Mainland after Ulster Suffolks
Mainland after Ulster Suffolks
AS lambing approaches, leading mainland Suffolk breeders competed with locals at the Royal Ulster Showground, Belfast, which hosted a draft sale of stock from the Laurel-bank and Castlewellan Suffolk flocks.
But determined bidding from leading Co Meath breeder Tom Bailey produced the highest price of the day. Buying for his Glenho flock, which recently sold a ewe lamb for 20,000gns, Mr Bailey went to 2000gns for an outstanding ewe lamb from David Duncans Laurelbank consignment from his farm at Crumlin, Co Antrim.
The lamb is by Stockton Almighty – the ram bought by Mr Bailey for the breed record price of 75,000gns – and out of a ewe by Fordafourie Fantoni.
Jimmy Douglas, who bought Mr Baileys 20,000gns ewe lamb last month, was back to give 1500gns for an in-lamb gimmer to add to his Cairness flock in Aberdeenshire. The gimmer, by Cairness Kidman and in-lamb to Cairness Kickback, was from the Laurelbank offering.
Two ewes from Laurelbanks sire Cairness Carlsberg sold for 1500gns and 1100gns.
Best for Downpatrick breeder J * Stewarts Castlewellan flock was a 700gns call from S G Mair and Sons, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, who took home an in-lamb ewe by Muiresk Murphy.
Averages Laurelbank: Eight ewes £280, 18 gimmers £526, five ewe lambs £743. Castlewellan: 13 ewes £279, 13 gimmers £301, and one ewe lamb £420. (United Auctions.) *