Newark ram trade hits 620gns for Texel lamb

A high quality turnout at the multi-breed ram sale at Newark Livestock Market this week in conjunction with Harrison and Hetherington produced a top price of 620gns for a Texel ram lamb – but a shortage of buyers created a patchy trade.

Boston, Lincolnshire breeder Henry Ashley’s Texel ram lamb Lincs Olympic Gold was the ringside’s favourite. He’s by Meinspride Lord – a ram bought at the north west breed club’s sale who has produced some good show titles for the flock this year including the supreme championship at the Royal Norfolk Show. The lamb stays in Lincolnshire with G C Baker, Grantham.

A Texel shearling ram by Tri-Deug Magnum from J and J Spillane, Buxton, Derbyshire, realised 400gns to F H White, Belper, Derbyshire, who took another from the same pen by Claybury Liberty at 360gns.

Heading the Suffolk trade was a ram lamb from G and E Beddie, Swaffham, Norfolk at 400gns. The triplet-born lamb is by Breckland Best Mate and out of a Glenisla Tweed sired ewe. The lamb was male champion at the Royal Norfolk Show and partnered his triplet sister to win the inter-breed pairs championship winners at the same event. Buyer was K Lord, Newmarket.

Cross-bred rams have their supporters and it was a threequarter-bred Beltex ram from D Thornley, Swadlincote, Derby that led this section at 400gns. He went to Scunthorpe buyer K Robinson.

Geoff Watson and Carol Grain from Kettering sold a 2006-bred Charollais ram at 360gns.The Castellau Freelander son went to J W Taylor and Son, Branston, Lincolnshire. Another from the same flock – a shearling by Southam Flash Gordon – made 360gns to Kirklington Farms, Newark.