old by Brougher Cruiser.

Making 拢1,350 was a Yarburgh ewe by Cleenagh Congo which sold to Messrs Witcomb, Garthbrengy.

Messrs Witcomb paid a further 拢1,300 for Tiptop Echo, a 2021-born Spottie ewe by Westbroad B Explorer II.

Selling for 拢1,200 was C-View Icebreaker, a gimmer shearling by the aforementioned Hank the Tank. It sold to Messrs Robertston, Yate.

Averages 鈥� 11 Badger Face Texels, 拢1,060.90; 9 Dutch Spotted, 拢1,145.55.

Auctioneer: Harrison and Hetherington.

Champion and reserve lead at Lanark

TOP prices followed the top prizes at the sale of Suffolks at Lanark, where the champion attracted the highest bid of 28,000gns, while the reserve made 20,000gns.

Leading the way was the winner of the open ram lamb class, from Jim Wallace's Claycrop flock, Newton Stewart. Its sire is the privately purchased 拢40,000 Limestone King of Diamonds, shared with the Pyeston flock, with a share retained by Limestone, while its dam is by the 48,000gns Limestone Marksman. The buyer was Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans flock, Stockport.

The reserve from Stewart Lathangie's Glenrothes-based Pyeston flock followed the Claycrop lamb all the way through from the open class, before selling for 20,000gns to Craig Patterson, Cranorskie flock, Huntly. Mr Lathangie's pen of five, which averaged 12,900gns, were all sired by Limestone King of Diamonds, with the reserve bred from a Sportsmans Masterplan daughter.

Mr Lathangie received a further 16,000gns twice, first from Ian and Claire Whitticase, Glenmarton flock, Oswesty, and Georgia Delves, Chaseley flock, Powys, for a full brother to the 20,000gns lamb.

Matching that when sold to the judge, Dafydd Jones, Frongoy flock, Ceredigion, and Robin and Emma Irwin, Kings flock, Umberleigh, was another by the Limestone ram, this time out of a Limestone Marksman daughter.

A fourth Limestone King of Diamond-sired Pyeston lamb sold to Ryan and Steph Arthur, Highmuir flock, Lockerbie, for 11,000gns.

From Aberdeenshire, Jimmy Young, saw his Salopian Zoolander-sired Muirton lamb sell to Brandon Roth, Tolgus flock, Redruth, and Ross Lawrence, Roundacre flock, Winkleigh, for 12,000gns.听

A total of 111 ram lambs sold to average 拢2,828.78 with an 89% clearance.

Auctioneer: Lawrie and Symington.

On-farm dairy sale reaches 4,800gns

A TOP of 4,800gns was paid at the Dalebank and Ansavalley Stars of the Future on-farm sale, on behalf of David Rees Farms, Cheshire, with a guest consignment from Robert Martin.

Top price was paid by Baltier Farming Company, Newton Stewart, for Ansavalley Calista, a March-born A2P2 from the Clevage family.

Making 4,100gns was Dalebank Addison Ghost, a VG87-classified second-calver with 14 generations of VG and EX-rated dams. It sold to Matt Sevenoaks, Brecon.

Also hitting 4,100gns was Ansavalley Bullseye Portrait , a year-old calf backed by six EX-rated dams which sold to Blyth Farms, Peebleshire.

David Green, Cheshire, paid 3,800gns twice, first for Dalebank Davinci Gypsy Queen, a heifer that calved down in June.

Second, at 3,800gns, was Dalebank Rubels Heather VG85 which changed hands due in September.

In-calf heifers met a strong demand, topping at 3,100gns for the October-due Dalebank Mollie Crushabull which sold to Blyth Farms.

Messrs Sevenoaks paid a further 3,100gns for Dalebank Ambrose Elegance Red, a red and white calf.

Also heading to Blyth Farms was Roevalley Chief Frosty at 3,000gns.

Averages 鈥� 32 cows and calved heifers, 拢3,224.71; 30 in-calf and served heifers, 拢2,395.09; 26 maiden heifers, 拢1,976.50; 6 heifer calves 拢1,638. Overall, 94 head, 拢2,501.05.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank and Kivells.听

Jacob sheep hit 1,400gns

JACOB sheep peaked at 1,400gns at the Jacob Sheep Society's central region sale at Worcester, for the reserve champion, a two-horned ram from Tom Lewis' Salopearl flock, Whitchurch.

Bred by Deborah Powell, Pard House Ignition is by Wharf Diamant and out of a Pard House ewe by a Salopearl ram. It sold to Messrs Armstrong, Beeleigh.

A January-born two-horned ram lamb, Gobaith Spot II from Siwan Harries, Llandeilo, made 1,250gns when sold to Messrs Clatworthy, Highbridge. This fourth-prize winner at the Royal Welsh is by Pard House Winston.

Following closely on 1,200gns was the champion ram lamb, GJ Alph, a January-born two-horned son of Kinlock Nico from Gethin Woosnam, Llandinam.听

Making 1,000gns was a January-born two-horned lamb from John and Rachel Knowles' Riverbank flock, Clitheroe, which sold to Joshua Quant, Newton Abbot.

At the same money was a two-horned shearling ewe from Geoff and Sheila Wood's Moorhouse flock, Ulverston, which sold to the Heaven family, Gloucester.

The female champion, a Bentley shearling ewe from Lesley Partridge, Droitwich, sold to Steffan and Hanna Griffiths, Crwbin, for 800gns.

Ewe lambs topped at 650gns twice for Messrs Harries's Gobaith flock and also for a January-born two-horner from Jean Price's Pentrenant flock, Powys.

Averages 鈥� 3 aged ewes, 拢472.50; 16 shearling ewes, 拢444.94; 26 ewe lambs, 拢411.52; 1 aged ram, 拢325; 6 shearling rams, 拢428.75; 15 ram lambs, 拢630.

Auctioneer: McCartneys.

Meinel females sell to 3,350gns three times

TRADE peaked at 3,350gns three times, with 14 entries selling at 3,000gns or above at the reduction of the Jones family's Meinel herd, Denbigh, which was held at Shrewsbury.

The three at that price were Meinel Grazie Quality, which calved its fifth in April and was yielding 55kg, Meineil Lightyear Jiffie, which was recording 47kg since calving its third in May, and March-calved Meinel Sizzler Matty, which was giving 54kg and guaranteed back in-calf.

Many of the highlights came at the end of the sale, with Meinel Outlay Sunkist and Meinel Envoy Minnie, both calved in March and served, selling for 3,300gns and 3,250gns, respectfully.

Fourteen cattle sold for 3,000gns or more, including the dry cow Meinel Sassafras Black Cap, which was springing with its third calf.

听A rising 10-year-old realised 2,950gns, having calved in March and yielding 46kg.

Averages 鈥� 61 cows in milk, 拢2,747.21; 10 dry cows, 拢2,504.

Auctioneer: Halls.