A new centre record of £11,000 was paid for a Blue faced Leicester gimmer hogg at Hawes today (Saturday). The North Yorkshire market saw a keen trade at the breed association’s annual sale of females but it was a gimmer from the flock of noted breeders Messrs Lord, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria that topped the day and achieved the new mart record.
The hogg (pictured above), by a Hewgill sire, heads for Northern Ireland with joint buyers S Laverty and R Loughridge, Co Antrim. She stood champion under judge Richard Thomas from Powys. The Lord family had a great day also selling at £7500, £5400 and £4600.
A gimmer shearling by a Smearsett tup and consigned by the Booth family from Feizor, Austwick, Lancaster stood reserve champion and made £5000 (pictured below) to A and K Pye, Lancaster. She was scanned in-lamb for triplets to a Smearsett sire. The flock’s best gimmer hogg realised £2700.
Ripon, north Yorkshire breeders E Fairburn and Sons sold a gimmer hogg at £3200 and one from Dales-based flock owners W C Porter and Son, Richmond achieved a best of £3200.
A 2008-bred ewe from P Ewbank, High Draymans topped a sale of “crowned” Swaledale ewes at the breed association’s show and sale at Hawes making £3200 (below). She stood champion under judges R Harker, Gayle and B Thomas, Horton in Ribblesdale and was bought by RMS Livestock, Castle Bolton.
The reserve championship went to a gimmer shearling from M Skidmore, Wolf Cleugh. It made £1800 to D Hanson, Whitby. Gimmer hoggs peaked at £2500 for an entry from P Hallam, Arnfield Farm and bought by I Collinson, Bishop Auckland.
Blue faced Leicester – 74 sheep averaged £1425 (up £192 on 2011); gimmer hoggs £1528; gimmer shearlings £1780; ewes £507.
Swaledale – 26 sheep averaged £991 (up £206 on 2011); ewes £1233; gimmer shearlings £882; gimmer hoggs £828.
(Hawes Auction Mart).
