Pedigree Beltex sheep sold well at the Beltex Scotland show and sale at Lanark on Thursday, with just 40 of the 235 entries failing to find buyers and averages up on the year for both males and females.
Trade peaked at 4,600gn for a ram lamb from Neale and Janet McQuistin’s Newton Stewart-based Airyolland flock, which sold in a three-way split to the Mair family’s Aviemore flock at Cuminestown, Turriff; and Orkney breeders Raymond Flaws, Nisthouse, and Alton Copland, Overhouse. Airyolland Avicii is by the home-bred sire Airyolland Watchman.
The McQuistins sold another ram lamb at 2,200gn, Airyolland Attitude, which went to David Thornley, for the Doolley flock at Hartshore, and Paul Tippetts’ Hackney flock at Lodgehill, Shifnal.
Overall champion at the pre-sale show was Balbrydie Angus, a ram lamb from Kirriemuir-based Bryan and Deirdre Wylie, who have been breeding Beltex sheep for just six years and keep a flock of 20 ewes. This son of the Carlisle-bought Graham’s T-Rex, sold at 2,000gn to David Cunningham, for the Walkerdyke and Avondale flocks at Strathaven.
Topping the shearling ram trade at 3,600gn was Todhall Wishmaster, from Andrew Wainwright, a vet by trade, who keeps 12 ewes at Dairsie, Cupar. A son of a tup bought at Lanark, Woodies Pride of the North, this one sold to new breeders Stewart Muir and son Craig, Mains of Balhall, Brechin.
Best of the female prices was 2,100gn, paid by Kevin and Rachel Buckle, Barras, Kirkby Stephen, for the Mair family’s ewe lamb, Aviemore Ada, a Corstane Whistler daughter. She is a full sister to this year’s Turriff Show breed champion.
Beltex Scotland Club chairman Ross Williams, who runs the Black Jack flock at Upper Tullochbeg, near Huntly, with his wife Kirsty, said: “The breed has performed well all season. It shows that people are wanting Beltex sires to breed higher value commercial lambs.”
Meanwhile, trade was decidedly sticky at the Scottish Texel Breeders’ show and sale, held on the same day, where the 170 ram lambs averaged out at £443, compared to 216 at £483 at the same sale last year.
Top price there was 4,000gn, for Greenall Wreck It Ralph, a son of the Kelso-bought Hightecs Ultimatum, from John Green, The Craggs, Lilliesleaf, Melrose. Best price to-date for the flock, established four years ago, this one sold to the MacTaggarts’ Rascarrel flock at Castle Douglas.
Following that was a 1,700gn bid for the ram lamb, Cowal Whiskey Mac, from the Campbell brothers’ Lochgoilhead-based flock. A son of Knap Vicious Sid, he was knocked down to David and Ian Gilmour, Broomknowes, Maybole.
And at 1,600gn, Robert Forsyth, Whithorn, sold Baltier Worthy, a Tophill Union Jack son, to W Stevenson, Ballingry, Lochgelly, Fife.
Leading the Texel shearling trade was the pre-sale reserve champion, Parkhouse Victor, from Andy Barr, Quothquan, Biggar. This Llangwm Unimog son sold for 1,500gn to Balgray Farms, Lockerbie.
Averages: Beltex – 142 shearling rams, £617.69; 52 ram lambs, £640.90; 36 gimmers, £476.88; four ewe lambs, £897.75. Texel – Seven shearling rams, £580.50; 170 ram lambs, £443.35; 13 gimmers, £292.38; 10 ewe lambs, £124.95. Swaites flock – 17 gimmers, £347.65.