Texel Autumn Bulletin 2022

Notice of the Annual General Meeting

Investing in the future

Welcome to the autumn edition of the Texel Bulletin, after a bumper summer and early autumn for the breed which has seen demand at sales once again result in high clearance rates and records being broken.

The summer season got off to a bang with a return to normal for many of the shows. It was the turn of the Society team to achieve a first, with double red tickets at this year’s flagship event, The Sheep Event, Malvern, a credit to the dedicated team promoting the breed.

With more than 12,000 sheep catalogued by the Society for National and Club sales, the four National Sales were well supported by both pedigree and commercial buyers resulting in record averages, record clearances and an overall buoyant mood across the board.

Sale success is by far and away the best barometer of the breed’s place in the industry and the willingness of commercial buyers to invest in Texel genetics is the surest sign of their continued faith in the breed’s ability to add value to their businesses.

Demand at major commercial sales has also been evident, with new record averages achieved for shearling rams at both Kelso and Builth Wells and Texels far and away the most numerous breed at both these sales.

Regional club sales have also reported buyers eager to secure Texel sires and prices have been strong at many of these sales as farmers seek to add value to next year’s lamb crop with quality Texel rams.

The Texel breed now provides more than 27% of all sires used in the industry, not including the influence the breed has on many composite breeds, with Texel genetics also providing 26% of the national maternal flock. Never has Texel been more popular than it is today.

Importantly, stronger demand was also seen in the pedigree rings at these major sales too, with significant premiums paid for pedigree shearling rams at both Kelso and Builth.

At Kelso pedigree shearlings accounted for more than 25% of the sale by value and achieved an average price more than 76% higher than their non-pedigree counterparts, proving the added value that Society membership and pedigree status can and regularly does add to members’ stock.

Meanwhile, I’m pleased to have recruited Katie Thorley who has joined the Society staff to further the Society’s work in knowledge transfer, with a specific focus on texelplus services and promotions, both within the membership and the wider industry.

As the farming sector faces up to new challenges, ensuring the Society is able to support breeders in their efforts and effectively engage across the industry is vital to the breed’s success.

Previous and ongoing investment in technology and data services, coupled with the recent slashing of fees for texelplus services and the Society’s continued engagement with industry leading research and development, are all vital foundation stones on which the future success of the Society, its services and the breed can be built.

John Yates Chief Executive

SHOWS

SALES

LIFESTYLE

National Sales see records set

Increased averages and higher clearances were the hallmarks of this year’s Society National Sales, with demand strong for the best sheep at all four venues, resulting in a record ram lamb average at the Scottish National Sale, Lanark and the four sales grossing more than £2m for the third year in a row.

Ram lambs were in ready demand at all four National Sales, with clearance rates of 83%, 89%, 79% and 91% at Lanark, Welshpool, Worcester and Ballymena, respectively, and a record ram lamb average of £4831.02 at Lanark.

The English National Sale, Worcester, also saw a record-breaking ram lamb average, with the 120 sold settling at £1350.65, a rise of £123.24 on the previous record set in 2020.

Shearling rams at the same centre achieved a second highest ever average too, levelling at £2492 for 45 sold. This builds on previous years’ solid performance, with the sale now a significant provider of the best shearlings the breed has to offer.

In addition, for the first time in history, the Scottish National Sale saw three ram lambs sell at six figure prices as Rhaeadr First Choice made 160,000gns, Haymount Fan Dabi Dozi sold at 130,000gns and Glenside Forever traded for 100,000gns.

This sale also saw a record average set for gimmers, when 37 levelled at £1755.77, some £85 ahead of the previous record set in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Northern Irish National Sale, Ballymena, saw a record clearance rate of 91% in the ram lambs and a new sale record average for shearling rams when 51 ended the day averaging £1061.32.

It was a similar story at the Welsh National too, with a record clearance rate of 89% in the ram lambs and a second highest average for shearling rams at £1276.56.

Significant numbers of commercial buyers were active at all four of the Society’s National Sales, helping increase clearance rates and maintain sales volumes in these early season sales.

Society success at NSA events

Texel breeders came away from the NSA Sheep Event, Malvern, in buoyant mood, with the Society stand claiming a brace of top prizes and members and Society staff speaking with hundreds of visitors from across the industry.

Society chief executive John Yates said the event is always a highlight in the Society promotional calendar, being the flagship NSA event.

“It’s certainly a first for the Society and highly unusual for a society to win both of the awards on offer. It’s always great to get a red ticket, particularly at this event, but two is certainly going to provide a major boost to the Society team which dedicates so much time and effort supporting members and breed promotions.

“There was a positive mood among visitors and exhibitors alike and plenty of positive comments on the stock on show.”

“Supported by stock from local pedigree and commercial producers as well as a butchery display supplied by Martin and Ben Greenfield of Greenfield lamb, Twycross, Leicestershire, the Society stand was busy throughout the day as farmers toured the event.”

Mr Yates said the event had given the Society the opportunity to speak with both members and commercial farmers ahead of the sales season and promote the core commercial traits the breed is renowned for.

“Continued support by commercial producers for the breed is what underpins every Society member’s business and this desire to use Texel was evident from the many conversations had with farmers throughout the day,” he added.

The Society clinched a brace of first prizes in the trade stand competitions, taking the red tickets for both best trade stand and also best display of sheep on a trade stand.

Sheep on the Society’s stand were made up of stock rams from Jim and Nicola Hartwright, Whitehart, shearling ewes from Paul Phillips, Kimbolton, shearling rams from Russell and Gill Watkins, Millend, and MV Accredited prime lambs from Herefordshire-based A & J Long.

The Society’s own stand also hosted a stock judging competition featuring the shearling rams and shearling ewes on the stand. Winning the shearling ram class was Ena Kirkman, while Charlotte Jones, won the shearling ewe class.

Alongside its trade stand presence the Society also sponsored the NSA Next Generation young shepherds competition, with first place going to Cameron Farnan, followed by Clover Crosse in second and Thomas Watson in third.

Earlier in the season the Society also attended Scotsheep which was a highly successful event for the Texel Society,

The Society stand bagged first place in a brace of competitions at the Sheep Event, Malvern.

with hundreds of visitors flocking to the Society’s stand to learn the latest Society developments and see what Texels can do for their businesses.

The Society is grateful to Messrs Messenger, Abernethy, Perth, for kindly supplying a pair of Texel x Cheviot Mule ewes with March-born Texel cross lambs at foot for the stand.

As part of the Society’s activities it held a guess the weight competition for visitors to guess the combined weight of the whole pen of sheep on the stand.

More than 200 entries were received, with two of these guessing the weight exactly right at 325kg. The winning entrants were Ellis Mutch and Perry Parkinson, both of whom received Society merchandise.

And on the day before the event the Society, through its YDP initiative, sponsored the NSA Next Generation Shepherds’ competition which saw 14 competitors pit their wits against each other in a range of shepherding tasks.

Taking the top spot was Ewan Runciman from Lauder with second place going to Freddy Fulford, Banavie and third taken by Billy Gray, Galston. Freddy Fulford was also the highest placed competitor in the event under the age of 21.

Pedigree delivers premium prices

Texels dominated the UK’s two largest commercial ram sales, accounting for the highest individual breed turnover by value at both Kelso Ram Sale and the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.

Additionally, pedigree values once again far outstripped prices for non-pedigree Texels at both of these sales, proving the added value pedigree offers breeders and buyers.

The first of these sales, Kelso, saw 621 registered Texel shearling rams sell to average £1488.78, up more than £60 on the year, with these equalling more than 25% of the sale’s total value at £923,290.

Comparatively, a total of 586 nonregistered Texel shearlings levelled the day at £844.33, some 76% lower than their registered counterparts, accounting for just over 13.5% of the sale’s gross takings.

Following on from that, the Main NSA Sale saw registered shearlings average £979.65 for 545 sold, a 27% share of the sale total, with this average up by more than £40 on the year.

Here the non-registered shearlings totalled 139 sold, recording an average of £633.32, which while up on 2021, was still some % lower than that of the registered shearlings and totalled just over 4% of the sale gross.

Combined, registered and unregistered shearlings and registered lambs took more than 41% of the Kelso gross, nearly double that of the nearest rival terminal sire breed, while at Builth Wells the overall Texel takings accounted for more than 37% of the sale, again more than double that of the closest other terminal sire breed

Both these major commercial sales continue to be dominated by Texel rams, with commercial buyers standing several rows deep at each sale and bidding strongly to secure the rams they needed to ensure a quality lamb crop next season.

The significant price differential between pedigree and non-registered sheep at both these key events once again proved the value pedigree sheep bring to the national sheep industry, with Texel rams accounting for more than 27% of all rams used in GB, meaning performance improvements made within the breed have a widespread and lasting effect on the industry as a whole.

Midlock Express led Kelso at £52,000, reinforcing the breed’s dominance of major commercial sales.

Texels top RamCompare…..again

Cumulative results from the last six years of AHDB’s RamCompare project show Texel sires continue to dominate the rankings, with 14 of the top 20 rams for overall carcass merit index over the last six years being Texels.

Eight of these 14 rank within the top 10 rams over the last six years and four of them are in the top five, proving the breed’s ability to produce carcasses suited to the needs of the modern meat trade, explained Mr Yates.

These cumulative results, which, to the Society’s disappointment, were omitted from public reporting of RamCompare’s sixth year data, demonstrate the ability Texels have to add value at every step of the lamb supply chain.

Designed to provide an overarching index showing the genetic merit of sires used in commercial flocks, the carcass merit index combines EBVs for carcass

weight, carcass conformation and carcass fat class, explained Society chief executive John Yates.

“It gives the most complete assessment of a ram’s potential to influence their progeny to meet with current payment methods provided from the EUROP carcass classification. It is no surprise to see Texel rams scoring so well on this EBV and it reflects the breed’s universally acknowledged ability to improve carcass quality across a wide range of dam breeds in a diverse range of farming systems and environments, throughout the year,” he said.

On top of the high number of Texels ranking highly for overall carcass merit, the breed also contributed three of the top five rams for days to slaughter as well as 14 of the top 20 rams for fat class and nine of the top 20 rams for carcass conformation index, including three of the top five rams for this important trait.

“The breed also had 11 of the top 20 rams for carcass weight index in the RamCompare cumulative results, with four of these ranking inside the top five for this trait.”

Mr Yates said this high level of performance across all years of the RamCompare trial showed the breed’s consistent performance which had come to be highly valued by sheep farmers over nearly 50 years since the breed was introduced to the UK.

“These performance figures further prove what farmers using Texels within their businesses already knew; Texels deliver day after day, year after year.

“In any business cumulative performance is the truest measure of success and nowhere is this more applicable than farming where the results from one year can directly impact on the results of the next through both management changes and genetic choices,” he said.

“When it comes to genetic progress all results are cumulative, whether good or bad and making the right genetic selections today can have lasting impacts, particularly when replacement stock are retained.”

Nominate for Spotlight Award

As previously announced in the spring issue of the Bulletin, the Society is running a new competition this year, the Texel Sheep Society Spotlight Award.

The award will be presented to an active young Texel breeder, who’s local Club believes they have made an outstanding contribution to the breed, club and flock within their local area or nationally.

All 19 regional Texel clubs across the country will be invited to nominate, via an online nomination form, an individual who must be under the age of 35, a full member of the Society or actively involved with a full member’s flock, that they believe goes above and beyond for the breed.

The top three individuals and their flocks will feature within the Spring Bulletin 2023 and the overall Spotlight Award winner will be presented with a perpetual trophy.

Shift in Scrapie genotypes

Breeding decisions taken by Texel breeders over the last 20 or so years have resulted in a significant improvement in the profile of Scrapie genotypes within the breed, benefitting both breeders and their customers across the UK.

Data from Scrapie genotype testing conducted on rams registered with the Society over the last three years shows that more than 84% of rams tested carry at least one copy of the most resistant ARR allele, compared to 33.4% of Texel sheep tested by the National Scrapie Plan between 2001 and 2003, explained Society data and technical services manager Ed Smith.

“This vast change in the distribution of the ARR allele within the breed, more than 250% improvement, has also resulted in a huge uplift in the proportion of Texel rams now ranked in the most scrapie resistant type one category ARR/ARR, with more than 71% of rams now in this category, compared to about 12% of those animals tested in 2001-03.

“It is important to remember that the recent data only relates to a relatively small number of rams whereas the NSP data included a significant number of animals from across the breed. However, with such a high proportion of ARR/ARR sires being used to breed pedigree stock, it stands to reason that the ARR/ARR genetics will be widely spread across the breed,” said Dr Smith.

Conversely, the increase in the proportion of ARR alleles within the breed has resulted in a dramatic downshift in the proportions of more susceptible alleles within the breed. The ARH allele which was present in more than 43% of animals tested by the NSP in 2001-03 is now only found in less than 2% of rams tested, while the ARQ allele which had a frequency of more than 15% under the NSP is now found in less than 0.1% of rams sampled.

Dr Smith said these improvements were a great achievement for breeders and the breed and would in turn help reduce the incidence of Scrapie within the breed and the UK sheep industry as a whole. “With the Texel breed accounting for more than 27% of all rams used in GB and being the sire of 17% of all ewes in the national flock, improvements made in any genetic parameter within the Texel breed have a huge impact and benefit on the wider industry.

“Making the UK flock more resilient to diseases such as Scrapie is hugely important in delivering a sustainable sheep industry for the future,” he added.

Scrapie genotypes available for registered sires

The Society is pleased to announce that following a new agreement with Neogen, its genotype service provider, Scrapie genotypes are now available for rams registered in the last two years, explained Dr Smith.

“These genotypes are provided for management purposes only, export genotypes still need to be obtained by working with your vet.

“To access the genotypes available for animals in your flock, click on Genetex when you’re logged in to iTexel and select ‘Scrapie Genotype’ from the Trait Type box at the top of the screen. You will then see all the sheep in your flock that a genotype is available for,” he said.

“To view the genotype for a sheep, simply select the sheep by ticking the box on the right-hand side and then click on ‘View’ near the top of the screen. A popup box will appear so that you can confirm you want to view the genotype and accept the fee (£3 + VAT) for viewing it. Click ‘Confirm’ to proceed, or Cancel to return to the previous screen.

“Clicking confirm will then display the genotype on the Gene-tex page below the sheep’s ID.

“If you wish to publish the information on the sheep’s iTexel page (see example below), on pedigree certificates and in sale charts, select the sheep again and click on ‘Publish’.

“You will be asked to confirm you want to publish the data and clicking confirm will return you to the Gene-tex page. The word ‘Public’ and a globe icon will have appeared above the Scrapie genotype,” added Dr Smith.

The Society hopes members will make use of this new service to support their management and breeding decisions.

Society fees beat inflation

As many on-farm input costs spiral, Society members can rest assured their membership and registration costs remain well below the the ten year cumulative inflation figure and and continue to offer great value.

while Society fees have of course risen over the last 10 years, they have remained well below the rate of inflation, delivering exceptional value for money for members.

example, a small flock undertaking 10 birth notifications a year and registering two females and one male, with no embryo transfer undertaken will have seen total fees rise on average by little more than £30 since 2012, nearly £14 below where inflation-tracked rises would have placed them.

a medium-sized flock with 40 BNs a year and eight female registrations, two male registrations and no ET will have seen a £68 increase in fees, some £19 below inflation levels.

10yr 41.1% increase

These rises, while not insignificant, remain well below inflation and, importantly, below the consequential rises in prices achieved by the breed at major sales.

Notably, Kelso ram sale has seen the average price paid for registered Texel shearling rams jump by more than 200% in the 10 years from 2012-2022, while it is a similar story at Society National Sales too, with the Northern Irish National seeing the ram lamb average climb by 86% in the same time and the Scottish National ram lamb average leaping by 235%.

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medium and small flocks using ET would have seen similar below inflation increases too, with a medium flock with 10 natural BNs and 30 ET BNs as well as 12 female registrations and one male registration paying £464.83 in 2022, some £13 below the expected inflationary rise in costs since 2016.

Where flocks are engaged in ET work rises have been higher, due to the introduction of ET BN fees in 2016, however, these charges still sit below inflationary levels with members’ appetite for the use of ET not abating.

A large flock undertaking ET and birth notifying 100 ET lambs, with 30 female registrations and three male registrations will have seen total fees rise by £223 in the six years since the introduction of ET BN fees, but this remains some £32 below where inflationary increases would be.

Importantly, it is the Society’s investment in new technologies and continuing efficiencies which is helping keep member charges lower

The development and introduction of iTexel, along with associated collection of fees by direct debit and removal of many paper mailings have all helped deliver significant cost savings for the Society, resulting in a reduced need to increase fees.

International breeders continue to seek out UK genetics

Overseas interest in UK Texels continues, with inward missions visiting a number of flocks throughout the summer months, including Argentinian breeders Javier and Jose Plumet who visited the English National Sale, Worcester in late August.

These breeders also spent time at the Procters flock, Lancashire, the Kimbolton flock, Herefordshire, while earlier in the summer a delegation from Paraguay and Uruguay visited the Draper family’s Claybury flock alongside time spent at the NSA Sheep Event, Malvern.

The Sheep Event also saw a delegation of USA meat buyers visit the event as part of an AHDB organised visit, with the buyers spending time on the Society’s stand at the event.

AHDB’s John Wilkes said: “The sheer strength and depth of genetics within UK prime lamb production was on full display at Malvern. Having all the dominant UK breeds in one place made the job much easier to get the message across to the US team.

“A big takeaway for the group was the uniformity, continuity of supply and unrivalled quality of UK lamb – unsurpassed within Northern Europe. This is now understood and fully appreciated by the American visitors.”

Recent months have also seen more exports of UK genetics take place with a consignment recently sent to the Netherlands, via Northern Ireland, which included sheep from Paul Phillips, Kimbolton, Alan Clark, Garngour, Gordon Gray, Ettrick and Robert Laird, Cambwell.

Board members retain seats

Following the closure of nominations for director positions in Areas eight (Central South England), nine (South West of England) and 12 (Northern Ireland) the present directors for these areas, Pete Mitchell, Avon Vale, Angus Howie, Millhouse and Alastair Gault, Forkins, respectively, have all be re-elected unopposed.

All three of these directors will commence a new four-year term following this year’s Society AGM in November.

Society chairman Roy Campbell, Cowal thanked Bridget Booker, Towy Texels for the time she had given to the Society since taking on the position of South Wales director. “Bridget has worked hard to represent the views of members in her area and and the board and I thank her for the work she has done while on the board.”

Agrentinian breeders Jose and Javier Plumet visited the English National Sale in August.

Currently, due to the lack of border control posts for livestock at any of the ports in northern France or the Netherlands, direct exports to Continental Europe are not possible, with exports via Northern Ireland and a 30 day residency there the only option.

Katie Thorley joins Texel

Joining the Texel Society as Knowledge Transfer Executive, adding further support for members, Katie brings with her a wealth of industry experience, having spent 15 years with AHDB Beef and Lamb and its predecessor EBLEX in similar roles, helping roll out knowledge transfer across the sheep and beef sectors.

Katie says her experience with both AHDB and her longstanding involvement with YFC has given her a thorough exposure to the wide range of farming systems across the UK and further afield.

“There is no one-size fits all system that will work anywhere for everyone, but there are common features among many leading systems which can be found across the world,” she explains.

Joining the Texel Society at a time of change within the industry Katie says there is a lot of important work being undertaken both within the Society and in the wider industry to help ensure the long-term sustainability of sheep farming.

“Rising costs this year have focused farmers’ minds, but the greater challenge of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions will also need to be addressed at a farm level in the coming years.

“Helping breeders and their customers navigate this changing time is a key driver for me in this new role and the Society is significantly further ahead than many others in helping develop critical information to deliver the genetics required to meet this challenge.

Society chief executive John Yates added: “Katie brings a wealth of knowledge to the team with plenty of experience in a customer facing role. Katie will specifically help lead the expansion of the Society texelplus performance recording services, assisting the enthusiastic team both at the Society office and out and about at events.”

People’s Champion

James Theyer’s champion from the Society’s Southern Feature Show, Royal Three Counties Show, has been named the 2022 Texel People’s Champion.

Voted for by visitors to the Society’s website the award pitted the winners of the Society’s five summer feature shows against each other in a public vote.

The Clanfield gimmer, THE2100734, won with 31% of the vote, ahead of Gary Beacom’s Lakeview gimmer from Balmoral which took 24% of the votes cast.

Online services offer savings

Members are reminded that significant savings can be made by using the Society’s online facilities to undertake birth notifications and registrations, with savings of about 30% compared with continuing to birth notify or register via the paper system.

On top of that, being a digital member and making full use of iTexel means members can have fingertip access to their latest flock information via their smartphone, tablet or desktop computer and make changes wherever they are.

Parentage Testing Lambs

When the parentage of animals is uncertain, parentage tests are required to ensure that accurate data are entered into the flock book. Members should consider the extra cost implications of these tests when using more than one ram to mate a ewe.

It is possible to complete these tests through the Society and members should contact the office or email registrations@texel.co.uk for further details. Any tests should be carried out as soon as possible after birth to prevent delays to birth notifications.

Stripe Card Payments

The Society has introduced Stripe to manage card payments. Members who pay by Cheque or BACS will now be able to pay their invoices by credit card following the link on their invoices.

However, members are encouraged to set up a direct debit with the Society, using GoCardless, which offers the benefit of using the iTexel database for flock management.

The introduction of Stripe allows Apple Pay to be used within the Texel Shop. Enabling frictionless card payments and eliminates the need to manually type card or shipping details, authorizing payments with Touch ID.

Invoices

As all invoices are issued by email, members should remember to inform the Society if their email address changes. This will ensure invoices continue to be received. It is also important to check that the Society’s Xero email address is a safe sender in members’ email software.

When you think you should have received an invoice but haven’t, please check your junk email folders prior to contacting the Society admin team.

Making flocks easier tomanage on iTexel

Members are encouraged to make sure their flock lists areup to date, the more accurate the information about yourflock is on iTexel the easier and quicker it is to manageyour flock and undertake flock management tasks.

Laryngeal chondritis

The Society continues to engage with members and wider stakeholders to further the understanding of this condition. Supporting the work of Katie Waine and Ben Strugnell, further work by SRUC, using CT scans, supported by the Society, has provided insights into the variation of the anatomy of the Texel larynx compared to Bluefaced Leicester sheep.

The Society continues to discuss approaches to progress this topic and is keen to support further research efforts. The Society maintains a confidential database of affected animals, if any members have animals to add to this please contact Ed Smith at the Society office in the first instance.

2023 year letter is G

The year letter for ram lambs born in 2023 will be G.

Entrepreneur reaps Sire of the Year title

You’re invited

Wednesday

December, Roslin Research Institute

Showcasing Smarter Sheep Science

event organized by SRUC, The

Myfyr Evans’ 24,000gns Rhaeadr Entrepreneur has been named the 2022 First Season Sire of the Year, recording an impressive average of 77,333gns for his highest priced three sons sold from different dams.

Included in his highest selling trio are the 130,000gns Haymount Fan Dabi Dozi, the 70,000gns Haymount First Class, both from Jack Arnott and the 32,000gns Hexel Four Square from Donald and Sarah MacPherson, all sold at the Scottish National Sale, Lanark.

Taking second spot was Seaforde Empire King bred by Mark Priestley and sold at Lanark last year for 7500gns.

His top three sellers were the 100,000gns Glenside Forever from John Forsyth and a brace from Alan Blackwood in the form of the 20,000gns Auldhouseburn Fandabidozi and the 7500gns Auldhouseburn Finders Keepers. This gave him an average of 42,500gns for these three.

Knock Eastwood, bred by Albert and George Howie, came in third, with an average of 18,666gns for his three best sellers. These were Midlock Foo Fighter at 42,000gns and Midlock Flintoff at 8500gns for Karen Wight and family along with Teiglum Fightstar from Andrew Clark at 5500gns.

Fourth place went to Procters El Presidente, bred by Procters Farm. His three toppers were Sportsmans First Class at 25,000gns from Boden and Davies, Harestone Fast and Furious at 11,000gns for Stuart Barclay and Sportsmans Forever at 2800gns, again from Boden and Davies, giving an average of 12,933gns.

And in fifth was another from Procters Farm, Procters Eye Catcher. His leading three ram lambs were Knockem Ferocious at 26,000gns for Charlotte and James Nicholson, Holylee Foreman from David Preacher at 8000gns and Knockem Fandabbydozi which sold at 1900gns, again for the Charlotte and James Nicholson.

Sheep Society, University of Edinburgh and AbacusBio UK to showcase the

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Harnessing the power of data

Members will have been well aware of the recent introduction of new information in this season’s sales catalogues, providing sheep’s inbreeding coefficient. While this information has been available on iTexel for many years, its inclusion in sales catalogues is a step forwards in helping members make breeding decisions.

Careful monitoring of potential inbreeding by both members in their own flocks, and the Society at an entire population level, is vital for the future productivity and profitability of the Texel breed.

Society chief executive John Yates said it was important all breeders took note of the downsides connected to inbreeding and acted to reduce the risk to both their own flocks and the wider breed.

“In recent years, the Society has engaged in research, much of which is a first for the UK industry, using a large and valuable genomic resource, developed by the Society to progress both a better understanding of and an insight into the Texel breed population.”

He said that future research and data analysis to support breed population management, including the management of

genetic diversity and relatedness between individuals, is important. “This is a key role for any breed society and increasingly so in the genomics era.

“The Society is now well positioned to harness this genomic resource with more than 18,000 genotypes, collected over the past decade along with a significant volume and variety of phenotypes (measurements) collected from the breed population.

“While genomics is a new tool under consideration, embryo transfer (ET) is a well perfected advanced breeding tool provided through a variety of private veterinary service providers. It has become hugely popular with increased use across many breeds in the UK and overseas over the last 20 years.

“It has, for many Texel breeders become the ‘go to’ tool for developing their flocks. It does, however, present challenges for breed societies which are tasked with the responsibility of managing their respective breed populations.

“Selection and mating practices such as the widespread use of a small number of sires and/ or high levels of ET across a breed population can have an impact on the longterm health and sustainability of any breed,” explained Mr Yates.

ET has grown in popularity as breeders seek to capitalise on the best genetics.

“It is important to monitor and manage, where possible, the diversity and long-term productivity and sustainability of the Texel breed. The Society has commissioned genetic consultancy reports to support board decision making and part funded many new tools to support its membership, with the recent roll out of the iTexel database to manage flock registrations, uniquely including performance information provided through the Society’s great value texelplus services.”

The Society will continue to increase the volume of information on the breed and individual sheep, all aimed at improving the knowledge of breeders, helping them to make more informed decisions on the development of their flocks.

As part of its routine management of Society affairs, the board of directors and specific committees, regularly monitor performance of the Society activities, the registry – flock book and genetic trends, as well as the Society’s financial performance.

And while breeding technologies, such as genomics or ET, can be useful ways of maximising genetic gain in a flock, they can also have a negative impact when when used without careful consideration.

ET has gained significantly in popularity in the Texel breed in the last 10 breeding seasons, with the number of donor ewes more than doubling between 2012 and 2021.

In addition, the maximum number of donors flushed/flock has also risen dramatically, with the highest number of donors from which progeny were birth notified in a single flock being 24 for the 2012 lambing and rising to 46 for the 2021 lambing.

Conversely, the average number of donors from which individual flocks birth notified lambs has not risen as dramatically, being 3.9 for the 2012 lambing and five for the 2021 lambing.

Crucially, the number of lambs birth notified as a result of ET rose from 5749 in 2012 to 10,363 in 2021, with these coming from 411 flocks in 2021 compared to 251 in 2012.

The use of ET in the breed has, for many members, been a success story.. ET enables quicker genetic progress for many flocks. “However, it remains important that breeders should be mindful of the potential acceleration in the rate of inbreeding and reduced diversity which can occur when ET is used to excess and the Society encourages all flock owners to make use of the simple to use mating tool available on iTexel.”

For many members the rapidly increasing use of ET is of concern and both myself and the Society board understand these concerns. The board will continue to monitor the use of ET within the breed, while promoting best practice and providing breeding information via iTexel. Further studies will be developed to help identify the genetic diversity within the breed and this information will be shared with breeders to help maintain and protect the breed’s productivity and popularity in the industry.

“Breeders can, in the first instance, help themselves in this regard by using the mating predictor available on iTexel to check the likelihood of inbreeding for potential new ram purchases each year,” explained Mr Yates.

“Previous bulletins have contained significant information on the breed, including the level of effective population

An increasing proportion of registered males are the result of ET.

While the average number of donors/flock hasn’t risen dramatically the maximum number/flock has risen significantly.

A rising proportion of flocks are now using ET.

Male registrations

Donor

size, inbreeding and genetic trait trends and other vital data. The board has also recently made a significant commitment to widening the use of genetic improvement services, reducing texelplus fees to just £21.50 (+VAT) per flock. All flocks are encouraged to collect and submit relevant data and use the texelplus reports available on iTexel flock admin dashboard.”

Mr Yates added that while recent decision making and significant investment had

ensured the Society had a robust database, iTexel.uk, for the benefit of the membership, significant efforts to ensure data is cleaned and more accurate have also been successful.

“Members are encouraged to be responsible and ensure their flock data is correct on iTexel, that they use the tools made available for them and are mindful of their flock development decisions on the productivity of the breed.”

YDP committee change in Northern England

Nominations took place in mid-October for members or an actively involved son/daughter of a full member, resident in Area B, Northern England, to join the Texel Sheep Society’s Youth Development Programme Committee for a threeyear term, until Autumn 2025.

This committee position became vacant as the current term of committee member Kirree Kermode - Orrisdale flock, is coming to an end she is ineligible to stand for a further term.

The Society would like to take this opportunity to thank Kirree for her hard work on the committee and her dedication to the Texel breed.

The Texel YDP committee is an elected representative subcommittee which reflects the views of young Texel breeders from across the UK.

The YDP Committee consists of five elected members under the age of 35 who are full members of the Society or are actively involved with a full member’s flock. The committee meets during the year to discuss and develop new activities for the Society’s young members and coordinate members from regional club’s in developing youth activities.

The successful nominee will be able to further develop and influence new initiatives and help progress the existing initiatives for the benefit of the Society. With more projects being discussed and developed for 2022/2023 along with the 50th anniversary year in 2024, it is an ideal opportunity to contribute to the Texel Youth Development Programme.

Ram registration changes

Members should note that the registration period has recently been amended, with the standard scale of fees increase now happening on 1st December. However, to avoid any issue rams should still be registered as early as possible. In all cases the Society must have the ID of the animal (flockbook number, or UK number) and the flock code of the member requesting the DNA kit.

Birth notifications cannot be processed without a sire DNA sample, supporting ram registration rules.

Proven, Pedigree, Performance

For details of all Society fees

SCAN HERE

Request ram DNA kits via iTexel

Members can now request DNA kits directly from their iTexel dashboard.

When you’re logged in to iTexel, click on the ‘DNA Kit’ button and select ‘Ram Registration’ from the Reason of Request box at the top of the screen. Then click on ‘+ Add Ram’ and type in the flock book number of the ram you want to register.

If he hasn’t been named, you’ll need to name the ram at this point. Names of rams born in 2021 start with the letter E and those born this year start with F.

If the ram isn’t homebred, you’ll also need to upload a proof of purchase for him.

Once this is completed, the ‘Send Kit Request’ button will be activated and pressing this will send your request to the Society office.

Once you receive the kit, take the sample as described, complete the registration form in full and return it with the sample. Registration fees are applied based on the date the DNA sample arrives in the office.

Alternatively, members are still able to request a DNA kit from the Society website.

Don’t forget to register your females

Members are reminded that females which are exported or used for pedigree breeding must be fully registered by the breeder.

This means that females must be fully registered before they can be entered into sales run under the auspices of the Society or catalogued by the Society.

This applies to upcoming in-lamb sales, females sold privately between members or sold privately to purchasers intending to start a pedigree flock.

In all other circumstances registration of females is at the discretion of the breeder and if not completed it is the responsibility of the purchaser. The Society operates a scale of fees in relation to date of registration submission.

New merchandise supplier

The Society are pleased to announce they have teamed up with Showtime Supplies to provide and distribute Society merchandise.

Members will continue to order the items through the Texel Shop via texel.uk, however, Showtime Supplies will now produce the items as orders are received. Each item will be shipped out as soon as it has been created, this can take 2-3 weeks, please bear this in mind when ordering.

Last ordering date for Christmas deliveries is Friday 25th November 2022.

Staff support YFC activities

Society staff are actively involved in a number of agricultural organisations outside of their Society roles, with both Katie Thorley and Ailish Ross involved in YFC at various levels.

Katie has been involved during the summer as a national judge for the NFYFC awards, being part of the judging panel for the YFC Supporter Of the Year award. Katie, a NFYFC previous national stock judging winner, stated: “These awards recognise the dedication and commitment shown by YFC members and the entries were of an exceptional standard. It was a priveledge to be invited as a judge and I wish all competing the very best for their future in the industry and with YFC.”

Meanwhile, Ailish has recently taken up a regional role with the West Midlands Area of YFC as well as being heavily involved with Warwickshire YFC in recent years, including helping to organise this year’s annual dinner dance for up to 750 members.

In Remembrance

The Society was saddened to be informed of the passing of the following members.

Mexicans learn of Society activities

Ed Smith, the Society’s data and technical services manager recently gave an online presentation at the Mexican National Organisation of Sheep Farmers National Meeting. The presentation began with a comparison of the size of the UK and Mexican industries and outlined the research work the Society has been involved in over the last few years, ongoing projects and the opportunities for the future.

The conference, held in Guanajuato, Mexico, included international presentations offering an excellent opportunity for the Society to promote its latest research and a great way to engage with farmers and breeders in another part of the world.

It enabled the Society to provide them with more knowledge of the Society’s breed development vision, genomics work and how these fit in with the future of the breed and Society’s work here in the UK, said Dr Smith.

“Participants were keen to hear about the traits that are of importance to breeders in the UK and how genotype data is being managed as part of the Society’s genomic research programme.”

Huw Geraint Williams, Llyfni - May R Walmsley, White Water Farm - June

Welcome to new members

The Society is delighted to have welcomed the following new members to the Texel flock since the spring.

The Society wishes them well in their Texel endeavours and is sure they will receive a warm welcome from members at Society and Regional Club events.

Useful information for new members can be found on the Society website at www.texel.uk.new-members

FLOCK CODE NAME

FLOCK PREFIX REGION

DAZ A WATT SWORDALE

FCC CALUM MCINTYRE THE FARG

XFR FIONA SHAND FORMARTINE

XSK KIM STRETCH SMA GLEN

ULM LIAM MARTIN PERDU

YLM LIAM MCINTOSH MCINTOSH

XKA ROBERT DUNBAR WHITE FIELD

CXG SAM CLARK GOLDER

YSH STEVEN HUNTER TILLYLAIR

WIZ CERI HANNAY-WILLIAMS WIZARD

XCH HARRY BELL CHANGUE

SZC STEWART CRAFT CRAFTSMAN

ABG ASHLEY BRIGGS GEORGEFIELD

DHX DAISY HAWKINS DOODLE

HNZ HAYDEN NICHOLSON HAYDENS

KKB BEN KIRK BENS

CARL JACKSON KEASBECK

XSH HARRY SHEARSMITH SHEARARR

IGS IAIN GOWANS SHANKHEAD

LHC LAURA HARBOUR CORK HILL

FLOCK CODE NAME

Welcome

FLOCK PREFIX REGION NUMBER

XPX M PRESLEY BONBUSK

QSM MARTIN SHARP ROME

PTX OLIVER HIRD POWERTEX

XCE ANDREW POOLE CASTLE EDGE FARM

LPX BETHANY CHEW LODE PIT 6

XSG GAIL BAKER SURESHOT 6

GHX GEMMA HALPIN GEMS 6

YJT JAMES TATTERSALL PEASLEY BANK 6

XJW JODIE WALTON LONGTREES 6

KHG MARTIN KNIGHT HOLLINGATE 6

PCZ PETER CORDWELL CORDWELL 6

IGH GEORGINA HOLLIS ICENI

YJR JACK ROBB PINFOLD YARD 7

LHS SAMUEL HANDY LANGBOROUGH 7

XXW SARAH WAREHAM WAREHAM

GNG NEIL GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS 8

AVM WILLIAM VERNON-MILLER BLACKWELL GRANGE 8

GGV GARETH GRAHAM GAZANNA 10

GJZ GERWYN JONES GRAIG GOCH 10

Society Regions

Texels move to Economic Indexes to drive profitability in commercial sector

texelplus indexes are changing, supporting an increased focus on commercially cherished traits that directly impact on commercial producers’ profitability.

Working closely with AbacusBio, as part of the Society Breed Development strategy, the Society has updated the Texel breeding objective.

The new texelplus economic indexes, due to be launched in Spring 2023, will enable breeders and commercial farmers that use Texel genetics to identify sheep for specific market outcomes.

There are new economic indexes for both terminal and maternal traits.

The purpose of new Indexes

Texel breeding objectives

Breeding decisions affect farm profitability, with marginal gains in Texel genetic improvement worth millions of pounds to the UK industry.

Breeders and commercial producers will be able to select stock using the Terminal or Maternal Index published on iTexel, the Society’s registry and genetic improvement services database, and in Society sales catalogues.

The main Indexes are supported by sub-Indexes that provide information on the economic potential of individual sheep’s growth, size, reproduction and carcass quality. In turn, these sub-Indexes are underpinned by individual breeding values that have been available to texelplus members for years.

Sub-index Terminal Index Maternal Index

Growth 8-week weight 8-week weight Scan weight Scan weight

Adult size Mature weight

Reproduction Lambing ease Lambing ease Litter size born Maternal ability

Carcass quality Muscle weight Muscle weight Fat weight Fat weight IMF IMF

Table 1. Breeding values included in the sub-indexes for the terminal and maternal economic indexes

Winter 2022 Development of resources to explain £indexes to breeders

Summer 2023

Sales catalogues display economic indexes

Spring 2023

Launch economic Indexes changes on iTexel. Email communication with members Spring / Summer 2023

Webinar to members

This major change in the calculation and publishing of Texel indexes will redefine how Texel genetic improvement information is presented. These changes aim to support flock owners’ breeding decisions and assist breeders in the sale of performance recorded sheep. They will provide a clearer identification of Texel stock that support both terminal production and maternal replacements.

Influence of Texel breed on UK industry

27% of all sires used in UK are Texel and 17% of the national flock is Texel sired.

While new to Texel breeders the display of economic indexes is not pioneering, having been adopted for many years in the UK and global dairy industries, New Zealand and Ireland sheep and beef industries.

Tim Byrne of AbacusBio said: “The Texel Sheep Society has ensured due diligence in securing consultancy from AbacusBio, an organisation which has been instrumental in developing economic breeding indices for multiple species, breeds and industries across the world over the last two decades.

“The Texel breeding objective supported by the new economic indexes will allow farmers to directly estimate the effect of breeding decisions on farm profitability. It will also allow the Texel Society to measure the economic impacts of genetic improvement and evaluate different investments in the breeding program, by providing criteria by which to quantify return on investment.

“AbacusBio has been working with the British Texel Sheep Society (TSS) since 2014, carrying out economic analyses, providing consulting services on genetic and genomic improvement planning, and supporting breeding program design and implementation,” he added.

Join

texelplus genetic improvement services provide an objective way for both pedigree and commercial breeders to assess the genetic potential of animals and also provides an important marketing tool for breeders when selling stock.

Due to the breed’s influence in the national flock, performance recording in Texel flocks is currently the backbone of improving genetic progress in the UK sheep industry, with the Texel breed contributing 27% of the sires used across UK flocks and being the sire of 17% of all ewes in the country too.

Recording with texelplus is a straightforward and simple process, requiring the recording of birthweight and lambing ease, lamb weights at eight weeks old and between 35-40kg, then ultrasound scan lambs for more accuracy when possible.

With texelplus fees slashed to just £21.50 (+VAT)/flock from spring 2022 there has never been a better time to sign up and ensure your flock is at the forefront of improving genetic performance in both the Texel breed and the UK industry.

stock take top spots

As well as enjoying success in the sale rings, texelplus stock have also fared well in the show rings this summer, with many of the top prizes at the Society’s feature shows taken by high performance sheep.

The Royal Highland Show saw two top performance sheep take the top spots, with Alan Clark and family’s championship winning Garngour gimmer, CJN2107503, carrying an index in the top 5% of the breed.

Reserve champion, Mellor Vale Deja Vu from John Forsyth and Stuart Barclay ranks highly, being another with a top 5% index.

Meanwhile, at The Royal Three Counties Show, the day’s reserve champion, ram lamb Clanfield Freaky Freaky Fresh had an index in the top 5% of the breed, while all of the first to fifth placed ewe lambs have figures in the top 1% of the breed.

And the Royal Welsh saw Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell’s Cowal gimmer, CKC2113649, take the championship title carrying a top 1% index. This one stood reserve breed champion at Great Yorkshire Show the week before.

The Society’s knowledge transfer executive Katie Thorley said the success by texelplus members and their stock at major shows was added proof of the value the Society’s genetic improvement services can add to flocks.

“Careful selection, using both performance data and physical attributes is the key to making progress and these show results demonstrate what can be achieved when phenotype and genotype are given equal importance in breeding programmes.

“Only using either phenotype or genotype as part of the decision-making process can limit the progress a flock makes, losing key attributes as a result. However, marrying performance data, breed characteristics as well as structural correctness can lead to rapid improvements in performance, both on-farm and at shows and sales,” she added.

SCAN HERE

For more information and to sign up for texelplus

This year’s Royal Welsh champion from Cowal carries a top 1% index.

The Clark family’s Garngour gimmer led the way at the Royal Highland and has a top 5% index.

stock perform at sales

Alongside strong performances in the show rings, texelplus stock were also among the highlights of the Society’s National Sales once again, with buyers seeking out high performance stock to add to their flocks.

At the Society’s headline sale, the Scottish National Sale, Lanark, top 1% ram lambs recorded an average of £7155.75, more than £2320 ahead of the overall sale average, while achieving a sale clearance of 87%.

Both the ram lamb and shearling ram sections at the Welsh National Sale were successful for texelplus stock, with recorded shearling rams levelling at £2257.50, up more than £1108.80 on their non-recorded counterparts and by £980.70 on the overall sale average for shearling rams.

In the ram lambs top 5% texelplus ram lambs were of particular interest to buyers, with the average for these being £410.55 ahead of the non-recorded average on the day. Both top 5% and top 10% ram lambs achieved 100% clearance rates, compared to an 89% clearance of non-recorded ram lambs.

And it was a similar story in the gimmers here too, with recorded gimmers averaging £781.40, compared to £624.75 for nonrecorded animals.

texelplus shearling rams were in favour at the English National too, with these achieving an average of £2556.75, up by more than £245 on non-recorded shearling rams.

Both top 5% and top 10% ram lambs were in favour at Worcester where top 5% ram lambs sold to average £1562.4, some £212 ahead of the overall sale average. Top 10% ram lambs, meanwhile, levelled at £1717.80, a £312.90 advantage over nonrecorded lambs.

Across the water in Northern Ireland at Ballymena texelplus ram lambs sold to a ready demand, with an average of £1380.75, up by more than £120 on the non-recorded ram lambs, with top 1% ram lambs levelling at £3543.75.

While only a small offering, Ballymena’s shearling ewe section saw saw texelplus gimmers achieve a 100% clearance,

Project paves way for genomic evaluations

The conclusion of the Society’s CIEL seed funded project on the inclusion of genomic data in texelplus genetic evaluations has paved the way for routine inclusion of genomic information in performance evaluations, says the Society’s data and technical services manager Ed Smith.

“The project has enabled the collation of Texel genomic data into a single repository, with knowledge of how to maintain this information in future

“The inclusion of genomic information in evaluations and routine delivery of genomically-enhanced breeding values to Texel breeders will be a first for the UK sheep industry, improving access to vital genomic information supporting increases in genetic improvement of the Texel breed,” he explained.

Dr Smith said the project had been designed to develop a road map, reviewing the breed’s current phenotyping resource and strategy, while considering the integration of genomic evaluations into the Texel Society’s genetic improvement programme.

“The aim was to identify the most effective approach and develop data pipelines, to ensure delivery and uptake of genomic information, to support the breed’s progress and continued improvement of cherished commercial production and environmental traits that provide significant value and benefit to the industry.

“Undertaken in collaboration with SRUC EGENES, AbacusBio and Map of Ag Group, the project investigated the effect the inclusion of genomic data may have on the improvement in estimates of genetic merit for both proven and unproven sheep.

“The project also looked at the effects on pedigree, levels of inbreeding and how sheep might be re-ranked for individual breeding values and overall indexes,” added Dr Smith.

Additionally, the project identified a number of critical deliverables (must-win battles) for the Society before genomic evaluations can be adopted.

The Society has been working hard to overcome some of these through the summer. The launch of economic indexes early next year (see p22) was a key task to complete before the adoption of genomics could be completed.

The Society also needs to review the current phenotype farm model to ensure that enough of the right data are collected from the required number of sheep to maintain a genomic reference population that will support and underpin genomic evaluations.

Before a final decision is made on the adoption of genomics, further studies on the impact of genomics on pedigree and performance information will be undertaken by the Society during 2023, continuing this valuable study.

Five Nations weekend returns

More than 50 young Texel enthusiasts from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales gathered in Wales in early July for the Youth Development Programme’s Five Nations weekend.

The event for those with an interest in the breed aged 18-35 saw participants visit a number of leading flocks, including Cefin Pryce and family’s Caerienion flock, the Bennett family’s Plasucha flock and Willy Davis and Paul Rowlands’ Usk Vale flock, viewing top quality stock and taking part in a number of challenges and competitions along the way.

Society YDP coordinator Ailish Ross said the weekend had been a huge success, with participants travelling from all five nations to meet and learn from some of the UK’s leading flocks.

“Following an enforced break due to Covid-19 the Five Nations weekend once again proved terrifically popular with young Texel breeders and everyone who came will have gone away with new friends and new knowledge to put in to practice at home,” she said.

Friday 1st July saw the first flock visit to the Bennett family’s Plasucha flock, a flock renowned for the quality of its females and having produced the first prize ewe lamb at the Royal Highland Show just a week beforehand.

This visit saw the youngsters pit their wits at stock judging with four classes, Texel shearling ewes, Texel ram lambs, Texel ewe lambs and Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams, being judged and Steve Smith of the Penparc flock acting as master judge.

Taking top spot here was Isle of Manbased Kirree Kermode, with second place going to Scottish breeder Jordan Green. The Society thanks the Bennett family for their generosity in donating prizes, with Kirree winning semen from the 75,000gns Sportsmans Express and Jordan’s prize being semen from another Plasucha flock stock ram of his choice.

Saturday morning saw the event visit Cefin Pryce and family’s Caereinion flock at Welshpool, with this flock noted for producing high performance shearling rams which are regularly among the top sellers at both the Welsh National Sale and the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.

Stock judging underway at Plasucha.

More than 50 youngsters made the trip to Wales for the Five Nations Weekend.

Master judge Steve Smith Penparc, Kirree Kermode, YDP committee member, and the Bennett family and shepherd Peter Stubbs, Plasucha.

Kirree Kermode was on winning form here too, leading the way in the competition to guess the weight of a pen of three shearling rams, hitting the nail on the head with the exact weight of 362kg.

This venue also saw the participants take part in a Rugby obstacle course, collecting points for their national teams.

And the final visit of the weekend was to the Usk Vale flock, with a trio of competitions adding points to their team’s totals. This included a tote bag sack race, a Texel themed quiz and a water game.

Miss Ross said all three visits had been excellent and showcased some of the very best Texels in UK. “The three hosts had put a lot of work in to the visits and are to be thanked for their superb hospitality and willingness to open their gates and share their knowledge with these keen young people.”

Winning the team competition and with it the Five Nations Drumgooland Shield was the Northern Ireland team of David Chestnutt, Jack Gault, Ryan Greene, Stewart Ferris and Peter Stubbs.

Then in second was a mixed team made up of Northern Irish and Welsh members; Robbie Foster, Nathan Armstrong, James Herdman, Bethan Jones and Aled Davies and in third was the England C team of Kirree Kermode, Richard Crookall, Chris Cornthwaite, Robert Mason and Daniel Clarke.

The winning team received a prize of sheep feed generously provided by Bibby Agriculture, with others sponsors supporting the weekend, including AB Europe, Clinwil Nutrition Services, Farmgene, Halls Auctioneers, JG Animal Health, McCartneys and Welshpool Livestock Sales.

For more on the Society’s Youth Development Programme and members success this summer scan here:

“The Society extends its thanks to all these sponsors for their support of the weekend.”

Winning the Drumgooland shield were the Northern Irish team.

Second spot went to a combined team from Northern Ireland and Wales Third placed team was the England C team.

Competition got visitors in a spin at some points.

Visitors viewing stock at Usk Vale.

SCAN HERE

Willy Davis and Sophia Chambers, Usk Vale, receive gifts from YDP committee members

Garngour gimmer shines at Royal Highland

Alan Clark and family’s Garngour flock took the breed championship at the Royal Highland Show under judge Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, with the breed leader being CJN2107503.

Sired by the 15,000gns Procters Chumba Wumba, this gimmer is out of a dam by former sire of the year Knock Bantastic and had previously been breed and interbreed champion at Lesmahagow Show earlier in the season.

She carries an index in the top 5% of the breed and is the same way bred as the 10,000gns Garngour Egor which sold at Lanark last year.

Taking the male championship and reserve overall ticket was two-shear ram Mellor Vale Déjà vu from John Forsyth and Stuart Barclay. This son of the 70,000gns Garngour Craftsman carries an index in the top 5% of the breed and is out of a dam by the 40,000gns Garngour Alabama.

Reserve female champion was the aged ewe leader from Procters Farm, PFD2003768. Sired by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman, she is out of a dam by Anglezarke Uno.

And reserve male champion came in the form of the leader in the shearling ram class from Douganhill Farms. This was the homebred shearling Douganhill Extra Special, a son of Claybury Dazzler out of a dam by Glenside King II.

Top spot in the open ram lambs was claimed by the Knox family with Haddo Falcon. This lamb is by the 17,000gns Lanark purchase Harestone Eldorado, making him a grandson of the male champion. His dam, meanwhile, is by Hexel Born To Be Wild.

And the Knox family kept up their success when taking first in the texelplus ram lambs too, this time with Haddo Firecracker. Again, by Eldorado, this one is out of a Procters-bred dam by Sportsmans Batman.

The final class of the day, the ewe lambs was won by Robert Bennett, Plasucha, with BFE2212101. This daughter of the 75,000gns Sportsmans Express is out of a dam by homebred sire Plasucha Boss Man and carries an index in the top 5% of the breed.

Champion and reserve both top 5% of breed for performance Haddo top both ram lamb classes

Mellor Vale Deja vu took reserve championship honours

texelplus ram lamb winner was Haddo Firecracker

Robert Bennett was top in the ewe lambs with BFE2212101

Alan Clark’s gimmer CJN2107503 took top honours

Open ram lamb winner was Haddo Falcon

Lakeview gimmer lands Balmoral interbreed championship

The return of Balmoral Show in May saw strong competition in the Texel classes, with former Society chairman Henry Gamble, Springwell, tasked with working through the classes on the first morning of the show.

Taking the Balmoral Texel championship was for the first time was the Lakeview flock of Gary Beacom, Co Tyrone, with a shearling ewe, LKV2108181.

This one is sired by the 38,000gns

Castlecairn Doodlebug which bred lambs to 75,000gns in his first season and was the second placed Sire of the Year last year.

She is out of a Plasucha-bred dam by Plasucha Aberfeldy which was also dam of the first prize shearling ram at the Northern Irish National Sale last year and a gimmer sold for 2300gns at the Scottish National Sale last year.

Following on from her triumph in the Texel classes the gimmer went on to lift both the shortwool interbreed and overall interbreed championships of the show under judge Brian MacTaggart of the Douganhill flock, Castle Douglas.

In a remarkable feat all of the top three placed shearling ewes came from the Lakeview flock with all three being by Castlecairn Doodlebug.

Henry Gamble said his champion had been an easy winner in her class and the championship, being an exceptionally good sheep all round. “She has a tremendous body, combined with correctness and femininity. She stood out.”

Judge Henry Gamble receives his memento from chairman Roy Campbell

Lakeview 1st,

&

in gimmers

Largy

both

classes

Taking the reserve overall championship and leading the male classes was Eugene Branagan’s ram lamb from his Largy flock, Co Down.

This lamb, Largy Fanucci, is by the noted 17,000gns Sportsmans Cannon Ball and out of a homebred dam by Knap Abracadabra.

Reserve championship in the female classes went to another from the Largy flock of Eugene Branagan, this time a ewe lamb, ELL2202873. She is similarly bred to the Largy ram lamb, again being by Cannon Ball and out of a different Abracadabrasired dam.

In the male classes the reserve championship went to Philip Dodds with his shearling ram, Auldhouseburn Eye Catcher.

Privately purchased last year, Eye Catcher is a Sportsmans Double Diamond son out of a dam by Strathbogie Untouchable and goes back to the Cowal ewe which has bred so significantly at Auldhouseburn.

In the aged ewe class the winner was HNB2003451 from the Hamill family’s Ballynadrenta flock. This one-crop ewe is by Bellefield Cobra and out of a Cherryvale Popeye-sired dam.

Shearling

Ewe lambs

Aged ewes

Shearling ewes

Female champion

Reserve female champion

Male champion

Reserve male champion

Overall champion

Reserve overall champion

Gary Beacom’s Lakeview gimmer took the breed and interbreed titles at Balmoral

Top ram lamb was Largy Fanucci

Messrs Hamill won the aged ewes with HNB2003451

Eugene Branagan’s ewe lamb winner

Shearling ram leader was Auldhouseburn Eye Catcher

Clanfield clean up at Royal Three Counties

James Theyer and shepherd David BradleyFarmer swept all before them at the Society’s southern feature show at Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern, taking both the male and female championship and the overall championship and reserve tickets too.

Landing six of the eight class wins, the Clanfield team took the day’s top spot with a shearling ewe, THE2100734, by Hope Valley C The Stars and out of a Hexel dam by Plasucha All Star. This one was on her first show outing and lead the way among a team of four shearling ewes from the flock which took the top four spots in the shearling ewe class.

Taking the reserve championship under judge Will McCaffrey of the Scholars and Cressage flocks was James Theyer’s ram lamb, Clanfield Freaky Freaky Fresh. This son of the 100,000gns Lanark topper Auldhouseburn Expression is out of a homebred dam by Millhouse Crossbow.

Leading the day in the first class of the day, the group of three lambs class, was a trio of Clanfield lambs, with this team later going on to take the terminal sire group of three interbreed championship under judge Jeff Aiken of the Procters flock.

Then in the aged ram class the winner was Evan Jones’ Callerton Dalton, a son of Glenway Ace of Diamonds out of a dam by Knock Washington.

Six red tickets for Clanfield & Interbreed group champions

Judge Will McCaffrey in action

The shearling rams were then led by the reserve male champion from R J Watkins’ Corras flock. This was homebred Corras Eddie, a son of Roxburgh Apache out of a dam by Duhonw Apollo.

In the first of the female classes James Theyer’s aged ewe, CKP2004726, took top spot. This one-lamb ewe is by the noted Sportsmans Cannon Ball and out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan and was purchased for 4500gns at the Longtown Ladies sale in January.

The ewe lamb class was the topped by another of the Clanfield team, the eventual reserve female champion, THE2201017. She’s by Auldhouseburn Expression and is a full ET sister to the first prize ram lamb.

Top spot in the pairs then went to Clanfield too, with the red ticket here clinched by the first prize winning ram and ewe lambs.

Garngour gimmer triumphs at Great Yorkshire

Alan Clark and family’s Garngour flock continued its flying form on this summer’s show circuit, collecting another breed championship at the Great Yorkshire Show with gimmer CJN2107552 to follow on from earlier success at the Royal Highland Show.

This daughter of the 15,000gns Procters Chumba Wumba is out of Teiglum-bred dam by former sire of the year, the 12,000gns Knock Bantastic. She had picked up the red ticket in the gimmer class before going on to be tapped out as female and overall champion by judge Richard Currie, Tullagh.

And it was ladies day all round when the second prize gimmer from Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell took the reserve female championship and reserve overall championship.

This was CKC2113649, sired by the 65,000gns Hexel Django and out of a homebred dam by the 12,000gns Teiglum Charmer. This gimmer combines show style with performance, carrying an index in the top 1% of the breed.

Northern Irish breeder Richard Currie took charge of proceedings at Harrogate.

Interbreed pairs win for Ettrick

Two class wins for Garngour

Leading the way in the males on the day was Gordon Gray’s shearling ram winner from the homebred shearling ram class, GGH2111171. Sired by the 10,000gns Douganhill Desperado, he is out of a dam by Usk Vale Albatross and has an index in the top 5% of the breed.

Reserve male honours fell to Procters Farm with their ram lamb, Procters Francisco. He was the winner of the texelplus ram lamb class and is by the world record breaking 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond and out of a dam by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman.

Heading up the first class of the day, the aged rams, was Claybury Dunkirk from Gordon Gray, with this 34,000gns purchase being by Strathbogie Cannonball and out of a dam by Scholars Yahoo.

In the open shearling ram class the winner was Ian Murray with Hexel Evolution, a Haymount Crackerjack son out of a dam by the 11,000gns Plasucha All Star.

Then in the open ram lambs the top spot was claimed by David and Clare Gray

with their New View Electrifying son, Tima Firefly from their Tima flock. He’s out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan and goes back to the 350,000gns Double Diamond.

Topping the aged ewes was CKC1910995 from Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell’s Cowal flock. She’s a daughter of the 75,000gns Auldhouseburn Boss and is another out of a dam by Yuga Khan.

Alan Clark was then back among the tickets, taking first place in the ewe lambs with CJN2208546. This one is similarly bred to the champion, being by Chumba Wumba and out of a Teiglum dam by Knock Bantastic.

Gordon Gray then took the red tickets in both the pairs and groups classes, with the pair going on to take the interbreed pairs championship title.

Group of three

Male champion

Reserve male champion

Farm’s

Female champion

and

- Procters

ewe CJN2107552

Reserve female champion

Overall champion

Reserve overall champion

Leading the male classes was Gordon Gray’s GGH2111171

Reserve male champion was Procters Francisco

First prize open ram lamb was Tima Firefly

Champion was Garngour’s gimmer CJN2107552

The Campbell family’s gimmer took reserve female and reserve overall championship honours

Gordon Gray’s Ettrick flock, group took the red ticket

Interbreed pairs champions from Ettrick

Open shearling ram winner was Hexel Evolution

Ewe lamb leader CJN2208546

Claybury Dunkirk topped the aged rams

CKC1910995 led the aged ewes for Cowal

Debutants dominate Royal Welsh

First time exhibitors were to the fore at the Royal Welsh Show, with both the championship and reserve championship falling to flocks showing at Builth Wells for the first time.

Taking the overall championship under judge Robert Cockburn, Knap, was the winner of the shearling ewe class and female championship from Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell’s Cowal flock, Argyll.

This was CKC2113649, a Hexel Django daughter out of a dam by Teiglum Charmer. This gimmer, described by Mr Cockburn as an easy winner in her class and the championship for her presence, size and tremendous top and carcass, had stood reserve breed champion at Great Yorkshire less than a week earlier.

“She is a very correct, bright gimmer with tremendous breed character and stood out in her class.”

The gimmer went on later in the show to win the overall Continental championship and the reserve overall interbreed championship under judge Elfyn Owen, Conwy.

Following through from the same class to take the reserve female championship and then reserve overall championship was another gimmer from a first-time exhibitor, in the form of HAK2101637 from Willy Davis and Paul Rowlands, Usk Vale Pedigrees.

She is a Knock-bred gimmer by Knock Dalwhinnie and out of a dam by Allanfauld Am The Man. Mr Cockburn said it had been an easy decision to put the second prize gimmer through, with this having been the strongest class of the day.

Lifting the day’s male championship was the shearling ram winner from the Watkins family’s Corras flock. This was Corras Escobar, an Artnagullion Corras son out of a homebred dam by Hollyford Venus.

And the reserve male championship went to the ram lamb leader, Cattlearch Floki, from David and Joe Lewis’ Cattlearch flock. Sired by Hope Valley Drago, he is out of a Teiglum Younggun daughter.

Taking the red ticket in the day’s opening class, the aged rams, was Canllefaes Desirable from Sioned Thomas. This two-shear ram is by Ellen Valley Capello and out of a dam by Talcoed You Know.

Top spot in the aged ewes went to Willy Davis and Paul Rowlands with HAK1901399, a Knock-bred ewe by Knock Banker and out of a Cowal Voguesired dam.

And the ewe lambs were led by Robert Bennett’s lamb from the Plasucha flock, BFE2212129. She is by Sportsmans Express and out of a homebred dam by Plasucha Boss Man.

Cowal champion on first visit

Gimmer takes reserve interbreed

Reserve female and reserve overall champion was HAK2101637

Overall champion was this gimmer, CKC2113649, from Cowal

Leading the aged ewes was HAK1901399

Topping the

Thomas’

Desirable

Cattlearch Floki won the ram lambs and reserve male title

First Choice is the pick of Lanark at 160,000gns

Three sales at 100,000gns or more, as well as a further 16 bids at 10,000gns or more saw the Neogen sponsored Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, record a best ever average of £4831.02 for 267 sold at an 83% clearance rate.

Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock was the one to leave the biggest footprint on the breed’s flagship sale when his much fancied ram lamb, Rhaeadr First Choice, lived up to his name when making 160,000gns.

In addition, sons of last year’s 24,000gns Lanark sale, Rhaeadr Entrepreneur, were in strong demand, underlining the Rhaeadr flock’s influence on proceedings.

Unshown in the pre-sale show due to Mr Evans being on judging duties, the 160,000gns Rhaeadr First Choice is by Sportsmans Dare Devil, himself a son of Garngour Craftsman, and is out of a dam by the former Lanark topper Teiglum Younggun.

After a short, but fierce bidding battle this lamb went away in the three-way split to Charlie Boden, Sportsmans, Stuart Barclay, Harestone and James Theyer Clanfield. Giving Mr Evans a flock best sale, topping his previous leader, the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best and a belting average of £44,205 for five sold, with others at 26,000gns, 12,000gns and 9000gns.

SCOTTISH

And Rhaeadr breeding was behind the second best price of the sale, when a son of Rhaeadr Entrepreneur sold at 130,000gns for Jack Arnott’s Haymount flock. This was Haymount Fan Dabi Dozi which marked a new flock best for Mr Arnott.

This lamb is out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan daughter which is also dam of lambs at 22,000gns and 12,000gns, and was another shared three ways with Mr Boden again taking a share, along with John Forsyth, Glenside and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn.

John Forsyth recorded a best ever sale at 100,000gns for Glenside Forever, a son of the 7000gns Seaforde Empire King out of a dam by Usk Vale Captain Billy. Another sold in a shared deal, shares in this one were taken by Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis, Usk Vale, James Vaughan, Kingspark, Alan Powell, Monnow Hill and Nick Legge, Thornbury, with a share retained.

Selling at 70,000gns was another Haymount lamb by Entrepreneur, Haymount First Class. He’s bred from an Usk Vale Crackerjack-sired dam and is from the same family as 32,000gns Haymount Divine King. This one sold to the Robin and Caroline Orr, Halbeath and Danny Hair, Drumbreddan.

Alan Clark and family, Garngour, took 52,000gns for their pen leader, Garngour First Class. This son of Claybury Dunkirk is out of a dam by Procters Chumba Wumba which is a full sister to the 30,000gns Teiglum Dancing Brave and sold to the Teward family, New View, with an index in the top 1% of the breed.

Making 42,000gns was the Wight family’s best from their Midlock pen. This was the Knock Eastwood son Midlock Foo Fighter. He’s out of a dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and sold to a consortium made up of James Wilkinson, Ballygroogan, Adrian Liggett, Corbo, Andrew Kennedy, Maineview and N Myles, Ballyshannon, Eire.

Taking a 32,000gns call was Donald MacPherson and family’s best of the day, Hexel Four Square. This one is another by the 24,000gns Rhaeadr Entrepreneur and is out of a dam by Procters Chumba Wumba. He sold to Procters Farm, Lancashire, for the Procters flock.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL SALE, LANARK

Selling for 25,000gns was Sportsmans First Class from Charlie Boden, with this being a son of the 80,000gns Procters El Presidente and out of a ewe lamb by Castlecairn Doodlebug. Sold with an index in the top 1% of the breed he found a new home with Rob Evans, Hope Valley, Shropshire.

Second at 26,000gns was Knockem Ferocious from young breeders Charlotte and James Nicolson. A son of Procters Eye Catcher he had stood third in his class in the pre-sale show and is out of a dam by Midlock Ali Baa Baa. Buying this one were Jemma Green, Corskie, Robbie Wilson, Milnbank and the Knox family, Haddo.

At 24,000gns early in the sale was Tophill Freestyle from David Houghton. This Garngour Ewe Nailer son is out of a dam by Arkle Captain and sold to Peter Woof for the Stainton flock, Cumbria Robert Pierce for the Oldford flock, Cheshire, The Riby family, Stonehills, East Yorkshire and Spiros Spyrou, Gib Farm, West Yorkshire, with a share retained.

The reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Robert Bennett’s Plasucha Fireball, sold for 22,000gns. He’s by Sportsmans Express and out of a dam by Teiglum Braveheart and sold with a top 1% index. Buying him were Jack Arnott, Haymount, Jim Innes, Strathbogie, Messrs MacGregor, Allanfauld and Kenny Pratt, Hilltop.

The first of two to make 26,000gns was Myfyr Evans’ second best, Rhaeadr Field Marshall. Sired by Sportsmans Dare Devil and out of a dam by the noted Kelso Pavarotti, this one headed to Shropshire with Matthew Ellis for the Cressage flock.

A 15,000gns sale saw Jack Arnott back among the money taking this call for Haymount Fancy That. Another by the 24,000gns Rhaeadr Entrepreneur, he is out of an Usk Vale Crackerjack daughter and sold to Alastair Gault, Forkins, Johnny Cubbitt, Long Mountain, John Greene, Eire and R McClaughlin, also Eire.

And Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis took 13,000gns for Usk Vale Fandango, a Knock Eagle son out of an Annan dam by Teiglum Younggun. He sold to Patrick Donnelly, Donrho, John McKillop, Lowtown and Danny McKay, Rohan.

Taking a 12,000gns bid was Myfyr Evans’ last in his pen, Rhaeadr Flashy Boy, with this one also heading across to Northern Ireland with Mark Priestley for the Seaforde flock. He’s by Garngour Envoy II and out of an Auldhouseburn-bred dam by the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond.

A 20,000gns bid secured Auldhouseburn Fandabidozi from Hugh and Alan Blackwood. He’s by Seaforde Empire King and is out of a dam by the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond and headed to Northern Ireland with Mark Paterson, Alderview, W and J Herdman, Templepark, John Trimble, Curley and Stephen McNeilly, Drumadowney.

Selling for 16,000gns was the pre-sale champion from Robert Cockburn, Knap, in the form of Knap Fred Flintstone. This son of New View Electrifying is out of a dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball which had stood champion at the National Show in 2021 and sold to the judge Myfyr Evans for the Rhaeadr flock.

Averages; 267 ram lambs £4831.02 (+£1012.82) (Lawrie and Symington).

First of two at 11,000gns was the first five figure lamb of the day, Uppermill Fury from David McKerrow and family. He’s by Ettrick Earthquake and out of a dam by Knock Yankee and had stood second earlier in the summer at Great Yorkshire Show. This one headed to Douglas Webster, Lower Reiss and Jane Chisholm, Wester Moy, with a share retained.

The other at 11,000gns was Stuart Barclay’s best, Harestone Fast N Furious. He’s by the 80,000gns Procters El Presidente and out of a Sportsmans dam by Garngour Alabama and was shared by Charlie Harkin, Loughash, David Morrison, Dalwynne and Martin McAteer, Straid.

Corbo gimmer leads Lanark at 9000gns

Northern Irish breeder Adrian Liggett topped the gimmer sale at the Neogen sponsored Scottish National Texel Sale, Lanark, for the second year in a row when his female champion from the pre-sale show led the trade at 9000gns.

Sale topper, LIG2100618, is by Tullagh Dragon and is out of a Farmhill-bred dam by Strathbogie Best Bet which had been champion at Omagh Show in 2019 as a ewe lamb. She was knocked down to Hugh and Alan Blackwood for the Auldhouseburn flock, Muirkirk, Ayshire.

Second best at 6000gns was one from Welshpool-based Robert Bennett, Plasucha, BFE2111026. She’s by Midlock Dynamo and out of a dam by the homebred Plasucha Boss Man and was first prize at Shropshire Show earlier in the year. Buying this one was Stewart Craft, Fife.

Close behind that at 5800gns was a gimmer from the Holylee flock of David Preacher, Scottish Borders. This Sportsmans Cannon Ball daughter is out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid and went home with Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn, Kelso.

Then making 5000gns was Gary Beacom’s best from Lakeview, LKV2108281. She’s by Castlecairn Doodlebug and is out of a Plasucha dam by Teiglum Braveheart. She sold to Graham Morrison for the Deveronvale flock, Aberdeenshire.

Following her at 4000gns was another from the Plasucha pen of Robert Bennett, BFE2111095. Sired by Auldhouseburn Dash Of Class and out of a dam by Brackenridge Young Gun this one headed away across the Irish Sea with Owen and Liam Donohoe, Derryvore, Co Fermanagh.

And making 3000gns was Selkirk-based Gordon Gray’s first in from Ettrick, GGH2111197. This one had been reserve female champion in the pre-sale show and is by Douganhill Desperado and out of a dam by Midcombe Brigadier. She had

been fifth at Great Yorkshire earlier in the year and heads to Monmouthshire with the Powell family, Monnow Hill.

A trio then made 2000gns apiece, with the first of these being from Gary Beacom in the form of LKV2108190. Sired by Castlecairn Doodlebug and out of a Teiglum Braveheart daughter she went home with Gary Scott, Bryn Y Coed, Denbighshire.

Next at this money was Jonathan Rees’ Pant Ida gimmer, RFY2100239. She’s by Millars Drive and out of a dam by Mullan Awesome. She heads to the Knap flock of Robert Cockburn, Perthshire.

And the final 2000gns call came for another Ettrick gimmer from Gordon Gray. This was for GGH2111192, a full ET sister to the 3000gns Ettrick gimmer. She was the pick of Robin Creighton, Chelmsford.

Averages; 37 gimmers £1755.77 (+108.27) (Lawrie and Symington).

Topping female trade at 9000gns was Adrian Liggett’s Corbo gimmer.

Second top was this Plasucha gimmer at 6000gns.

Emperor reigns at Welshpool

The pre-sale champion led the trade at the Kiwikit Roxan sponsored Welsh National Texel Sale, when shearling ram Caereinion Emperor sold at 4400gns.

This sale topping performance was backed up by a £50 lift in the gimmer average and a £38 jump in the shearling ram average as well as an 89% clearance in the ram lambs and a 78% clearance in the gimmers.

Sale leader at 4400gns, Emperor, from local breeder Cefin Pryce and family, had led the shearling ram class under judge Rosie Boden before being tapped out as male and overall champion. He is by Sportsmans V8 and out of a dam by Cambwell Trademark. He sold with an index in the top 25% of the breed and was taken home by A Rees and Son, Llanfair Caereinion.

Second best among the shearlings was a 4000gns for Corras Escobar from the Watkins family, Kentchurch. This son of Artnagullion Corras is out of a dam by Hollyford Venus and had stood male champion at the Royal Welsh Show in July. He found a new home with the Creer family, Ballaglonney, Isle of Man.

Then making 2000gns was another from the same home, Corras Empire. He’s by the homebred Corras Cupids Hill and is out of another Hollyford Venus daughter. Buying this one was Paul Delves, Craven Arms.

Close behind at 1900gns was Whitehart Eagle Eye from father and daughter team Jim and Nicola Hartwright. Sired by Humeston River Dance, he is out of a dam by the homebred Whitehart Yeoman and was knocked down to Phil Martyn-Uglow and family, Launceston.

Two then sold at 1500gns, with both coming from Bryn Robinson and family’s Preenbank pen. First at this money was Preenbank Elwyn, a Cambwell Distinctive son out of a dam by Talcoed Wildfire. He was bought by previous buyer Paul Delves.

And Mr Delves then paid the same price for another from this pen, Preenbank Eric. He’s by Roxburgh Colossus and is out of a dam by Cambwell Yaris.

Ram Lambs

Topping the ram lambs at 2400gns was Rhaeadr First Refusal from Myfyr Evans. This Sportsmans Dare Devil son is out of a dam by Brackenridge Crown Royal and sold to Peter and James Vaughan, for the Kingspark flock, Kingsland.

Next in line here at 2000gns was Gordon Gray’s Ettrick Frank The Tank. This son of Claybury Dunkirk is out of a dam by Midcombe Brigadier and had stood second in the texelplus class in the pre-sale show.

He sold with a top 5% index when bought by R E and C J Davies, Yockleton.

Myfyr Evans then took 1700gns for Rhaeadr Fearless, a Sportsmans Dare Devil son out of another dam by Crown Royal. Buying this one was T K Contracting, Norwich.

And two then took bids of 1400gns, with the first of these being Robert Cockburn’s Knap F B I. Sired by New View Electrifying and out of a dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball he had stood reserve male champion earlier in the day and was knocked down to the Jones family, Tynbryn Farms, Tregynon.

The other at this level was Clanfield Fastrac from James Theyer. Sired by the 100,000gns Auldhouseburn Expression, he is out of a dam by Knock Banker and sold carrying a top 10% index. Buying him was T E Morgan, Haughmond.

And the same vendor then sold Clanfield Fantastic at 1300gns. He’s another by Expression and is out of a dam by Plasucha All Star and has an index in the top 25% of the breed. This one found a new home with H Cobbledick, Jacobstowe.

Gimmers

Leading the female trade was Robert Bennett at 1800gns with one from his Plasucha entry. This was BFE2111184 a daughter of Plasucha Boss Man out of a dam by Teiglum Braveheart. She was taken by Esmor Evans, Mold, for the Maerdy flock.

Then making the same money was the best of the sale from Procters Farm, PFD2104582. Sired by the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond, she is out of a dam by Knap Alligator and has a top 1% index. This one sold to M and H Owens, Pont Sian, Ceredigion.

Third in line here was the female champion from Ben Vernon, VCB2104379, a Sportsmans Cannon Ball daughter out of a dam by Knock Travis. She sold to Gary Scott, Denbighshire.

And following her at 1400gns was one from Robert Cockburn, CKP2105705. She’s another by Cannon Ball and is out of a dam by Procters Yankee. She found a new home with Brian Joseph, Hope Bowdler.

Average; 43 shearling ewes £713.76 (+£50), 26 shearling rams £1276.56 (+£38), 50 ram lambs £654.78 (-£165.86) (Welshpool Livestock Sales).

Leading trade at 4400gns was champion Caereinion Empire

Corras Escobar sold at 4000gns

Top priced lamb wat 2400gns was Rhaeadr First Refusal

Top ram lamb averages

Flock Number sold Average

Leading shearling ram averages

Number sold Average

House

Plasucha’s gimmer made 1800gns

At 1900gns was Whitehart Eagle Eye

Making 2000gns was Corras Empire

Joint top female price was this Procters gimmer

Selling for 1400gns was Clanfield Fastrac

Ben Vernon’s female champion made 1400gns

Robert Cockburn’s Knap FBI sold at 1400gns

Everest proves insurmountable at Worcester

A £2492 average for 45 sold on a 74% clearance saw shearling ram vendors leave the KiwiKit Roxan sponsored English National Sale, Worcester, in buoyant mood.

Topping trade at 12,000gns was Cressage Everest from Matthew Ellis. Sired by Walston Carlos and out of a dam by Fordafourie Amalert, this one had stood fourth in the pre-sale show and had been interbreed champion at Shropshire County earlier in the season. He sold to Esmor Evans, Mold, for the Maerdy flock.

Two sold at 5500gns, with the first of these being John Elliot’s Roxburgh Emperor. This son of Walston Clansman is out of a dam by Haymount Arnott and sold to join the Lawrence family’s Coton flock, Market Bosworth.

Second at 5500gns was Hornacott Electric from Phil and Lesley Martyn-Uglow. He’s a son of Beautry Achilles and is out of a dam by Whiteheart Unleashed. Buying this one was Andrew Reed for the Scolton flock, Haverfordwest.

Selling at 4500gns was one from Bryn Robinson and family’s Preenbank pen in the form of Preenbank Emrys. Sired by Roxburgh Colossus and out of a dam by Cambwell Yaris, he found a new home with the Westgate flock of Messrs Furness and Taylor, Buxton, Derbyshire.

Four then sold at 4000gns, with the first of these being Roxburgh Elysium from John Elliot. He’s by Canllefaes Bright Spark and out of a Meinspride Usain daughter and was the pick of Ryan Thomas, Haverfordwest for the Maeyfield flock.

Caron Express from the Williams family, Lampeter, sold at 4200gns. This one is by Mellor Vale Duke and is out of a dam by Fachell Bobs Worth. He’d stood second in the pre-sale show and also at the Royal Welsh and sold to Phil Weaver for the Empire flock, Newark.

Loosebeare Echo was the first of three 4000gns sales for the Quick family’s Loosebeare flock. Sired by Whitehart Class Act and out of a dam by Strawfrank Activator, he sold to Caroline Harriott, Horsham, for the Shiprods flock.

The second from Loosebeare at 4000gns was Loosbeare Eclipse, the reserve champion from the presale show. He’s by Strawfrank Wild Thing and out of a dam by Loosebeare Voomer and sold to Giles Pyman and family, for the Thacka flock, Penrith.

Following on at 3400gns was the best of the day from father and daughter team Jim and Nicola Hartwright, Whitehart Evolution. This one is by Teiglum Cosmic and out of a dam by Strawfrank Wild Thing. He found a new home with Messrs Gilbert’s Aelmund flock, Cheltenham.

Close behind at 3200gns was Bryndu Elite from William and Emma Gittoes. He’d been third in the pre-sale show and is by Teiglum Crackerjack and out of a dam by Blaencar Bandit. This one headed home with J Forbes, Wick, Caithness.

Then selling at 3000gns was Preenbank Ever-Ready from Bryn Robinson and family. This is another son of Roxburgh Colussus and is out of a Canllefaes Young At Heart daughter and joined the Forrester family’s Doonguile flock, Whitchurch.

Also at this price was Hornacott Emperor from Phil and Lesley Martyn-Uglow, with this being another Beautry Achilles son out of a dam by Badharlick Walter. This one heads to Spalding with the Grundy family.

Average; 45 shearling rams £2492 (-£60.29) (McCartneys).

Top shearling rams averages

Flock Number sold Average

Roxburgh Four £3780 Caron Two £3675 Hornacott Three £3675 Loosebeare Five £3465 Preenbank Three £3045 Bryndu Two £2205 Whitehart Five £2142

The last from the Quicks at 4000gns was Loosebeare Electric, a son of Loosebeare Voomer out of a dam by Kimbolton Arrow and shared in a two-way split by Steve and Helen Smith, Pen Parc and Nigel Gibbs and family, Betonfield.

Fame and Fortune makes the headlines at 18,000gns

An 18,000gns call for ram lamb Spellbound Fame and Fortune from first time vendor Emma Carr was the headline sale of the ram lambs at the KiwiKit Roxan sponsored English National Sale, Worcester, which saw 120 rams level at £1350.65 with a 79% clearance.

The 18,000gns top seller, Spellbound Fame and Fortune, is by Hexel Born To Be Wild and out of a Eden Valley-bred ewe by Auldhouseburn Bolt. After a spirited bidding battle he was knocked down to a pair of Northern Irish breeders, Gary Beacom, Lakeview and Andrew Kennedy, Maineview.

Top ram lamb averages

Flock Number sold Average

Maineview Three £3430 Clanfield Three £3080 Loosebeare Two £2940 Teiglum Three £2870 Rhaeadr Two £2388.75 Auldhouseburn Four £1706.25 Procters Five £1596 Ettrick Four £1522.50

Andrew Kennedy earned 8500gns when selling the second best of the lambs in the shape of Maineview Four Square. He’s by Castlecairn Doodlebug and out of a dam by Knock Bantastic. Taking him home were Messrs Furness and Taylor, Buxton, for the Westgate flock.

The pre-sale champion, Clanfield Freaky Freaky Fresh, from James Theyer made 6500gns. This one is by the 100,000gns Auldhouseburn Expression and out of a dam by Millhouse Crossbow. He sold with a top 5% index and was taken by Thomas Ayrton for the Ayrtons flock, Lancaster.

A 4000gns bid secured Carl Bellis’ Cosyn Texels Formula One. This son of Rhaeadr Explorer is out of a dam by Procters Candycrush and sold to join Andrew Clark’s Teiglum flock and Gordon Gray’s Ettrick flock.

Making 5500gns was Teiglum Fightstar from Andrew Clark. Sired by Knock Eastwood and out of a dam by Procters Chumba Wumba, he has an index in the top 10% and was the choice of the Williams family for their Clun flock, Craven Arms.

Three ram lambs netted bids of 2800gns, with the first one being Loosebeare Fab from the Quick family. This son of the £10,000 Loosebeare Chief is out of a dam by Loosebeare Voomer and sold to Llion Jones for the Pant flock, Tywyn.

And the exact same vendor, buyer and breeding combination then came together for the next 2800gns sale, with this being Loosebeare First Choice, a full ET brother to Fab.

The final 2800gns call came for Tatham Hall First Class from Procters Farm. He’s by Scrogtonhead Class Act and out of a dam by Sportsmans Batman and sold with a top 10% index when bought by C A Smale, South Molton, for the Upcott flock.

Close behind him at 2600gns was another from the same vendor, Procters Firecracker. Again by Class Act, he is also out of a dam by Batman. This top 1% index lamb was knocked down to the Lawnt flock of the Watkins family, Oswestry.

Coming in next at 2500gns was Ettrick Fat Boy Slim from Gordon Gray. This one is a son of Holtridge El Primo out of a dam by the homebred Ettrick Cockney Rebel and sold to John Owens and family, Leominster.

Robert Laird then took 2400gns for his best of the day, Cambwell Fargo. Sired by Cambwell Exocet he is out of a dam by Langford Adder Again and sold with a top 25% index to the Hengrave flock of T E Duggan and Son, Leominster.

Trading at 3200gns was Rhaeadr Forceful from Myfyr Evans, with this one being by Seaforde Empire King and out of an Auldhouseburn-bred dam by Auldhouseburn Corky. Buying him was Ifan Andrew, Meifod, Welshpool, for the Brynygroes flock.

Sandy Hunter’s Wedderburn First Class made 3500gns. He’s by Knap El Diablo and out of a Teiglum dam by Knock Yardsman. He found a new home with the Bennett family for the Plasucha flock, Welshpool.

Rhaeadr gimmer hits 5000gns

Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock continued its storming form at this year’s National Sales when topping the gimmer trade at the KiwiKit Roxan sponsored English National Sale, Worcester.

Leading the prices on a trade which yielded an 83% clearance rate was a 5000gns sale for ENM2102447, the third prize gimmer from the pre-sale show. Sired by Sportsmans Dare Devil she is out of a Kelso Pavarotti daughter and sold to Peter and James Vaughan for the Kingsland flock, Herefordshire.

Second best at 4000gns was the female champion from the pre-sale show from Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock, CKP2105704. She’s by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and out of a dam by Procters Yankee and sold to C A Smale, South Molton, Devon.

Following her at 3000gns came one from Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell’s Cowal flock, CKC2113544. This one is by the

Top priced gimmer was this one from Myfyr Evans, Rhaeadr

65,000gns Hexel Django and out of a dam by Knap Alligator. Sold with an index in the top 1% she found a new home with Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis, Usk Vale.

And making 2200gns was the second prize gimmer and reserve female champion from Ben Vernon’s Charben flock. This was VBC210440, an Usk Vale Dingo daughter out of a dam by Hexel Beast From The East. Buying her was D Creighton, Henley In Arden.

Close behind at 2000gns was Alan Blackwood’s Auldhouseburn gimmer, BYZ2129012. She is a daughter of the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond out of a dam by Sportsmans A Star and was the pick of George Oare, Holywell.

Then trading at 1800gns was Gordon Gray’s best from Ettrick, GGH2111087. This Claybury Dunkirk daughter is out of a dam by Garngour Awesome and, selling with an index in the top 5% of the breed, headed home with Geoff Stubbs, Sible Hedingham.

Also at this money was Robert Bennett’s Plasucha gimmer, BFE2111115. She’s by Auldhouseburn Corky and is out of a dam by Eden Valley Wiz Kid and sold to C Doherty, Malton.

And making 1500gns was Nick Legge’s sole entry in the gimmer from the Thornbury flock, LEN2101236. She’s sired by Rhaeadr Drum Major and out of a dam by Strathbogie Ya Belter and was taken by previous buyer Geoff Stubbs.

Average; 50 gimmers £1077.72 (-£104.64) (McCartneys).

Second best at 4000gns was Robert Cockburn’s gimmer

The Campbell family’s Cowal gimmer made 3000gns

Selling at 2200gns was Ben Vernon’s reserve female champion

Fergie Time stops the clock at 15,000gns

This year’s KiwiKit Roxan sponsored Northern Irish National sale topped at 15,000gns, with a record breaking 91% clearance in the ram lambs and a second highest ever average when 203 ram lambs levelled at £1139.22, with 24 more sold than in 2021.

Leading trade was Mark Priestley’s Seaforde Fergie Time, a Sportsmans Canon Ball son out of an Auldhouseburnbred dam by Auldhouseburn Corky. He caught the eye of a number of breeders before being knocked down at 15,000gns to Mark Breen, Augher, Co Tyrone, for the Ballygreenan flock.

Second best at 7500gns was Alastair Gault’s ram lamb Forkins Fancy, a Sportsmans Dare Devil son from a Cherryvale dam by Clarks Bolt which is in turn out of a ewe which was reserve interbreed champion at Balmoral. He sold to Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Aberdeenshire and Andrew Clark, Teiglum, Lanarkshire.

Another 6000gns call secured Brian Hanthorn’s lead lamb from the Mullan flock, Mullan Forever. He’s by Garngour Craftsman and out of a Templepark dam by Haddo Ringleader which has bred sons to 42,000gns. Selling with an index in the top 1% of the breed he found a new home with Patrick Blee, Dunamanagh, for the Dunelm flock and Philip Bradley, Kilrea, for the Drunagarner flock.

Then making 5200gns was the best of the day from Cahir McAuley, Larkhill Frank. This son of Alderview Eldorado is out of a dam by Mullan Captian Jack and was the pick of James Cleland, Hannahstown, buying for the Rose Hall flock.

Darryl Branagan then took 6000gns for the reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Tullynasoo Funtime. This one is a Castlecairn Doodlebug son out of a Sportsmans dam by Garngour Craftsman and had been gifted to the Branagan family as an embryo as thanks for the family providing livery for the Boden family’s gimmers for last year’s in-lamb sales. He was also shared by Stuart Barclay and Andrew Clark.

At 4800gns was Alistair Breen’s Drumderg Five Star. Sired by Mullan Eureka and out of a dam by Midlock Yorkie he sold early in the day to head south to Eire to join James Dunn, Co Cavan.

NORTHERN IRISH SALE, BALLYMENA

Northern Irish National Ram Lambs

Flock Number sold Average

Seaforde Two £9450

Largy Three £3430

Forkins Seven £2692.50 Mullan Five £2320.50

Carnew Three £2135

Ballygroogan Eight £1627.50 Fairywater Six 1522.50 Maineview Five £1407

Alastair Gault was back in the money, taking 4400gns for Forkins Finn McColl, a full brother to the 7500gns Fancy. He was knocked down to David and James Boyd, Crawfordslands, Ballyclare.

Also at 4400gns was another from the Branagan family, this time from Eugene’s Largy flock in the form of Largy Fanucci. He has stood male champion at Balmoral back in May and sold to Richard Henderson, Ballynahone.

Selling at 4000gns was James Wilkinson’s Ballygroogan Fairboy. This one is by the 20,000gns Alderview Explosive and is out of a dam by Deveronvale Aftershock. He had been part of the second prize group in the pre-sale show and sold to Gary Rankin for his Garvetagh Hill flock, Co Tyrone.

Making 3600gns was another from James Wilkinson, Ballygroogan First Class. Again by Explosive, he is out of a Knock Bantastic daughter and was taken by Martin and Cyril Millar for the Millars flock, having stood fifth in the show.

Cynthia Aiken and family’s Carnew Falcon took a 3400gns call. He’s by Procters El Jeffe and out of a dam by Garngour Alabama. This one was the choice of local breeder Adrian McCartney for the Gruig flock.

Selling for 3000gns was another from sale topper Mark Priestley, Seaforde Foo Fighter. He’s by Teiglum Braveheart and out of a dam by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and was taken by Messrs McPolin.

Another to make 3000gns came from Eugene Branagan in the form of Largy Frank The Tank. This is another by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and out of a dam by Knap Abracadabra and sold to Messrs Simpson and Calvin, Ballyhivistock, Ballymoney and Stephen Etherson, Killans.

Average; 203 ram lambs £1139.22 (-£161.55) (Ballymena Livestock Market).

Bids prove anything but Elusive at Ballymena

Shearling ram trade at the Kiwikit Roxan sponsored Northern Irish National Sale, Ballymena, saw demand strong once again, with 51 selling on an 86% clearance to level at £1061.32, a rise of £161 on the year for one more sold.

Leading trade were Fraser and Helen Tweed with their Lower Reiss Dynamite son Ballycoose Elusive. He’s out of a dam by Cambwell Boris and sold carrying a top 25% index. Buying him was Bernard Venney, Downpatrick.

Next in line at 1800gns was another from the same home, Ballycoose Exclusive. He’s by Duvarren Cantona and out of a dam by Claybury Toronto and sold with a top 10% index to Gerard McCullagh, Draperstown.

Then making 1600gns was Alastair Gault’s Forkins Enormous. This one is by Procters Cocktail and out of a dam by Tophill Union Jack and sold to T Hynes, Rathfriland.

Two then traded at 1500gns, with the first being Hillhead Erik from M and J Watson. He’s by Kiltariff Bastareaud and out of a dam by Duvarren Whats The Craic and was taken by R J Mowbray, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone.

Second at this level was another from the Tweeds, Ballycloose Erudite. This one is by Duvarren Cantona and

out of a dam by Claybury Toronto and has a top 25% index. He went home with previous buyer Gerard McCullagh. And then at 1450gns was Adrian Liggett’s Drumadowney Electric. Sired by Plasucha DNA, he’s out of a dam by Milnbank Anderlecht and was the pick of Shaws Hill Farm, Kells.

Close behind at 1400gns was Sean McCloskey’s Glenroe Extra Special, a Habistown Daryll son out of a dam by Brackenridge Transformer. He sold to C Ferris, South Millisle.

Trading at the same price was Gary Rankin’s Garvetagh Hill Enterprise. This one is by Tamnamoney Double Barrel and out of a Cherryvale dam by Garngour Vintage. Buying this one was previous buyer Shaws Hill Farm.

Average; 51 shearling rams £1061.32 (+£161.89) (Ballymena Livestock Market).

Ballymena gimmers hit 4000gns high

Gimmer prices reached a high of 4000gns at the KiwiKit Roxan sponsored Northern Irish National Sale, Ballymena, when Alastair Gault sold his female champion from the Forkins flock.

Sale topper was GAF2103104, a Procters Deacon daughter out of a dam by Tophill Yankee Boy. She sold to William Taylor, Macosquin, Co Londonderry.

Then at 2200gns was one from John Trimble’s Curley flock, TYC2101119. She’s by Rhaeadr Best of the Best and out of a dam by Garngour Alabama and sold to Owen Donohoe, Derryvore, Enniskillen.

Next in line at 1400gns was Martin and Cyril Millar’s VMG2102473 from the Millars flock. Sired by Hexel Diamond she is out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Bobby and was taken by Ashley Dickson, Drumquin.

Then at 1100gns was Gary Beacom’s best from Lakeview, LKV2108164. She’s by Castlecairn Doodlebug and out of a dam by Arkle Awesome and sold to P J Varley, The Neale, Mayo.

Hitting 4000gns and leading the gimmer trade was Alastair Gault’s GAF2103104, a Procters Deacon daughter.

And at 1000gns was Andrew Fyffe’s Fairywater gimmer, FAO2101510. Sired by the homebred Fairywater Columbo she’s out of a dam by Milnbank Womaniser and was taken by A Follis, Lisbellaw.

Average; 23 gimmers £931.30 (+£59.80) (Ballymena Livestock Market).

Midlock Express delivers £52,000 top at Kelso

Texels remained the most numerous breed sold at Kelso Ram Sales, achieving most of the top prices and a shearling ram average of £1486 for 621, an increase of £74 per head on the year.

Topping the trade at £52,000 was Midlock Express, a son of the 34,000gns Claybury Dunkirk, from the Wight family, Midlock, Crawford. This one’s dam, a Mullan Amigo daughter, has previously bred sons to 13,000gns. A second prize winner at the Royal Highland Show, he sold to the Dunlops at Elmscleugh, Dunbar and Steven Renwick’s Craig Douglas flock at Peebles.

Second top of the sale at £40,000 was the reserve male champion from the Royal Highland Show, Douganhill Extra Special, brought out by Brian and David MacTaggart. Sired by Claybury Dazzler, a full brother to Claybury Dunkirk, and out of a ewe by Glenside King II, he was knocked down to the Ingram family at Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Inverurie.

Top call at £52,000 was Midlock Express from the Wight family.

The Ingrams had a successful day themselves, selling pedigree Texels for the first time at Kelso, with their consignment peaking at £32,000. That was for a son of the homebred Logie Durno Braveheart which they had used at home before selling at Builth Wells for £6000.

Out of a ewe by Granite Untouchable this one went to Alex and Russell Gray,

Second best was Douganhill Extra Special at £40,000.

Leading flock averages: Shearlings

Flock Number sold Average

Midlock 12 £6662

Logie Durno 9 £6567

Douganhill 8 £6350

Ettrick 14 £4350

Greenall 10 £2990

Loosebeare 9 £2833

Burnhead 7 £2764 Townhead 13 £2185

Kingledores 3 £1900

Scrogtonhead 28 £1825 Knap 6 £1500

A £32,000 bid secured Logie Durno’s leader.

Langside, Lanark, buying along with father and daughter duo Robin and Caroline Orr for their Halbeath flock at Dunfermline.

Gordon and David Gray were last in ring nine, but it was worth the wait with shearlings from their Ettrick consignment selling up to £17,000. Male champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show, he is a son of the 10,000gns Douganhill Desperado out of a ewe by Usk Vale Albatross. He sold in a four-way split to Angus Kennedy, Mitchellhill, Biggar; Andrew Renwick, Blackhouse, Yarrow; Ian Hunter, Dalchirla, Crieff and David McKerrow and family at Uppermill, Tarves.

Achieving his best price to-date Dougie Fleming, Burnhead, Coulter, sold a shearling by Tatham Hall Class Act out of a ewe by Campsie Van Gough at £14,000 to James Whiteford, Tercrosset, Brampton.

Ettrick’s topper sold at £17,000 for Gordon and David Gray.

From the same pen as the sale topper, Midlock shepherd Brian Gilchrist sold a shearling from his own Dundas flock at £10,000. This was a son of Mitchellhill Actionman out of a ewe by Midlock Yohann and went home with Robert Cockburn, Hill of Errol, Perthshire.

Second best from Gordon and David Gray at £10,000 was one by Claybury Dunkirk, which the Grays bought along with Midlock and Allanfauld two years ago. Out of a daughter of Foyle View Superstar, this second prize winner from Biggar Show sold to N C and C G Hedges, Cinderbank, Staplecross.

The other five-figure seller was one from the Quick family’s Loosebeare flock, Devon. He is a Teiglum Cosmic son out of a ewe by the homebred Loosebeare Saviour and sold at £10,000 to Russell and Gill Watkins, Upper Cwm, Hereford.

Ettrick’s first prize winner from Biggar Show, also by Claybury Dunkirk and out of a gimmer sold at the Select Seven sale for 8000gns, made £9000, to Neil Harvey, Blackadder, Meikle Jackson, Wolfclyde, and Tom Cockburn, Kingside.

Peter and Lynne Gray enjoyed a steady trade for their Scrogtonhead pen of shearlings, topping at £8000 for one by Scrogtonhead Class Act, out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan daughter. He sold to the McArthurs at Nunnerie, Biggar.

Two from John Green’s Greenall flock, from Melrose, hit the £6500 mark. First up was a son of Garngour Awesome, out of a ewe by Strathbogie Wildboy, which sold to Gary and Meinir Howells for the Shadog flock, Llandysul. The other, a Knap Dark Destroyer son, out of a Pant Wolf daughter, sold to crossbred ram breeder Paul Slater, Dandy Farm, Macclesfield.

The Ingrams sold others from Logie Durno, by Logie Durno Braveheart, at £6500, to Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, and £5500, to R Thornton and Sons, Cornhills, Kirk Whelpington.

Best for Iain Minto’s Townhead consignment from Dolphinton was a £6000 bid for a shearling son of Blackadder Albertz. He sold to Thomas Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield. From the same pen another by Albertz sold at £5500 to the McMasters at Springfield, Arran.

Selling at £5000 earlier in the sale was a Douganhill Desperado son from Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Lamington, which went to J Kerr, Denty, Castle Douglas.

Topping the lamb trade at £3800, was one from the Knox family’s Haddo flock at Turriff. A Harestone Eldorado son, out of a ewe by Tophill Wallstreet, he sold to the Davies family for the Canllefaes flock, Penparc.

Second best in the lambs, £3200, was a Seaforde Egyptian Warrior son from Andrew Clark’s Teiglum flock, at Blackhill, Crossford. That one sold to Lewis Forster, West Nubbock, Hexham.

Averages; 621 registered Texel shearling rams, £1486.78 (+£74.06); 101 registered Texel ram lambs, £740 (-£16.70).

Selling at £14,000 was Douglie Fleming’s best from Burnhead.

Second best from Ettrick was this £11,000 shearling.

Brian Gilchrist’s Dundas shealing made £10,000

The Quicks sold this Teiglum Cosmic son at £10,000

Fireball lights up Carlisle

Mike Turner’s Okehall flock lit up the trade at the Solway and Tyne Club Sale, Carlisle, when selling Okehall Fireball at 50,000gns.

This son of Haymount Earth Wind and Fire is out of a homebred dam by Charben Babe Magnet and sold in a four-way split to John Forsyth, Glenside, Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Robert Bennett, Plasucha and Charlie Boden, Sportsmans.

Second best at 32,000gns was one from Donald MacPherson and family, Hexel Fan Club, a Coniston Equinox son out of a dam by Haymount Crackerjack. He heads to Northern Ireland with Gary Beacom, Lakeview.

Then came a 28,000gns call for Haymount Foremost from Jack Arnott. Sired by Rhaeadr Entrepreneur and out of a dam by Plasucha Boss Man he was shared three ways by Keith and Andrew Campbell, Overburns, Bruce Renwick, Castlecairn and Charlotte and James Nicholson, Knockem.

At the same money was Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants from Alan Blackwood. This son of Seaforde Empire King is out of a Sportsmans Double Diamond daughter and sold to Kenny Pratt, Hilltop.

Robbie Wilson then took 25,000gns for Milnbank Freddie, a Harestone Eldorado son out of a dam by Cowal Bucking Bronco. He sold to Keith, Alan and Roy Campbell for the Cowal flock.

Following him at 15,000gns was Midcombe Fireball from Adam Mawson, he’s by Sportsmans Dare Devil and out of a dam by Sportsmans A Star and was bought by Messrs Seed, Auchry, Allan Campbell, Strawfrank and Alan Clark, Garngour.

Close behind at 14,000gns was Hexel Freaky Blinder from Donald MacPherson. This one is another by Rhaeadr Entrepreneur and is out of another

Haymount Crackerjack daughter. Buying him were Jack Arnott, Haymount and James Porter, Saltcotes.

The at 11,000gns was Stephen Teward’s Streatlam Fire Cracker, an Ettrick Earthquake son out of a dam by Sportsmans Double Diamond. This one sold to Myfyr Evans, Rhaeadr.

Also making 11,000gns was Allanfauld Flaming Star from Archie and John MacGregor. This is a Seaforde Egyptian Warrior son out of a dam by Knock Bantastic and carrying a top 25% index. He was taken by the Knox family, Haddo, Alan Clark, Garngour, Allan Campbell, Strawfrank and Messrs Hamilton, Crewburn.

Two then sold at 10,000gns, with the first being Castlecairn Five-Star from Bruce

Mike Turner’s Okehall Fireball topped at 50,000gns.

Renwick. He’s by Bradleys Eubank and is out of a dam by Procters Chumba Wumba and sold to John Lea, Blore View.

Second at this price was Teiglum Fivestar from Andrew Clark. He’s by Seaforde Egyptian Warrior and is out of a dam by Procters Chumba Wumba and sold to Graham Morrison, Deveronvale.

Shearling rams

Topping the shearling trade at 12,000gns was Halbeath Emperor from Robin and Caroline Orr. Sired by Teiglum Crackerjack and out of a Loosebeare Voomer daughter he sold in a two-way split to Messrs Williams, Caron and Messrs Williams, Dragon.

Then at 9000gns was Gordon Gray’s Ettrick Enforcer, a Hope Valley Dazzler son out of a dam by Castlecairn Vital Spark. He sold to Messrs Pawson, Yellow Hill.

The Chave family then took 6000gns for Peacehay Ewe Donkey, a Peacehay Untouchable son out of a dam by Scolton Panther, with this one heading away with Messrs Rottenbury, Somerset.

At 5500gns was Brijon Explosion from Jonathan Watson. He’s by Craig Douglas Crackerjack and out of a dam by Pant Wolf and was shared by Messrs Mallon, County Durham and Messrs Kelsall, Lancashire.

Then selling for 5200gns was Brijon Emperor from the same pen. This Pant Wolf son is out of a dam by Grey Peel Rambo and was bought by Messrs Smith, Hawick.

Whitehart Entertainer from Jim and Nicola Hartwright then took a 4800gns call, with this one being by Loosebeare Chopper and out of a dam by Langside The Gaffer. He was bought by Angela Nairey, Meinspride.

Gimmers

Best of the female trade at 5500gns was a Garngour gimmer from Alan Clark. This was CJN2107644, a Procters Chumba Wumba daughter out of a dam by Knock Yardsman and with a top 25% index. She was the pick of the Davies family for the Teilo flock.

Then making 4500gns was Robert Cockburn’s Knap gimmer, CKP2105713. She’s by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and out of a dam by Mullan Amigo and sold to Craig Campbell, Highfield.

A 4000gns call followed that for one from Gary Beacom’s Lakeview pen, LKV2108140. This Castlecairn Doodlebug daughter is out of a Plasucha All Star dam and sold to Stewart Craft, Fife.

The Riby family then sold one from Stonehills at the same money, with this being RKS2101752. Sired by Craig Douglas Dancer she’s out of a dam by Glanllyn Wallis and was taken by Messrs Raine and Son, Barnard Castle.

Averages; one aged ram £1680, 185 shearling rams £1353.48, 298 ram lambs £1914.63, 39 gimmers £1240.61, 10 ewe lambs £624.75, 29 Courthill females £919.65, nine Galloway and Clantibuies females £511, 42 Crailloch females £691 (Harrison and Hetherington).

SOLWAY AND TYNE CLUB SALE

At 25,000gns was Milnbank Freddie from Robbie Wilson.

Leading the shearlings at 12,000gns was Halbeath Emperor.

Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants sold at 28,000gns too.

Selling at 32,000gns was Hexel Fanclub.

The Arnott family took 28,000gns for Haymount Foremost.

Rhaeadr lamb fires up trade at J36

The lamb, Rhaeadr Fire Power, had stood first and champion in the pre-sale show under judge Charlie Boden, Sportsmans, and is by last year’s Carlisle purchase Sportsmans Enforcer, himself a son of Castlecairn Doodlebug, and is out of a homebred dam by Teiglum Younggun which is full sister to the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best.

Having caught the eye of several ringsiders during the judging this lamb was subject to spirited bidding before being knocked down to Harry Griffies for the Cairngryffe flock, Biggar.

Second best among the ram lambs was a 2400gns call for Teiglum Fletcher from Andrew Clark. Sired by Knock Eastwood and out of a dam by Procters Chumba Wumba, he carries an index in the top 25% of the breed and comes from a successful show family, with his dam having been sixth at Textravaganza last year and his twin sister first at Biggar this year. He sold to Trefor Ryan-Davies for the Bodnant flock, Colwyn Bay.

Following him at 2300gns was the first of a pair of high sellers from David McKerrow and family’s Uppermill flock, Aberdeenshire. This price was paid for Uppermill Fabio, an Ettrick Earthquake son out of a dam by

Knock Banker. Buying him was Procters Farm, Wennington.

And close behind at 2200gns was another from the same home, Uppermill Fernando. This is another by Earthquake and this time out of a dam by Forkins Bugatti. Selling with a top 10% index he found a new home with Harvey Sillis, Edgefield, Norfolk.

Averages; 26 shearling rams £771.35, 86 ram lambs £707.41, 97 gimmers £619.93, 13 ewe lambs £522.58, seven ewes £570 (North West Auctions).

Shearlings to 1600gns at Early NSA Sale

Shearling rams hit a high of 1600gns at the South Wales Club Sale at the Early NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, with 69 sold on a 72% clearance to average £774.18.

Leading the trade was Corras Elmo from the Watkins family, with this Clun Captain I son being out of a Roxburgh Apache daughter. He sold at 1600gns to R A Williams, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire.

Second best at 1400gns was Vale Emmett from M Hughes. This one is by Arkle Drum Major and out of a dam by Tima Web Cam. Selling with an index in the top 25% of the breed he found a new home with K Jones, Dorstone, Hereford.

Then making 1300gns was the best of the day from the Davies family’s Canllefaes flock, Knap East Coast. Sired by Sportsmans Cannon Ball and out of a dam by Strathbogie Wild Boy he was the pick of J Gwilliam, Clun.

Two then sold at 1100gns, with the first of these being Peacehay Ewe Charmer from the Chave family. He’s by Clarks Wizard and out of a dam by the homebred Peacehay Untocuhable. Buying him was T W Jones, Llangunllo.

The other at this price was Corras Ebenezer from the Watkins family. He’s by Corras Cupids Hill and out of a dam by Roxburgh Apache and was knocked down to R W and C S Richards, Craswell.

Averages; 69 shearling rams £774.18, three shearling ewes £770 (Clee Tomkinson and Francis).

A ram lamb from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock set a new sale record when selling for 7500gns at the North West Texel Club sale, J36.

South West Club hits 2100gns at NSA Sale

Phil and Lesley Martyn-Uglow’s shearling ram, Hornacott

Exceptional lived up to his name at the South West Texel Club’s sale at the NSA South West ram sale, Exeter, when taking the championship in the pre-sale show and topping trade at 2100gns.

Sired by Beautry Achilles and out of a dam by Whiteheart Unleashed, this one headed home with the judge, Jack Neale, Cornwall.

Second best of the day at 1300gns was another from the same home, Hornacott Energetic. He’s another by Achilles and is out of a similarly bred dam by Unleashed. He found a new home with Charles Fuggle, Wadhurst, East Sussex.

Following him at 1250gns was Housey Eye Catcher from Emma and Amy Coumbe. This one is a son of Millars Diante out of a dam buy Aman Wele and was taken by T Cole, South Molton, Devon.

Then at 1150gns was the best of the sale from Georgie Helyer, Langford Early Bird. He’s by the homebred Langford Dennis the Menace and is out of a dam by Fordwell Youmzain. He was knocked down to previous buyer Charles Fuggle.

Also at this money was the best from the Chave family’s Peacehay consignment, Peacehay Ewe Genius. Sired by Clarks Wizard, he is out of a dam by Peacehay Untouchable and went home with Martins Farm, Dunkerswell, Devon.

South west club topper Texel Champion Hornacorr Exceptional.

Wollascott tops Shrewsbury

Ashearling ram from Steve and Carolyn Williams’ Wollascott flock led the prices at the Shropshire and Borders Club’s sale, Shrewsbury, at 2250gns.

Top seller was Wollascott Etoile, a Scolton Young Pretender son out of a dam by Coolingel Thor. He went away with A T Turner, Newtown, Powys.

Second best at 2100gns was Cressage Epsilon from Matthew Ellis, with this Walston Carlos son being out of a dam by Kelso Wiseman. He was the pick of the Kirton family, Bewdley.

Average; 110 shearling rams £687 (Kivells).

Averages; 210 shearling rams £753.85, 29 ram lambs £476.48, 51 shearling ewes £376.47, two ewe lambs £273 (Halls).

Ruthin Club Sale reaches 2800gns

Topping the Ruthin Club’s sale at 2800gns was Rhaeadr Flight Control from Myfyr Evans, with this one being a full ET brother to the 160,000gns Lanark topper Rhaeadr First Choice. He’s by Sportmans Dare Devil and out of a dam by Teiglum Younggun. Buying him was George Oare for the Coach House flock, Holywell.

Second best at 2500gns was Kauri Frankie Boy from Nia Ellis. Sired by Charben El Diablo, he is out of a dam by Scholars Cracker Jack. He found a new home with GOP Farm, Rhyl.

Two shearlings traded at 2100gns, with the first one being Caron Ellis from the Williams family. This Mellor Vale Duke son is out of a dam by Durisdeer Valiant. This one headed away with Messrs Williams, Amlwch.

The other at this price was Esmor Evans’ Maerdy Envelope, a Roxburgh Cheeky Chap son out of a dam by Cornmore Yeovil, with this one sold to Gareth Jones, Abergele.

Averages; 122 shearling rams £712.45, 125 ram lambs £509.46, 36 shearling ewes £477.46,four ewe lambs £238.88 (Ruthin Farmers Mart).

Cannon Ball son tops Rathfriland

Northern Irish breeders saw a strong demand at the NITBC’s sale at Rathfriland Farmers CoOp when prices soared to a high of 1900gns for pre-sale judge Stewart Ferris’ champion from the Glenhone pen of Martin McConville.

This was a February-born ram lamb by Sportsmans Cannon Ball, Glenhone First Trust, out of a Tamnamoney bred ewe out of Scotsman Avicii.

Next in line for the cash was young breeder Charlie Trimble with Cherrylea Fargo, a Sportsmans Dare Devil son out of a Strathbogie bred ewe sired by Sportsmans Benchmark.  This ram lamb was reserve champion in the pre-sale show and changed hands for 1700gns.

Topping at 1900gns was Glenhoe First Trust.

Cherrylea leads Dungannon

Young Charlie Trimble’s ram lamb, Cherrylea Fireball, was the high seller a the NITBC’s Dungannon sale when making 2000gns.

Sired by Sportsmans Dare Devil, he is out of a Strathbogie-bred dam by Sportsmans Benchmark and sold to Mark Patterson for the Alderview flock.

Sadlerhead lamb rides to the top at Lanark

Prices peaked at 4000gns for Robert Harvie and Matthew Davies’ ram lamb, Sadlerhead Frank the Tank, a Sportsmans Cannon Ball son from their Coalburn-based flock. Out of a ewe by Teiglum Courteener, he sold to David McKerrow and family’s Uppermill flock at Tarves, Ellon, with Gordon and David Gray taking a half share for their Ettrick flock.

Andrew Neilson’s Brackenridge consignment sold to a top of 2200gns for Brackenridge Fireball, a Claybury Dunkirk son, out of a ewe by Procters Chumba Wumba, which sold to Dougie Fleming, for his Burnhead flock at Coulter.

Champion at the pre-sale show, judged by John Currie, Carlinside, was Garngour Falcon, a Midlock Escobar son, out of a Chumba Wumba daughter, from Alan Clark, Lesmahagow. He sold at 2000gns to the Wights at Midlock, Crawford.

Averages: 107 ram lambs, £625.68, nine shearling rams, £598.50

A steady trade saw more sheep sold and averages up on the year at the Scottish Texel Club sale at Lanark.

Longdin leads Skipton at 7000gns

A new club record was achieved at the Northern Area Club Sale, Skipton, when Peter Longdin’s Wellingly Emperors sold at 7000gns.

This son of the £100,000 Sportsmans Batman is out of a dam by Wellingley Whiskey Galore and sold in a 50:50 split between Cheshire’s Ken Hodge, Greenarch Texels, Mobberley, and John Elliot, Roxburgh, Kelso.

The Longdins followed up with a further sale highlight when hitting second top price of 4800gns with Wellingley Elliott. This time by the Beautry Achilles son, Hornacott

Commander, he is out of a another ewe bred by Whiskey Galore and joined D H Ryder, Otley. Two other Longdin shearling rams made 2000gns and 1800gns, their six-strong consignment selling to an overall average of £3115.

Other keenly sought sheep produced a 3500gns sale for the first prize winner in the texelplus shearling ram show class from East Yorkshire father and son, Jack and Mark Lucas, who run the Fimber flock. Their Fimber Emperor is a son of Rugley

Haddo leads

Thainstone trade

Bonzo and is out of an Ettrick Tartan Special-sired dam. He too was claimed by the Hodge and Elliot partnership,

Averages; shearling rams £1121, ram lambs £476.07, shearling ewes £464, ewe lambs £278.25 (Craven Cattle Marts).

A top call of 2200gns for a shearling ram from the Knox family’s Haddo flock led the trade at the Noth of Scotland Club’s sale, Thainstone.

Haddo Europe is a Hexel Django son out of a dam by Clinterty Yuga Khan and sold with an index in the top 5% of the breed when bought by S and A Hall, Killon.

Next best in the shearlings at 1800gns was Matthew Seed’s Auchry shearling, SED2102565. He’s by Strawfrank C Cest Bon and out of a dam by Boghouse Atlanta and sold to K M Alexander, Auchenbreddie.

Following him at 1600gns was one from J D and M M Leitch, Feolquoy. This was LFJ2100511, a Holtridge Commanche son out

of a dam by Didcot Breezer. He found a new home with W and D Moir, Cairness.

A 1600gns call topped the lamb trade, when the Knox family sold Haddo Ferrari, a Feddal Road Easypeasy son out of a dam by Hexel Born To Be Wild. Taking this one home was A J Rae, Udny.

Averages; 65 shearling rams £836.12, 122 ram lambs £520.80 (Aberdeen and Northern Marts).

Wilodge Ex Factor wins Builth public vote

Shearling ram Wilodge Ex Factor from Paul Tippetts and Christine Williams, Shropshire, was the public’s favourite when taking the day’s top call and setting a new breed centre record at 24,000gns at the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.

Ex Factor is by the £15,000 Teiglum Crackerjack and out of a dam by Claybury Basic Instinct and going back to the 16,000gns Beautry ewe from the English National Sale 2016.

He was well fought for, eventually selling in a three-way split to the Fox family, College, Lanarskhire, Jonathan Watson, Brijon, Northumberland and Michael James, Duhonw, Powys, having stood champion in the pre-sale show.

Next best at 7500gns was Will and Emma Gittoes’ Bryndu Earthquake. This is another by Teiglum Crackerjack and this time out of a dam by Blaencar Bandit and had stood fourth in the pre-sale show. He sold to Russell and Gill Watkins, Millend, Hereford.

Following him at 5800gns was his pen-mate and full ET brother, Bryndu Ezy Ryder. He sold to Eion and Geoff Probert, Mortimers, Worcestershire.

Setting a new breed centre record at 24,000gns was Wilodge Ex Factor from Paul Tippetts and Christine Williams.

Then came a 5200gns call for one from Stephen Abberley’s Old Hemley flock. He’s ABP2110776, a son of Whitehart A Lister and out of a dam by Wayside U Bet. Buying this one was Procters Farm, Lancashire.

Close behind at 5000gns was the best of the day from Michael James’ Duhonw pen in the form of JMU211058, a son of the £29,000 Garngour Awesome and out of a dam by Meinspride Usain. He went home with Gary and Meinir Howells for their Shadog flock, Llandysul.

Then at 4800gns was another from the same home, Duhonw Extrordinaire. Another sired by Whitehart A Lister, he’s out of another Meinspride Usain daughter he was the pick of A J Meredith, Hardwicke, Worcestershire.

Two then sold at 4000gns, with the first being the Creer family’s Coolingel Epic Joe. This Ryders Cotton Eye Joe son is out of a dam by Coolingel Thor. He went home with the Smith family for the Slapton flock, Northamptonshire.

The other at this price was Evan Davies’ Millars Echo. Originally bred by Martin and Cyril Millar, Northern Ireland, this one is by Hexel Diamond Joe and out of a dam by Cowal Yorkshire Lad. Taking him home was D Williams, Abermule, Powys.

A 3800gns bid then secured the topper from Roger and Anthony Williams’ Clun flock. This was Clun Essential, a son of the homebred Clun Athlete out of a dam by Tatham Hall Ur The One. Buying him was Aberystwyth University.

Following that was another at the same price, Scolton Elite from Andrew Reed and family. Sired by Canllefaes Big Boy and out of a dam by Caereinion Ace, he was knocked down Derek Bain.

A 3600gns call followed that for the best from the Quick family’s Loosebeare flock. Taking this price was QEL2111830, a son of the £7000 Loosebeare Boy Wonder out of a dam by Strawfrank Wild Thing. This one sold to the Jones family for the Rowlestone flock, Haverfordwest.

Two shearlings then made 3000gns, with the first coming from Llion Jones’ Pant flock. This was Pant Emperor, a Stonegrove Cowan Dickie son out of a dam by the 17,000gns Pant Wolf and sold to J R Joseph, Llanstephen, Brecon.

Second at this money was Owen Watkins’ Caenantmelyn Emperor, with this one being by Duhonw Celtic Star and out of a dam by Roxburgh Yusef. Buying this one was D W Morley, Clipston, Market Harborough.

Ram Lambs

Best of the ram lambs at 5200gns was the Davies family’s Teilo Fendigedig, a Hope Valley C The Stars son out of a dam by Knap Angus Ogg and the winner of the open ram lamb class and reserve overall championship in the pre-sale show. He was taken by the Chave family for their Peacehay flock, Somerset.

Will and Emma Gittoes sold Bryndu Earthquake for 7500gns, with this one joining the Millend flock.

A full brother to Earthquake, Bryndu Ezy Ryder made 5800gns for the Gittoes family.

Stephen Abberley’s best from his Old Hemley pen sold at 5200gns.

The same flock was also responsible for the next best call of 3800gns with Teilo Fawr, a son of the homebred Teilo Enfawr and out of a dam by Milnbank Wisconsin. He had won the texelplus class in the pre-sale show and was the pick of J S Baillie and Co, Tankerness, Orkney.

Two from Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis then made 3000gns apiece, with the first being UVP2200011. This son of the 38,000gns Cressage Enforcer is out of a Knock-bred dam by Sportsmans Chieftain and sold to the Chave family, Peacehay.

Their second at 3000gns was UVP2200149, a Knock Eagle Eye son out of a dam by Hexel Born To Be Wild. He was bought by the Morgan family, Blaencar, Sennybridge.

The Morgan family then took 1500gns for their best of the day, Blaencar Fonzie, a Knock Yardsman son out of a dam by a Strathbogie sire. Buying him were J J Greenow and Sons, Llanthony, Abergavenny.

A 5000gns led the day for Michael James and family’s Duhonw flock.

Topping the ram lambs at 5200gns was Teilo Fendigedig from the Davies family.

Roger and Anthony Williams sold their best, Clun Essential at 3800gns.

Leading the day for Andrew Reed and family at 3800gns was Scolton Elite.

Teilo Fawr took the day’s second best lamb price of 3800gns.

Paul Rowlands and Will Davis took 3000gns for UVP2200011.

Gimmers

Best of the female trade was a 3800gns call for an Usk Vale gimmer from Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis, UVP2104845. This Haymount Divine King daughter is out of a dam by Hexel Born To Be Wild and sold to Paul James and family, Bridgnorth.

Second top here was a 2150gns call for the reserve female champion from the Vaughan family, Kingspark. This was VFK2101946, a Teiglum Crackerjack daughter out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid. She was the pick of P S Tark, Cwmbran.

Following her were a pair at 1200gns, the first of which was YME2108834, a

MAIN NSA RAM SALE, BUILTH WELLS

Leading the female trade at 3800gns was Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis’ Usk Vale gimmer.

Plasucha All Star daughter from the Morgan family, Blaencar. She is out of a dam by a Strathbogie sire and sold to R C and N A Ellis, Ffordd Rhosemor, Flintshire.

And the other at this level was the female champion from the pre-sale show from Hywel Thomas’ Cennen flock, TCA2100226. She’s by Usk Vale Delight and out of a dam by Knock Yardsman and sold to Messrs Rhys, Caernarfon.

Ewe lambs

James Theyer’s Clanfield flock topped the ewe lambs with a 650gns call for THE2201067. She’s by the 100,000gns Auldhouseburn Expression and out of a dam by Tophill Wall St and sold to R W Phillips, Trawsmawr.

The Draper family then sold their best at 600gns, with this being DHL2202109, a Rhaeadr Explorer daughter out of a dam by Wilodge Bravo. She was bought by J P Whittingham and Son, Raglan.

And the same buyer then paid 580gns for one from James Theyer, THE2201052. She’s another by Auldhouseburn Expression and is out of a Millhouse Crossbow daughter.

Averages; Averages; 89 gimmers £545.06, 17 ewe lambs £392.21, 222 ram lambs £517.24, 545 shearling rams £979.65.

Paul Rowlands and Willy Davis’ second at 3000gns was UVP2200149.

Owen Watkins’

Caenantmelyn Emperor, at 3000gns.

Prime and pedigree go hand in hand at Allanfauld

From the foot of the hill to the top, some 1500 feet above sea level, the MacGregor family’s various breeds of sheep and cattle all have their place on the mixed farming unit at Allanfauld, Kilsyth, and the Texel flock has certainly made its mark within that system, over the past 20 years.

Father and son, Archie and John, run the business alongside their wives, Libby and Bryony, plus shepherd, David Kinloch – helped with enthusiasm by John and Bryony’s three young children, Matthew, Andrew and Catherine.

Farming 2000 acres in all, the breeding sheep flock includes 1200 Blackface ewes, 250 Scotch Mules, 25 Bluefaced Leicesters, 25 Texels and 16 Badgerfaced Texels, while pedigree herds of Charolais, Limousins and Luings, make up the cattle numbers, along with some crossbred cows.

Texels were used successfully on the crossbred ewes before the decision was made to establish a pedigree flock of their own, prompted by then 17 year-old John, back in 2001. He explains: “I grew up surrounded by Blackfaces on the hill and have always loved the character of the breed.

Impressed with the tops and ends on Donald MacPherson’s shearlings at Kelso,

Archie and John began by buying four gimmers and a ewe lamb from his Hexel flock. Later flushed to Castlecairn Hadrian, that ewe lamb went onto breed particularly strong females, including the dam of Allanfauld Limited Edition – the 30,000gns seller at the flock’s Scottish National Sale, Lanark, debut in 2005.

“We had bought a lamb the previous year that hadn’t worked and the Campbells offered us a loan of Ettrick Jackpot. I had really liked him as a lamb, so it was great to get the chance to use him and he certainly bred well for us – to get 30,000gns with the first lamb we had ever sold at Lanark, was an amazing start,” says John.

Other rams that have clicked well with the Allanfauld females over the years include Baltier Nailer, bought for 8000gns in 2007; Garngour Ultimatum, purchased in 2013 for 6000gns and Knap You’re The Man, a joint purchase for 20,000gns in 2016.

“In a similar way, the Texel appealed to me more than any other breed, with its character and versatility. We bought into them initially with the aim of breeding tups for using ourselves and hopefully some to sell too.”

It was a Baltier Nailer daughter that bred Allanfauld Rockafella, which made 18,000gns at Lanark in 2010. He was sired by Livery Predator, another sire used on loan, this time from Bruce Goldie. Meanwhile, a Garngour Ultimatum daughter, crossed with Knap You’re The Man, produced Allanfauld Am The Man, which sold for 24,000gns at Lanark in 2017.

“The Knap tup bred well for us; he kept the frame, but added a bit of class. First and foremost, we’re aiming to breed good commercial sheep, so any stock tups need to have plenty of length, with a good top, square backend, be correct on their legs, while also having character too. But a big, strong head is no use if the rest is not correct,” says John.

In addition to the ram lamb market, Archie and John also sell 12-14 shearlings each year, between Kelso and Stirling. Top to-date has been £8000, for a Knap You’re The Man son in 2020. That year, the pen of eight averaged £2175.

“We aim to breed lambs with the commercial attributes that they can still make a good shearling if they’re not sold as lambs. We want them to be a decent size, but they don’t need to be huge – at the end of the day, the aim is to sell finished lambs at 45kg, you don’t want them getting to 50kg before they’re ready to go,” explains John.

Five years ago, with female numbers at capacity and on the look-out for an outlet to sell gimmers, the family teamed up with a few other breeders and Lawrie and Symington, to establish the Lanark Crackers female sale, now held in December each year.

John MacGregor and wife, Bryony, are assisted by their keen young family, Matthew, Andrew and Catherine.

It got off to a flying start in 2018, with the seven Allanfauld gimmers averaging £2691, selling to a top of 7000gns to Auldhouseburn. The demand for Allanfauld gimmers has continued in the years since, with the consignment peaking at 22,000gns and 12,000gns in 2019 and 10,000gns in 2020.

The 22,000gns and 12,000gns gimmers came from another female line that has been successful for the flock, originating from a ewe that John bought at Dingwall from Ian Farquhar’s Insch flock, after judging the in-lamb sale and placing her champion. A granddaughter of the renowned Knock 34 ewe and sired by Glenside Razzle Dazzle, she was the great-grand dam of those two five-figure gimmers.

“We’ve invested some of that income from the female sales, back into the flock, by buying in a select few females to establish

“Health is very important too and we’re very wary of breathing issues as we’ve bought tups with issues in the past. We try to make sure we’re buying from healthy breeding lines, for the longterm good of our flock, but also the longevity of the breed as a whole. Something all breeders should be conscious of,” he adds.

new lines. These include ones from Knock, Teiglum and Glenside. We want to be able to sell good quality stock gimmers, so in order to do that, we can’t be complacent when it comes to maintaining the quality in the breeding ewes,” says John.

Lambs for this year’s sales came from some of those new lines, with trade peaking at 11,000gns at Carlisle, for Allanfauld Flaming Star, a son of last year’s joint purchase, Seaforde Egyptian Warrior, out of a Teiglum ewe, a daughter of Knock Bantastic which was bought at the Select Seven sale in 2020.

“Because of the amount of flushing and an increase in people wanting to buy lambs off high priced tups, the gene pool is getting very narrow. We try to look for something different, but it’s getting near impossible to do that.

“We do flush a select team of ewes each year and they are then put to the tup, as we want to be sure that our main brood ewes are able to rear a lamb. I wouldn’t like to flush a ewe that wasn’t fit to rear a lamb herself,” adds John.

Lambing is a long and busy period at Allanfauld, starting in February with the Texels, going into March, followed by the Bluefaced Leicesters, Mules and Blackfaces, which finish in May. Homebred Texel rams are used on the Mules to produce prime lambs, which are sold from July, straight off grass through Dunbia and Farmstock.

“Using homebred tups to produce prime lambs, has cemented how important it is to be breeding tups with length and ease of fleshing, particularly over the shoulder. These are traits that can easily be forgotten about when people are chasing the dream of achieving that one big price at a sale,” says John, who was reassured of the high standard within the breed, while judging the inaugural Textravaganza National Show at Carlisle last year.

“That was the strongest show of Texels I had ever seen; there was huge depth of quality in the classes. There’s no more an enjoyable job than judging good quality stock.

“I remain passionate about the breed and confident in its future. We always intended to be in the breed for the long-term and the aim was to breed a flock of sheep that we could be proud of – hopefully we’re getting there!”

Top female seller for the flock to date was XMM1815490 at 22,000gns, with her full sister (below) making 12,000gns.

Every part of our farm system is focused on the commercial market, says David Chestnutt.

Commercial to the core at Clougher

Maintaining a commercial focus is the mantra espoused by most Texel breeders, but doing so can be easier said than done, with the temptation to aim for that elusive Lanark topper an easy trap to fall into.

With no ET work undertaken all lambs are reared naturally, proving the maternal qualities within the breed.

But for Northern Irish breeders Victor and David Chestnutt of the Clougher and Bushmills flocks, that drive for commercial success underpins everything they do across the 500-acre holding with carries both pedigree and commercial sheep, a crossbred dairy herd and pedigree beef cattle.

“The commercial market has always been the focus from the start, with any pedigree sales being a bonus on top. Of course, we’ve enjoyed some great days selling five figure ram lambs, but that is the exception rather than the rule,” explains Victor who was an early adopter of the breed, first starting with Texels in the late 1970s.

With son David now taking the helm, flock numbers currently stand at 70 ewes between the two prefixes, back from about 300 at the peak.

“Ewe numbers have been reduced over the last 15 years as we’ve introduced and built-up dairy cow numbers from nothing to

the 200-cow herd we run now. Increasing numbers of Texel flocks in Northern Ireland made selling tups harder and, ultimately, dairying provides a more stable income stream than sheep production and particularly pedigree breeding. So, to ensure the future viability of the farm we chose to pursue that route,” says David.

“Nowadays we’re selling in the region of 30 tup lambs a year along with 1012 shearling rams too, with no ET work undertaken and AI only done for the management benefits it offers.

“Both of these technologies are great tools, but I can’t help but feel they’re being overused by many within the breed at the detriment of some of the breed’s characteristics and abilities,” adds David.

That’s not to say the family haven’t pursued ET in the past, but only to expand family lines from within the flock. “There is a big trade now in gimmers and ewes solely for flushing and I don’t think that’s doing the breed many favours.”

Indeed, while having previously flushed females the family’s best-selling tups have all been the result of natural matings, with the 18,000gns Clougher Lincoln, the 14,000gns Clougher President and the 8000gns Clougher Irishman all being naturally reared on their dams.

On top of this David says it has been relatively cheap sires which have been behind their best sales. “The sire of Clougher Irishman cost us 250gns, while Clougher President was by a €2100 sire bought in Eire, Ballybrooney Orlando, and out of a dam by the 750gns Haltcliffe Knock On. That tup really stamped his females and left some tremendous flock ewes for us.”

And strong female lines are at the core of the Chestnutts’ breeding policy, with any problem ewes quickly finding themselves heading to the exit. “For us it has to be a commercially viable enterprise and that means keeping costs in check and not carrying any passengers within the flock. A few will get a second chance, but not many do and maintaining strong maternal traits within the flock is paramount in my mind.

“The dams of these have, in some case, been flushed off the back of producing these lambs, but without a doubt the best lambs we’ve bred have all come from natural matings,” he says.

“AI is still used to ensure a tight lambing period and make best use of any tups purchased across as many ewes as possible, but even that is up for question as costs increase and margins are being eroded.”

As David explains, with such a range of enterprises on the farm keeping lambing compact is a major consideration. “We do all our own slurry work in the spring, as well as having bulls to prepare for our own sale each spring, so keeping pedigree lambing tight is essential to easing workloads.”

“Ahead of lambing we aim to leave ewes out for as long as possible. We find ewes

can get too lazy if they’re housed for too long, so keeping them outside helps keep them fit, making for easier lambings and more vigorous lambs. Pre-housing ewes are offered feed blocks to help build colostrum and ensure lamb development.”

After lambing ewes are out to grass as soon as the weather allows, again to cut down on the work and manage costs. “They usually have the option to run back in a shed if the weather is particularly rough, but I think they actually do better if they’re out 24/7. Lambs are offered creep feed to help maximise the genetic potential they hold, while ewes are fed while housed and for a short-time post lambing.

With the family now producing bulls from their pedigree herds on a more natural regime and selling them at their own dedicated sale at Ballymena Mart each spring, there could be a temptation to take a similar route with their Texels. However, David says that the plethora of Texel breeders in Northern Ireland means it makes more sense to stick with producing ram lambs and selling them at the NITBC’s sales throughout the autumn.

The family continue to sell ram lambs due to local customer preference, with just a handful of shearlings sold each year.

“Our bull sale has taken time to build up and we now sell 16-18 bulls every spring between Charolais and Aberdeen-Angus. But buyers have been nervous of bulls which aren’t produced as they’re used to seeing them. Ram buyers are similarly minded and we have to consider that when setting our breeding, feeding and marketing strategies.”

And when it comes to sourcing rams David says he believes it has become harder to find correct rams in recent years, with leg and foot structure something he has concerns over. “I’m looking for fit, mobile tups with good carcasses and skins. These key attributes are what has made the breed as popular as it is and we have to remember this when producing commercial rams.”

Like many Texel breeders the Chestnutts are committed to the future of the breed and both Victor and David cite the social side of the breed as being as bigger attraction as the sheep themselves. “We’ve made many friends and enjoyed many great nights across the UK as a result of breeding Texels. They’re a bit of a drug and it is without a doubt a hard addiction to shake,” adds David, himself a current YDP committee member, while Victor is a former Society chairman.

“Most buyers in Northern Ireland prefer to buy ram lambs, so producing shearlings isn’t that popular and getting them sold as lambs means we have fewer mouths to feed over winter.