Top Texels from around UK will be on show

Farmers and sheep breeders from across Scotland will gather at Lanark Mart later this month for the UK’s biggest show and sale of pedigree Texel sheep.

Auctioneers Lawrie and Symintgon are preparing to host the two-day event at their Lanark base on August 23-24.

A total of 735 sheep are entered for sale and buyers are expected to attend from across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

At last year’s sale a top price of 70,000gn was paid for Teiglum Young Gun.

He was put forward by brothers Alan, Andrew and David Clark, of North Garngour, Lesmahagow.

He was out of a successful show ewe which took the breed championship at the Royal Highland Show and the sheep interbreed championship title at the Great Yorkshire Show that year too.

He sold in a two-way split to the Procters flock, which is managed by Jeff Aiken at Wennington, Lancashire and Charlie Boden’s Sportsmans flock at Stockport.

Looking ahead to this year’s sale, auctioneer Brian Ross said: “Each year, this event is recognised as the premier Texel sale in the UK. It gives buyers an unrivalled chance to purchase some of the best in the breed from across the country.

“This exceptional level of choice and quality simply isn’t available anywhere else.

“Last year we achieved some excellent prices during the sale, topping out at 70,000gn, and we expect nothing less this year, particularly given the exceptionally high price lamb is fetching in butchers and supermarkets.”

Lawrie and Symington managing director Hamish McCall added: “I’m very pleased to see such a strong entry once again this year, both in terms of the number and the quality of the animals.

“It stands as testament to both the strength of the sheep market and the fine work and top prices our auctioneers have achieved during previous sales.”

The fixture starts with a show on the first day, followed by a sale of gimmers in the evening and a sale of shearling tups and ram lambs on the second day.

The judge for the event is Carmarthenshire-based sheep farmer John Davies, who is also a director of Bob Jones Prythech Livestock Mart.