Longtown Breeding Sheep Sale Report

C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their Great Annual Ram Fair at Longtown on Wednesday 4th October 2023.

A fine entry of 944 rams of all breeds were forward to a huge contingent of distant and local buyers, to purchase some of the finest bred commercial and stock rams in the country, with rams heading to homes as far afield as Thurso to Cornwall. It proved to be the same story as last year, as purchasers were keen to invest heavily in stock rams that had size and shape, with the top and middle end of tups being dearer on the year and proving very good to sell.

Champion Texel from G Cakebread, Commonside sold for £1400

The Texel judging was in the very capable hands of James Whiteford, Tercrosset, Westhall. After a lot of due care and attention James picked out his champion in the shearling ram consigned by M/s Cakebread, Commonside, which later went on to sell for £1,400.

Texel Tup Lamb from AR Bell and Son Kirkton sold for top price £2600

Texel rams proved to be the trade of the day topping at £2,600 for a Texel Ram lamb consigned by M/s Bell, Kirkton, this lamb caught the eye of numerous potential purchasers eventually being knocked down as a stock ram to Pilkington Farmers, Bank top, Derbyshire.

Better end of the commercial rams flew off the scale with 58 texel rams breaking £1,000. This sale is now cemented into the calendar as one of the go to ram sales to find quality in abundance. 

Top Prices

Texel Shearlings £1,400 Commonside, Bank Top & Fowrass, £1,300 Blackadder Mains, Crumhaughhill & Robiesland, £1,200 Allanshaws, Robiesland, Flex, Becks & Crumhaughhill, £1,150 Sunnycroft & Blackadder Mains, £1,100 Duke Street, Cornhills, High Brae, Allanshaws, Robiesland, Kirkhouse, Springfield & Blackadder Mains.

Texel Lambs £2,600, £1,000 Kirkton, £800 Sunnycroft, £750, £600 Kirkton, £600 Hallrigg, New View & Arkleby House, £550 Raefield, £520 Ward Hall Guards, £500 Burgh Head Arkleby House & Kelsocleugh.

Prize list:

Texel Shearling           1st & Champion – Commonside £1,400

                                    2nd & Reserve – Sunnycroft £800

                                    3rd – Robiesland £1,300

Texel Ram Lamb          1st – Hallrigg £600

                                    2nd – Sunnycroft £800

                                    3rd – New View £600

Judge – James Whiteford, Tercrosset, West Hall

Texel Leading Flock Averages

Runciman, Allanshaws (3)         £1,100

Firm of Robiesland (9)               £1,050

Smith, Crumhaughhill (11)         £1,000

Thomson, Hownam Grange (1)  £1,000

Bell, Kirkton (7)                         £985

Harvey, Blackadder Mains (5)    £980

Gray, Sunnycroft (2)                  £975

Thornton, Cornhills (6)               £941

Robertson, Becks (6)                 £925

Roddan, Springfield (7)              £864

Cockburn, Kingside (6)              £816

Cross bred and other Continental rams proved to be a selective trade. Again, top end commercial rams sold to a big trade with numerous lots making over £1,000, whilst the poorer end of rams proved harder to place.

Top price cross bred ram went to a Texel x Beltex shearling ram was consigned by noted annual consigners Messrs Edminson, Middle Farm, which went on to realise £1,200, this outstanding run of expertly presented and very well bred rams went on to average £935.

Next top price cross bred ram went to a shearling ram that, a bit like his owners, could not be tamed as he tore up the ring showing himself with a lot of vigour. The ram was consigned by regular vendors M/s Little, Park Nook which later went on to sell for £1,100.  

Top Prices

Shearling Rams

Texel x Beltex £1,200 Middle Farm, £1,100 Park Nook, £1,050 x 3, £1000 x 2, Middle Farm, £1,000 Kirkton, £900 x 2 Middle Farm, £850 Dormansteads, £800 Horsley Hill & Park Nook, £750 & £700 (x4) Dormansteads.

Beltex x Texel £950 Linnhead, £900 Whitstonehill & Crookholm, £850 Whitstonehill, & Linnhead, £800 (x2) Whitstonehill & Linnhead, £750 Kerfield & Crookholm, £700 Whitstonehill.

Beltex £900 Linnhead, £780 Corstane, £700 Linnhead & Blackadder Mains, £650 Netherwood & Newton Cottages,

Blue Texel £850 Chapel, £580 & £550 Fowrass.

Suffolk x Beltex £850 & £750 (x2) Whitstonehill.

Dutch Texel £800 Riggshield, £750 & £700 (x2) Woodhead, £620 Riggshield, £600 Woodhead.

Beltex x £800 Sorbie, £650 Whitstonehill.

Suffolk x Texel £800 & £750 Allanshaws.

Charollais £720 Springfield, £600 Greyrigg House, £550 Springfield, £500 Greyrigg House & Thackwood & Maryholm.

Beltex x Charollais £650 Maryholm.

BFl x Texel £600 (x2) Pilkington.

Texel x Suffolk £500 Whitstonehill.

Beltex x Suffolk £500 Flex.

Ram Lambs

Charollais £520 & £420 Springfield, £350 & £300 Netherton, £300 (x2) Springfield, £280 Netherton & Springfield, £250 Netherton.

Charollais x Beltex £300 Springfield.

BFL x Texel £320 New Dorryfield.

Bleu Du Maine £280 Bombie.

Millennium Bleu £250 Bombie

Aged Ram

Beltex x Charollais £450 Streethead.

Charollais £380 Bombie

Champion other Continental Rams from KD and DE Millar, Crookholm

Prize list:

Beltex/Crossbred Shearling    1st & Champion – Millar, Crookholm £900

                                                2nd & Reserve Champion – Halliday, Linnhead £800

                                                3rd – Hall, Horsley Hill £800

Judge – B Cowton, Low West House, Co Durham

Cross-Bred Leading Flock Averages

Edminson, Middle (10)               £935

Forster, Chapel Farm (1)           £850

Halliday, Linnhead (7)                £807

Bell, Kirkton (2)                         £775

Ward, Whitstonehill (11)            £759

Storey, Woodhead (7)               £687

Runciman, Allanshaws (3)         £666

Millar, Crookholm (6)                 £663

Maxwell, Netherwood (1)           £650

Pilkington Farms (2)                  £600

Beard, Dormansteads (14)         £582

Harvey, Blackadder Mains (5)    £550

Champion and Reserve Suffolk

A good entry of Suffolk shearling rams and ram lambs sold to spirited bidding, with a poorer show forward, top end tups still managed to return £700-£900.

Judging was carried out by master stocksman Mr S Bean, Sheild Farm, Muggleswick who waded through the classes to place his worthy champion as the ram lamb consigned by M/s Martindale, The Lands, Lockerbie, this lamb went onto sell for £700 being bought by the judge Mr S Bean.    

Top Prices

Suffolk Shearling Rams £900 Allanshaws, £900, £820 Smailholm Mains, £850, £820 Kinning Hall, £800 Guardsmill, £750 Flex, £700 Crumhaughhill.

Suffolk Ram Lambs £700, £620, £550, £450 The Land, £480, £450 Burgh Head.

Prize list:

Suffolk Shearling         1st & Reserve Champion – Flex £750

                                    2nd – Allanshaws £900

                                    3rd – Kinning Hall £820

Suffolk Ram Lamb       1st & Champion – Lands £700

                                    2nd – Riddings Hill

                                    3rd – Burgh Head £480

Judge – Stephen Bean, Shield Farm, Consett

Champion BFL from J Anderson and Ptnrs, Rowanburnfoot

A mixed show of Bluefaced Leicesters sold very well for the quality that was on offer with vendors of both crossing type rams and traditional types going home delighted with their days trading.

Judging was carried out by Mr W Linton, Whitcastles, Corrie who placed his champion in the shearling brought forward by M/s Anderson, Rowanburnfoot realising £850.

Top Prices

Bluefaced Leicester Shearling Rams £850 Baggarah & Rowanburnfoot, £800 Parkhill, £750 Shepherds Cottage, £700 Baggarah.

Bluefaced Leicester Aged Rams £820 Baggarah.

Bluefaced Leicester Ram Lambs £700, £680 Mouldyhills, £600 Kilfaddoch, £550, £500 Laverock Bank.

Prize list:

Leicester Shearling     1st & Champion – Rowanburnfoot £850

                                    2nd – Baggarah £700

Leicester Ram Lamb   1st – Mouldyhills £700

                                    2nd – Kilfaddoch £600

Judge – Will Linton, Whitcastles, Corrie.

Reserve Champion Texel from G Gray Sunnycroft

Champion and Reserve Texel with judge James Whiteford

Champion Suffolk from Mesrs Martindale, The Land (Ram Lamb)

Reserve Champion Suffolk from G and W Young, Flex

Champion Buefaced Leicester

First Prize BFL Ram Lamb from Messrs Hope, Mouldy Hills

Champion and Reserve Other Continental Rams with judge Ben Cowton

Reserve Champion Other Continental Ram from J Halliday and Son, Linnhead