SCOTTISH NATIONAL SALE 2004

(Report by Patsy Hunter – Scottish Farmer)

Averages — 390 ram lambs, £2346.86, against £2574.62 for 383.

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TEXEL BREEDERS had plenty to smile about at the breed’s main sale at Lanark in August, with a bumper number of four and five figure prices complete with a whopping sale average, and for more sold. Admittedly, bidding failed to reach the dizzy, world record breaking heights of 122,000gns paid last year, however, despite this, overall averages held up amazingly well. In fact, if the 122,000gns transaction was omitted from last year’s sale — which added £319 per head to the average — this year’s average would have come second only to the breeds best of £2599.71 for 290 tup lambs, achieved at the 2002 Lanark sale.

But while this year’s sale lacked the mega, mega bucks paid out for one individual sheep, it was sons of the 2003 record priced lamb, Tophill Joe, bred by David and Jane Houghton, Lancashire, that significantly boosted overall sale averages. In all, the Joe sons brought in a figure just short of a colossal £250,000, to cash in at £11,536 for 22. |ncluded in this line-up were seven of the 17 five-figure prices, which were topped by the four sale leaders at 52,000gns, 34,000gns, both from Robert Forsyth, Baltier, Whithorn; 32,000gns and 30,000gns.

The real icing on the cake however, for the breed, was the fact that a further 23 lots sold at between 5000gns and 10,000gns — highlighting the ever increasing demand for the Texel sheep and the breed’s growing society membership which has again reached record levels.

According to Steven McLean, chief executive of the Texel Sheep Society, membership has increased to 2600 of which there are 2200 active members. Even more impressive is the fact that this year there has been a record 62,000 birth notifications to the society, against 54,000, in 2003.

This year’s Texel sale kicked off with a bang too, with the majority of the big guns, to include the Glenside, Haddo, Claybury and Muiresk flocks all selling within the first hour of the sale. It was nevertheless, later in the day before the real action commenced.

Living up to his name and producing the day’s best at 52,000gns was Baltier King, a son of last year’s 122,000gns record priced lamb, Tophill Joe, of which Baltier owns a fifth share. Already a star performer, this big lamb sporting that all important ARR/ARR scrapie genotype, boasts not only a breed championship at Wigtown to his credit, but also the overall champion of champions accolade at what was his sole previous outing prior to the sale. He stood third in his class at the pre-sale show. Baltier King is also backed up by some top show winning genetics, with the dam, a Grougfoot-bred ewe by Brague Gold Link, having been purchased privately after the Highland Show in 2003, before then going on to collect a red ticket at the Great Yorkshire, the same year and a breed championship at Stranraer, this year. From a 5000gns kick off bid, this cracker, shown by Robert’s daughter in law, Allison Johnstone, was soon knocked down to four of the biggest names in the business to include the Annan flock, owned by Keith Jamieson, Woodhead, Annan; Gordon Gray’s Ettrick flock from Selkirk; Allan Cullen’s Craighead flock from Carluke and the Parkhouse flock owned by Andy Barr, Parkhouse, Biggar.

Making the sale all the more sweeter was the fact that Baltier, which tragically lost 55 ewes in a foot-and-mouth cull, then produced the day’s second best at 34,000gns. Notably too, this lamb, is out of the only Baltier ewe that survived the cull, having been up at the Mair family’s Muiresk unit at Turriff, in a flushing programme, at that time. This ewe, by Craighead Hercules, is also a top breeder into the bargain, having stood champion at Stranraer Show in 2003, whilst also being a maternal sister to the 17,000gns Baltier I Catcher and Baltier Imp. The lamb, aptly named, Baltier Kracker, is again by Joe, and sold to the Campbell Clan — Keith, Allan and Roy, who own the Cowal flock at Drimsynie, Lochgoilhead, and young Bruce Renwick, Legars, Kelso.

Helping to balance up the books, Bruce, who runs the Castlecairn flock, then sold three at four-figures to produce the top flock average of £13,072.50, for four. His best, at 24,000gns was Castlecairn Kung Foo Fighter, another group one scrapie lamb as all the top lambs were, this time by the 22,000gns Watchknowe Jimmys Pride, out of a home-bred Hercules ewe that is also a full sister to the 10,000gns Castlecairn Investment. Placed fourth in his class at the pre-sale show, he sold to Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, with Gordon Gray, Ettrick, taking a share.

The Irish were out in full force for the next two top lambs from Castlecairn, at 13,000gns and 10,000gns. The dearest of the duo, a substitute lamb and a direct Hercules son out of a Glenside Gurka-sired dam, was knocked down to Stephen McCollam, of the Carmavy flock at Crumlin; Wilson Kennedy, Irishill; Harper George, Haramar; Ian Millar, Milcomb and George Fleck.

Minutes earlier, the team of Richard Henderson, Ballynahone; Roger Strawbridge, Tamanmoney; Alastair Gault, Forkins and Stanley and Martin Warnock, Straidarran, went to 10,000gns for this year’s second prize ram lamb at the Highland. Castlecairn Kennedy, an Ettrick Jackpot son is again out of a Gurka-sired dam.

The much talked about lamb from Sandy Lee, Fordafourie, was always going to be in the frame and eventually sold for 32,000gns having stood supreme sheep at New Deer and overall champion at the pre-sale show. Again, top breeding is behind this lamb bred from the same family as Fordafourie His Nibs, with the sire being Joe onto a home-bred ewe by Claybury Hawkeye. Mr Lee, who is perhaps better known for breeding Suffolk and Border Leicester sheep, having produced pre-sale champions at both national breed sales, sold Fordafourie Kracker, to Jim and Helen Clark and Sons, North Garngour, Lesmahgow and Jimmy Warnock, Sandilands, Lanark.

It was Joe sons that stole the show for Willie Knox and sons, Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Turriff, too when they sold seven lambs, six of which were Joe sons, to average £11,850. In pole position, on 30,000gns and making up part of the winning group of three was Haddo Knoxie. Placed fifth in the individual class, this cracker is a gimmer’s lamb and a grand-son of the ewe that bred the top breeding sire, Haddo Ever Ready. Knoxie eventually sold south and west to join the Tophill, Sportsmans, Anglezarke and Ballagloney flocks owned by David and Jane Houghton, Bury, Lancs; Messrs Boden and Davies, Mellor Hall, Stockport; Steven and Janes Symes, Woodside Barn, Chorley and ????

The other two members of the winning trio, both by Joe sold for 11,000gns and 9000gns. Tops was Haddo Knockout, out of a ewe by Tophill Emerald, which is also a maternal sister to the 32,000gns Haddo Inquirer. He sold in a two-way split to Doug Nesbitt, Alwent, Darlington, Co Durham and Messrs Scott, Aberdeen.

John Mellin, Hull House, Skipton, bought the 9000gns lamb, one out of Craighead Hercules-sired gimmer. It was however, a substitute lamb that secured Haddo’s second best sale at 16,000gns selling to John Sinnett, Stockton, Worcester. This was Haddo Kenny, another backed by Joe and Hercules bloodlines. On the other side of the equation, Haddo, Fordafourie and Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh, who also enjoyed a good day, went to 22,000gns for Claybury Kruger, from the Draper family, from Shrewsbury. Brought out by Hannah and James, this topper is by Haddo Ignitor and out of a full sister to the former record priced Texel, Claybury Istabraq, which sold for 88,000gns in 2002. Kruger also secured a red ticket in the MLC class, prior to the sale.

The Ridleys — Matt and son Craig, Haltcliffe, Wigton — also well known in the pedigree Limousin and Charolais cattle worlds — were in the money too, selling Haltcliffe Knight, the sixth prize ram lamb for 26,000gns to Idris Morris, who owns the Fachell flock in Wales. Following on from the family’s previous best of 16,000gns twice, was a son of the 48,000gns Douganhill Jeronimo, bought last year at Carlisle, out of a Loosebeare-bred ewe by Douganhill Ferrari.

John Forsyth’s reserve overall champion, got the sale off to a flying start, when, despite being the second lot in the ring, it sold for 25,000gns to Jim and Carolyn Hastings of the Courthill flock, Rosewell, Dumfries; Jim Neill, Boreland of Balmaghie, for his Neills flock at Castle Douglas; Bob and Robert Osborne, Castlehill, Durisdeer, and Douganhill farms, managed by Brian MacTaggart, Castle Douglas. Their purchase, Glenside II, from Lochlands, Maybole, also boasts some cracking breeding with the sire being the 120,000gns record priced shearling, Loosebeare Imp, sold at Carlisle, last year, which also went on to take the breed championship at the Highland this year. The dam of this one, brought out by shepherd, Jeffrey Aiken, is by the home-bred sire, His Nibs.

There were smiles all round too, when Jimmy Douglas, selling at his second Lanark Texel sale, received 14,000gns for Cairness Kracka, brought out by nephew Mark. This lamb is one of the best bred in the catalogue with the sire, again being Joe, while the dam is the 19,000gns record priced Texel gimmer bought from Glenside in 2002, that produced last year’s 21,000gns Cairness Just the Job, purchased by Stockton. Final bidders were Mick and Jean Gould, Woodmarsh, Hutton, Preston.

Another relatively new breeder to enjoy a cracker of a sale was Nick Layton, who has only been breeding Texels for his Lyonshall flock, Hereford, for the past four years. Taking him straight to the top, with prices at 13,000gns and 10,000gns, were sons of the 22,000gns Haddo Jogger, bought last year at Lanark. The former, Lyonshall King of Diamonds — placed at the Highland — is out of a Penstones-bred ewe by Annan Freebie. He sold in a three-way split to Alan Wight, Midlock, Crawford, Peter Gray, Scrogtonhead, Galston and Alex Gray, Langside. His full brother, realised 10,000gns purchased by the Quick family, Loosebeare, Devon.

There were more big bucks flying when the best from Stuart Currie’s Beautry flock from Rathmell, Settle, Yorkshire, came under the hammer for 13,000gns selling to Proctors Farm, Slaidburn, Clitheroe, managed by Gary Swindlehurst. Securing a personal best for the 65-ewe Beautry flock was the fourth prize lamb at the Royal, a son of the 18,000gns Baltier Jaguar out of a Garngour-bred ewe by Garngour Goliath.

Two lots came under the hammer for 12,000gns including the best from Jimmy Warnock’s Watchknowe flock, from Sandilands, Lanark, of which a half share has been retained. This was Watchknowe Kingfisher, a son of Cornerstone Isaac, the ram that bred the 48,000gns Douganhill tup sold at Carlisle, last year, out of a descendant of the noted show ewe, Lady Madonna. The half share sold to SB Morrison and Co, Easter Urray, Muir of Ord.

Having lost out on the 52,000gns sale leader, Albert and George Howie, Knock, Stuartsfield, Aberdeenshire, then went to 12,000gns for Steven and Janet Symes’ Anglezarke Krug, a Knock Impulse-sired lamb out of a gimmer by Ettrick Billy the Kid.

OTHER LEADING PRICES —

8500gns — Milnbank Kingpin, by Tophill Joe, from Mrs Lyon, to N Layton, Lyonshall; Humeston Keepsake, by Haddo Jordan, from IC Gilmour and Sons, to S and R Lewis, Furzy, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire; Stonebridge Kes, by Penparc Jemidar, from S and S Richardson, to Messrs Spiros, Gib Farm, West Yorkshire and Messrs Prentice, Ipswich

7000gns — Haddo Kingpin, by Craighead Hercules, from WJ Knox, to R Orr, Hallbeath, Dunfermline and D Nesbitt, Alwent; Brague Kingsmill, by Boat Jetsetter, from R Mulligan, to K Millar and Partners, Crookholm, Canonbie; Templand Karate Kid, by Knock Impulse, from K Gill and Co, to A McGillivray, Tapanui, Stirling, and J MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth.

6500gns — Tophill Kiwi, by Haltcliffe Jaguar, from JD Hougton, to DJJ Watkins, Cerrig and Messrs Davies, Penyrhed, both Wales. 6200gns — Brague Kings Pride, by Boat Jetsetter, from R Mulligan, to T and R Laird, Cambwell, Skirling, Biggar, and J and H Clark, North Garngour, Lesmahagow.

6000gns — Muiresk Kris, by Loosebeare Imp, from CG Mair and Partners, to ?????; Humeston Klondyke, by Haddo Jordan, from IC Gilmour and Sons, to J Mellin, Hull House; Culzean Kick Start, by Claybury Invader, from JB Gilmour, to A Brown, Stonefieldhill, Rosewell, Midlothian; Haltcliffe Kaiser, by Douganhill Jeronimo, from Messrs Ridley, to S Bothwell, Dungoghey, Co Fermanagh; Auchans Knight, by Cornerstone Isaac, to Messrs Lawson, Wigton, Cumbria and Messrs Buckle, Kirkby Stephen. 5800gns — Cowal Knock Out, by Ettrick Jackpot, from K, A and R Campbell, to JS Raffle, Penpadring, Anglesey.

5500gns — Ettrick King of Diamonds, by Cornerstone Isaac, to J Cullen, Craighead; Millar’s Koala, by Knock Impulse, from M and C Millar, to Messrs Hughes, Newtown, Powys and Messrs Williams, Powys. 5200gns — Craighead Knighthood, by Ettrick High Jinks, from J Cullen, to J and M Richardson, Mere Cottage, Setmurthy; Haltcliffe King, by Douganhill Jeronimo, from Messrs Ridley, to PG Lyons and Son, Galway, Southern Ireland; Clougher Krispie, by Baltier Just Look, from V Chestnutt, to JL North, Fenwick Grange, Moss, Doncaster.

5000gns — Claybury Kracka, by Humeston Juniper, from JH and JR Draper, to I Bates, Macclesfield; Kirrin substitute, by Tophill Joe, from K Forsyth, to R Forsyth, Baltier; Carran Knockout, by Tophill Joe, to L Hughes, Beechtree.

Averages — 145 gimmers, £524.67, against 124 at £547.02 in 2003.

The Craighead flock owned by Allan and Lyn Cullen, Carluke, ruled supreme in the female lines, selling the top priced lot at 4200gns. Selling at this mark and securing a personal best in the gimmer section for the couple who run 130 ewes at Craighead, was a daughter of the Craighead Hercules ram, Baltier I Catcher, bought at Lanark in 2002 for 17,000gns. There are also some classy bloodlines behind the mother, a 4000gns Turin-bred ewe by Grougfoot East Ender that stood first in her class at the Highland for 2000. Although unshown at the pre-sale show, she sold carrying that all important ARR/ARR scrapie genotype, to Robert Forsyth, Baltier, Whithorn.

The female champion, also hit the headlines in the sale ring, realising 3200gns to Graham Morrison of the Banffshire-based Deveronvale flock, at Inchbruich, Cornhill. This was an ARR/ARR scrapie genotyped gimmer from Colin Mair’s Muiresk flock from Turriff. She is by Durisdeer Instructor and out of a Clougher-bred show ewe by Seneirl Arnos.

Texel gimmers from Gordon and David Gray’s Ettrick flock always prove popular and this year was no exception selling six at £1300. Included in this line-up was the evening’s second best of 3000gns paid for the reserve female champion, a group one type gimmer. This one came in a package, with the dam, a Craiglands-bred ewe by Muiresk Evander bought at the Craiglands sale at Lanark, for 3000gns, carrying the gimmer, by Milnbank Imola. She sold to David McKerrow, Nochnary.

Next best from Ettrick was another ARR/ARR scrapie genotyped gimmer, this time by Crookholm Impressario, a 9000gns purchase in 2002 that stood reserve champion at the Highland the following year. Paddy Lyons from Southern Ireland bought this female out of a ewe by Thinacres Grenade.

Thinacres bloodlines was again to the fore, when Hugh Frame, who owns the Thinacres flock from Quarter, Hamilton, sold a group two female by Thinacres Ike, to Proctors Farm, managed by Gary Swindlehurst. The dam is by Humeston Charger.

Auctioneers; Lawrie & Symington, Lanark.