Semen from the world-renowned Texel ram, the 350,000gns Sportsmans Double Diamond, is now available.
As previously reported by www.thatsfarming.com, he was the “most talked about lamb of 2020” and went on to set a new breed price record back that August.
The 65,000gns Garngour Craftsman son, who is an embryo-bred lamb from a ewe lamb flushed the year prior, went under the hammer at Lanark on Thursday, August 27th and was sold by Charlie Boden and family, Stockport, Cheshire.
The subject of much pre-sale speculation and a “crowd puller” from the moment he set foot in the market, Double Diamond carries an index in the top 1% of the breed and was met with an opening bid of 10,000gns.
The price quickly escalated, with a rarely seen “bidding war between a brace of consortiums”.
This resulted in Brian Ross’ hammer finally falling in favour of a three-way partnership between Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Maybole, Procters Farm, Procters, Lancashire and Messrs Teward, New View, Darlington.
The price – 350,000gns – equates to €411,307, £367,500 or $490,473.
Progeny
Lambs by Double Diamond were among the top sellers at the Scottish National Texel sale in Lanark the following August.
The sale, on Thursday, August 26th, 2021, saw a top price of 100,000gns, with four ram lambs selling at more than 50,000gns. As reported by us in this news article, a total of 23 lambs changed hands at five-figure prices.
289 ram lambs averaged £3,811.06, while a total of 15 sons of Double Diamond levelled at £20,804, respectively.
Leading the charge at 100,000gns was Auldhouseburn Expression from Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Muirkirk, Ayrshire.
By Sportsmans Double Diamond, this lamb is out of a dam by the 130,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best.
According to the Guinness World Records, Double Diamond is “the most expensive sheep in the world”.
Semen from Double Diamond
In recent days, Auldhouseburn Blackface has announced that “the first Double Diamond semen will now be sold”.
A statement from the flock reads as follows: “Priced at £250 a dose, plus VAT.”
“There will be a minimum 4-dose order requirement. Transfer fee applicable to non-AB Europe customers. Four doses will flush two donor ewes on the same programme.”
“All order requests to the Auldhouseburn Facebook page or via WhatsApp. There is a limited amount frozen, so order early,” the spokesperson added.
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