70,000gns call tops careful Suffolk trade
Suffolk ram lambs met a measured trade at last weekend’s Northern Area sale, Edinburgh, despite a 70,000gns call for the show champion.
There were few high-index lambs to tempt breeders following the figures and some were content to leave empty-handed.
Just 183 rams found new homes and the average slipped £41 on the year.
The day’s top lamb was a heavy-fronted entry by Cairness First Flight and out of a homebred ewe by Rhaeadr Rolls Royce.
From Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock, he had stood reserve breed champion at the Royal Highland Show and now joins Tom Bailey’s Glenho flock.
Five Rhaeadr lambs averaged over 17, 200.
Buyers had to wait more than 200 lots for the next big price, a 22,000gns lamb from Henry Stuart and Sons’ Davishill flock in Aberdeenshire.
Selling to Robin Irwin’s Kings flock at Kings Nympton, Devon, this lamb was by Conveth High Flyer and out of a ewe by Glenho Miles Apart.
Charles Proctor paid 14,000gns for a stylish lamb from Robbie Wilson’s Strathisla flock, by the Strathisla-bred sire Shirocco and out of a ewe bred in the late Gordon Wilson’s Glenisla flock.
There was a flurry of sales at 10,000gns.
First was a lamb from Iain Barbour’s Solwaybank flock, sold to Eire breeders Gerry Kinniln and Trevor Brooks, Co Gallway.
By the homebred tup Solwaybank Ranger, this lamb goes back to noted sire Muiresk Powerpacker.
A 10,000gns bid from Ron Black claimed a lamb for his Collesie flock from Neil Benzie (Meikelson).
This tup was by Glenhead the Geezer.
Mr Benzie also took 9000gns for another by Glenhead Glint O Gold, selling to Robyn Hulme’s Crosemanor flock.
Another at 10,000gns was George Stuart’s lamb by Plasllewelyn Pure Genius, himself an 11,000gns Edinburgh purchase.
This lamb’s breeding included Glenho Solid Gold and he joins Joe Stewart’s 60-ewe Gransha flock in Co Down.
The sale’s last five-figure call came for Jimmy Douglas’ Cairness lamb which made 10,000gns to Mr Barbour, Judith Barbour (Ewebank flock) and Angus Wilson (Glenhead).
The pick of the Cairness pen, this lamb was by 1994-born Stockton Stardust and out of a ewe by Muiresk Rainbow Quest.
Other leading bids included 9000gns for another of Robbie Wilson’s which went to George Stuart, while Hanly Bros of Co Tipperary called 9000gns again for the best from Stephen Buckley’s Sitlow flock.
Messrs Weaver and Griffiths took an 8000gns lamb from Harry Stewart’s Castlewellan flock and Angus Wilson (Glenhead) achieved a 7000gns sale to the Campbell family’s Thrunton flock. Four other lambs made 5000gns or more.
Average: 183 head – £2522. (John Swan)