Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Sheep Newletter May 2014

DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION May 2014

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MAY FAIR, 2014 Rams met a virtual clearance at the annual Dorset May Fair in Exeter Livestock Centre on Wednesday (May 7) on behalf of the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Association, with six making 2,000gns or more and returning an increased overall average on the year.

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Conducted by Kivells and Husseys, the sale is one of the largest in the UK for commercial early lambing ewes as well as pedigree rams and ewes and it provides a yardstick for the year’s forthcoming breeding sheep sales.

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A relatively mild winter and buoyant trades for all types of prime and cull sheep helped encourage pedigree and commercial breeders to buy on Wednesday.

S E T D I A R Y

The top price of 4,800gns, matching last year’s leading bid, was for a ram lamb from Northern Ireland breeder William Carson, who dominated the leading prices.

The ram sold to former society chairman David Rossiter for his Huish flock in Devon.

Averages for 121 rams sold, an increase of 15 on the 2013 sale, were up by more than £40 a head on last year to £862.74.

Downkillybegs Unique with Richard & David Rossiter & William Carson

“The Dorset May Fair is generally seen as a yardstick for prices in forthcoming breeding sheep sales and with the trade for commercial sheep sales being stronger, this has been reflected in the sale and breeders and buyers have been satisfied with the result,” said society chairman Rob Hole.

“Very few rams left the ring unsold and there were sheep to satisfy breeders seeking the top genetics as well as commercial producers. There were a number of new faces among the buyers, with sheep selling to all four countries of the UK, as well as closer to home,” he added.

The increasing popularity of the versatile breed which can lamb at any time of year is reflected in the society’s number of registered flocks being at its highest for 15 years at 386 and the number of registered poll sheep standing at around 25,000 with 2,500 registered horned ewes.

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Auctioneer Simon Alford, conducting the third May Fair at Exeter for the society, opened the sale on a note of optimism: “Compared with this time last year, the prospects for the sheep industry are good. We are seeing tremendous returns for lamb, hoggs and barren ewes with the prime lamb average this Bank Holiday week as just short of £100 a head.

“Until very recently, we have sold more than half the new season lambs in the country through our centres, this being reflected in the influence of the early lambing Dorset flocks,” he added.

William Carson and his wife Karen, of Whitesides Road, Downkillybegs, Ballymena, Co Antrim, had the best sale in the flock’s 36 year history, both in the leading price and pen average of £2,747.50 for six rams, the latter being the highest average since 2006 with only Richard Currie’s 2013 average close at £2,555 for three rams.

William and Karen Carson with their pen of rams

Leading the sale at 4,800gns was Downkillybegs Unique which carries the Myomax gene and scanned with a record muscle depth of 44.4mm.

The September 2013 born ram lamb is by Myomax ram Ballytaggart Puma which sired last year’s record price female at 950gns at the May Fair, and out of a Downkillybegs ewe.

William took on the running of the Downkillybegs flock founded by his sister Annaleen in 1978 when she went to nursing college 28 years ago and sheep from the flock were first sold at the May Fair in 1998.

Unfortunately, the latest generation of Dorset enthusiasts, the Carson’s six year old son, Cameron, was unable to attend the May Fair this year because he was unwell, but one of his rams sold for 1,200gns.

“The flock’s best average to date was at the 2012 May Fair when we also had our highest price of 4,200gns which also sold to David Rossiter,” said William, who has been secretary of the Northern Ireland Club for 22 years. In the last decade the breed in Northern Ireland has increased in popularity fourfold, said William, currently with around 115 pedigree breeders.

“The Dorset is now my preferred breed and we are increasing flock numbers from 160 to 200 ewes because of the demand from butchers for Dorset prime lamb over other breeds and sales of commercial and breeders’ rams,” said William.

The flock, the main portion of which lambs in September, has been Signet recorded for three years and the Myomax muscling gene has been introduced to the bloodlines, both of which have helped generate extra interest from pedigree breeders, William believes.

After purchasing the ram, David Rossiter who farms with his son Richard at Burton, Galmpton, Kingsbridge, said the ram’s sire had caught his eye when it was sold in Northern Ireland and since then William had had it tested for the Myomax gene.

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“A ram is half the flock and quality is never expensive. This ram is in the top 1% for EBV and as well as its high muscle score and terminal sire index it has a maternal index of 249 and a plus for litter size. If the figures are right, it still has to be a very correct sheep which this is,” said Mr Rossiter, who runs 440 pedigree Dorsets alongside 860 commercial ewes.

The overall champion at the previous day’s show judged by Mrs Doreen Price assisted by Rowland Davies, was also from Downkillybegs and it made the sale’s second top price of 3,500gns to father and son Jim and Joe Dufosee, who run 300 Dorset ewes in their Blackhill flock, 50 of which are horned and the remainder polls, at Farnicombe Farm, Upper Scudamore, Warminster, Wiltshire.

Downkillybegs Ultimate with Karen Carson, Mrs Doreen Price, President, and Georgie Radmore from Dalehead Foods

The lamb Downkillybegs Ultimate is by another Myomax sire Downkillybegs Tic Tac, the twin brother to the highest muscle EBV ram of the 2013 generation and the Carsons’ second highest terminal sire with an EBV of 444 points.

The joint next highest price of 2,600 gns also went to the Carsons - another Puma son Downkillybegs Ultimo selling to Thornbank Farm, Gosforth, Seascale, Cumbria.

Keen to purchase rams with good figures, Brian Muncaster and Cathryn Pritt were underbidders on the top priced ram lamb. Ultimo had a muscle depth of 40.4mm at scanning and is full brother to last year’s reserve overall female champion.

The second Downkillybegs ram to make 2,600gns, Ultracool, by Oliver Tree Nik Nak, sire of TicTac, sold to MB Jones Farms, Corntown, Bridgend, Glamorgan.

He won the top performance recorded ram award in the Signet Sheepbreeder Scheme and has an EBV muscle depth of 5.06.

Another Northern Ireland breeder, Ben Lamb, sold the next highest priced ram at 2,300gns to breed society chairman Rob Hole, who runs 430 pedigree Dorsets in the Sherborne flock with his father Richard at Hill Street Farm, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset in the heart of dairying country in the Blackmore Vale.

“I saw the ram’s sire in Northern Ireland last year and liked him. The lamb is very correct and handles well,” said Rob. Robert Hole with Richhill Ucal

Richhill Ucal by Downkillybegs Pegasus, another Nik Nak son, also sired last year’s overall champion for Ben Lamb. This was only his second year selling poll sheep at the fair. He runs 3

60 poll ewes and 20 horned ewes in his Richhill flock at Lime Tree Farm, Richhill, Co Armagh.

Closer to home, Tom Clarke, of Paddocks Cottage, Nymet Tracey, Bow, Crediton, Devon, had a successful pen from his 75 ewe flock, with six out of seven lots sold making more than 1,000gns to a top of 2,000gns for Manor Croft Utopia.

The ram sold to J and C Robson, Burn Road, Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

Tom Clarke with Manor Croft Utopia

Mr Clarke also had the top price female at 700gns, the shearling Manor Croft Temptress by Rossiz Kanye West, a breed and interbreed show champion, out of a home bred ewe. She sold to Windrush Farming Partners, Cold Aston, Bourton on the Water, Cheltenam, Gloucestershire.

Tom also topped the sale of penned females when his five ewe lamb were awarded Reserve Champion pen and sold for ÂŁ300 to MD & JMF Morris of Isle of Wight.

The champion pen of females came from father and son team David and Mark Thomas who run the Treguddick flock at South Petherwin, Launceston, Cornwall and are celebrating their 50th year of regular breeding. Their pen of five hoggets achieved ÂŁ270 apiece again to Windrush Farming Partners.

Leading ram prices: (lot 70) 4,800gns from William and Karen Carson, Whitesides Road, Downkillybegs, Ballymena, Co Antrim, to David Rossiter, Burton, Galmpton, Kingsbridge, Devon. (lot 69) 3,500gns from William and Karen Carson, to Jim and Joe Dufosee, Farnicombe Farm, Upper Scudamore, Warminster, Wiltshire. (lot 71) 2,600gns from William and Karen Carson, to Thornbank Farm, Gosforth, Seascale, Cumbria. (lot 74) 2,600gns from William and Karen Carson, to MB Jones Farms, Corntown, Bridgend, Glamorgan. (lot 126) 2,300gns from Ben Lamb, Lime Tree Farm, Richhill, Co Armagh, to R&R Hole, Hill Street Farm, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset. (lot 116) 2,000gns from Tom Clarke, Paddocks Cottage, Nymet Tracey, Bow, Crediton, Devon to J and C Robson, Burn Road, Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. (lot 114) 1,900gns from Tom Clarke to Hodgson Farming, Wasdale Head Farm, Wasdale Head, Seascale, Cumbria.

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(lot 145) 1800gns from J & C Robson, 75 Burn Road, NI, to W L French, Higher Scarsick, Treneglos, Launceston, Cornwall . (lot 28) 1,500gns from G Henderson, Old Mill Cottage, to H Tickler, Kelby Lodge, Grantham, Lincolnshire. (lot 80) 1,500gns from DW Rossiter, Burton Farm, to J Larder, Walden Acres, Sandford, Somerset. (lot 137) 1,400gns from TG Wright, Kilraughts Road, to D Lewis, Llangathwen, Narberth, Pembrokeshire. (lot 136) 1,300gns from TG Wright, Kilraughts Road, to A Palk, Stantor Barton Farm, Marldon, Paignton, Devon. (lot 75) 1,200gns from C Carson, Whiteside Road, to Lutton Farms, Stepleaze, Steeple, Wareham, Dorset. (lot 158) 1,200gns from D Lewis, Llanwathen, to W Brock, Yendacott Manor, Shorbrook, Crediton, Devon. (lot 128) 1,200gns from B Lamb, Lime Tree Farm, to R Martin, Sunny View Farm, Talaton, Exeter, Devon. (lot 81) 1,200gns from DW Rossiter to Marston St Law, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Averages: Ewe lambs to £472.50, average £170.08; ewe hoggs to £735.00, average £173.55; rams to £5,040.00, average £862.74.

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MAY FAIR SHOW RESULTS, 2014 Class 1 – Best Ewe Lamb

Class 2 – Best Shearling Ewe

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

187 177 193 173 183

Mr T Clarke W & K Carson Mr D Lewis Mr J Dufosee R & R Hole

Tom Clarke with Manor Croft Utah, U665 and Doreen Price, President

185 182 186 175 199

Mr T Clarke R & R Hole Mr T Clarke Mr J Dufosee Lovejoy Farm Partnership

Champion Female Tom Clarke with Manor Croft Temptress, T401 and Doreen Price, President

Robert Hole with Reserve Champion Female R & R Hole’s Sherborne Tangerine, T1456

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Special Class – Signet Class

Class 3 – Best Pair of Ram Lambs

1st 2nd 3rd

74 103 70

W & K Carson R & R Hole W & K Carson

1st 2nd 3rd

126, 128 113, 117 27, 28

4th 5th

24 84

Fooks Bros.

D W Rossiter

4th 5th

91, 92 105,109

Karen Carson with Downkillybegs Ultra Cool, U104 and Sam Boon from EBLEX

Mr B Lamb Mr T Clarke G&G Henderson Mr R Hill R & R Hole

Ben Lamb (left) with Richhill Ucal, U397 and Uzi, U396, Simon Dunk, Osmonds, and Doreen Price, President

Class 4 – Best Single Horn Ram Lamb

Class 5 – Best Single Poll Ram Lamb

1st 2nd 3rd

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

26 102 129

Fooks Bros.

G, M & S Wright Mr B Lamb

Francis Fooks with Poorton Utopia, U145, Sam Vigus, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Doreen Price, President

69 38 114 145 89

W & K Carson A & C Kingdon Mr T Clarke J & C Robson D W Rossiter

Champion Male Exhibit Karen Carson with Downkillybegs Ultimate, U12 Doreen Price, President, and Georgie Radmore, Dalehead Foods 7

Class 6 – Best Group of Three Rams

Class 7 – Best Shearling Horn Ram

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

111, 112, 116 107, 108, 110 33, 34, 36 95, 96, 100

Mr T Clarke R & R Hole Mr M Hayman Mr J Dufosee

Reserve Champion Male Exhibit Tom Clarke (left) with Manor Croft Universe, U630, Ultra, U646, and Utopia, U611, Gareth Jones, British Wool Marketing Board, and Doreen Price, President

18 25 19 164

Mr S Driver Fooks Bros.

Mr S Driver Mr A Dufosee

Best Horn Exhibit Sam Driver with Sandy Lane Titanium, T1088, Simon Dunk, Osmonds and Doreen Price, President

Class 8 – Best Shearling Poll Ram

Class 9 – Best Pair of Shearling Rams

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

158 17 159 78 141

Mr D Lewis Mr S Driver Mr D Lewis Mr N Burrington Mr A D Johnson

David Lewis with Pembroke Texax Jack, T153 Georgie Radmore, Dalehead Foods and Doreen Price, President

23, 24 57, 58 151, 152 150, 154 13, 14

Fooks Bros.

V P, M & A Care W L French W L French J B May & Son

Francis Fooks (left) with Poorton Tik-Tok, T743 & Triumph, T909 and Doreen Price, President 8

Best Pen of 5 or more Rams Mr T Clarke, Manor Croft

Special Class - Progeny Group of Three 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

158, 159, 191 111, 112, 188 96, 100, 175 33, 34, 201A

Mr D Lewis Mr T Clarke Mr J Dufosee Mr M Hayman

Class 10 – Best Pen of 5 Ewes 1st 2nd 3rd

234 231 336

P W Baker & Son Mr T Clarke R M & J E Brown

Class 11 – Best Pen of 5 Hoggets

Class 12 – Best Pen of 5 Ewe Lambs

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

D J Thomas & Son P W Baker & Son Fooks Bros.

Mr A Dufosee J B May & Son

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

250 237 243 242 241

Champion Pen: Reserve Champion Pen:

208 250

D J Thomas & Son Mr T Clarke

208 225 276 222 229

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Mr T Clarke Mr & Mrs R Sizmur Mr M Hayman R & R Hole Mr J Larder

2014 MAY FAIR PRINCIPAL EWE AND RAM PRICES AV PRICE £

TOP PRICE £

2747.50 1136.62 1597.50 1312.50 1102.50 994.00 1115.62 787.50 627.00 1050.00 690.00 647.50 514.50 640.50 551.25 595.00 577.50 525.00 504.00 551.25 441.00 404.25 420.00 399.00 367.50

5040.00 2415.00 2100.00 1890.00 1575.00 1575.00 1470.00 1207.50 1102.50 1050.00 945.00 787.50 735.00 714.00 682.50 630.00 630.00 630.00 630.00 577.50 441.00 441.00 420.00 420.00 367.50

MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN

3 av 4 av 4 av 3 av 3 av 3 av 7 avq 2 av 2 av

987.00 879.37 787.50 717.50 724.50 647.50 490.50 693.00 446.25 441.00 420.00

1260.00 1050.00 1050.00 997.50 840.00 787.50 756.00 735.00 525.00 441.00 420.00

MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

2 av

404.25 441.00

472.50 441.00

MVA MVA

Ram Lambs W & K Carson Mr B Lamb Mr T Clarke J & C Robson Gary & Gareth Henderson D W Rossiter Mr T Wright A & C Kingdon Mr J Dufosee Mr R Currie R & R Hole Mr S Mullan Mr & Mrs R Sizmur Mr R Hill S & S Lyons Caldwell Bros.

G, M & S Wright T & S Knox Mr M Hayman Mr D Lewis Fooks Bros.

Windrush Farming Partners Mr A D Johnson Mr J Larder Master C Carson

6 av 4 av 7 av 2 av 2 av 6 av 4 av 6 av 7 av 2 av 7 av 3 av 5 av 3 av 2 av 3 av 2 av 3 av 4 av 2 av 2 av 3 av

Shearling Rams Mr D Lewis V P, M & A Care Fooks Bros.

Mr E Pocock Mr S Driver Mr N J Burrington W L French J B May & Son G & E Jones Mr A Dufosee Mr M Hayman Single Ewe Lambs Mr T Clarke J B May & Son

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AV PRICE £

TOP PRICE £

2 av

315.00 315.00 210.00 210.00 210.00

315.00 315.00 210.00 210.00 210.00

MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA

2 av

588.00 399.00 315.00 231.00 210.00 189.00

735.00 399.00 336.00 231.00 210.00 189.00

MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA

Single Ewe Lambs (Ctd.) Mr J Dufosee Mr D Lewis Master C Carson W & K Carson R & R Hole Single Shearling Ewes Mr T Clarke R & R Hole Mr J Dufosee J B May & Son Mr D Lewis Lovejoy Farm Partnership

2 av 2 av

PENS Registered Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Ewe Hoggets £ D J Thomas & Son P 135 – 270 6 pens Fooks Bros.

P 185 – 235 4 pens A & C Kingdon P 175 – 230 5 pens W L French P 155 – 225 7 pens Mr T Clarke P 185 1 pen J B May & Son P 182 1 pen S & D Cole P 155 – 180 7 pens P W Baker & Son P 170 2 pens Mr A Dufosee H 135 – 158 3 pens M J Freegard P 148 – 155 5 pens R M & J E Brown P 140 1 pen Mr P J Scott P 105 – 135 3 pens Mrs S Britton P 135 1 pen Miss C L Moorhouse H 130 1 pen Mr M Hayman P 124 – 125 2 pens Mr D Lewis P 95 – 125 2 pens R D & D E Huxter P 122 1 pen R M Eglin & Son Ltd. P 95 – 100 2 pens

Mr T Clarke P W Baker & Son Mr M Hayman R M & J E Brown

Registered Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Ewes £ H&P 145 – 175 2 pens P 150 1 pen P 112 – 120 2 pens P 78 – 110 3 pens

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MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

MVA MVA MVA

Registered Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Ewe Lambs £ Mr T Clarke P 130 – 300 6 pens R & R Hole P 200 1 pen Mr & Mrs R Sizmur P 188 – 200 3 pens Mr J Larder P 182 1 pen Mr J Dufosee H 165 1 pen Mr M Hayman P 135 – 150 3 pens Mr R Dallyn P 118 – 130 2 pens Mr D Lewis P 125 1 pen Miss C L Moorhouse H 110 1 pen R D & D E Huxter P 95 1 pen G & E Jones P 85 1 pen Registered Poll Dorset Couples £ P 175 – 200

G & E Jone

3 pens

MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

MVA

WORCESTER SALE SATURDAY, 12TH JULY, 2014 As with May Fair, the Worcester entry forms are only being posted to members who have sold at the sale over the past five or six years. If you are on e-mail they will be e-mailed to you. They will also be available to download off the website if you have access to this. If you would like to receive entry forms for the Worcester sale by post please ring the office.

ENTRIES CLOSE 12 NOON, THURSDAY, 12TH JUNE

2014 FLOCK COMPETITION You will find the entry forms for the 2014 flock competition attached/enclosed with this mailing and again they are available to download off the website.

The judges, Matthew and Adam Care are planning carrying out the judging in late July/August (exact dates to be confirmed).

Do please try and support the competition – it will be well worth the effort

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 4th JULY DISCLAIMER

DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION

The Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Sheep Breeder’s Association produce this newsletter in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained therein.

Agriculture House, Acland Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1EF Tel/Fax: 01305 262126 e-mail: dorsetsheep@xlnmail.com website: www.dorsetsheep.org Breed Secretary: Marguerite Cowley 12