Scottish flock buys Cork-bred Suffolk ram lamb for €20,000

The South of Eire Suffolk Sheep Society’s current annual present and sale at Blessington Mart, Co. Wicklow, noticed Scottish breeder purchase a Cork-bred Suffolk ram for €20,000.

Auctioneer John Doyle described the general commerce on the day as “very robust, with distinctive demand from industrial breeders”. Breeding rams, he added, have been of “glorious high quality”.

Judging was within the arms of Alastair Barclay of the Blackbrae Flock in Northern Eire, whereas industrial breeders Michael and Ger Murphy have been available to evaluate the Gigot Ram class.

It was in a championship of outstanding high quality that Barclay tapped out a ram lamb from the Annakisha flock of Arthur and Patrick O’Keefe from close to Mallow, Co. Cork.

The January 2023-born ram lamb was sired by the Reserve Champion from the NI Premier in 2022 Blackbrae AB President out of an Annakisha ewe.

This fashionable lamb had beforehand gained the Open Ram Class and the Male Championship earlier than claiming the title of Supreme Champion.

2023 has proved to be a really profitable 12 months for this lamb as he had beforehand gained the Champion Ram Lamb spot on the Nationwide Suffolk Championships in Gurteen in June.

The standard of this lamb got here to the fore when he was finally knocked down below Doyle’s hammer for €20,000 and offered to the Cairness Flock of Jimmy Douglas in Scotland.

Different prime costs

Taking Reserve Champion on the day was Andrew and Jonathan Lucas’ lamb from the Finnvale Flock.

Their lamb Finnvale BFG had been sired by final 12 months’s Champion, Finnvale Am the Man, who that they had retained.

The ram had gained the Greatest Lamb sired by a South of Eire ram earlier within the day earlier than claiming Reserve Male and Reserve Champion of the Present.

He went on to promote within the ring to the Burnview Flock of William and Stephanie Tait, Northern Eire for €2,600, whereas the Finnvale pen total averaged €1,695, with Am the Man lambs promoting to a mean of €2,067/head.

A Cairnton Chaos-sired lamb out of a Solwaybank Ewe, owned by Alan Kilpatrick of the Convoy flock in Donegal, claimed the second-highest value of the day for a robust, fashionable lamb which additionally discovered a house in Northern Eire.

Different prime costs on the day included a Crewelands Dancing Courageous ET lamb from the pen of JJ and Martin Doherty, Malinhead, Co. Donegal.

This was a Sheep Enchancment Scheme (SIS) eligible lamb which offered to a fellow South of Eire Breeder for €2,300. Additionally promoting effectively on the day was one other of the Doherty’s lambs which had positioned first within the Pen of Three Class and was knocked down at €2,100.

The winner of the novice class was a really appropriate lamb from the Cronebane pen of native man, Gus Doyle.

He had overwhelmed off stiff competitors from PJ McMonagle’s Forkins Masterplan lamb which offered at €2,200. This novice winner, sired by Donbraid Murderer, went on to promote to a Donegal pedigree breeder, additionally for €2,200.

There was quite a few different lambs offered on the €2,200 mark which included a Kells T-rex sired lamb from the Ballygarris pen of Michael and Marie Jennings in Mayo, and two rams from the Finnvale pen sired by Salopian Pure Gold and Finnvale Am the Man.

The Shearling Ram Class was gained by Philip Byrne of the Limepark Flock along with his Muirton One Route Ram which later went on to promote to a industrial purchaser for €900.

Feminine Suffolk courses

The feminine courses commenced with the Shearling Ewe Class, which noticed native breeder John and Esther Gahan declare the highest spot with a trendy Lakeview Del Boy-sired Gimmer.

She had fought off stiff competitors from two Cairness Our Bucks sired gimmers from the Lismurtagh and Loughrynn Flocks who had been positioned second and third respectively.

Whereas these two females remained unsold, the Champion Shearling was knocked down at €1,150 within the ring.

The Suffolk ewe lamb class was a really fashionable affair and was tightly contended. Taking prime honours from the decide was the Mountford flock of Oliver and Adrienne Deane’s January-born lamb, sired by Ballinatone Al Capone from a Mountford ewe.

This lamb was finally offered to a pedigree breeder within the west of Eire. Positioned second in her class, Philip Lynch’s Clyda Superior-bred lamb offered for €820 whereas the third-placed, January-born lamb from the Milldam Flock of Shane Brady and sired by Cairnton Chaos additionally offered for €820.

Within the ultimate lineup within the Feminine Championship, it was the Mountford ewe lamb that proved to be the decide’s favorite as she claimed the highest honours as Feminine Champion with Philip Lynch’s Glyde Ewe Lamb claiming the Reserve Feminine Champion spot.

Suffolk present and sale

With a clearance price of 85% – effectively elevated from the 2022 price – it was clear to see that the superb high quality of inventory on supply, inspired consumers to buy.

The pedigree common value on the sale got here in at €2,628 with the industrial common value hitting €804 – up 16% on the earlier 12 months’s commerce.

Whereas there have been no exports to Europe from the sale, there have been a major variety of animals exported to Northern Eire straight from the sale.

Regardless of the large demand , there have been costs to swimsuit all pockets, with SIS-eligible Suffolk rams being bought from €500, which made for an especially brisk commerce on the Blessington sale.

The clearance price was 85% on ram lambs with 70% of the lambs offered headed into the industrial sector – up 20% on 2022.

The Younger Handler Class was effectively supported with first place going to Isabella Taylor, Ballynacannon Flock, second place going to Paddy McMonagle along with his personal Beltanyview flock, just lately based along with his brother Tommy, and third place to Millie Donald from Donbraid Suffolks.

The remaining Society Gross sales for 2023 will happen in Cahir on September 1; Carnew on September 6; Ballina on October 3; and Raphoe on October 6.