The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Successful day for Beltex breeders
Scottish Beltex breeders enjoyed a successful day of sales at Carlisle, with averages up for both ram lambs and shearlings.
Leading the charge to take home the top price, and also set a new breed record for a ram lamb, was February-born Kingledores Crusader.
This embryo transfer son of Glantre Armani, out of Kingledores Pearl, was put forward by Biggar-based breeder Richard Wood.
He stood reserve male champion at the Highland Show in June, and sold to W and A McCrabbe, Ardstewart, Co Donegal, Ireland.
The next best price, and top price for a shearling ram, was 16,000gns for an entry from Aberdeenshire breeder Stuart Wood of Woolhillock Croft, Skene, Westhill.
This was April-2016 born Woodies Baldy – an embryo transfer son of the 4,000gns Airyolland Weapon, out of imported Belgian ewe Van’t Rozeanaken.
She sold in a two-way split to A. Neachell and Son, Shrubbery Farm, Walsall, and G Cropper, Hud Hey Farm, Lancashire.
Mr Wood hailed a successful sale and said it was the best price he had ever achieved.
He achieved 10,000gns for another Airyolland Weapon son – March2016 born Woodies Big Yin, which sold in a threeway split to JA McGarva, Horseclose Farm, Annan, K and R Buckle, Buckles Farm, Kirkby Stephen, and the McQuistins at Airyolland, Newton Stewart.
Other leading prices included 13,000gns for North Yorkshire Show breed champion Langlands Bruiser from J and S Wilkinson, of Langlands Farm, Richmond.
This March-2016 born sire is a son of Smart Ass Alfie and out of Beautry Trudy.
He sold in a five-way split to: R and K Williams, Upper Tullochbeg Farm, Huntly; CG Mair and Partners, Muirfield, Turriff; A and V Coplan, Overhouse, Orkney; RW Flaws, Nisthouse, Orkney, and J Young, Muirton Farm, Craigievar, Alford.
Meanwhile, an entry from the purchaser of the top priced entry, the McCrabbe family’s Ardstewart flock, sold for 12,000gns.
February-2016 born Ardstewart Barclay, which is an embryo transfer son of Woodies Aero, out of Ardstewart Tough Diva, sold to NM Slater, Whitely Hey Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire.