22,000gns is top for Texel ram lamb at Lanark fixture
22,000gns is top for Texel ram lamb at Lanark fixture
By Jeremy Hunt
A TOP price of 22,000gns for Lancs breeder David Houghton was the highlight of the Texel Sheep Societys major two-day show and sale at Lanark last week.
The bid came from four leading Aberdeenshire breeders for Tophill Emerald, an impressive son of the 10,500gns sire Tullagh Dazzler (by Watchill Ballboy). This twin-born ram lamb was out of a ewe by the 4000gns Baltier Aerostar and will be shared by the Mairs, Margaret Lyon, Willie Knox and Sandy Lea.
Good weather and the urgent need for farmers to catch up with harvest, kept many potential buyers away. "As the sale progressed breeders became more realistic in their anticipated values but there were still plenty of commercial men taking good crossing rams at £400 apiece," said auctioneer Brian Ross.
Geoff Boden, a regular claimant of the most sought-after sires on offer at this sale, pinned his colours to Keith Jamiesons Annan Elite, a son of North Quarter Deluxe that had stood second in the ram lamb class at this years Royal Highland Show. The lamb, bred out of a Milnbank Yesterday ewe, heads for Mr Bodens Sportsmans flock at Stockport, Cheshire.
Albert Howie, Peterhead, is back in Texels in a big way and spent 16,000gns on the smartest lamb in John Forsyths pen. Glenside Eurostar is by the big-money Muiresk Blondin and out of a ewe by Bow Hall William.
North Yorks breeder John Mellin and Stephen Harrison, Ecclefechan, joined to pay 10,000gns for F W Curraghs Donaghadee Extra Gold from his flock in Co Down. This Annan Braveheart son was second in his class at the Royal Ulster Show.
Huntly, Aberdeenshire breeders J and E Proctor also made 10,000gns for their Forgue Edward, a twin lamb by Friarton Dynamite and out of a Hullhouse Young Fettler ewe. Buyers were Jim Clarke (Garngour) and Tom and Robert Laird (Cambwell).
There were three lambs at 7000gns. Malcolm Reid, Ballygawley took Turin Elegant, a Garngour Destiny son from D M Milnes pen; R and E Forsyth (Baltier) and John Forsyth (Glenside) paired up to buy McCosh Bros Culter Allers Exocet from their flock at Biggar.
And the third 7000gns call came from Mick and Jean Gould. They took Milnbank Eagle Eye from Mrs Margaret Lyon back to their Woodmarsh flock in Salop. Eagle Eye, by Muiresk Blondin, is bred from a daughter of the 8000gns record priced female Glenside Kathleen.
The show championship went to S G Mair and Sons with Muiresk Excalibur, a Glenside Drum Major son that won the ram lamb class at the Royal Highland Show. He made 5000gns to Jim Currie, Carlinside.
Reserve ticket also went to the Mairs with Muiresk Evander, also by Drum Major. He made 3500gns.
Female champion was a Grougfoot Cosworth sired gimmer shearling from David McKerrow, Freuchie. She made 1400gns to Malcolm Reid.
Averages: 412 ram lambs £929; 110 shearling rams £415 and 130 gimmer shearlings £349. (Lawrie and Symington)