Details of Association Sales
Association Sales
Subdued trade at Heckington
A giant entry of 46 shearling ewes was always going to make Auctioneer Robert Bell’s job difficult at Heckington in July. This was almost double the number forward in 2007. The overall average for the 22 sold was 78 gns. (2007: 24 sold to average 127 gns.) Martyn Robinson topped the averages selling 3 to level at 92 gns.
Ewe lambs were also back on price with 9 selling to average 55 gns, (2007: 5 sold at 80 gns.) Keith and Ro Harding led the average by selling 6 at 60 gns a head.
Martyn Robinson also topped the ram trade when he sold the sale champion Yaddlethorpe Fraser for 300 gns. to Becky Carter. Two other rams sold for about 153 gns apiece but three other went home unsold.
But more buyers at Melton Mowbray
Trade at Melton was also back on the previous year but buyers old and new did manage to shake off some the industry wide gloom arising from bluetongue and EID. All of the females sold and just one ram went back to his farm of origin.
Gimmers ewes averaged 95 gns for the 13 forward (2007: 114 gns for 17) with Martyn Robinson topping out at 115gns. The ewe lamb trade saw 13 sold to average 60 gns (11 sold at 105 gns in 2007). Jenny and Graham Hampstead were dispersing their flock at this sale and topped the lamb class at 85 gns with the first prize winner and breed champion out of a Rowan ewe and sired by Bain Valley Everard.
Steve and Chris Higgins were unable to get to the show on the Friday but were pleased that they attended the sale with the shearling ram Tardebigge Firestone selling to Mike and Julie Coney for 190 gns.