51AVÊÓƵ

THE online sale of working sheep dogs hosted by Farmers Marts, R.G. Jones, Dolgellau, topped at 25,500 setting what is thought to be a new record for a male dog.

Having set a new breed record for the Kerry Hill breed last year, the Owens family of John, Philippa and daughters Hannah and Ellie, topped that this time at Ludlow when selling a shearling ram for 10,500gns.

It was the Charollais champion, a shearling ewe from Ben and Gemma Hinton’s Furrow Hill flock, Silverstone, which claimed the inter-breed title at Bucks Co Show.

After a three year break due to Covid-19, Hope Show was back and with more than 600 sheep entries and an impressive line-up in the cattle classes, competition was strong.

Two new records were set at the Blue Texel Northern Supreme sale at Carlisle with a new breed record of 30,000gn paid for the shearling ram, Sunnybank Fergus from Henry Jewitt, Barnard Castle.

Some 300 cattle entries, along with 1,000 sheep, 200 pigs and 50 goats, made Edenbridge and Oxted Show the largest gathering of livestock in the South East this year.

A new breed record of 28,000gns was set at the Dutch Spotted Sheep UK Society show and sale at Carlisle for the male and overall champion, Diamond Fireball, a ram lamb from Emma and Allen Shortt, Co Tyrone.

Renowned dairy breeder and judge Paul Harrison, from Northumberland, heads to this year’s Dairy Show to judge the Dairy Shorthorn classes for the first time. Katie Fallon finds out more about his history and success within the industry.

A record average of 4,831.02 was set at Scottish National Texel sale at Lanark which peaked at 160,000gns with three sales of 100,000gns or more and an 83 per cent clearance rate.

Mark Richardson on the positive southern sales.