Breeding sheep sell to £1,500 twice at Bentham

Breeding sheep sold to £1,500 twice at Bentham’s annual multi-Breed show and sale.

John and Jean Bradley claimed the Dalesbred and Swaledale championships, before going on to claim one of the top prices of the evening with their champion Swaledale ewe. The two-crop ewe, which John regarded as one of his best individual ewes he has sold, sold in-lamb with a single to Christine Whitehead’s £25,000 ram B39666. Buyer was Peter Lightfoot, Glenridding.

Sharing the say’s top price was the reserve champion Bluefaced Leicester David and Robin Booth, Feizor. The gimmer hogg from the renowned Smearsett flock is by their homebred ram D17. Successful bidder was Messrs Ridley, Consett.

The Dalesbred section saw a top price of £700 achieved twice. The first at this money was the champion, a gimmer shearling carrying twins from John and Jean Bradley. Buyer was Michael and John Dawson, Littledale.

John Bradley then re-invested his money by purchasing a two-crop ewe carrying a single from Michael and John Dawson.

The Teeswater section with the largest entry seen met strong demand, selling to an almost complete clearance and topping at £350 for a gimmer shearling.

Once again the Herdwick breeders enjoyed a buoyant trade, with the top price being achieved by Jean Wilson of Dockray for her first prize gimmer shearling, which sold in-lamb with twins to a homebred ram. Buyer was Frank Brennand, Chapel le Dale at £550.

(Richard Turner and Son).