Suffolks in demand at Kelso

At the Kelso Ram Sales, Suffolks sold to a top of £4,800 for a ram lamb from Northern Irish breeder Gary Beacom’s Lakeview flock.

By the 13,000gn Rookery Rodeo and out of a dam by the 26,000gn Cairness Cyclone, he sold to DJ Harvey, Erwbryn, Powys, Wales.

Mr Beacom also achieved £3,000 selling another ram lamb to R and J Neil, Stonebridge.

The second-best price in the Suffolks was £4,000 for a shearling from EA and L Jackson, Rugley Farm, Alnwick. By Drinkstone Dionysus, he sold to the Wight family at Carwood, Biggar.

Next best at £3,400 was a non-accredited shearling from the Warden family at Skelfhill, Hawick. By a 1,700gn Allanshaws sire, he sold to Kenny Sutherland, Stainland and Sibmister Farms, Thurso, Caithness.

The Wardens also achieved £2,000 selling another shearling, by the same sire, to Derryman in Devon.

Other leading prices included £2,500 for the champion ram lamb from the pre-sale show.

Put forward by Northern Irish breeder Willie Tait, he sold to a new Irish breeder called James Alexander.

Aberdeenshire breeders Irene Fowlie, who runs the Essie flock, and Jimmy Douglas, who runs the Cairness flock, both sold to a top of £1,400.

Meanwhile, a top price of £1,700 was achieved in the Charollais ring.

The breed topper was a shearling from HW Sloan, Rigghead Farm, Collin, Dumfries.

By Banwy Pick of The Crop and out of a Parkgate Nelly, which previously stood champion at the Lesmahagow Show, he sold to N Balcomb and Sons, Horsesbone Farm, Romney Marsh.

Meanwhile, Mrs E Wight, of Townfoot Farm, Biggar, sold two shearlings from her Midlock flock for £1,300 and £1,200.

The buyer for both was Aberdeenshire farmers Harry and Lynwen Emslie of Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead.