Farmers Guardian Sheep Supplement 2nd August 2024

The Stainthorpe family focuses on figures to drive their pedigree Hampshire Down flock forward, while producing the best example of the breed. Katie Fallon reports.

Performance recording key for Hampshire Down breeders

Set on the North Yorkshire coast, overlooking the seaside town of Whitby is Mortar Pit Farm, home to Louis and Becky Stainthorpe and their two children Finley, 16, and Lottie, 14.

After several years living and working in Leeds, Mr and Mrs Stainthorpe returned to the coast 18 years ago and lived in Whitby while growing their surveying and building consultancy business, Bell Snoxell Building Consultants.

But with farming in the blood for them both, the couple say they felt a pull to the rural way of life and wanted the children to experience their childhood on a farm.

With fond memories of working with sheep on his father’s family farm in the neighbouring village of Snea-

ton, Mr Stainthorpe says he knew he wanted the children to grow up around livestock.

He says: “My uncle ran the family farm with my granddad and, in the late 80s, early 90s, I remember helping to gather the sheep and I absolutely loved it.”

The family bought Mortar Pit Farm 13 years ago, which was initially run as an arable enterprise by Mr Stainthorpe’s father, Dennis, while he and his wife, continued to establish their business.

But with the dream of their own sheep flock, the 14-hectare (34-acre) farm was reseeded into grass leys around five years ago and they took over the reins.

Mr Stainthorpe says they attended several local shows looking for a sheep breed which ‘looked nice in the field’

but was also profitable. And after reading an article on the Hampshire Down breed being commercially viable, they decided that was the breed for them.

He says: “Unbeknown to me, half of the sheep I used to help dip when I was a boy were Hampshire Downs, so maybe that was where the breed decision came from.”

Gifted

Initially starting with two Hampshire Down ewes gifted to the children one Christmas, the family then bought a selection of ewes both privately and from society sales, many of which were from Jim and Jane Birkwood’s Thorbeck flock, as well as some inlamb ewes from Graham and Judith Galbraith’s Graylen flock.

These sheep helped lay the foundations of the flock, which today com-

prises 40 breeding ewes under the Whitby prefix.

Mr Stainthorpe says the flock has fluctuated in numbers, but in the past five to 10 years the family has decided to take the sheep enterprise more seriously and ensure the flock pays for itself.

He says: “We also had a flock of pedigree Suffolks as my granddad always had Suffolks, so I wanted to try them too.

“But with two different breeds and two different lambing times, we spread ourselves too thin and decided to focus solely on the Hampshires, especially given their easy lambing and hardiness.”

With 36 Hampshire Down ewes put to the ram this year, lambing takes place in two batches over a four-week period in December, with all ewes lambed inside. The ewes are sponged

From left: Becky, Louis and Lottie Stainthorpe run 40 breeding Hampshire Down ewes under the Whitby prefix.

First and foremost, we want commercial rams that are fast growing, efficient, with reduced days to slaughter

LOUIS STAINTHORPE

to ensure a tight lambing period, as lambing time needs to work alongside their surveying business, which Mr and Mrs Stainthorpe run together from their office on the farm.

The ewes run with four rams, two of which are home-bred, with the other two bought from pedigree flocks in Edinburgh and Newquay.

Mrs Stainthorpe says: “Hampshire Down ewes tend to cycle earlier, so are earlier to lamb than some other breeds, which is good for us as we can get lambs to market quicker and target the Easter market.”

Weather

Ewes and lambs are kept inside for six to eight weeks after lambing, due to the seasonal weather conditions in December, where they will be fed a lamb coarse ration and haylage.

“After eight weeks, everything is turned out to grass, weather-dependent,” adds Mrs Stainthorpe.

Generally, half of the ewe lambs are retained as replacements each year and will be tupped as gimmer shearlings, with a handful sold for breeding and any surplus sold liveweight through Ruswarp Livestock Market.

As well as producing breeding females, selling breeding rams has become a key focus for the family in recent years and Mr Stainthorpe says they will sell between 10 and 12 breeding rams per year, with any surplus sold liveweight.

To ensure the best examples of the breed are retained for breeding, they follow a strict culling policy and, in more recent years, have started performance recording the flock with Signet Breeding.

All lambs are performance recorded each year, which Mr Stainthorpe says has allowed them to access both pedigree and commercial markets for breeding males and females.

“First and foremost, we want

commercial rams that are fast growing, efficient, with reduced days to slaughter.

“That is key to me, and RamCompare data shows that Hampshire Down recorded rams tested on commercial flocks come out on top for days to slaughter,” he says.

“Yes, we can sell among ourselves as pedigree breeders, but we also want to sell to the commercial market and, with Signet recording, we can show the true benefits of using a Hampshire ram in black and white.”

Mrs Stainthorpe adds: “I like the figures side of performance recording, the spreadsheets and looking at the weights. It means we know exactly what we are selling.”

While still looking to breed a traditional Hampshire Down with a dark, full face, they also focus heavily on muscle and growth rate when selecting rams for breeding, based on the recorded figures.

They have also taken several rams to Edinburgh for full body CT scanning this year.

The process, which assesses total muscle, fat and bone yield, has allowed them to make more informed breeding decisions, alongside the benefits of performance recording.

Mrs Stainthorpe says: “A lot of the enquiries we get about our rams are based on the recorded figures and I think there is a real shift

Ewes lamb inside in December, with half of the ewe lambs retained for replacements each year.

Sheep

Farm facts

■ 14ha (34 acres) of grassland

■ 40 pedigree Hampshire Down breeding ewes under the Whitby prefix

■ All progeny is performance recorded

■ Started incorporating full body CT scanning for breeding rams

■ Sell between 10 and 12 pedigree breeding rams annually

towards using this data when making decisions on purchasing rams.”

Mr Stainthorpe says: “All rams have to be DNA and scrapie tested before they are used, so you cannot hide behind anything, you know exactly what you are paying for when buying a performance recorded ram.”

As a result of performance recording the flock and selecting rams based on figures, they have managed to significantly increase the flock’s muscle values over quite a short period of time.

Muscle

Mr Stainthorpe says: “One of the tups we have used this year is one of the top leading Hampshire Down sires in the country and the other is one of the highest in the breed for muscle.”

The family has also just entered a home-bred shearling ram into the RamCompare project, run by AHDB and Signet, where the ram will be trialled on a commercial farm and compared with other breeds.

While performance recording the flock is now an important part of their

sheep enterprise, Mr Stainthorpe says producing a correct example of the breed which appeals in the showring remains equally important.

“We still want the sheep to look right, with correct colour and a leg in each corner stance are a big thing for the breed.

“If the looks and figures match up, then that is the dream.

“We have a lot of sheep which are not necessarily the highest figures, but are a good example of the breed,” he adds.

Last year the family had their most successful year to date with ram prog-

eny, after attending the breed society sales at Carlisle and Shrewsbury.

One of their best results was at the society’s main sale at Carlisle in September, where a home-bred ram, Whitby Dracula, was placed champion in the pre-sale show and went on to sell for 1,500gns to the judge, Allen MacFadden, Co Down, in partnership with another Northern Ireland breeder.

The family also had a successful day at the society’s Shrewsbury sale in May, with a pen of three rams selling for 11,100gns, and a top price of 4,500gns.

Mrs Stainthorpe says: “We held a

training weekend for the society a couple of weeks before the Shrewsbury sale where people saw what stock we had for the sales.

“What we presented was really honest, straight out of the field.”

It was also the family’s first year exhibiting at the Great Yorkshire Show this year, where they came home with a second for their shearling ram and a third for their ram lamb. They were also placed reserve overall native champion at Driffield Show last year and reserve any other native breed champion at Malton Show.

Social

Mr Stainthorpe says: “We enjoy going to the shows for the social side of things and our daughter Lottie is keen on the sheep.

“She showed for the first time eight years ago at Masham and got the bug.”

While they admit taking over the farm and establishing the flock has been a learning curve, they are focused on continuing to grow and improve the flock, with performance recording being a key part of achieving that.

Mr Stainthorpe says: “Hopefully we have established a bit of a footing now as one of the good breeders.”

Looking to the future, he says they would like to one day sell commercial rams at the Kelso and National Sheep Association ram sales, while finding new bloodlines to progress the flock further.

Mrs Stainthorpe adds: “We have fallen in love with the Hampshire breed and the ultimate goal would be to cut down on surveying so it is 50/50 with the sheep and the business.”

Lottie Stainthorpe with one of the ram lambs that went to the Great Yorkshire Show.

A Novel Science Based Palatable Feed Additive

There is a growing need for a palatable, evidence-based and effective feed additive to maximise production returns in cattle and sheep at times of stress, while also improving health, bloom, and appearance.

This is all the more so with recent prohibitions on the indiscriminate usage of oral antibiotics. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms (or beneficial bacteria) that are beneficial to the host when administered in adequate amounts, and they have been widely and profitably used as additives in animal feed. Beneficial bacteria can help:

• Prevent enteric pathogens from colonising the intestine

• Increase digestive capacity

• Lower pH

• Improve mucosal immunity

A synergy is now known to exist between beneficial bacteria and yeast, resulting in

• Enhanced dry matter intake

• Better digestibility of nutrients

• Increased absorption of end products into protein

• Improved feed efficiency

• More weight gain

• Optimum performance - healthier coat, skin, and conformation

Effects of Stress on the Microbiome

Disease and stress adversely affect the balance and functioning of the rumen microbiome. Stress causes a change in the population of good bacteria in the gut and allows an overgrowth of other undesirable organisms. Lactic acidosis from over feeding, indigestion, anorexia, inappetence, ruminal atony, and diarrhoea can all be consequences of suboptimal ruminal microbial functioning and of a disrupted microbiome.

The Gut: Immunity + Digestion

Until recently, the rumen and gastrointestinal was considered to be an organ solely equipped for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. However, recent research has demonstrated that the gut harbours the largest population of immune cells in the body and is in fact is the largest immune organ in the body. Therefore,

there is now a general consensus that a healthy gut lead to not only to gut health but also to immune health and a less frequent incidence of outbreaks of disease. Many of the commensals of the gut (good bacteria) and especially probiotics, produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the gut and these substances act as chemical messengers to upregulate the immune system of the body.

The Importance of Yeast for Ruminants

Yeast is one of the most important constituents of any useful feed additive. Mechanisms have been proposed to explain why yeast products could stimulate dry matter intake and productivity in growing and lactating cattle. Yeasts are able to grow, at least for a short period of time, in the rumen thereby directly enhancing fibre digestion and/or producing nutrients that stimulate growth of other more beneficial rumen bacteria, which do the bulk of the fibre digestion. Yeasts also utilize nutrients, such as lactic acid which, if allowed to accumulate in the rumen, could suppress bacterial growth and/or suppress DM intake by driving rumen pH down.

Written by Dr T.B Barragry PhD, MSc, MVB, MRCVS, Dip ECVPTw

Engaging with a flock health plan has helped Ashley Moran cut medicine use, improve immune status and mitigate diseases. Farmers Guardian reports.

Flock health planning saves money

Five years ago, Ashley Moran, who runs 1,500 ewes, half North Country Mules and half Texel cross Mules, at Settle, North Yorkshire, decided to sign up to Dalehead Veteri-

FLOCK VACCINATION

THE flock is vaccinated against clostridial diseases and pasteurella as standard, based on Mrs Swindlehurst’s advice on preventative treatment.

She says: “I advise that every flock to use a clostridial and pasteurella vaccine. These diseases are the biggest causes of sudden death we see in growing lambs.

“Pasteurella is always present in sheep tonsils. It becomes activated and causes disease during periods of stress. Clostridia are also ubiquitous in the environment.

“The best way of preventing infection is by boosting the ewe and lamb’s immunity through vaccination and optimising their nutritional status.”

Consequently, ewes are vaccinated

nary Group’s Flock Health Club, which is run by vet Karen Swindlehurst. This has enabled him to identify key risk factors and create a ‘belt and braces’ approach to flock health which will benefit the bottom line.

with a combined seven-in-one clostridial plus pasteurella vaccine. This immunises ewes as an aid in the control of a number of diseases including lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney and blackleg.

Lambs are also vaccinated against clostridial disease and pasteurella.

Mr Moran also chooses to protect ewes against enzootic abortion and toxoplasmosis.

Mrs Swindlehurst says: “These vaccines are all important to help prevent disease.

“They are far more effective and cost-effective long-term than, for instance, blanket treatment with antibiotics as a pasteurella prevention before going to market.”

NATURAL IMMUNITY AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS

TO prevent cobalt deficiency, which can compromise immunity and growth, all lambs are injected with vitamin B12 at four to six weeks old.

Cobalt is involved in metabolic pathways and energy usage in the sheep.

The animal does not use the cobalt itself, but converts it to vitamin B12, which is the usable form.

Signs of deficiency include ill thrift, open fleeces and increased susceptibility to worms.

Mr Moran says: “We used to use a mineral drench that does not last as long. The injection lasts three to six months.”

Ewe nutrition at lambing has also had an overhaul in response to prolapse issues linked to ewes being over-conditioned.

Traditionally, ewes were always fed

a quarter of a pound (113g) six weeks before lambing, increasing by a quarter of a pound (113g) every week from then on, regardless of silage quality.

Analysis

Now, Mr Moran always analyses silage stocks and calculates the required level of concentrate feed based on silage quality, so ewes are fed to meet requirements.

He says: “The silage was coming back a lot better than you ever thought and the ewes were getting too much with the concentrate we were putting in.

“Now we feed based off the silage sample analysis.

“We did not feed until four weeks out this year. The feeding rate has probably halved and there are definitely less prolapses,” he adds.

SIGNED up to the club are 75 sheep farmers who pay an annual fee which covers:

■ A Flock Health Plan (including use of the Flock Health Checklist from MSD Animal Health)

■ Faecal egg counts for fluke and worms

■ Post-mortems

■ A pre-tupping and pre-lambing vet visit

■ Four farmer meetings are also included. Topics covered have varied and include worming, fluke

control, coccidiosis, iceberg diseases, ewe nutrition, abortion, scab, colostrum management and several farm walks where breeding selection, herbal leys and carcase selection have been discussed

■ Various health parameters are also benchmarked against other flocks as part of the Flock Health Plan. The plan goes beyond the basic requirements from Red Tractor and the Animal Health and Welfare Pathways

Dalehead Veterinary Group’s Flock Health Club

Ashley Moran runs a flock of 1,500 ewes at Skirbeck Farm.

TARGETED TREATMENT FOR FLUKE

RATHER than blanket treating ewes at set times of the year, Mr Moran is now adopting a targeted approach based on when the fluke emerge in a specific year.

With 61 hectares (150 acres) of ground on a flood plain, Skirbeck Farm is one of the first farms to get a fluke problem in a season.

Subsequently they are now used as a sentinel farm for the area by the team at Dalehead Vets.

Every month 10 lambs are blood tested from August to establish when the fluke have emerged and treated accordingly.

Mr Moran says: “We had got into a system where we would treat them for fluke at the same time every year and now we are going in with a lot more knowledge to treat them right.”

This means he does not necessarily have to treat ewes at tupping time, when he would have done routinely in the past.

He says: “Timings differ every year now. We did not have fluke until January this year for the first time.”

Testing through the Flock Health Club also identified widespread resistance to triclabendazole, including at Skirbeck Farm.

As a result, when blood testing highlights fluke emergence, ewes are now treated with closantel, two to four weeks later.

Effective

This is due to the fact the drug is effective on four- to six-week-old fluke.

Mr Moran says: “This highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring, so fluke are treated at the right time.

“We are definitely treating less and it also helps the resistance side of it.

“We do not have many drugs left for treating fluke and we do not want resistance issues. Plus it is less handling.”

He also believes flock health has likely benefited from more effective treatment, highlighting improved ewe body condition and fertility with ewes scanning at 205% this season.

He says: “It is mainly peace of mind for us. Fluke can be fairly catastrophic for sheep. Being on top of it helps the bottom line.”

Overall, Mr Moran says he would encourage farmers to get involved in a flock health club.

“I would highly recommend a flock health club because of the work the vets have done with us.

“They are always giving us pointers of what to look out for and what is coming into the surgery,” he says.

Ashley Moran says the flock health club has helped his bottom line.

Sheep Opportunities boosted for NS

Showing sheep was the gateway into farming for a young farmer leading him to a share farming venture. Ellie Layton reports.

Growing up, Sean Jeffreys escaped Swansea to spend time on his grandparents’ smallholding in Llanelli, where weekends were taken up by attending local shows with their flock of Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep.

It is this early exposure to sheep farming which gripped Mr Jeffreys, now 27, and he knew from a young age that he wanted to be involved in agriculture in some form.

Agricultural studies at Gelli Aur College, followed by Harper Adams University, gave Mr Jeffreys the foundations to pursue a farming career, starting at Hybu Cig Cymru with its Hill Ram scheme, before a stint as a sales representative for Carrs Billington.

In 2021, wanted to further his onfarm involvement and started a handover period for a share farming agreement on a local farm in Llandeilo, owned by Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) president Ian Rickman.

This occured after seeing a local advert to share farm, which he applied for.

Prior to this he was running 150 ewes on various parcels of rented ground, some of which the business still uses as grass keep.

Mr Rickman has lived and worked at Gurnos Farm all his life, but com-

bining this with his role at FUW has presented challenges to running the farm single-handedly.

He says: “I was not giving the farm the attention it needed and was concerned that I would start winding the business down, cutting back on stock numbers. I did not want that to happen.”

Keen to pursue his off-farm commitments, but not yet ready to retire from farming, he sought help from Farming Connect’s Venture initiative.

They set-up the agreement after a few months of working through legal advice from specialist agricultural and rural law solicitor Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones, of Agri Advisor.

This assistance helped Mr Rickman and Mr Jeffreys to openly discuss what they envisaged and what they both wanted to get out of the agreement.

Involvement

This facilitation given by Farming Connect has helped Mr Rickman provide a young person with the opportunity to farm, without removing his involvement on the farm.

Mr Rickman says: “I was lucky enough to farm because my parents had bought Gurnos in the 1970s, but if you are not born into farming it is a difficult industry to get into.”

After a six-month process, in 2022

All of our sheep are sold live, which is something I am passionate about SEAN JEFFREYS

Mr Jeffreys became a 50/50 partner of the business, providing extra sheep and working as a full-time member of staff, while Mr Rickman delivers the farm, main flock and part-time work.

Mr Jeffreys says: “Since then the system has had a shake-up, introducing cattle on to the farm and nearly doubling the head of sheep, and we would like to get up to 1,200-head.”

The flock is split into two, with a flock of Llandovery Whiteface ewes running on the hill and, this year, 500 of their ewe lambs retained to be kept in the flock to build up numbers.

These run on a common hill where they have common rights, of which they are only using half, which is where Mr Jeffreys says there is scope to increase numbers. During their

Aberfield lambs grazing after being weaned.

Sean Jeffreys has become a member of the 2024 National Sheep Association Next Generation Shepherd consort.

April lambing, they are brought down to the lower ground to lamb. Before lambing, ewes are fed silage bales and blocks, which helps them to retain their scanning percentage, which peaks at 185% for the cross-bred ewes and 110% for the Welsh. Their aim is to decrease the number of barrens but not necessarily increase the number of twins.

These produce the ground flock of Aberdale cross ewes which run on the lower ground and are lambed indoors, allowing room for the outdoor flock.

Crossed ewes are put to an Abermax or Aberblack and grazed with lambs on silage fields before weaning. Lambs are sold at various weights depending on price per kilo at the time, aiming for 42kg, but will sell at local markets Talybont and Llandeilo from 36kg.

Mr Jeffreys says: “All of our sheep are sold live, which is something I am passionate about. This ensures our market has competition and is not at the mercy of the supermarkets.”

No creep is fed to lambs, except pet lambs or show sheep, to push their modern stratified system, with a new plan of action for the grassland.

A Next Generation Shepherd

Farm facts

■ Started share farming in 2021 at the Gurnos, which is 90 hectares (220 acres)

■ Sean Jeffreys is a current National Sheep Association Next Generation Shepherd

■ Farm runs 600 ewes, 200 ewe lambs and 110 Wagyu calves

■ Current Badger Face Torddu record-holder at 2,300gns

Mr Jeffreys has established rotational paddock grazing using the current field fencing, not electric fencing. He has learned more about the process by being part of the Precision Grazing initiative, which is also funded by Farming Connect.

He says: “We do not yet measure grass, but we hope that will be something we will attempt in the near future.”

Grassland

Despite the farm not being in any environmental schemes to aid the new grass leys, they have been trialling a grassland break of 100 days over winter, which has proved successful.

With the farm being wet and lacking buildings, Mr Jeffreys says that despite the desire to keep cattle, the farm and local bovine TB pressures would not easily support it.

Finding a compromise, they are now rearing their third batch of Wagyu calves, which they get from the farm where their ewe lambs go to for winter grazing, near Pendine, Carmarthen.

Bred through the Warrendale Wagyu scheme, the calves are

brought onto the farm at two weeks old and are taken through to five months old.

Mr Jeffreys says: “Our current batch is 110 calves and they come feeder trained before they are transitioned to hard feed.

“We have to take extra care of the calves in the first few weeks, especially the early days, but following that we have had success with them.

“The calf agreement is flexible and suits our system, allowing us to add a new reliable income stream.”

In his endeavour to improve the farm system, Mr Jeffreys says personal development is vital to help the farm achieve its best.

As part of this, he has become a member of the 2024 National Sheep Association (NSA) Next Generation Shepherd consort.

He says: “I had known people who had taken part before, who had recommended the programme. I applied because I believe it vital to get off the farm to see and learn from other systems to network and socialise with

people who have common interests.”

As part of the programme the group has been on various trips before finishing the year at the NSA event in Malvern.

These involved visits to markets and farms, meeting industry experts and seeing systems in action.

Mr Jeffreys says: “We have also had media training, which I believe is important. Modern agriculture is in the limelight and this training will prepare the group to be a voice for agriculture, within the industry and to consumers.

“Ian is at the heart of Welsh agricultural affairs in his role as FUW president, and I share his passion for the organisation.

“FUW solely acts for Welsh agriculture, specialising in medium-sized, independent and family farms.

“Every farmer in Wales sees the benefits of their work, but not every farmer pays in.”

Optimistic

Looking forward, Mr Jeffreys is optimistic that he can look at different paths to increase production at Gurnos.

He would like to establish off-farm contracting for income in winter, and has started working in the local livestock market.

Alongside the general farming system, he is continuing to breed Badger Face Welsh Mountain Torddu and Torwens alongside his grandparents.

They keep 120 ewes under the KTG prefix and have had great success winning at the Royal Welsh Show multiple times and holding the current breed Torddu record.

The family’s passion for the breed was started by his great-grandfather Alun Isaac, who was a founding member of the breed society.

The aim is to increase the flock to 1,200 head.

Sheep

There are some ways to mitigate the impact a lack of EAE vaccine could have on sheep farmers.

Advice for when an enzootic abortion vaccine is unavailable

The Sheep Veterinary Society and Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group have issued a statement expressing their disappointment in the lack of enzootic abortion (EAE) vaccine this tupping season.

They are aware that this will have a significant impact on sheep farmers and their flocks which currently rely on effective vaccination to control disease and have offered the following advice.

When faced with an aborting ewe, it is important that the ewe is isolated from the rest of the flock and that samples are taken to diagnose which abortion agent is responsible.

It is not appropriate to use routine prophylactic antibiotics to control abortion – the use of antibiotics in late pregnancy is only acceptable to protect other ewes in the group in the face of an outbreak, or in a group of ewes following a confirmed laboratory EAE diagnosis in the immediately preceding year.

Replacement ewes

For flocks which have previously regularly vaccinated against EAE, there will this year be a small cohort of unvaccinated replacement ewes but the risk to them is low if the remainder of the flock is protected. They should be marked and vaccinated next year when they are not pregnant.

For flocks that are at high risk of disease (perhaps due to current or recent EAE abortion outbreak or following the introduction of EAEshedding ewes into an unvaccinated flock) then there are a couple of options:

1There is an inactivated vaccine (Inmeva; Hipra) which may be appropriate to use (note that two doses are necessary, with the first dose given at least five weeks before mating and the second dose given three weeks after the first). A further booster is required within a year; this vaccine can be safely given during pregnancy with efficacy demonstrated in the mid-trimester, but its use is not recommended in the final month of pregnancy.

2Unvaccinated ewes at high risk of disease (confirmed by laboratory diagnosis) may be given a single injection of oxytetracycline (at 20mg/kg) between day 91 and day 126 of pregnancy. For groups with lambing spread over a four- to fiveweek period, this means injecting them exactly three weeks before the first ewe is due to lamb.

It is not appropriate for any flock to be given routine prophylactic antibiotic without a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of EAE in the current or previous lambing season. Even in this circumstance, it is appropriate for the vet to undertake separate risk assessments for different cohorts of ewes.

Hill Radnor Sheep society celebrates 75 years of the breed

A HILL breed deriving from Mid Wales is celebrating 75 years of the breed. The Hill Radnor breed is a bulkier tanned-faced sheep which was developed to roam the Radnor Hills.

The breed was first noted in 1911, but the society was not established until 1949 and in the late 1990s was listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist as a minority breed.

Now standing at just more than 100 members, the breed has recently taken a knock to numbers with 1,000

sheep lost, following two senior flock dispersals.

In June, the society gathered to celebrate the breed’s milestone near Brecon with a two-day event which attracted 160 people.

Novice classes

Breed secretary David Jones, who keeps the Trawscoed flock, said: “The event celebrated the breed and we wanted to help attract new members by featuring novice classes.

“To help share their wisdom, the judges across the three novice, experienced and cross-bred classes were all breeders whose families have been involved in Hill Radnors from the society’s establishment.

“The highlights included an entry of 30 fleeces in the wool class, and a novice handlers class for all ages to encourage new showmen and women.”

Mr Williams said they have found shows to be the best way to promote

the breed, with people being able to see the sheep in the flesh.

This has resulted in a new cluster of North Wales breeders, who have managed to set-up breed classes at this year’s Anglesey Show.

“Our next event will be the breed’s sole sale in September at Talybonton-Usk outside Brecon, where we hope to see more new breeders, as well as those who have helped to keep the Hill Radnor breed successful,” added Mr Williams.

to stamp out lameness on farm

Sheep

A passion for Blackface sheep has helped Richard Carruthers build a thriving livestock business on a Buccleuch Estate farm. Lynsey Clark finds out more.

Having been raised with his family’s Blackface flock in Northumberland, it is no surprise that Richard Carruthers chose that breed when it came to establishing his own sheep flock, which he now runs at Merkland Farm, Thornhill, near Dumfries.

Mr Carruthers’ long-term aim was always to farm on his own, but with his older brother John taking on the tenancy at Silloans, Rochester, Mr Carruthers’ journey after college first involved a spell on an agricultural research farm, before working with specialist breeding companies, Britbreed and Ovibreed.

In 2010 he took on the tenancy

Blackface flock suited to Dumfries hill farm

of Dalveen Farm, where he was based for three years before securing a 15-year tenancy on Merkland, a 1,012-hectare (2,500-acre) Buccleuch Estate hill farm.

Now 10 years into that tenancy, the Merkland name is already well established in the Blackface world, with ram lambs having sold up to £38,000 and shearlings to £36,000. Mr Carruthers has de-

veloped a livestock system that makes the most of the mainly marginal hill land, which rises to 549 metres (1,800 feet).

Flock

The sheep flock comprises 1,710 breeding ewes, including 850 Blackfaces that are bred pure and 750 that are crossed with the Bluefaced Leicester. There is also a

flock of 100 breeding Scotch Mule ewes and 10 pedigree Beltex ewes under the Carruthers prefix. A small herd of pedigree Limousin cattle, also under the Carruthers prefix, is being built up and bulls are currently sold privately from home, with those not retained sold as stores at one year old.

Establishing the livestock at Merkland has been a gradual process.

Richard Carruthers’ sheep flock comprises 1,710 breeding ewes, including 850 pure-bred Blackfaces and 750 crossed with the Bluefaced Leicester.

I had a particular type that I was aiming for with the Blackies – a well-made ewe with a big muzzle that can get to the top of the hill

RICHARD CARRUTHERS

Mr Carruthers says: “I started at Dalveen with nothing really; I had to borrow machinery and a trailer. By the time I came to Merkland, I had built up a Blackface stud flock and took on 1,000 ewes that were here and hefted already. I rented 100 acres of in-bye ground, which the Mule and twin-rearing ewes run on,

and then crossed 750 of the Blackie ewes that were already here.

Type

“I had a particular type that I was aiming for with the Blackies – a well-made ewe with a big muzzle that can get to the top of the hill –and I wanted to stick with that.

hill land, which rises to 549 metres (1,800 feet).

The singles are lambed at 1,400ft, both pure and crossed, so they need to be hardy.”

Of the pure Blackface ewes, Mr Carruthers has a stud flock of around 250, from which he breeds ram lambs and shearlings to sell at Stirling, Lanark and Dalmally. Draft ewes have been bought from

Blackhouse and Midlock to add to that flock, with a focus on legs, bodies and hair.

Mr Carruthers says: “I like them with plenty character too, since I have got to look at them for five years.”

The top 100 of those 250 stud ewes are artificially inseminated, while the rest of the ewes are

brought off the hill to be tupped on better grass, before returning to the hill until scanning. Only the Mule ewes stay in-bye, often scanning at 200%.

Lambing begins with the stud ewes and Mules, which go to Beltex and Suffolk rams from April 4, while the Blackies due to the Blue ram start around April 20.

Home-bred ram lambs are heavily used from favourite ewes and this has worked well for me, stamping a type into the flock

RICHARD CARRUTHERS

Mr Carruthers says: “If the weather is particularly bad, they get feed blocks, but other than that, they are not fed on the hill until after scanning, when the twin ewes are then fed. I aim for 156% right through.

“After scanning, the twins go to hill parks and the singles remain on the hill. The Mules are lambed inside but everything else lambs outside. The first year I was here, I scanned 500 twins, and the second year I put out Bio Trace mineral blocks and managed to increase it to 800 twins scanned, so I have continued to use them ever since.”

Company

On the whole, Mr Carruthers works by himself, and luckily, he says, he enjoys his own company, but he does draft in help at key times from part-time worker Andrew Hambleton, and he now uses contract shearers for a job he used to do himself.

After shearing, the twins go back to the hill, and weaning takes place from the first week in August.

He says: “The Mule lambs go onto silage ground and are given a bit of feeding at that point. The majority of the Blackface ewe lambs are kept for replacements,

while the rest of them and the wedders are sold either straight off their mums as stores, fat, or in January/February, after having been wintered on the ground I rent at Dumfries.

“The Beltex and Suffolk cross lambs are sold through Longtown from September onwards.”

Mr Carruthers also sells around 450 Mule ewe lambs and 100 gimmers each year, mostly privately.

“The Mules from here do well when put onto lower ground, so I have built up a good repeat customer base for them,” he says.

In fact, Mule ewe lambs bred at Merkland have gone on to top the gimmer trade at Dumfries for three years in a row.

The heather hills at Merkland make ticks a constant challenge. To help combat them, lambs are

A Merkland £38,000 lamb sold in 2022.

A Merkland £36,000 shearling sold last year.

treated with an insecticide at birth or thereafter, and then again for ticks and fly strike when they are brought in for marking. It is an area with high rainfall, but Mr Carruthers says despite this, the grass usually keeps growing.

Come October, all focus is on the Blackface ram sales, where Mr Carruthers aims to sell 15-20 shearlings and five-10 lambs annually. This is his real passion, although he admits it is a stressful time.

“You never know how it is going to go,” he says.

It has gone well for him so far though. In 2015 he achieved his first five-figure sale with a ram lamb at £16,000 at Lanark.

That one was a son of a £10,000 Crossflatt, and in 2020 he bought a third share of a £34,000 Crossflatt which bred extremely well for the flock.

The following year, its sons went on to sell at £20,000 and two at £11,000, while a shearling son sold at £36,000 in 2023.

Character

Mr Carruthers says: “£34,000 Crossflatt had that extra character and his lambs had beautiful colours and tremendous skins.

“When I am looking for stock tups, they need a good body, but they also need to catch my attention, with their head up and a good skin and legs. I have a fairly tight budget too, which results in often having to share tups.

“Home-bred ram lambs are heavily used from favourite ewes and this has worked well for me, stamping a type into the flock. Some of the lead shearlings for sale this year are by a home-bred ram by £30,000 Auldhouseburn that I retained for breeding.”

Mr Carruthers bought a third share of £30,000 Auldhouseburn in 2021, and one of its sons achieved Merkland’s best price yet when sold for £38,000 in 2022.

He says: “I get a lot of pride out of selling tups to other breeders that I have looked up to and been inspired by.

“You never know how you are going to get on; it is only once you get them to the sale and are able to compare them to everyone else’s that you get an idea of where you are at.

Mr Carruthers adds his father John has been a big inspiration to him, setting up the family farm where he grew up and he definitely passed on the Blackie bug.

“In the years building up to taking on my own farm, I was able to see a lot of different systems and ways of doing things and I learned a

lot from other people. I have found Buccleuch Estate extremely helpful too – David Rogerson is always willing to help sort out any problems and I really appreciate that.

Breed

“I always think I could do better and I am always looking to improve the female flock, but I do not think any other breed could work as well as the Blackies do here.

“They are good, solid ewes that look after themselves through the winter and can thrive on the top of the hill, producing great lambs off marginal ground, running alongside nature and maintaining a perfect habitat for both to thrive.”

Two of Mr Carruthers’ favourite lambs this year.

Sheep Transitioning Beltex flock from commercial to pedigree

Farming is a family affair for Liam Swinnerton, who is based in Market Drayton on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border at the 60-hectare (150-acre) farm, Lipley Villa.

It is here that he runs his continental cross commercial flock, targeting the Easter trade and Christmas fatstock shows.

But as Mr Swinnerton has taken on more involvement on the farm, he has shifted the system to include his passion for the Beltex breed, which he says has proven itself while being used across the commercial flock for the last 20 years.

Beltex and Texel cross Mules make up the 150-head commercial flock, which lambs in two batches to target two different markets.

Mr Swinnerton says: “All lambs are

born indoors, with some commercials lambing in January before the pedigree flock starts with the recipients and pures.

“We use Suffolk cross Mules and Lleyn ewes for our 75 recipients for the pedigree flock. For the first time this year, everything which does not take to the embryo has been put to a Bluefaced Leicester in the hope that ram lambs will be sold as teaser rams, while the ewe lambs will be retained for recipients.

January lambs

“All cross-bred January lambs out of the main flock are creeped and sold liveweight through Market Drayton at 38kg-plus for the Easter trade to allow room for the March lambers to get out. They are taken through and sold at Christmas fatstock sales.”

Alongside the sheep, the family owns an agricultural haulage business and runs a 50-head Limousin cross suckler herd, which are put to pure Limousin bulls, with a small selection artificially inseminated to British Blues with the aim of breeding show-type calves.

They keep their own replacements and occasionally buy a cow and calf outfit out of Welshpool market from Ryan Morris, Llansilin.

Calving takes place from March onwards, with progeny sold as stores at 16 months old when they reach 450kg plus.

Mr Swinnerton says: “To help them flesh naturally, we do not push the cattle.”

But his main focus and passion is Beltex sheep, which led him to establish his pedigree Lipley Beltex flock

in 2017, which today stands at 10 pedigree ewes, along with the use of embryo work.

He says: “We have used the Beltex breed for years and I truly love it. It produces a real carcase animal with super conformation, which can be easily crossed onto commercial breeds or successfully bred as pure or pedigree.”

Flush ewes

He started with a handful of flush ewes with their embryo work completed at Farm Gene, Shrewsbury, and has since retained the best five ewe lambs every year.

Two foundation ewes were bought shortly afterwards from the Beltex Beauties sale, two from Stuart Wood’s Woodies flock and a ewe from the Wilodge flock, Shifnal.

This is where most of the breeding still comes from, but Mr Swinnerton would like to get to the stage where all of the ewes are home-bred.

The farm uses a selection of boughtin frozen semen, which helps to keep variety in breeding lines while keeping the flock type.

One of the most influential rams used on the pedigrees was 12,000gns Ardstewart Fred Flintstone, from Wade and Alison McCrabbe, Co Donegal, which was bought in shares with the nearby Wilodge flock at the 2021 Carlisle Premier sale.

Mr Swinnerton says: “He is, in my eyes, a true Beltex, and has helped us to push the flock forward.”

It was not until 2020 that the Lipley flock had sold any stock when they trialled a few yearlings at Carlisle, which helped them to assess the finer details of selling pedigree sheep.

Following the purchase of Ardstew-

Farm facts

Liam Swinnerton started his Beltex journey in a commercial capacity, but over recent years has developed his stock into a successful pedigree flock. Ellie Layton reports. ■ Lipley flock was established in 2017

Run by third-generation farmers, the Swinnerton family

All stock sold liveweight through Market Drayton market and pedigree sales

150-head commercial ewes with 10 pedigree Beltex plus recipients

Beltex show females, with the Royal Highland Show champion ewe lamb on the left.

PICTURES: JOHN EVESON

art Fred Flintstone, they sold a son of his, Lipley Hugo Boss, at the Carlisle Premier sale.

The ram lamb, out of Woodies Eye Candy, one of their foundation ewes, went under the hammer for

20,000gns, selling to Rosie Boden for her Mellor Vale Flock, Stockport.

Mr Swinnerton says: “Being our first sale of ram lambs, this came as a major surprise, but we had invested passion and financially to

get to the position, so it was a welcome reward.”

They also sell a selection of females, which topped at 4,000gns last year in Carlisle, for a full sister to Lipley Hugo Boss.

British Wool – creating new demand through innovation

British Wool recently announced a strategic investment in NexGen Tree Shelters Ltd., a pioneering company specialising in bio and environmentally degradable tree shelters, hedging and vole guards made from British wool.

The investment will enable NexGen to commence full production of its eco-friendly tree shelters, which have undergone extensive development and testing since winning the Innovation in Wool award in 2020.

This strategic partnership aims to transition NexGen’s innovative products from development to market, enhancing sustainability, eliminating single-use plastics and driving demand for British wool.

NexGen has committed to sourcing wool through British Wool’s collective marketing scheme.

Pedigree sales, which kick-off in August, are the main outlet for the Lipley flock. This year they hope to sell just over 30 sheep between males and females.

They have a good idea of what will

British Wool is delighted to partner with NexGen and support the company in bringing this innovative, new wool-based product to market. NexGen tree shelters will take single use plastic out of the environment and have the potential to drive significant demand for undervalued types of British wool over the medium to long-term.

Andrew Hogley, CEO at British Wool

For more information please contact NexGen Tree Shelters Ltd. on enquiries@nexgen-ts.com

Together we’re growing something special.

Liam Swinnerton with a selection of his Beltex shearling tups.

Sheep

make the grade from the early days in the lambing shed, says Mr Swinnerton, although some do change.

He says: “When it comes to selling ram lambs, we need something which is flashy with breed type for the pedigree market, while 90% of shearlings will be sold for commercial use and require more power and size.”

His ideal type is a good head, which is bright and alert, and a sheep which is good on its legs. He prefers a traditional type Beltex, and size is not a big factor.

Once selected, sheep are shorn in May and have June to take to their feed and rest. At the start of August, they are washed five days before the sale and trimmed by fellow breeder and friend Jamie Jerman. Their main sales are society sales in Carlisle and Skipton.

Major shows

Prior to the sales, in recent years, Mr Swinnerton has travelled around the major shows competing with his Beltex.

Last year, he won at the Royal Highland Show on his debut visit with a ram lamb, Lipley Jaguar, also a son of Fred Flintstone, which has been retained in the flock.

At this year’s show, they won the ewe lamb class with Lipley KindHeart, which went on to be reserve female champion.

At the 2023 Great Yorkshire Show, their shearling ewe Lipley Just The One, a sister to Hugo Boss, was overall champion.

The success has carried on at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, where his second prize yearling ewe claimed reserve breed champion.

Mr Swinnerton says: “We enjoy showing sheep and it has been a good way to form friendships, as we are relatively new breeders. It also helps us to

assess our stock against other breeders and pushes us to be the best when taking our stock into the showring.”

Looking forward, Mr Swinnerton is pleased with the progress the flock has made in a relatively short period of time.

He says: “I would like to bring some

new bloodlines into the flock through male bloodlines and aim to have 25 ewes, which are all our own breeding. “I would like to increase the pedigrees, which may replace some of the pure numbers. I have a passion for the breed and would like to carry on with it for years to come.”

Beltex gimmers, ewe lambs and tup lambs.

Some of the farm’s Beltex shearling tups.

It is coming to the time of year when farmers are looking to get rid of sheep no longer serving the flock, to make room for replacements. Georgina Rigby, of Cross Country Farm Vets, offers some advice.

Making the right cull decisions

Most farmers look to replace 20-25% of ewes each year and in an ideal world, all culling decisions would be based on voluntary culls. That is getting rid of the lowest performing percentage of the flock to drive productivity and basing decisions on issues such as temperament, conformation, age or poorer milking.

Veterinary surgeon Georgina Rigby says: “In reality, we often have to base these decisions on ‘involuntary’ aspects such as mastitis, poor fertility, repeat lameness or injuries. Whilst we will always have sheep like this in the flock that need to go, with careful culling decisions over the years, the balance between ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary culls’ can become better.

“Record-keeping is obviously very

important when choosing cull animals – if you do not know who the troublemakers are it is hard to pull them out from the flock. Spray marker, cull tags, written and electronic records can all be useful. Make a record at the time of the problem – with the best will in the world you never remember every sheep, or you will forget the reason for the tag or the spray mark when it comes to culling and it is easy to kid yourself into thinking she will not be a problem next time.”

Mrs Rigby says it is worth taking real care when going through the ewes. Spending some extra time getting rid of issues in autumn will save time and money in spring. Check the mouth of each ewe carefully for dental wear – can they fully utilise the forage in the diet with the teeth they have?

Udder examination

Examining the udder carefully for even the more subtle signs of mastitis, such as a ‘pencil lead’ feeling to the teats, as well as the more obvious lumps and bumps, while time-consuming, is very important, she adds.

testing these sheep if they are leaving the flock, they are often a good sentinel for other underlying issues in the flock.

Record-keeping is obviously very important when choosing cull animals – if you do not know who the troublemakers are it is hard to pull them out from the flock

GEORGINA

RIGBY

Mrs Rigby says: “Other conditions can have a genetic aspect. Have you had an issue with short-jawed lambs or entropion [rolled in eyelids]? Both have a genetic aspect, so retaining ewes in the flock that have produced lambs with either of those conditions means they may do the same again next year, and if you keep your own replacements, the condition can become more and more prevalent in the flock.

“Lameness also has a genetic association – so chronically lame ewes are more likely to have lambs that follow in their footsteps.

“Lastly, what can these cull sheep tell you about your flock? Though it may seem counterintuitive to be

“Testing for iceberg diseases such as maedi visna and Johne’s, or carrying out a post-mortem on very poor sheep can give you a picture of the health of the rest of the flock.

“Your cull choices can represent an opportunity to improve the health, performance and genetics of your flock and give an insight into the health of the rest of your flock, so choose wisely.”

FLY AND MIDGE RISK

Schmallenberg NewForestEye

Summer Mastiti s Fly Strike

BlueTongue

Poor fertility is often an involuntary aspect on which cull decisions are made.

Welshpool - Friday 23rd August

Dungannon - Monday 26th August

Carlisle Premier - Thursday 29th & Friday 30th August

Worcester - Friday 6th September

Melton Mowbray - Saturday 7th September

Skipton - Saturday 7th September

St Asaph - Saturday 14th September

Kendal - Saturday 21st September

Stirling - Monday 21st September

NSA Builth Wells - Monday 23rd September

Carlisle 2nd Sale - Saturday 28th September

Darlington Mart 2024 Summer/Autumn Sheep Sales Calendar

Store Lambs & Feeding Ewes - Every Monday at 10.30am

Catalogue entries will always close at noon the Wednesday prior to the sale

Monday 12th August - Sale of Breeding Ewes alongside the weekly store lambs

Tuesday 13th August - ‘Ewetopia’ Evening Show & Sale of pedigree and pure bred single Ewes, Shearlings and Ewe Lambs Evening Sale - MV Accredited section in place

Monday 26th August - Junior Handlers Super Single Store Lambs - Full details to follow

Thursday 29th August - Junior Handlers Super Single Prime Lambs - Full details to follow

Monday 9th September - Sale of Breeding Ewes alongside the weekly store lambs

Tuesday 10th September - ‘Tup Tup Chalice’ Show & Sale of Rams & Ram Lambs Evening Sale - MV Accredited Section in place

Tuesday 24th September - Great Annual Anniversary Show and Sale of Gimmer Lambs, Ewes & Shearlings (Also 2nd Ram Sale)

Tuesday 8th October - Special Sale of Gimmer Lambs, Ewes & Shearlings - Includes 3rd Ram Sale Incorporates the ‘Hill of a Day’ Sale

Tuesday 29th October - Special Sale of Breeding Sheep & 4th Ram Sale MV Accredited Section in place

Scott Ferrie Auctioneer 07557 260653 | Oliver Chapman Auctioneer 07887 653442

John Wharton Auctioneer 07912 946549 | Megan Dowson Trainee Auctioneer 07471 823606

Tracey Gilhespy Fieldsperson 07867 974688 | Stephen Dodsworth Fieldsperson 07946 514154

September Breeding Sheep Sales

Thursday

Opening

Friday

Wednesday

Thursday

Consigned

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

Monday

NORTH OF ENGLAND MULE SHEEP

August

Carlisle Friday 2nd August (August Fair)

Hawes Tuesday 20th August

Skipton Tuesday 20th August

Lancaster Wednesday 21st August

Carlisle Friday 23rd August

Kendal (NWA J36) Saturday 24th August

Bentham Friday 30th August

Bentham Saturday 31st August

September

Barnard Castle Tuesday 3rd September

Longtown Wednesday 4th September

Leyburn Friday 6th September

Cockermouth Friday 6th September

Wigton Saturday 7th September

Penrith Tuesday 10th September

Carlisle Thursday 12th September

Longtown Tuesday 17th September

Skipton Tuesday 17th September

Hexham Wednesday 18th September

Kendal (NWA J36) Saturday 21st September

Kirkby Stephen Saturday 21st September

Bentham Friday 27th September

Leyburn Friday 27th September

Skipton Tuesday 1st October

01630 652926

enquiries@barbers-auctions.co.uk

www.marketdraytonmarket.co.uk

MARKET DRAYTON MARKET EVENING SHEEP FAIRS 2024

Thursday 15 August, Thursday 26 September & Thursday 17 October at Market Drayton Livestock Market

This will be a catalogued Sale of All Classes of Breeding/Store Sheep Commencing at 5pm for Shearling Ewes Followed by Aged Ewes, Ewe Lambs, Store Lambs and 6.30pm Breeding Rams. Entry forms available from market office to be completed and returned no later than Wednesday 7 August (for the first sale)

Mark Jones 07813 625787 & Ben Baggott 07791 791356

Market Drayton Market Ltd 01630 652926

Bernie Hutchinson 07778 164274, Mark Jones 07813 625787 Ben Baggott 07791 791356 & Jonty Cliffe 07595 453306

Gimmer Lamb Sales

September

*Hexham  Thursday 5th September

Skipton Tuesday 10th September

Kirkby Stephen Friday 13th September

Kendal (NWA J36) Saturday 14th September

Bentham Saturday 14th September

Hawes Monday 16th September

Hawes Tuesday 17th September

Longtown Tuesday 17th September

Middleton-in-Teesdale Wednesday 18th September

Lancaster Wednesday 18th September

Wigton Wednesday 18th September

Pateley Bridge Wednesday 18th September

Barnard Castle Thursday 19th September

Carlisle Thursday 19th September

*Hexham Thursday 19th September

Cockermouth Friday 20th September

Leyburn Friday 20th September

Penrith Tuesday 24th September

Skipton Tuesday 24th September

Lazonby Alston Moor Wednesday 25th September

Tow Law (at Hexham) Thursday 26th September

St John’s Chapel Friday 27th September

Bentham Saturday 28th September

* Denotes the Marts will be selling Mules out of both Northumberland type Blackface and Swaledale dams.

BOLD - Nemsa Association Sales

October and November dates are available on the website : www.nemsa.co.uk

www.welshpoolsmithfield.co.uk

Sale of Dutch Spotted, Badger Face Texel and Blue Texel Sheep Friday 23rd August 2024

Welsh National Texel & Welsh Premier Beltex Show & Sale Wednesday 28th August 2024

Welsh Mule Sheep Breeders Association Sales Wednesday 11th September – Breeding Ewes Thursday 12th September – Ewe Lambs

Sale of Commercial Pure & Crossbred Rams Saturday 7th September 2024

*Weekly Sales of Breeding Ewes & Store Lambs throughout September & October*

All catalogues available online, enquiries to- 01938 553438 or info@welshpoolsmithfield.co.uk

The Only Livestock Market in Staffordshire Autumn 2024 Store & Breeding Sheep Sales Over 65,000 Head

Sale of Store Lambs, Ewe Lambs and Breeding Sheep

Alternate Saturdays Throughout The Season *

17th August - Early Sale of Breeding Sheep (MV & Non-MV Sections)

7th September - Including Prize Show & Sale of Shearlings

21st September – Including Prize Show & Sale of Breeding Ewe Lambs 5th& 19th October 2nd, 16th & 30th November 14th December

* Sales of Breeding Rams MV & Non-MV Sections

In Teesdale

Principal

Saturday 28th September Saturday 26th October

*

Two Special Breed Sales Include; Wednesday 21st August - 6pm Beltex Society Evening Show & Sale

To Include Beltex Males & Females & Friday 13th September - 6pm Derbyshire Texel Club Show & Sale ‘Derbyshire Dazzlers’

To Include Texel Males & Females

*

All Sheep Sold Through a Sale Ring With Buyers Attending From a Wide Area Catalogued Entries Only - Entry Forms Now Available Enquiries: 01538 372749

Email: leek@auctionmarts.com NELSON SHEEP SALES 2024

GLYN DAVIES AUCTIONEER 07974-813394 jglyns@gmail.com www.nelsonsheepsales.uk

Skipton Auction - 20th August (Shearlings)

Bentham Auction - 31st August (Shearlings)

Bentham Auction - 13th September (Gimmer Lambs) Bentham Auction - 28th September (Gimmer Lambs)

Secretary Amanda Burgess 07889802276

facebook- masham sheep breeders assoc twitter - @masham sheep www.masham-sheep.co.uk

CASTLE AUCTION MART

AUTUMN 2024 BREEDING SHEEP SALES

BARNARD CASTLE AUCTION MART

Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, DL12 8AD

TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER

Prize Show & Sale of 1500 Mule & Continental Shearlings

Also, Sale of Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Lambs of all breeds. Prize Show & Sale of 200 Continental & Suffolk Rams Sale at 11am

THURSDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

Prize Show & Sale of 5500 Mule Gimmer Lambs on behalf of N.E.M.S.A Sale at 11am

THURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER

2nd Prize Show & Sale of Mule Gimmer Lambs

Also, sale of Mule/Continental Shearlings/Ewes & all classes of Gimmer Lambs

2nd Prize Show & Sale of Continental, Suffolk & Blue Faced Leicester Rams Sale at 1.30pm

ST JOHNS CHAPEL AUCTION MART

Weardale, Co. Durham, DL13 1QF

FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

Prize Show & Sale of 2500 Mule Gimmer Lambs On behalf of N.E.M.S.A Sale at 11am

SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

Prize Show & Sale of 1500 Swaledale Ewes, Shearlings & Gimmer Lambs

Sale at 10.30am

TUESDAY 8TH OCTOBER

Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association D District Ram Sale – 300 Rams Sale at 9.30am

PATELEY BRIDGE AUCTION MART

Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, HG3 5HN

WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER

PRIZE SHOW & SALE OF 2000 GIMMER LAMBS (Mule/Dales Mule & Masham) Sale at 12 noon

FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER

2nd Gimmer Lamb Sale ALSO Breeding Ewes of all classes

To include Prize Show of Horned/Masham Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Lambs Also Prize Show & Sale of Store Lambs Sale at 12noon

BROUGHTON

AUCTION MART

Broughton in Furness, South Cumbria LA20 6HQ

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

Prize Show & Sale of 160 Herdwick & 50 Swaledale Rams Sale at 11am

WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER

Prize Show & Sale of 2000 Herdwick & Swaledale Ewes Sale at 11am For Catalogues/all sales info view our website: www.barnardcastleauctionmart.co.uk Or contact Libby Bell Auctioneer/Manager on 07818435728 Auction Mart Office, Vere Road, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham DL12 8AD – 01833 638152

SHEEP SALES AT LONGTOWN MART

Tel (01228) 791215 www.longtownmart.co.uk

EVERY THURSDAY – PRIMESTOCK

Prime & Cast Ewes & Prime Lambs

Tuesday 6th August

3,000 Store Lambs

Tuesday 13th August

3,000 Store Lambs

Tuesday 20th August

5,000 Store Lambs | Special Show & Sale of Mule Wether Lambs

Early Season Breeding Sheep Sale

Tuesday 27th August

The Principal UK Sale for 10,000 Cheviot Mule Ewe lambs, Gimmer Shearlings & Cheviot Mule Cross Ewe Lambs & Shearlings

Wednesday 28th August

5,000 Store Lambs

Tuesday 3rd September

7,000 Store Lambs

Wednesday 4th September Mule Shearling Gimmers Lowland breeding Sheep of All Classes. Rams.

Tuesday 10th September

7,000 Store & Breeding Sheep. 1st Sale for Cheviots & Blackfaces

Friday 13th September

Kelso Ram Sales

Tuesday 17th September

9,000 Breeding Sheep. Principal Show & Sale of Mule Ewe Lambs

Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs. Breeding Sheep of All Classes

Evening Multi-Breed Ram Sale

Wednesday 18th September

8,000 Store Lambs. Show & Sale of Cheviot Lambs.

Tuesday 24th September

9,000 Store Lambs. Special Sale of Cheviot & Blackface Lambs.

Monday 30th September

Border Cheviot Ewe & Ram Sale | 6,000 Cheviot Breeding Sheep N.C. Cheviot Rams. Traditional Bluefaced Leicester Rams

Tuesday 1st October

7,000 Store Lambs

Wednesday 2nd October

Border Horned Ewe Sale

4,000 Blackface & Swaledale Breeding Sheep | Blackface Rams

3,000 Lowland Breeding Sheep of all classes inc. 2nd Sale of Mule Ewe Lambs

Tuesday 8th October

9,000 Store Lambs

Wednesday 9th October

Longtown Multi-Breed Ram Fair

SHEEP SALES AT DUMFRIES MART

Tel 01387 279495 www.dumfriesmart.co.uk

EVERY WEDNESDAY - PRIMESTOCK

Prime & Cast Ewes & Prime Lambs

Friday 23rd August

Opening Sale of Store Lambs & Feeding Ewes

Friday 30th August

Nithsdale Show & Sale of Scotch Mule & Other Shearling Gimmers Breeding Ewes of all classes

Friday 6th September

Store & Breeding Sheep

Saturday 14th September

Nithsdale Show & Sale of Scotch Mule Ewe Lambs | Half Bred & Texel Cross Ewe Lambs | Blackface Ewe Lambs | Second Sale of Scotch Mule Texel & other Shearling Gimmers | Opening Sale of Suffolk, Texel, other breed rams | Store lambs

Friday 27th September

Blackface & Cheviot Draft Ewes & Gimmers | 2nd Sale of Blackface Ewe Lambs| Other Breeding Sheep | Store Lambs & Feeding Ewes Airies Texels Annual Production Sale

50 choice Pure-bred Texel Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes

Friday 4th October

Blackface & Cheviot Draft Ewes & Gimmers | 2nd Special Sale of Mule Ewe Lambs | Texel Cross & Other Ewe Lambs | Breeding Sheep of All Classes | Store Lambs & Feeding Ewes

Dumfries Ram Fair (Show & Sale)

Bluefaced Leicester Rams & Ram Lambs Texel, Suffolk & All Other Breeds of Rams

Store & Breeding Sheep, Fridays Weekly Thereafter

NORTH WEST AUCTIONS

2024 AUTUMN SHEEP SALES

Wednesday 21st August at 10.30am

Great Annual Show & Sale of 2500 Mule, Masham & Continental

Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Shearlings

LANCASTER LADS - Show & Sale of 150 Terminal Sired Breeding Rams

GIMMER LAMBS - Wednesday 18th September at 10.30am

Great Annual Show & Sale of 2500 Mule, Masham & Continental Gimmer Lambs To include members of NEMSA.

Second Sale of Breeding Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings & Rams

HILL FAIR DAY - Saturday 5th October 10.30am

Sale of all classes of Breeding Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings & Breeding Rams

Second Sale of Gimmer Lambs, followed by the Special Sale of Store Lambs

Sunday 11th August at 11am

North West Texel Breeders Club

Annual Show & Sale of 300 Pedigree Texel Rams & Females

Monday 19th August at 10.30am

Annual Production Sale of 750 Sheep from the Whiteley Hey Flock on behalf of Mr Paul Slater

Saturday 24th August at 10am

Great Annual Show & Sale of 5000 Mule, Masham, Continental x & Cheviot Mule Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Shearlings

GIMMER LAMBS - Thursday 29th August at 10.30am

Special Show & Sale of Continental & Suffolk Gimmer Lambs

LADS NIGHT OUT - Thursday 5th September

Great Annual Show & Sale of 850 Terminal Sire Breeding Rams

TWO DAY SALE OF 13,000 GIMMER LAMBS

AMBLESIDE FAIR - Friday 13th September at 10am

Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Rough Fell Mule & Cheviot Mule Gimmer Lambs

NEMSA SALE - Saturday 14th September at 10am

Great Annual Show & Sale of 8000 NEMSA GIMMER LAMBS on behalf of the Kendal Branch of NEMSA

PEDIGREE SHEEP DAY - Saturday 21st September at 10am

Society Sale of Pedigree Rams & Females to include; Beltex, Blue Texel, Badger Face Texel & Dutch Spotted.

Second Sale of Breeding Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings & Rams

DRAFT EWES - Friday 27th September 10am

Show & Sale of Swaledale Draft Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings & Gimmer Lambs. Show & Sale of Rough Fell Draft Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings & Gimmer Lambs, on behalf of the RFSBA. Followed by any other hill breeds.

J36 RURAL AUCTION CENTRE

Every Saturday – 2000 + Store Lambs and 1000 + Cull/Grazing Ewes. All Store Lambs Sorted and Weighed. 20kg to 40kg available.

Saturday 3rd, 17th & 31st August – Aged Good Under Cheviot & Welsh Ewes.

Thursday 19th September - Annual On Farm Sale of 800 Draft Cheviot Ewes and 2000 Store Lambs for CNEWR ESTATE LTD.

Wednesday 25th September - 1000 Brecknock Hill Cheviot Ewes and Ewe Lambs with Lowland Breeding Ewes.

Saturday 28th September - Society Sale of 350 Brecknock Hill Cheviot Rams.

LLANDOVERY MARKET, CARMS 01550 720 440

Friday 23rd August – All Breeds Ram Sale & Lowland Breeding Ewe & Ewe Lamb Sale.

Sunday 1st September - Native, Rare, Primitive & Longwool Sale to include Suffolk, Hampshire Down, Border Leicester, Valais Blacknose, Leicester Longwool, Llanwenog, Easycare, Shetland, Hebridean, Scotch Blackface, Blue Faced Leicester, Kerry Hill, Herdwick, North Country Cheviot, Jacob, Dorset Down, Poll Dorset, Ryeland, Coloured Ryeland, Southdown, Cotswold, Shropshire & Other Native Breeds.

Sunday 8th September - South Wales Texel Breeders Club Sale to include Dispersal of the Towy Texel Flock together with Continental Sunday Ewe & Ram Sale to include Blue Texel, Dassenkop, Dutch Spotted, Black Texel, Black Beltex, Zwartbles, Continental Coloured Crossbred Females, Berrichon, Charmoise, Charollais, Beltex, Texel etc - MV & Non MV together with Inaugural Mid & South Wales Dutch Spotted Club Sale.

Tuesday 17th September - Society Sale of 4000 Llandovery Whiteface Ewes & Ewe Lambs.

Wednesday 18th September - Society Sale of 1500 Beulah Speckle Face Ewes.

Wednesday 25th September - Society Sale of 100 Speckle Face Rams together with 500 Speckle Face Ewe Lambs.

Friday 27th September - Lowland Breeding Ewes, Ewe Lambs & Rams.

Sunday 29th September - 20th Anniversary Coloured Breeds Sale to include Badgerface – Torwen & Torddu, Black Welsh Mountain, Balwen, Herdwick, Coloured Crossbreds & Coloured Mules.

Monday 30th September - Society Sale of 200 Llandovery White Faced Rams.

TALYBONT-ON-USK MARKET, POWYS 01874 622 488

Sunday 8th September – Show & Sale for the Hill Radnor Flock Book Society.

Thursday 26th September – Store Lambs together with 500 Talybont Welsh Ewes & Ewe Lambs together with Lowland Breeds. Saturday 5th October - 400 Rams for the Talybont Welsh Sheep Society. NSA BUILTH WELLS

Monday 23rd September - 1350 Texel Rams & Ram Lambs, 140 Texel Females, 170 Cheviot and White Face Rams.

Hardy • Maternal • Healthy Fast Growing

What’s not to like?

NORTH WALES - LL15 1PB

THURSDAY 1st AUGUST

THURSDAY 8th AUGUST

For more information or to request a catalogue: enquiries@blackwelshmountain.org.uk Mobile: 07511 653714 Autumn Sales of Breeding Stock 2024

Annual consignments from David Faulkner of Top quality Texel & Beltex Cross Yearling Rams @ 1pm

Annual consignments from HC&TC Hughes, Llangwyfan, and from Edwards family, Pennant Ucha comprising Suffx Yearlings, Tex x Mule Yearlings in all approx. 1,000 Yearling Ewes expected that day

THURSDAY 15th AUGUST NO SALE (Come & see us at The Denbigh & Flint Show

THURSDAY 22nd AUGUST Annual consignments from HC&TC Hughes, Llangwyfan, and from Edwards family, Pennant Ucha comprising Tex x Mule Yearling Ewes. Annual consignment from Gop Farm, Trelawnyd of Texel & Texel x Homebred Shearling Rams.

THURSDAY 29th AUGUST Annual consignments from HC&TC Hughes, Llangwyfan, and from Edwards family, Pennant Ucha comprising, Tex x Mule Yearlings & Tex x Yearlings

Annual Consignment of Rams & Females On behalf of Paul Slater @ 1pm

MONDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 23rd Annual Sale of Lleyn Sheep @ 9.30am

WEDNESDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 69th Sale of Welsh Half Bred Sheep @ 11am

THURSDAY 5th SEPTEMBER Sale of Beltex Sheep - Sale @ 1pm

MONDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 37th Annual Sale of Pedigree Texel Sheep @ 9.30am

FRIDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 27th Sale of Dutch Texel Sheep - Sale @ 12noon 8th Sale of Charmoise Hill Sheep Sale @ approx 2pm following Dutch Texel Sale

SATURDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 38th Annual Sale of Welsh Mule Ewes & Ewe Lambs @ 11am

FRIDAY 20th SEPTEMBER Sale of Black Welsh Mountain Sheep @ 1pm

SATURDAY 21st SEPTEMBER Bluefaced Leicester Sheep @ 10.30am & Multibreed Sale of MV & Non MV Rams @ 11am

MONDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER NSA Sale of Lleyn Sheep at Builth Wells @ 10.30am

SATURDAY 28th SEPTEMBER Clwyd Welsh Pony & Cob Association Sale @ 11am

SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER Special Sale of Suckler Bred Weanling Calf Sale @ 1pm

THURSDAY 10th OCTOBER Annual Sale of Welsh Rams

SATURDAY 12th OCTOBER Bala Sheepdog Sale @ 9.30am

SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER Sale of Suckler Bred Weanling Calf Sale @ 1pm

SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER Live Sale of Farm Machinery, Implements & Agricultural Miscellanea @ 9.30am

Monthly Sales of Store & Breeding Pigs every FIRST Friday of the month at 12noon Monthly Sales of Dairy Cattle every LAST Thursday of the month at 12noon

WEEKLY THURSDAY BREEDING SALES

Weekly Breeding Sheep Section commencing 8th August with Store Lambs (Sold in pens) at 10am

Breeding Ewe Lambs (through the New Sale Ring) at 12noon Stock Rams (Exhibition Hall) at 1pm

Breeding Ewes (through the New Sale Ring) at 3pm

Weekly Store Stock Sale of all classes of Cattle to include Calves at 10am, Stirks at 11.30am, Cows & Calves / Breeding Bulls @ 12noon Store Cattle at 12.30pm followed by Barren Cows

Visit www.ruthinfarmers.co.uk for further details and Catalogues

CLITHEROE AUCTION MART

Sheep Sales Diary 2024

CATALOGUED SALE OF MULE & CONTINENTAL EWES & SHEARLINGS

CATALOGUED SALE OF MULE & CONTINENTAL GIMMER LAMBS PLUS 2ND SALE OF EWES & SHEARLINGS

SHOW & SALE OF SUFFOLK & EURO RAM (INC MV SECTION)-

ANNUAL SHOW & SALE HORNED & HILL GOING DRAFT EWE & SHEARLINGS (WARRANTED CORRECT)

SHOW & SALE OF REGISTERED LONK SHEEP (RAMS & FEMALES)ON BEHALF OF THE LONK SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

SHOW & SALE OF REGISTERED CHEVIOTS ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH COUNTRY SHEEP SOCIETY

SHOW & SALE OF REGISTERED DERBYSHIRE GRITSTONE SHEEP ON BEHALF DERBYSHIRE GRITSTONE SHEEP SOCIETY

SHOW & SALE OF HORNED & HILL GOING, PLUS BLUEFACED LEICESTER RAMS

2 DAY CATALOGUED ‘OLD FAIR SALE’ OF 5000 BREEDING EWES, FEEDING EWES, SHEARLINGS, GIMMER LAMBS & STORE LAMBS

‘OLD FAIR SALE’ 350 BREEDING RAMS OF ALL BREEDS

‘2ND OLD FAIR SALE’ OF 2500 BREEDING EWES, FEEDING EWES, SHEARLINGS, GIMMER LAMBS & STORE LAMBS PLUS 150 RAMS OF ALL BREEDS

‘3RD OLD FAIR SALE’ OF BREEDING EWES, FEEDING EWES, SHEARLINGS, GIMMER LAMBS & STORE LAMBS PLUS RAMS OF ALL BREEDS

Friday 30th August - Catalogue entries close Tuesday 20th August

Friday 13th September - Catalogue entries close Tuesday 3rd September

Saturday 21th September - Catalogue entries close Tuesday 10th September

Friday 26th September – Catalogue entries close Tuesday 17th September

Saturday 5th October– Catalogue entries close Monday 30th September

Sunday 6th October -Catalogue entries close Tuesday 24th September

Saturday 12th October – Catalogue entries close Tuesday 30th September

Monday 14th October –Catalogue entries close Monday 7th October

Friday 25th October – Catalogue entries close Tuesday 15th October

Saturday 26th October- Catalogue entries close Tuesday 15th October

Friday 8th November –Catalogue entries close Tuesday 29th October

Friday 22nd November –Catalogue entries close Tuesday 12th November

All catalogues available from office or on our website – www.auctionmart.co.uk All entries to Mart Office please - Times of sales to be confirmed in catalogues & later adverts

WHITELEY HEY FLOCK

19TH AUGUST AT 10.30AM

EXETER LIVESTOCK CENTRE, MATFORD PARK ROAD, EXETER,

TUESDAY 6TH AUGUST

21st Early August “Mule” Sale of 5233 Breeding Ewes & Rams

Inc. Nemsa Show & Sale of 1717 Mule Shearlings. Catalogue online.

FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST

Innovis Ram Sale

WEDNESDAY 14TH AUGUST

NSA South West Ram Sale - 15 Breeds - 3 Rings

THURSDAY 22ND AUGUST

24th Official Show and Sale of Lleyn Sheep FRIDAY 23RD AUGUST

101st Annual Show and Sale of Greyface Dartmoors

TUESDAY 27TH AUGUST

13th Annual Late Summer Breeding Sheep Sale of 4000 FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST

Annual Show and Sale of Whiteface Dartmoors

FRIDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER

Show and Sale of Zwartbles and Dutch Spotted Sheep

FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER

10th Annual Sale of Easycare Sheep

TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER

37th Autumn Sale of 4000 Breeding Sheep to inc. Main sale of 1500 Ewe Lambs

Further information – Russell Steer 07788 318701 2-3000 Prime & Cull Sheep Every Monday 1500-2500 Store Lambs Every Friday

Ruthin Auction Mart

PRIVATELY FOR SALE

QUALITY BELTEX X TEXEL, BELTEX X CHAROLAIS AND TEXEL SHEARLING RAMS • Large selection available • Very well grown • Bred for

Penrith Auction Mart 01768 864700

Tuesday 10th September

Prize Show & Sale of Mule Gimmer Shearlings and the Great Annual Show and Sale of Mule, Suffolk X and Continental X Ewes 2 – 3 Shear and Above Special Section for Euro Shearlings

Tuesday 17th September

Annual Prize Show & Sale of Suffolk and Continental Rams

Tuesday 24th September

Prize Show and Sale of North of England Mule Gimmer Lambs. Show open to all vendors NEMSA rosette for the highest placed NEMSA member.

Prize Show & Sale of Cheviot Mule Gimmer Lambs

Sunday 6th October

Evening Show & Sale of Crossing Bluefaced Leicester Rams and Females

Thursday 10th October

Annual Prize Show & Sale of Swaledale, Herdwick & Cheviot and other Hill Bred Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings and Gimmer Lambs

Tuesday 15th October

Late Autumn Fair of The Second Sale of North of England Mule Gimmer Lambs, Breeding Ewes & Shearlings of all breeds. Also the Annual Sale of Swaledale Rams also Bluefaced Leicester, Cheviot, Suffolk & Continental Rams.

Please refer to our website for the most up to date information regarding shows, sales & catalogues.

Andrew Maughan 07717 611952 Paul Gardner 07552 589141

•THURSDAY 15th AUGUST - STORE LAMB SALE

•FRIDAY 30th AUGUST - STORE LAMB SALE

•FRIDAY 6th SEPTEMBER - THEAVES & EWES (Show & Sale)

•FRIDAY 13th SEPTEMBER - STORE LAMB SALE

•THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER - MULE EWE LAMB (Show & Sale)

• FRIDAY 20th SEPTEMBER - EWE LAMB - Any Other Breed (Show & Sale)

•FRIDAY 27th SEPTEMBER - STORE LAMB SALE

•FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER - THEAVES & EWES

•SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER - RAM FAIR *Show & Sale - MV Section

•FRIDAY 11th OCTOBER - STORE LAMB SALE

•SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER - HPLS HILL SHEEP

•FRIDAY 25th OCTOBER - STORE SHEEP inc Rams

•FRIDAY 8th NOVEMBER - STORE SHEEP

•FRIDAY 22nd NOVEMBER - STORE SHEEP

• SUNDAY 8th DECEMBER - FINAL ROUND UP

For any further information or to enter your Sheep into any of the above sales please speak to a member of our Livestock Team on 01629 812777 (option 3)

DUTCH SPOTTED SHEEP SOCIETY

Summer Sales

August Swatragh Friday 16th Welshpool Friday 23rd Premier Sale at Carlisle Friday 30th/Sat 31st September Melton Mowbray Saturday 7th Lanark Thursday 19th Junction 36 Saturday 21st Thainstone Tuesday 24 September

Easycare Sheep

BREEDING SHEEP SALES

AT THRAPSTON LIVESTOCK MARKET

1st Autumn Sale of Breeding Sheep Saturday 17th August Commencing at 11am

To include a Flock Dispersal of Flock Aged Ewes

Catalogue closing date: Wednesday 7th August

2nd Autumn Sale of Breeding Sheep

Saturday 14th September Commencing at 11am

Catalogue closing date: Wednesday 4th September

AT STRATFORD LIVESTOCK MARKET

Field Sale of Store & Ewe Lambs

Wednesday 7th August Commencing at 2.30pm

Catalogue available online, postal copies by request

Field Sale of Breeding Sheep

Wednesday 11th September Commencing at 11am

Catalogue closing date: Monday 2nd September

For further information please contact: Jake Wagstaff: 07487 526803 Alastair Brown: 07885 804450

BELTEX

Skipton:

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER AT 10AM SHOW & SALE OF BREEDING SHEEP & STORE LAMBS Show & Sale of Shearlings, Ewes & Gimmer Lambs & Store Lambs Show at 9am, Sale at 10am Entries Close 2nd September at 12 noon

TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER AT 4.30PM EVENING SHOW & SALE OF RAMS Show to commence at 3pm, Sale at 4.30pm Schedule available. Entries close 3rd September at 12 noon

WEEKLY SALES THROUGHOUT AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

TUESDAY 6TH AUGUST

First special sale of 2,500 YEARLING EWES 1000 Texel x Mule, 1200 Suf x Mule

TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER

Second special sale of 3,500 YEARLING EWES Suffolk x Mule, Texel x Mule

TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER

First special sale of 7,000 EWE LAMBS

Suffolk x Mule, Texel x Mule

To

ewe

All enquiries to: Hereford Market Auctioneers - 01432 761882 www.herefordmarket.co.uk email: hma@herefordmarket.com

FRIDAY 13th SEPTEMBER

WELSH MULE SOCIETY SALE

10,000 YEARLINGS & EWE LAMBS

To be sold at Hereford Market at 10.00am

THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER

1,200 BEULAH EWE SOCIETY SALE

Please note new sale day Sale at Builth Market at 11.00am

TUESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER

300 BEULAH RAM SOCIETY SALE

Please note new sale day Sale at Builth Market at 11.00am

THURSDAY 26th SEPTEMBER

3,500 EWES

EPPYNT HARDY SALE

At Builth Market, sale to commence at 11.00am

TUESDAY 1st OCTOBER

120 BLUEFACED LEICESTER RAMS

On behalf of the Wales & Border Crossing Club Sale at 1.30pm Evening sale

150 WELSH & MULTIBREED RAM SALE 5.30pm

All enquiries to:

Builth Market Auctioneers - 01982 553228 email: bma@builthmarketauctioneers.com

SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER AT 10AM SALE OF BREEDING SHEEP & STORE LAMBS Sale of Shearlings, Ewes, Rams, Gimmer Lambs & Store Lambs Entries Close 30th September at 12 noon

CHARMOISE SHEEP

Climate change is adapted and mitigated by lowering co2, less methane. THE BRAMAIN FLOCK IS THE LARGEST FLOCK, 300+ EWES IS SIGNET RECORDED AND IS CONSISTENTLY USING NEW BLOOD LINES DIRECT FROM FRANCE

Has a good selection of sheep for sale at Welshpool 26th September Also always available on farm Shearling Ewes, Ewe Lambs, Ram Lambs & In Lamb Breeding Ewes

For more information please contact: David Eglin, Bramcote Mains, Bulkington CV12 9JX Web link to sale brochure: bramcotemain.wordpress.com/2022/8/ Email: bramcotemains@outlook.com

Kivells Exeter Shearling Rams 14th August 2024

Kelso Shearling Rams Harrison & Hetherington

Date

SKIPTON AUCTION MART

NORTH YORKSHIRE AUTUMN BREEDING SHEEP CALENDER 2024

Sale Description

FORTNIGHTLY SALES OF 5,000 – 12,000 STORE LAMBS including large consignments of Continental x and Suffolk x ewe lambs

Saturday 3rd August

Show & Sale of PEDIGREE DORSET SHEEP

Wednesday 7th August LINGFIELDS SUMMER SHEEP FAIR

Special prize sale of Suffolk x Continental x Mule & Masham Breeding Ewes + Suffolk, Texel & Continental Rams

Tuesday 20th August Annual Sale of 6,500 SHEARLING GIMMERS, MULE, MASHAM & CONTINENTAL

Monday 26th August

Special Sale of BREEDING SHEEP inc EWES & RAMS

Show & Sale of PEDIGREE KERRY HILL SHEEP & Special Sale of SUFFOLK & CHAROLLAIS RAMS

Saturday 31st August 49th Sale of JACOB SHEEP 133rd Sale of WENSLEYDALE SHEEP

Sale of RARE & MINORITY BREEDS OF SHEEP

Sunday 1st September Annual Show & Sale of VALAIS BLACKNOSE SHEEP

Friday 6th & Saturday Sale of PEDIGREE BELTEX SHEEP 7th September Sale of PEDIGREE BLUE TEXEL & BADGER FACE TEXEL SHEEP

Tuesday 10th September Sale of 6,000 NORTH OF ENGLAND MULE GIMMER LAMBS

Tuesday 17th September 2nd Sale of SHEARLING GIMMERS & Sale of all classes of BREEDING SHEEP + CHAROLLAIS RAMS

Thursday 19th & Friday 43rd Annual Sale of 20th September 600 PEDIGREE TEXEL RAMS & FEMALES

Tuesday 24th September 2nd Sale of 8,000 MULE GIMMER LAMBS

Tuesday 1st October Sale of all classes of BREEDING SHEEP Inc PENNINES SALE of CHEVIOT, LONK, GRITSTONE, WHITE FACED WOODLAND EWES & SHEARLINGS Evening sale of BLUE FACED LEICESTER SHEEP

Thursday 3rd October Sale of REGISTERED LLEYN BREEDING SHEEP

Friday 4th October 1200 TERMINAL & NON TERMINAL SIRES MVA & Non MVA TEXEL, SUFFOLK, BELTEX, CHAROLLAIS, BLUE TEXEL, ZWARTBLES, DUTCH TEXEL + TERMINAL SIRES & CROSS BRED

Saturday 5th October Sale of 3,500 SWALEDALE EWES & SHEARLINGS

For catalogues and more information please call 01756 792375 or visit our website www.ccmauctions.com

01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk office@hawesmart.co.uk

EVERY TUESDAY

EVERY TUESDAY

10am Weekly Sale of Prime Lambs & Hoggs followed by Cast Sheep AUTUMN SALES

TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST at 5pm

10am Weekly Sale of Prime Lambs & Hoggs followed by Cast Sheep AUTUMN SALES

E�ening Show & Sale of 1,000 Mule & Con�nental Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes. Followed by Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams.

EVERY TUESDAY

TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST at 5pm

FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST at 10.30am

EVERY TUESDAY

10am Weekly Sale of Prime Lambs & Hoggs followed by Cast Sheep AUTUMN SALES

10am Weekly Sale of Prime Lambs & Hoggs followed by Cast Sheep AUTUMN SALES

MONDAY 16TH & TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST at 10.30am

TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST at 5pm

TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST at 5pm

Great Annual Two-Day Show & Sale of 30,000 Mule Gimmer Lambs on behalf of North of England Mule Sheep Associa�on.

Special Show & Sale of 3,000 Store Lambs & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs. Show Classes for Pens of 10 Gimmer Lambs & Show Pens of 20 Store Lambs.

E�ening Show & Sale of 1,000 Mule & Con�nental Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes. Followed by Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams.

E�ening Show & Sale of 1,000 Mule & Con�nental Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes. Followed by Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams.

Special Show & Sale of 3,000 Store Lambs & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs. Show Classes for Pens of 10 Gimmer Lambs & Show Pens of 20 Store Lambs.

THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER “HAWES HUNKS” NEW FIXTURE at 5pm

FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST at 10.30am

FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST at 10.30am

E�ening Show & Sale of 1,000 Mule & Con�nental Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes. Followed by Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams.

Show & Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams & Leicester Breeding Rams. Sec�on for MV Accredited Rams.

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

MONDAY 16TH & TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

Special Show & Sale of 3,000 Store Lambs & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs. Show Classes for Pens of 10 Gimmer Lambs & Show Pens of 20 Store Lambs.

THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER at 9am

MONDAY 16TH & TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

MONDAY 16TH & TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

Show & Sale of 1,000 Bluefaced Leicester Rams & Females on Behalf of Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Associa�on.

Special Show & Sale of 3,000 Store Lambs & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs. Show Classes for Pens of 10 Gimmer Lambs & Show Pens of 20 Store Lambs.

Great Annual Two-Day Show & Sale of 30,000 Mule Gimmer Lambs on behalf of North of England Mule Sheep Associa�on.

Second Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Che�iot Mules & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings.

Great Annual Two-Day Show & Sale of 30,000 Mule Gimmer Lambs on behalf of North of England Mule Sheep Associa�on.

Great Annual Two-Day Show & Sale of 30,000 Mule Gimmer Lambs on behalf of North of England Mule Sheep Associa�on.

MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER at 10am

THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER “HAWES HUNKS” NEW FIXTURE at 5pm

Show & Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams & Leicester Breeding Rams. Sec�on for MV Accredited Rams.

SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER at 9.30am

THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER “HAWES HUNKS” NEW FIXTURE at 5pm

THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER “HAWES HUNKS” NEW FIXTURE at 5pm

First Annual Show & Sale of Swaledale Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Shearlings. Sale of Uncrossed & Crossed Ewes.

Show & Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams & Leicester Breeding Rams. Sec�on for MV Accredited Rams.

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

Show & Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams & Leicester Breeding Rams. Sec�on for MV Accredited Rams.

Show & Sale of 6,000 Swaledale Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings at 9:30am.

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER at 9am

Second Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Che�iot Mules & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings.

THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER at 9am

For further informa�on contact Auc�oneers: Ian Atkinson: 07957 256337 Kenton Foster 07711469280 01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk office@hawesmart.co.uk

Second Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Che�iot Mules & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings.

Second Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Che�iot Mules & Con�nental Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings.

THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER at 9am

THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER at 9am

Show & Sale of 1,000 Bluefaced Leicester Rams & Females on Behalf of Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Associa�on.

Show & Sale of 1,000 Bluefaced Leicester Rams & Females on Behalf of Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Associa�on.

Show & Sale of 1,000 Bluefaced Leicester Rams & Females on Behalf of Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Associa�on.

MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER at 10am

MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER at 10am

MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER at 10am

First Annual Show & Sale of Swaledale Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Shearlings. Sale of Uncrossed & Crossed Ewes.

First Annual Show & Sale of Swaledale Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Shearlings. Sale of Uncrossed & Crossed Ewes.

SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER at 9.30am

SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER at 9.30am

First Annual Show & Sale of Swaledale Breeding Ewes & Gimmer Shearlings. Sale of Uncrossed & Crossed Ewes.

Show & Sale of 6,000 Swaledale Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings at 9:30am.

SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER at 9.30am

Show & Sale of 6,000 Swaledale Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings at 9:30am.

Show & Sale of 6,000 Swaledale Gimmer Lambs & Shearlings at 9:30am.

For further informa�on contact Auc�oneers: Ian Atkinson: 07957 256337 Kenton Foster 07711469280 01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk office@hawesmart.co.uk

For further informa�on contact Auc�oneers: Ian Atkinson: 07957 256337 Kenton Foster 07711469280

H&H Carlisle - 21st September

BENTHAM AUCTION MART

FORTHCOMING SALES

STORE LAMBS – Fortnightly Tuesdays

4000-8000 Lambs – next sale Tuesday 13th August

RAMS – Saturday 17th August

700 Charollais, Suffolk, Texel, Beltex, X Bred etc.

BENTHAM BELTERS – Friday 23rd August

Collective Sale of Elite Female Breeding Sheep

BREEDING SHEEP

Friday 30th August- 4000 BREEDING EWES

Saturday 31st August- 7000 GIMMER SHEARLINGS

Both days inc. Mule, Masham, Texel x, Suffolk x, Cheviot Mule etc.

GIMMER LAMBS

Tuesday 10th September- 2500 Suff x, Texel x & CTL x

Friday 13th September- 2000 Masham,1250 Dales Mule & 2000 Chev Mule

Saturday 14th September- 12000 North of England Mules

Saturday 28th September- 5500 Mule & Cheviot Mule & 500 Masham

PRIME SHEEP- Every Wednesday

5000-7000 Prime & Cull Sheep

FARM TO FARM SALES- BREEDING/ STORE SHEEP

Available from N of England & Scottish Border Farms For Catalogues and Sales List contact: S J Dennis of RICHARD TURNER & SON Main Street, Bentham, Lancaster LA2 7HF

Tel: (015242) 61444 Mobile: 07713 075661 www.benthamauction.co.uk

18 Bulls (Sim, Luing, AA) 38 Heifers (Sim x Luing) Catalogue at www.uagroup.co.uk

SAVERNAKE SUFFOLKS

50

Our team has over 100 years experience working with British Wool, ensuring

Agents & Depots

Staffordshire, Derbyshire and surrounding area

Our team has over 100 years experience working with British Wool, ensuring that

The Lumb Flock

Richard Toon Lower Ground Farm, Leek Road, Upper Mayfield, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2HR 01335 342 729 richard@dbwools.ie

North Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and surrounding area

Agents & Depots

Agents & Depots

Staffordshire, Derbyshire and surrounding area

Staffordshire, Derbyshire and surrounding area

Richard Toon Lower Ground Farm, Leek Road, Upper Mayfield, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2HR 01335 342 729 richard@dbwools.ie

Pete Rowbotham South Oaks Farm, Beeley, Matlock DE4 2NR 07989 517456 petesheep@dbwools.ie

Richard Toon Lower Ground Farm, Leek Road, Upper Mayfield, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2HR 01335 342 729 richard@dbwools.ie

Cumbria & surrounding area

Pete Rowbotham South Oaks Farm, Beeley, Matlock DE4 2NR 07989 517456 petesheep@dbwools.ie

Corinna Cowin Appleby 07789 736428 corinna@dbwools.ie

Cumbria & surrounding area

Pete Rowbotham South Oaks Farm, Beeley, Matlock DE4 2NR 07989 517456 petesheep@dbwools.ie

Corinna Cowin Appleby 07789 736428 corinna@dbwools.ie

We pay the market price 100% Upfront and provide wool sheets, labels and string For all other areas and General enquires:

Cumbria & surrounding area

Corinna Cowin Appleby 07789 736428 corinna@dbwools.ie

Richard Hopkinson Hilberry Farm Pisley, Chesterfield S45 8AJ 01246 850311 / 07813 896722 richardhopkinson@ dbwools.ie

North Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and surrounding area

North Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and surrounding area

Lancashire and surrounding area

Richard Hopkinson Hilberry Farm Pisley, Chesterfield S45 8AJ 01246 850311 / 07813 896722 richardhopkinson@ dbwools.ie

Mick Handley Clitheroe, Lancashire 07866 410 297 mick@dbwools.ie

Lancashire and surrounding area

Mick Handley Clitheroe, Lancashire 07866 410 297 mick@dbwools.ie

Richard Hopkinson Hilberry Farm Pisley, Chesterfield S45 8AJ 01246 850311 / 07813 896722 richardhopkinson@ dbwools.ie

David Preston Lancaster, Lancashire 07527 785 845 david@dbwools.ie

David Preston Lancaster, Lancashire 07527 785 845 david@dbwools.ie

Lancashire and surrounding area

Mick Handley Clitheroe, Lancashire 07866 410 297 mick@dbwools.ie

David Preston Lancaster, Lancashire 07527 785 845 david@dbwools.ie

Standard Wool

North Yorkshire and surrounding area

Yorkshire and surrounding area

Becky Burniston South View Farm Burnsall North Yorkshire BD23 6BX 07921 267904 becky@dbwools.ie

labels and string

Becky Burniston South View Farm Burnsall North Yorkshire BD23 6BX 07921 267904 becky@dbwools.ie

Mid-Wales

North Yorkshire and surrounding area

Gareth Thomas 07974 376995 gareth@dbwools.ie

Mid-Wales

North East Wales

Gareth Thomas 07974 376995 gareth@dbwools.ie

North East Wales Geraint Jones 07887 772804 Geraint@dbwools.ie

Geraint Jones 07887 772804 Geraint@dbwools.ie

Becky Burniston South View Farm Burnsall North Yorkshire BD23 6BX 07921 267904 becky@dbwools.ie

Southern and Central Scotland

Mid-Wales

Southern and Central Scotland

Gareth Thomas 07974 376995

Hugh Hamilton 07931 353961 hugh@dbwools.ie

gareth@dbwools.ie

Hugh Hamilton 07931 353961 hugh@dbwools.ie

North East Wales

Geraint Jones 07887 772804

Geraint@dbwools.ie

Southern and Central Scotland

Hugh Hamilton 07931 353961 hugh@dbwools.ie

Adler Captive Bolt Stunner just £215 + VAT

BRANNACH OLANN

Please email your order to sales@raytradeuk.co.uk and we’ll contact you for payment. Further information on Humane Slaughter products can be found at www.raytradeuk.co.uk/humane-slaughter If you have any other questions or wish to make a payment over the telephone please call us on 01635 253344 Adler Captive Bolt Stunner Package - Stunner, 100 Blanks, Carriage... just £249 + VAT

Please

At Premier Polytunnels we know lambing season is the most important time of a sheep farmer’s year, not to mention the ewe’s, so it is no surprise that having quality lambing facilities is at the top of the farmer’s list.

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• Reduces stress in the flock

• Pregnant ewes and housed sheep are cheaper to feed

• Supplied as a complete unit ready for assembly

• Sizes from 16ft to 30ft wide, and lengths from 30ft to 90ft

• 50mm and 60mm diameter steel hoops for strength and rigidity

Lantra Farm Safety

Following the announcement from the Health and Safety Executive that they are no longer undertaking routine farm saftey inspections, Lantra is making the Farm Safety e-learning course free of charge to all farm workers

We are committed to ensuring farmers, and contractors, can keep up to date with best practise.

Consisting of 8 modules, covering topics such as falls from height and falling objects, livestock, and vehicles, this e-learning course provides you with the knowledge to run a safe farm.

You can find more about our training courses by scanning the QR code