Texel breeders in the market for in-lamb females moved up a gear at last weekend’s Christmas Cracker sale at Carlisle when entries from six flocks produced a good trade for most vendors with the day’s top of 7500gns paid for a smart gimmer from John Forsyth’s Glenside pen.
The bid, from Falkirk breeder A Beaton, Slamannan, helped lift this Ayrshire-based flock’s average to £1051 for 28 gimmers sold.
His choice was a gimmer by the successful tup Castlecairn Keltic Star – already the sire of lambs to 36,000gns and whose progeny have made a big impact in the show ring. The ARR/ARR gimmer was in-lamb to the Claybury Midlander son Claybury Nimrod.
Glenside also earned 3500gns from Mrs L Daff, Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire who took a gimmer by the 44,000gns ram Watchknowe Lanark Cracker and in-lamb to Keltic Star.
A gimmer bred in the Auchencairn flock but consigned by T MacTaggart’s Rascarrel flock at Castle Douglas realised 3400gns. This daughter of Douganhill King is in-lamb to Hull House Northern Light.
Flock averages: Haddo – 15 gimmers £608; Rascarrel – seven gimmers £1005; Tophill – seven gimmers £445; Muiresk – 13 gimmers £352; Glenside 28 gimmers £1051; Knock – 17 gimmers £935. (Harrison and Hetherington).