Dalby Charollais silver anniversary sale sees 7000gns peak

Yesterday’s Silver Anniversary sale from Charles and Helen Sercombe’s Dalby flock of Charollais sheep offered breeders the chance to buy from the heart of one of the breed’s leading flocks and it was one they made the most of.

A total of eight lots sold for 2000gns or more, with a new female record for the breed set at 7000gns for one of the best one lamb ewes on offer, PE9036. This daughter of the legendary Rockvilla Golden Promise is a granddaughter of the Sercombes’ multi-award winning show ewe Champagne and combines the best of breeding with an index of 358. She was knocked down to the day’s bulk buyers, Angus and Sue Howie, Dunning, Perthshire.

Next best at 6600gns was a two lamb ewe by homebred sire Dalby Geraboam, PE8188, Dalby Ice Baby. Out of TG3030, a ewe bred in the Edstaston flock of Robert and Jeanette Gregory. Sold with an index of 368 she was again knocked down to the Howies.

Following that at 5100gns was the best call in the shearling ewes. This money came for Dalby Kirsch, PE0001, an ET bred daughter of Golden Promise out of Dalby Champagne. Combining the breeding of two former Royal Welsh interbreed champions, this one has an index of 321 and found a new home with Messrs Howie also.

Then making 4200gns and also heading to Perthshire with the Howies was Dalby Hyacinth, PE7063. She is an ET bred daughter of Foulrice Garcia out of a Dalby Atomic daughter and sold with an index of 485, making her the highest indexed senior ewe in the breed. She is also dam of Dalby Kracked-It, the highest indexed sheep in the breed at the current time.

Another of the shearlings took the next best bid after that, with Dalby Kiki, PE0047, selling at 2600gns. Once again by Rockvilla Golden Promise, this one is out of a Dalby D’Artagnan daughter ans has an index of 391. She sold to Esmor Evans, Mold.

And taking a 2300gns call was Dalby Ingrid, PE8060 a two lamb ewe by Dalby Helix out of the legendary Dalby Champagne. This ET bred ewe has an index of 340 and was also taken home by Mr Evans.

Just shy of that price at 2200gns was another of the shearling ewes on offer, Dalby Krystal, PE 0035. Sired by Golden Promise, she is out of a Champagne daughter by Penywern Carckerjack and traded with an index of 337 to Robert and Jeanette Gregory, Shrewsbury.

The final bid above 2000gns came at 2100gns when Peter Scott, Coleford, bought shearling ewes Dalby Kate PE0111, a daughter of 4200gns Dalby Hyacinth sired by Daby Galactico. She is the breed’s highest indexed shearling ewe, with an index of 497.

A trio then traded at 1900gns with the first being a one-lamb ewe, Dalby Jacqui, PE9095. This Parkgate Highlander daughter is from the same family as the last, being out of a sister to Hyacinth. She sold with an index of 361 and was taken by Esmor Evans.

Second at this money was a shearling, Dalby Kerry, PE 0019. Sired by Dalby D’Artagnan she is out of a Dalby Geraboam daughter which is dam of Dalby Galactico. Selling with an index of 397 she collected several red tickets as a ewe lambs and headed home with Mr Evans.

And the final 1900gns sale came for another shearling, this time Dably Kyra, a full sister to 2100gns Dalby Kate. With an index of 497 she J Evans, Dinas.

Averages; 52 shearling ewes £842.42, 21 one lamb ewes £999.50, 18 two lamb ewes £1232.58, 15 three lamb ewes £913.50 (McCartneys).