7,000gns top for Charollais rams at Worcester

The depressed lamb trade certainly did not deter buyers at last weekend’s (4 July) buoyant Charollais ram sale at Worcester, with trade on par with last year and a sale high of 7,000gns.

Auctiooneer Clive Roads of McCartney’s said buyers were looking for well-grown tups with plenty of shape and muscle.

Leading trade was previous Farmers Weekly Award winners the Ingram family from Aberdeenshire with a shearling ram, Logie Durno Olympian. His sire was Crogham Lambert out of a Rockvilla Golden Promise ewe with a strong record of top-priced progeny.

The ram was reserve shearling ram in the pre-sale show classes and was knocked down to renowned Limousin cattle breeder, Michael Alford from Foxhill Farm, Devon. Between the two flocks; Logie Durno and Loanhead the Ingrams achieved seven out of 10 of the top shearling ram prices.

In the show classes the champion and reserve tickets went to Myfyr Evans from Llanrhaeadr, Denbigh. His powerful ram lamb, Rhaeadr Prospect took the championship ticket and sold for 4,000gns to McConnell Bros from Co Antrim in Northern Ireland. His sire was Wernfawr Neo out of a Parkgate Hurricane ewe.

The reserve award was also from the Rhaeadr flock, this time a shearling ram Rhaeadr Orlando, also by Wernfawr Neo and out of a Parkgate Hurricane ewe. The Ingrams went to 5,500gns to secure his services.

Top-price ram lamb went to the aptly named Logie Durno Perfection; an embryo transfer lamb by Logie Durno Officer out of a Logie Durno Jackpot ewe. This lamb was highly fleshed with excellent performance results for muscle depth and growth. Buyer for him was Robert Whittaker from the Hundalee Flock in Jedburgh.

Two breeders who had highly successful days were from each end of the age. Representing the youth was Abbie Mosley from Knockin, near Oswestry who could hardly contain her delight when her great pen of lambs peaked at 4,400gns for Knockin Pucker Up. This son of Rainbow Lindisfarne out of Knockin Lulu, a prolific show winner by Arjane Jumanji, was the choice of Myfyr Evans.

Long time Charollais breeder, Lionel Organ from Llandysul attracted a top bid of 4,000gns for his huge ram lamb, Tymaen Poundstretcher. This lamb weighed 83kgs at 147 days with a 35.3mm eye muscle, which put him in the top 5% of the breed. Splitting the cost was John Andrew from Ayrshire together with the Ingrams.

Another young breeder was investing in some top bloodlines, George Eves from the Terracotta Flock, near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire went to 2,900gns for Logie Durno Powerpacker; a son of Logie Durno Officer.

Rhaeadr Prince from Myfyr Evans was sold for 2,800 gns to Justin Evans from St Andrews, Glamorgan from his Sant Andras Flock; another Wernfawr Neo son; this time out of a BallyhibbenKracker ewe. Not far behind from the same pen at 2,500 gns was Rhaeadr Paddy Power which sold to Aled Shenton from Gwynedd for his Ardudwy Flock.

Mrs Jennifer Curtis from Evesham, Worcs saw the highest recorded ram lamb from her Elmwick Flock knocked down for 2,300 gns to John Davies from Stock on Trent.
His sire was Elmwick Mr McGregor and had a 3rd prize card in the classes.

Averages : Shearling rams (37), £1,136.88; ram lambs (118), £986.82. (McCartneys)