Full Carlisle Texel female sale report

The exceptional trade for in-lamb Texel ewes soared to another level at Carlisle last Friday when a new UK record was set for a Texel female at 20,000gns on a day that saw two sales for the breed, the Christmas Cracker sale and the Solway and Tyne Texel Breeders Club sale.

Christmas Cracker females

And, tellingly, it was record breaking bloodlines which combined to form an irresistable package offered by Jimmy Douglas from his Cairness flock. His sale topper, and the first lot through the ring in the Christmas Cracker sale of Texels was a daughter of the previous female record holder, a 19,000gns Glenside ewe.

Sired by Clola Marksman, a Tima Look At Me son and out of the 19,000gns dam by Turin Fantastic, this shearling ewe has lines back to Muiresk Blondin and is maternal sister to tups which have sold at 21,000gns, 15,000gns and 9000gns. She was offered in lamb to this year's world record priced sheep, Texel tup Deveronvale Perfection. Buying this remarkable combination of the breed's highest priced genetics was one of the breed's biggest spenders of recent years Malcolm Reid, for his Kelso flock.

Next best on the night was a 12,000gns sale for the top offering of the day from Albert and George Howie's Knock flock, Peterhead. This was a Garngour Nobleman daughter out of a dam by Anglezarke Krug. Embryo transfer bred this one goes bacl to Muiresk Heir Apparent and sold in lamb to Tophill Knockout, a Straidarran Maverick son. He was bought by Procters Farm, Clitheroe.

And the next highest priced lot of the night at 6500gns also joined the load home to Procters under the watchful eye of flock manager Jeff Aitken. This one was also from Knock and was by Garngour Nobleman and out of a dam by Castlecairn I.O.U. This full sister to 10,000gns tup Knock Osprey was also ET bred and goes back to Craighead Crackerjack. She sold in lamb to Garngour Playboy.

Another from Knock took the fourth highest call of the night when a full ET sister to the 12,000gns shearling sold to Brian MacTaggart, Douganhill Farms, Castle Douglas. This full sister to 20,000gns Knock Oregano, sold carrying lambs to Garngour Playboy at 4800gns.

Then at 4200gns was the top call for a shearling from John Forsyth's Glenside flock, Maybole. This money was given for a daughter of Midlock Nimrod out of a dam by Claybury Invader and going back to Muiresk Blondin. She sold in lamb to 4500gns sire Knock Prestige and was bought by Robert Wallace, Ballantrae.

Selling at 3600gns was one from Joe Houghton's Tophill flock. This Ettrick Mighty Mouse daughter is out of a dam by Haddon Knoxie and goes back to Garngour Elite and Brague Account. She was carrying lambs to 14,000gns tup Clougher President and was snapped up by Robert Forsyth for his Baltier flock.

A brace then sold at 3200gns, both from the Howie's Knock flock. The first was a Garngour Nobleman daughter out of a dam by Milnbank Hitman and going back to Glenside Eurostar. She sold to Messrs Christie, West Carse, Stirling, as foundation for a new flock.

The other transaction at this level was for a Tophill Nockout daughter out of a dam by Glenside Loneranger and going back to Craighead Crackerjack. She sold in lamb to Garngour Playboy and was bought by Joe Houghton for his Tophill flock.

Averages; 104 shearling ewes £1458.83 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Solway and Tyne Sale

Prices in the Solway and Tyne Breeders Club sale were a little more subdued than those later in the day, with trade peaking at 1400gns for shearling ewe from the Claybury flock. This Garngour Keltic Star daughter is out of a dam by Haddo Kenny and goes back to Muiresk Forever. She sold in lamb to Millar's Olympian to A Jones, Denbigh.

Then at 1200gns was another from Claybury, this was a Garngour Nijinsky daughter out of a dam by Haddo Igniter and going back to Annan Born Free. She sold having been AI'd to Cambwell President Obama and was bought by D A Towell, Glusburn, West Yorkshire.

Selling at 1000gns was yet another from Claybury and another Nijinsky daughter. A shearling out of a Humestown Juniper sired dam, this one goes back to Glenside Drum Major and was sold carrying lambs to Millar's Olympian. she was taken home by W N Douglas, Yarrow, Selkirk.

Averages; 14 aged ewes £245.25, 59 shearling ewes £431.21, 10 ewes lambs £288.75 (Harrison and Hetherington).