Solwaybank flock breaks record at first Longtown sale

Sale leader from I and J Barbour, Solwaybank Flock, Annan, make 13,000gns

Longtown’s inaugural Suffolk sale topped at 13,000gns last week (Friday 8 July), setting a new centre record for sheep trade.

The two-day show and sale attracted bidders from across the UK and as far afield as Spain, who saw the sale leader from I and J Barbour, Solwaybank Flock, Annan, make 13,000gns.

The triplet-born lamb was out of Rhaeader Rastafari and sired by Lakeview Harbinger and joins the Maestro Flock of R Fitton, Bolton, Lancashire.

Female trade topped with shearlings at 2,500gns, again from the Barbours and with Rastafari in the breeding.

See also: Service launched to match ewe lamb breeders with buyers

Suffolk female champion made 2,500gns

The female championship winner was a Solwaybank Solario daughter out of a Rastafari daughter, sold over the phone to P Delves, Bridgeview Flock, Powys.

Mr Delves was back in the bidding for a second Solwaybank gimmer, this time by Goldfinger, at 2,100gns.

She was out of a dam by Cairness Constello and last year’s show lamb.

Goldfinger is a full brother to Solwaybank Champion, who yielded a top price of 17,000gns at the national sale, selling to the Thrunton and Widdrington flocks.

Next best at 1,600gns was the champion ram lamb from Hazel Martin’s Landale Flock, Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire. Judge Mr JHC Campbell, Chathill, Northumberland, secured the champion for his Thrunton flock.

The reserve female champion at 700gns was a gimmer from Mr TW Blair, Thornfleet, the Fylde, Lancashire, selling to Mr Bailey, Low Swinton, Ripon.

She was by Raedar Red Bull out of a dam by Baileys Barbaro.

Noting the level of pedigree interest on the day, Ryan Roddan of C&D Auction Marts said proper breeding sheep sold “really well”.

“The timing was good with many people already doing AI and looking to start using sires very shortly,” he told Farmers Weekly.

“There were any amount of tups falling between the 300 and 700gns mark, and while the recent increase in fat prices wouldn’t have had a direct effect, it wouldn’t have harmed the job.”

50 sheep sold to a 93% clearance

(C&D Auction Marts)