Record prices set at Thame Sheep Fair
Tremendous trade for shearling ewes saw several new record prices set for commercial ewes at Thame Sheep Fair last week.
According too auctioneers prices were up in all sections on the year, with over 22,000 sheep grossing £2.6million.
Auctioneer Simon Draper of Thame Farmers Mart, said trade was noticeable sharper for shearlings, with prices leveling at £150.70 – up some £22 on the year.
“That’s [as a result] of a combination of things, such as the quality of sheep forward and the condition of the sheep and a bit of confidence in the sheep industry compared to the cattle industry,” he added.
Strongest price of the sale and setting a new record in the commercial section at £300/apiece was Peter Elkington, Herefordshire, with a pen of Beltex cross. Buyer was Pilkington Farmers, Hartington, Derbyshire.
Setting a new record for Scotch Half Bred ewes at £220 apiece was Garfield Stephens, Melton Mowbray. Buyer was Burtree Farm, Sessay, Thirsk.
In the Suffolk cross Mule shearling section a new record of £215 was set by Eddy Bullman, Buckingham, who smashed his previous record of £205. Buyer was GD Swerling and Sons, Chalfont, St Giles.
Topping the section for Texel shearlings at £275/head was Master T Tustain.
The biggest entry of the day was North of England Mules, with 6,539 gimmer ewes selling to a top of £202 for Richard Haynes, Winslow. Purchaser was Horton and Co Livestock, Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Ram trade was strong too and the best here was £790 for a Beltex shearling from A and R Livestock, Cheltenham, when selling to F and FM Stamper, Huntington, Cambridgeshire.
Next best at £660 was a Charollais shearling at £660 from C Hawes and Son, Chesterton, Oxfordshire. Buyer was Napper Farm Services, West Hagbourne, Oxfordshire. These were followed by Texel shearlings at £655, from the Warnock Family, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent. Purchaser of this lot was GD Swerling and Sons, St Giles. Meanwhile Suffolk ram lambs topped £410 for a consignment from MJ and JA Pinny, Holcot. Buyer was SJ Helliwell, Wooton, Beds.
Strong trade continued in the ewe lamb section, with an average of £104 apiece for just 250 sold. Topping trade in this section was Angela Tarry-Smith, from Brackley, Northhamptonshire, when selling to Mr Emmett, Stoke Ferry, Norfolk.
The sale also hosted the Midland Beltex Club’s annual show and sale. Messrs VJ and ML Roots, Southam, Warwickshire, produced the top call for females when they sold their pedigree gimmer for £450 to an undisclosed buyer.
Averages: 1,016 Texel cross ewes, £153.96 (up £10); 173 Scotch Half Bred ewes, £188.86 (up £55.28); 374 Cheviots, £148.35 (up £8.35); 382 Beltex cross ewes, £173.34 (up £32.26); 363 Lleyns, £132.95 (up £26.95); 4,441 Suffolk cross Mules, £150.96 (up £21.32); 6,539 North of England Mules, £142.55 (up £11.44).
(Thame Farmers Mart)