This is a subscriber-only article
The first ever southeast stars pedigree Texel sale took place in Tullow Mart, Co Carlow, on Wednesday 30 December.
With just over 60 lots of in-lamb shearling and maiden ewe lambs on offer, the sale attracted hundreds of bidders online and ringside, from across the country, with a clearance rate just shy of 100%.
The top call of the night of €6,500 went to John Neville’s flock, Thornville Texels, for his February 2019-born hogget.
She is by the dam Thornville, going back to Deveronvale Aftershock, and was sold scanned in-lamb with twins to Big Ben.
Proud new owner
The proud new owner Pa Whyte of Kilrossanty, Co Waterford, told the Irish Farmers Journal: “To me, she just stood out from the whole yard. She has a great presence about her. She caught my eye straight away.
"She has a good length and great conformation. She is just what a Texel should be to me.
"Hopefully, in March, she will lamb down successfully and next year we will flush her, all going according to plan.”
Tonight at the South East Stars Texel sale in Tullow, this Feb 2019 ewe from Thornville Texels made the top call of the night at €6,500?? With 4 ?? Replacement and 5?? Terminal, she is “the best ever female offered for sale from Thornville”. @FJSheep @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/qNyMqwg3OO
— Katriona Kinsella (@KatrionaKinsel1) December 30, 2020
The Thornville flock also secured the second-highest price of €3,400. The February 2019-born hogget, sired by Garngour Ultimatum to the dam Thornville, sold in-lamb with twins to Big Ben.
It was also a good evening for Carlow Texel breeder John Kidd, who took the top price of €1,900 for his March 2020-born ewe lamb, sired by Plasucha Commander, to the dam Thornville, with five stars across the board.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by Liam Dillion of Kilclammon Texels sold for €2,000. She is from the sire Plasucha Big Ben to the dam Kilclammon. She was scanned in-lamb with triplets to Thornville Class Act.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by Liam Dillion of Kilclammon Texels sold for €2,400. With five €uroStars across the board, she is from the sire Plasucha Big Ben to the dam Kilclammon and was scanned in-lamb with twins to Thornville Class Act.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by John Kidd of Treemore Texels sold for €1,500. She is from the sire Treemore Al Pacino to the dam Treemore and scanned in-lamb with twins to the sire Crosserlough Desiderio.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by Robert Walker of Kilcurley Texels sold for €1,700. She is from the dam Springwell, sired by Auldhouseburn Bullitt and scanned in-lamb with twins to Harestone Commander.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by Patrick Whyte of Kilclammon Texels sold for €1,200. Sired by Kilclammon Barden to the dam Seefinn, she was served by Thornville Class Act on 17 September.
This March 2019-born hogget bred by William J Hutchinson of Chapelizod Texels made €1,000. Sired by Granite Yaggobomb to the dam Chapelizod, she has five €uroStars across the board.
This March 2019-born hogget bred by Paddy and Seán Morrissey of Ballintaggart, Callan, Co Kilkenny, made €2,600. Sired by Garngour Aerosmith to the dam Donnelly, she has four stars across the board.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by John Neville of Thornville Texels sold for €2,100. She is sired by Sportsman A Star to the dam Auldhouseburn and was scanned in-lamb with twins to Thornville Class Act.
This February 2019-born hogget bred by John Neville of Thornville Texels sold for €2,900. Sired by Auldhouseburn Bullitt to the dam Thornville, she was scanned in-lamb with triplets to Big Ben.
This February 2019-born hogget, bred by Robert Walker of Kilcurley Texels, sold for €2,400. Sired by Hartside Assassin to the dam Milestonehill, she was AI'd to Stainton Coca Cola and has scanned in-lamb with twins.
March 2019-born hogget bred by TJ Duffy of Westport, Co Mayo, sold for €950. Scanned with twins to Glenroe Bicardi. Sired by Knockem Bentley to the dam Ettrick.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal after the sale, mart manager Eric Driver expressed his delighted at what could only be called a successful evening.
“The sale was a tremendous success. I am delighted for the South East Texel Club, as it was their first sale. We had lots of prices north of €2,000, with the top price excelling €6,000, which none of us expected."
"What made the sale for me it was the steady trading straight through.
"The breeding was there in all the ewes. To put 60 ewes through the ring and have a full clearance is a tremendous success. The clearance rate is coming in just under 100%, with one ewe not sold.
"We had over 350 accounts registered to view and bid online; for me they made this sale what it was tonight.
"Many people came and viewed the sheep earlier and made bids from the comfort of their own home.
"We have sheep going to Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, all purchased by online bidders.
"The club agreed to transport any sheep that were purchased online, which was a very smart move."
SHARING OPTIONS: