Read a report (with prices) from the Belgian Beltex Society’s premier show and sale held on Friday, August 20th, 2021.
The Belgian Beltex Society held its first-ever evening premier sale last Friday (August 20th) at Tullamore Mart.
According to a society spokesperson, the sale “will go down as one if not the best Beltex society sales ever held”.
They told That’s Farming: “The trade can only be described as tremendous with high clearance rates matched with high averages across all classes.”
“A relaxing in COVID restrictions meant we were delighted to hold a pre-sale show once again. TJ Gormley was tasked with the job of allocating rosettes on the day.”
“The overall trade maintained the recent strong demand for pedigree sheep, with a large attendance ringside supported by online bidding throughout the day.”
Belgian Beltex prices
Mr Gormley awarded the overall champion silverware to Mr Michael Lynch for his first-prize winning ram, Castlemeadow Frankel.
By the renowned Hackney Corker, Frankel was sold to well-known breeders Francis Lyons, Colm Lyons, and Jimmy Killiea Co. Galway for the day’s second-highest price of €2,050.
Leading the sale at €2,060 was Cloneycavan George Washington. Stephanie and Hugh O’Connor, Cloneycavan, Ballivor, Co Meath exhibited the Tercrosset Blaze-sired ram lamb, which Mr Joseph Kennedy, Co. Roscommon secured.
The O’Connors also fetched €940 for Cloneycavan Gorgeous George by their new stock ram, Artnagullion Ed. They sold this lamb to Russell Tinney, Donegal.
Besides, the duo also received €720, €740, and €580 for their other lambs in their pen finishing. To note, their five lambs levelled at just over €1,000.
Under €1,000
Next up at €980 was a third-prize winning shearling ram, Beetles Firman. Sean & Paul McCartney, Ballacolla, Co. Laois sold their entry to Jarlath Walsh, Headford, Co. Galway.
The other shearling rams from the McCartney pen realised €820, €800, €740. and €680, averaging just over €800.
Two breeders secured €820. First up was David Pearson’s first prize winner in the Sheep Ireland Lamb Plus class.
Benji Gretal now ventures to Sam Mortan, Co. Sligo. David Pearson also received €680 for another ram lamb with this one snapped up by Sam Rankin.
Thomas & James Clarke showed the second lamb that changed hands for €820. This January-born ram lamb, Branraduff Granite, by a homebred stock ram Branraduff Erik sold to Mr Andy McCutcheon for his Bodney flock.
Females: Belgian Beltex prices
Meanwhile, Ballinakill Felicia, a shearling ewe, topped the female section at €920.
The prolific Boherawillin Bascule daughter was exhibited by John & Dudley Maher, Roscrea, Co.Tipperary. The Mahers also received €740 for Ballinakill Fabiola; this one by Carrigans Lower Denzel was sold to Patrick Brien, Co. Galway.
Next in the money was Mr Brian Mathews, Killeigh, Tullamore. The judge tapped Quarrymount Faith forward as the 1st-prize shearling ewe, champion female and reserve overall champion.
Michael McGrath, Mullingar of the Edmonstown Flock, secured this Royalflush Caesar shearling for €800.
Brian also received €720 for Quarrymount Fluorescent from Jonathon Jones, Co. Cavan.
Michael & Niamh Oliver, Swinford, Co. Mayo sold their first prize winning ewe lamb, Lisnacrann Gloria, for €640. Michael Tuohy, Whitegate, Co.Galway was the final bidder for the “stylish” ewe lamb by Sheephaven Eddie Rocket.
Sales report
Other top prices on the day included:
- Sean Cuddy, Camross, Portlaoise, who received €760 for his shearling ram, Red Devils Beltex Godzilla, by Beechtree Elton. Purchaser: Paul Slevin, Mullingar
- Alan Cuddy, Camross, Portlaoise secured €700 for his shearling ram, Aughduff Gronkowski, also by Beechtree Elton. Buyer: Emmett Keane, Galway
- Michael McGrath, of Edmondstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, received €700 for one of the youngest ram lambs, Edmonstown Garet. He also secured €660 for his January-born ram lamb, Edmondstown Giant. Both were Sheephaven Eddie Rocket sons.
- Dermot Goss, Hillview sold two of his ram lambs for €700 & €680. First up was Hillview Gorilla, who finds a new home in Oughterard, Galway and Beltex breeder, Niall Kyne. Dermot’s second lamb was also sold to breeders Sean & Paul McCartney, Laois.
- Declan Robinson, Letterkenny sold all his shearling ram entries topping at €660. His other pen rams sold for €640, €620 and three at €580 each.
Sale summary [Belgian Beltex prices provided by society]:
- Aged rams averaged €410 with 100% clearance;
- Shearling rams averaged €650 with 95% clearance;
- Ram lambs averaged €550 with 80% clearance;
- Shearling ewes averaged €615 with 75% clearance;
- Ewe lambs averaged €350 with 80% clearance.
Further reading
More sheep-related articles.
To include your sales report, email – [email protected]
 from the Belgian Beltex Society premier show and sale held at Tullamore Mart on Friday, August 20th, 2021.){kind=link}