Report from Belgian Beltex Society’s annual elite sale
Entries levelled at €700 at the Belgian Beltex Society’s annual elite sale at GVM Mart, Tullamore, on Wednesday, July 21st.
The society held the sale under COVID-19 restrictions, with buyers also offered the option of online bidding.
A slight easing in COVID restrictions allowed a pre-sale show which saw David Gibbons officiate as the judge on the day.
The overall champion came in the form of a ram lamb, Lisnacrann Gordon Ramsay, property of Michael & Niamh Oliver, Swinford, Co Mayo. Sean O’Brien ventured home to Lifford, Co Donegal with this entry after forking out €800.
The sale topper was a shearling ewe exhibited by John Maher, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Ballinakill Fancy sold in the ring to an online bidder, Sean Browne, Durrow, Co. Offaly for €1,740.
Thomas Kenny, Ballinasloe, Co.Galway snapped up the top-priced ram lamb, Hillview Goliath, for €1,040.
Dermot Goss, Kilcurry, Co. Louth also secured €600 for Hillview Godzilla, who found a new home with Sheila Hegarty Ennis, Co. Clare.
Furthermore, Gibbons tapped forward Mr.Goss’s shearling ewe as champion female and reserve overall. Unfortunately, she failed to meet her reserve and left the ring unsold.
Belgian Beltex Society’s annual elite sale
Other top prices included:
■ Alan Cuddy, Camross, Co. Laois: €1,000 for his first prize shearling ram and €980 for his second shearling ram;
■ Declan Robinson, Letterkenny, Co.Donegal: €980 and €780 for his two shearling rams and €820 for his shearling ewe;
■ Stephen Mulvey, Dunboyne, Co. Meath: €820 for his shearling ram and €500 for his ram lamb;
■ Thomas Kenny, Ballinasloe, Co. Glaway: €740 for his ram lamb, a second prize winner;
■ Brian Mathews, Killeigh, Co.Offaly: €700 for his ram lamb and €500 for his shearling ewe;
■ Sean Cuddy, Camross, Co. Laois: €700 for his shearling ram.
Belgian Beltex Society
In a statement to That’s Farming, a spokesperson for the Belgian Beltex Society said:
“Even though the sale entry increased this year, an excellent sale clearance was recorded, with the clearance rate up slightly on 2020.”
“This is a sale designed for existing breeders to add to their flocks, and new breeders to source start-up breeding stock with the sale showcasing some of the very best genetics available in Ireland.”
“Buyers came from all over the country to source females this year. This is a fantastic indication of the continued growing interest and awareness of the Beltex breed.”
“The overall trade maintained the recent strong demand for pedigree sheep. There was a large attendance ringside supported by online bidding throughout the day. Strong demand was reflected in the 75% clearance for the breed at an average of €700.”
 from the Belgian Beltex Society annual elite sale. Strong demand was reflected in the 75% clearance.){kind=link}