Southdowns dominate South Eastern Primestock

Southdown sired lambs were to the fore in the sheep section at yesterday’s South Eastern Primestock Winter Fayre, with both the overall championship and reserve championship going to Southdown progeny.

Leading the way were a pair of purebred Southdowns from Messrs Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer’s Ridings flock from Offham, Lewes. This pair had earlier won the purebred native class before going on to take the native championship. These lambs later sold for £80 to local butcher Tony Foulkes.

The reserve pair, were from my own flock and were Southdown x Suffolk lambs by the French sire we imported in 2005 and which has sired sons to £2250. These lambs were May born out of pure Suffolk ewes by a Belgian-bred sire.

Having stood first in the native crossbred class they then stood reserve overall native and followed the purebreds through to the reserve overall award. Mr Foulkes also bought this pair at £65.

Among the cattle it was a first Wouth Eastern Primestock Winter Fayre win for Morris Farms with their Limousin heifer Blounts Corral. This one, by Fenrose Neptune, was led out by stockman Greg Bull (a regular face on Taking Stock) and weighed in at 572kg. Corral now heads to next week’s Maidstone Fatstock Show.

Standing reserve in the cattle were Jason and Sarah Wareham, Heathfield, with their steer champion, this one was a British Blue cross.