Records were smashed at Beatties Pedigree Centre at the weekend when a hybrid ewe lamb went under the hammer for a whopping £3,500.
Auctioneer, Richard Beattie, was fielding bids from all corners of the packed sales-ring as well as a flurry of online bids.
This February-born lamb is out of a pure Texel ewe and out of a Suffolk ram.
This head-turning lamb looks set to be seen on the show circuit next season under her new owner, Chris Johnston McElwaine, Donegal.
Springhill Texel flock
John Foster’s highly regarded Springhill Texel flock was the headline of the sale with a large number of established and new breeders keen to secure females from this consistently top performing flock.
The top price of 2000 guineas was realised on two occasions for full ET sisters. These were sired by Kilduff Ethan, and out of a hombred ewe by Auldhouseburn Carlos. These were snapped up by Brian Williamson, Omagh and Matthew McCorkell, Claudy.
The draft of Charollais females from the Springhill flock saw a top call of 2300 guineas. This was paid by James Devenney, Newtowncunningham for a January 2023-born daughter of Ballynoe Action Man, and out of the prolific Tina Turner family on the dam’s side.
One of the most highly respected Texel flocks in the business staged its dispersal sale, prompted by a change in farming policy following an unfortunate accident in 2022.
John Foster’s Springhill Flock was dispersed on Friday evening, September, 15th, 2023 at 7 pm.
Accident
As featured on www.thatsfarming.com in this news sale included stock ewes, flush ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs.
A spokesperson said: “The beauty of a dispersal sale is that you have the unique opportunity to snap up the very best females within this high-performing flock, and ones that would not be offered for sale.”
“Many of the females are sired by the acclaimed Annaghdown Edoardo, who was reserve champion at Blessington in 2021 when he was added to the Springhill flock as a new stock ram.”
“The Fosters have been beyond delighted with his progeny, and feel that their dispersal offers buyers something special in terms of a mix of new bloodlines teamed up with proven females.”
“Other successful stock sires include Haddoo Fortune, Kilduff Ethan and Ballynoe House Action Man.”
The Springhill flock represents 40 years of successful breeding, with a small amount of ET work carried out on top ewes in recent years.
See more farming news on www.thatsfarming.com
