Double Diamond is Sire of the Year

Double Diamond takes sire of the year title

Following an action packed 10 days of National Sales in late August and early September the results for the First Season Sire of the Year show an overwhelming trend, with four out of the top five all being sired by previous winner Garngour Craftsman.

Leading the way, in news which won’t surprise many, was the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond bred by Messrs Boden and Davies. He topped the rankings with an average for his top three selling sons of 73,333gns. These were, Auldhouseburn Expression at 100,000gns, Procters El Presidente at 80,000gns and Procters Exocet at 52,000gns, with all having been sold at the Scottish National Sale, Lanark.

In second place was Castlecairn Doodlebug. Bred by Bruce Renwick, his top three selling sons from different dams sold at 75,000gns for Sportsmans Express, 18,000gns for Lakeview Earn Your Keep and 14,000gns for Sportsmans Eye Catcher. This gave him an average of 35,666gns, with all three once again sold at Lanark.

Third spot was filled by Mellor Vale Dakota, bred by Charlie Boden. His best-selling sons were Cressage Enforcer at 38,000gns, Oldford Eisenhower at 5000gns and Oldford Entertainer at 1200gns. This left with an average of 14,766gns. Another from Boden and Davies, Sportsmans Dirty Harry, then followed in fourth place. His best selling sons were Haymount Eye of The Beholder at 22,000gns, Haymount Enter The Dragon at 12,000gns and Milnbank Ed Shearing which sold for 2200gns. He finished with an average of 12,066gns for his best three sons from different dams. And fifth place then went to Mellor Vale Déjà vu from Charlie Boden, again, and with an average of 11,066gns. Best sellers here were Harestone Eldorado at 17,000gns, Glenside Emerald King at 10,000gns and Harestone Everest at 6200gns.

Sire Breeder Dam Ram Lamb Sold for Gns Average Gns

Sportsmans Double Diamond Boden and Davies BYZ1922916 Auldhouseburn Expression 100,000

PFD1903114 Procters El Presidente 80,000 PFD1903111 Procters Exocet 52,000 77,333

Castlecairn Doodlebug Bruce Renwick BGS2004369 Sportsmans Express

75,000 PTT1800107 Lakeview Earn Your Keep 18,000

Mellor Vale Dakota WWB1901370 Sportsmans Eye Catcher 14,000 35,666 Charlie Boden EMK1903624 Cressage Enforcer PRE1901190 Oldford Eisenhower 38,000 5,000

PRE1901182 Oldford Entertainer

1,200 14,766 Sportsmans Dirty Harry Boden and Davies AWJ1701318 Haymount Eye Of The Beholder 22,000 AWJ1901785 Haymount Enter The Dragon 12,000 LYM1803018 Milnbank Ed Shearing 2,200 12,066

Mellor Vale Déjà vu Charlie Boden BSA1901633 Harestone Eldorado

17,000 FPG1901761 Glenside Emerald King 10,000

CFT1805742 Harestone Everest 6,200 11,066

Changes to GB Scrapie Monitoring Scheme

Members are reminded of the updates made last year to the rules for the GB Scrapie Monitored Scheme (SMS) managed by SRUC and increased enforcement of them.

The rule changes mean that animals from SMS flocks attending either shows and/ or sales will have to be segregated from other animals unless the SMS animals are of ARR/ARR scrapie genotype and the genotyping was undertaken by either SRUC or APHA, with samples taken by a vet. Additionally, animals from Negligible Risk SMS flocks (those with seven years SMS membership) have to be kept separate from those from Controlled Risk SMS flocks (those with three years SMS membership).

Society chief executive John Yates said while the rules around SMS were becoming increasingly complex, it was the responsibility of each member to ensure they maintained their chosen flock health status and the Society currently had no plans to segregate sheep of different SMS status at Society sales.

To maintain the status of SMS sheep there must be no nose-to-nose contact between SMS sheep and non-SMS sheep or between SMS animals of different risk levels. This includes during transport to and from shows and/or sales, in penning areas, show rings and sale rings.

“It is also important to note that unless they are of ARR/ARR genotype sheep from SMS flocks will lose their SMS status when attending a non-segregated event. Should those animals return home then there will also be an impact on the whole flock.” Members in Northern Ireland whose flocks are members of the DAERA Scrapie Monitored Flocks Register should refer to DAERA for guidance on how their attendance at events in GB will affect their flock’s scrapie status.