Kelso Ram Sale Report 2014

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. sold their largest entry to date for the firm of 540 rams of all breeds at the Cydectin Kelso Ram Sales on Friday 12th September 2014.

A glorious day ensured that the sale site was packed with customers from all areas of Britain, with trade for all classes of rams very buoyant. The overall sale average was up £48.84 on the year. Trade was better than vendors expected after a poor fat lamb trade recently, but all customers seemed to be looking for better rams to improve the quality of their prime lambs.

More rams found new homes and our vendors expressed their delight at both the trade and the service provided, with 36 rams from our consignors realising over £1,000 (33 of which were in Ring no 2 Crossbreds), the quality of rams on offer was clear for all to see. After obtaining the majority of crosssbred rams in ring 2 last year (206) we sold some 296 this year. We also managed to acquire the selling of 60 top Charollais rams in ring 4 which met a fine trade. All positive signs that the company is being recognised for providing a competitive service to its vendors.

Our rams topped at £2,200 for a Beltex x Charollais from Messrs McAllister, Parkgate Road, Northern Ireland, selling to Messrs Morris, Over Buttergask.

Also on the Thursday evening we held the Annual Show for unregistered Texel rams in Ring 18, where consignors from all firms selling in this ring were invited to the show. The event was again kindly sponsored by Tarff Valley and a large ring of 24 shearling rams were presented to the judge, Mr Robert Cowans of Hedgely Farms, Powburn, who awarded the Championship to ram number 4767 from Messrs Douglas, Catslackburn (sold through Border Livestock) which went on to realise £2,000. Second place went to 4752 Hutlerburn (Border Livestock), third place to 4740 Bowsden Moor (Border Livestock).

Principal Prices:-
MV Crosses - £2,200, £1,550, £1,500, £1,350, £1,300, £1,250 (x2), £1,200, £1,150, £1,050 (x5), £1,000 (x3) Parkgate Road, £1,550, £1,250 Oakfield, £1,400 (x2), £1,200, £1,150 Woodhillock, £1,300, £1,250, £1,080, £1,050, £1,000 (x5) Loanhead, £1,050 Carstair Mains, £1,000 Fowrass, £1,000 Corstane.

Blue Texel - £520 Nether Pratis.

Charollais - £950, £700 (x2), £580, £550 Wester Parkgate, £900, £800, £780 (x2), £720, £650 Upper Auchenlay, £850, £800 Northfield.

Suffolk - £1,500, £800 (x3), £780, £750, £720 Scrogtonhead. Non MV Crosses - £800, £700, £620, £600 Maidencots, £700, £650 Crumhaugh Hill.

Texel - £1,250, £900, £880, £850 (x2) Crumhaugh Hill, £1,100, £900 (x2), £880 Kinning Hall, £800, £700, £680 (x2) Flex, £680 Becks.

Flock Averages:-
RING NO. 1 – BLUE TEXELS (20) No. Top Average Lyle, Nether Pratis 20 £520 £370

RING NO. 2 – MV ACCREDITED CROSSES (296) No. Top Average Kennedy, Lyon Park 12 £620 £363 Wood, Woodhillock 16 £1,400 (x2) £893 Baillie, Carstairs Mains 20 £1,250 £677 Coghill, Muce 6 £900 £656 Patterson, Upper Auchenlay 20 £850 £478 Wight, Townfoot 6 £650 £558 Harbinson, Ringsend Road 21 £800 £460 Cunningham, Walkerdyke 15 £600 £452 McAllister, Parkgate Road 42 £2,200 £943 Wales, Thackwood 17 £550 £416 Carlile, Fowrass 20 £1,000 £460 Dunlop, Corstane 15 £1,000 £581 Gregor, Oakfield 7 £1,550 £961 Barclay, Mid Brockloch (shlgs)16 £720 £425 Barclay, Mid Brockloch (lambs)18 £420 £303 Ingram, Loanhead 30 £1,300 £779 Ryder, Newton 13 £650 £486

RING NO. 4 – CHAROLLAIS (62) No. Top Average Parkhouse, Inveray 10 £380 £340 Patterson, Upper Auchenlay 25 £900 £540 Hodgson, Northfield (shlgs) 6 £850 £548 Hodgson, Northfield (lambs) 8 £350 £286 Kennedy, Wester Parkgate (shlgs) 5 £950 £666 Kennedy, Wester Parkgate (lambs)5 £550 £382

RING NO. 11 – UNREGISTERED SUFFOLK (11) No. Top Average Gray, Scrogtonhead 11 £1,500 £815

RING NO. 16 – UNREGISTERED CROSS BRED (33) No. Top Average Smith, Crumhaugh Hill 5 £700 £564 Retson, Maidencots 28 £800 £428

RING NO. 18 – UNREGISTERED TEXEL (114) No. Top Average Young, Flex 12 £800 £589 Smith, Crumhaugh Hill 20 £1,250 £658 Scott, Shepherds Cottage 12 £580 £394 Robertson, Becks 8 £680 £492 Runciman, Allanshaws 6 £600 £520 Jardine, Upper Hardlands 2 £350 £325 Fleming, Heriot House 8 £480 £393 Warden/Pringle, Skelfhill/Caverslea 9 £620 £417 Aitken, Uppercleuch 12 £580 £438 Wester Ulston Sheep 7 £450 £417 North Deanhead Farming Co 5 £450 £425 Bell, Kinning Hall 10 £1,100 £773.