Dorset May Fair holds clue to seasons sales
Dorset May Fair holds clue to seasons sales
By Jeremy Hunt
SHEEP breeders were looking to Dorset last week for an indication of what the coming seasons sales may bring.
The Dorchester May Fair, which included the spring fixture for the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Association, saw pure-bred females in-line with last years values.
But Dorset cross ewe lambs and older females were down £5-£10 a head. Registered ewe hoggets averaged £76.81; registered ewe lambs £60.56; and pure-bred and first-cross ewe hoggets £62.24.
Overall trade was described by auctioneer Andrew Booth as excellent, with some flocks enjoying a very strong demand for rams and several poll rams made over £1000.
The champion ram, a horned lamb from Fooks Bros, Bridport, realised £775 to Ross May, Exeter. Poll rams reached £1120 given by Samuel Robinson, Ballymena for a Huish lamb from D W Rossiter, Kingsbridge, Devon.
Andrew Kingdon, Newquay gave 31110 for a lamb from Richard Currie, Ballymena and a shearling ram from his own Polgreen flock was taken by Jim and Adrian Dufosee, Warminster at £1020. The female title went to a ewe lamb from the Dufosees Blackhill flock that was claimed by Northern Ireland breeder George Robson at £245.
Messrs Fooks Bros achieved the top price for a pen of Dorset Horn ewe hoggets which made £142 apiece to William Carson, Northern Ireland. Ewe lambs from R G Jeanes, Taunton reached £72 a head.
AVERAGES: 56 ram lambs £420 and 48 shearling rams £429. (Symonds and Sampson). *
Francis Fooks with the supreme champion ram lamb which made £775. It came from the Poorton flock, established by Franciss great, great grandfather in 1906.