The Suffolk Sheep Society NI branch’s premier show and sale was topped at 2,600gns in Ballymena mart on Tuesday by a ram lamb from Philip Gurney, Coleraine, and his Oakbridge flock. The December 2015-born ram is sired by Lakeview Hit The Diff and is from a dam sired by Cairness Liam.

In the show beforehand, a ram lamb from Alastair Gault’s Forkins flock in Newtownabbey was placed supreme champion and was later sold in the ring for the second highest price on the day of 2,400gns. The January 2016-born ram is a Mountford Mustang son and is an embryo transfer from a dam sired by Cairness Liam.

Also receiving 2,400gns was Alfred Robinson from Downpatrick for the top-priced shearling ram. The Ballygarvanstud Flashdance son from his Benrafton flock is from a dam sired by Cairness Diamond Jubilee.

Overall, six shearling rams averaged 833gns and 64 ram lambs sold to an average price of 565gns. Demand for lots was very selective meaning a low clearance rate, with 53 of the 117 ram lambs on show not selling. Most bidding came from pedigree breeders with a lack of commercial buyers present, meaning exhibitors were prepared to hold on to lots in order to show at sales later in the year.

Other top prices included 1,400gns for the reserve champion, which was a ram lamb exhibited by William Tait from Lislap, and 1,300gns for a ram lamb shown by Trevor and Ben Robinson from Ballymena.

Suffolk breeder Dennis Taylor from Coleraine topped the society’s Scottish area branch show and sale in Stirling last Saturday with a ram lamb from his Ballynacanon flock that sold for 20,000gns.

The Ballynacanon Discovery son is from a dam sired by Strathisla Shadrach and was sold to a group of NI breeders.

Next highest

Two lots, both exhibited by Scottish breeders, sold to 16,000gns with William Tait from Lislap receiving the next highest price of 11,000gns for a ram lamb from his Burnview flock.

Alfred Robinson from Downpatrick was placed overall champion in the show on Friday with a December 2015-born ram from his Benrafton flock that later sold for 10,000gns.

William Tait was placed the reserve champion with a ram lamb that made 8,000gns in the sale ring.

Stephen Sufferin from Maghera was placed first in the novice class with a ram from his Crewelands flock that later went for 7,000gns.

A ram lamb from Philip Kennedy from Collone’s Cavanagrove flock sold for 6,500gns.