New breeder snaps up Texel female for 1,440gns

The 19th annual Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders’ winter show and sale of pedigree females, saw a shearling ewe sell for 1,440gns (£1,512).

Taking top price on the day, and the championship title, was a shearling ewe from the Beautry flock of Stuart Currie, Rathmell.  This March 2010-born female, Beautry Cub1000149(2), is a daugther of Procters Oswald, himself otu of a home-bred £5,500 ewe which previously secured success as a lamb at the Royal, Great Yorkshire and Royal Lancashire shows.

She was sold in-lamb with twins to the 2,800gns sire Arkle South Pacific.  This one was bought by a 12-year-old Settle Middle School pupil, William Watson, of Hellifield, who recently established a new flock of pedigree Texels.

The young farmer, also snapped up the reserve champion, Meinspride LNM1000033(E), for 1,150gns (£1,207). from Mrs Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock, Bank Hey Farm, Liusey.

This February 2010-born female, is from Mrs Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock at Bank Hey Farm, Liusey.  She is a daughter of the Scottish-bred Glenside Drum Major, and carrying twins to Clinerty Solomon.  Her siblings have previously sold for 14,000gns and 11,000gns.

The young purchaser, bought a total of four Texel females at the sale at Skipton Market on Saturday, to add to his flock of six sheep acquired from John and Linda Mellin, Hull House, Hellifield.  The Mellins have aided William with breeding advice, and assisted him in registering with the Texel Sheep Society.

Taking honours in the ewe lamb class was a nine-month-old lamb from the Handbank flock of South Yorkshire breeders Bob and Anne Payne, of Carr Head Farm, Stocksbridge, Sheffield.

This one is a daughter of the Payne’s own sire, Handbank Prince Charming, whose father Handbank Jack The Lad has sold semen to the UK, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and the USA.

CCM Auctions said the sale produced “solid commercial trade”.  This was backed up by an average selling price for shearling ewes of £485.71.