Prime-lamb sires - ranking.

[Agrivator]

Prime lambs, Longtown. 27th August 2020

The following summary, of the sale of 3400 prime lambs, gives a rough idea of rankings of their various sires.

Of the dedicated terminal sires, it is clear that Beltex, Texel and Suffolk crosses are way ahead of the rest. Although to be fair, the rest (including Charollais crosses) will almost always be presented by hobby farmers in very low numbers. And it is significant that there is no mention of Lleyns or shedding types.

This is just for information - I don't want to start an argument.

PRINCIPAL PRICES (PER KILO)

Beltex 297p Mains of Balhall, 284p Little Swinburne, 273p, 271p Gallowberry, 270p West Millhills.

Texel 287p Greenburn, 275p Merkland, 269p Cubbyhill, 264p Staffler.

Charollais 248p Shaw Head.

Suffolk 245p Hillend, 243p Carsegowan, 238p Guardsmill, 237p Fenton, 236p The Side & Staffler.

Blue Texel 239p Dunnabie House.

Mule 235p Rowanburnfoot, 218p Fenwick, 211p Brisco Meadows & Solmain.

Hampshire 234p Barnglies.

Blackface 230p Dranigower, 217p Chapel, 212p Albierigg.

Cheviot 225p Catslackburn, 224p West Millhills.

Herdwick 217p, 215p, 211p Clea Hall.

Cheviot Mule 209p West Millhills.

PRINCIPAL PRICE (PER HEAD)

Texel £133 Drumburn, £130 Swallows Barn, £129 Whins, £128 Waterloo, £127 Hillend & Cubbyhill.

Suffolk £132 Tigh-Na-Bruich, £130 Carsegowan, £127 Hillend, £126 Tigh-Na-Bruich, £125 Hillend.

Beltex £131 Swallows Barn, £123 High Stenries & Park Nook, £122 West Millhills, £120 Gallowberry.

Charollais £110 Dunnabie House, £107 Shaw Head.

Hampshire £105.50 Barnglies.

Blue Texel £98 Dunnabie House.

Cheviot £97 Catslackburn, £96 Grindon Hill, £92 West Millhills.

Mule £95 Solmain, £89.50 Cowden Burn, £89 Brisco Meadows, Hopestead & Albierigg.

Cheviot Mule £94 West Millhills, £91 Brisco Meadows.

Blackface £89 Townfoot, £80 Dranigower.

Herdwick £82.50, £81.50, £80.50 Clea Hall.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

That is quite a provocative statement for something that's not meant to start an argument...
1)Beltex
2)Texel
3)Charollais
4)Suffolk

But where do you put the cross breds? I much prefer the lamb by a char/Beltex tup to a pure texel sired lamb?

 

[neilo]

Of course he’s trying to start an argument.

I’m very glad it’s so easy to make money out of sheep. It seems that all you have to do is produce market topping lambs, regardless of COP.

 

[M-J-G]

I take it someone is frustrated with the wet weather.

 

[M-J-G]

Of course he’s trying to start an argument.

I’m very glad it’s so easy to make money out of sheep. It seems that all you have to do is produce market topping lambs, regardless of COP.

Didn't call him/herself Agrivator for nothing.

 

[glensman]

Didn't call him/herself Agrivator for nothing.

He's some craic, I quite enjoy his carry ons whether I agree or not, which I mostly don't.

 

[JSmith]

I think the world would be a better place if we could convince “hobby farmers” to use a Charolais!!

 

[Northumberland]

Beltex tups are like condoms.....
Can only use them once

 

[sean m]

He's some craic, I quite enjoy his carry ons whether I agree or not, which I mostly don't.

is that the irish spelling...over here it ends ock

 

[glensman]

is that the irish spelling...over here it ends ock

I couldn't possibly comment.

 

[MRT]

Beltex tups are like condoms.....
Can only use them once

And you often find them inside out on the floor?

 

[MRT]

My Beltex cull ewes got a mention in the old mart report the other day... which is curious as I don't own any Beltex

 

[Northumberland]

And you often find them inside out on the floor?

Maybe not inside out but often stuck to the floor

 

[M-J-G]

is that the irish spelling...over here it ends ock

 

[MRT]

Of course he’s trying to start an argument.

No, he would have mentioned EBVs and/or Lleyn. The old reliables

 

[Agrivator]

That is quite a provocative statement for something that's not meant to start an argument...
1)Beltex
2)Texel
3)Charollais
4)Suffolk

But where do you put the cross breds? I much prefer the lamb by a char/Beltex tup to a pure texel sired lamb?

On a gross £/head, the order is:
1)Texel
2)Suffolk
3)Beltex
4) Charollais

Which means that the Suffolk makes up in weight what it loses in £/Kg. And, for some reason I don't understand, the Charollais is just the reverse.

But why have Lleyns vanished from Longtown reports?

 

[neilo]

On a gross £/head, the order is:
1)Texel
2)Suffolk
3)Beltex
4) Charollais

Which means that the Suffolk makes up in weight what it loses in £/Kg. And, for some reason I don't understand, the Charollais is just the reverse.

But why have Lleyns vanished from Longtown reports?

I wonder if it could have anything to do with the Charollais not needing to be kept to 50kg before they were fit enough to risk taking to market, so would have been sold in the sweet spot 42-44kg a month previously?

 

[MRT]

But why have Lleyns vanished from Longtown reports?

Because their conformation is now so good they are routinely mistaken for texels. Which may be attributed to the widespread adoption of EBVs within the breed.

 

[M-J-G]

Because their conformation is now so good they are routinely mistaken for texels. Which may be attributed to the widespread adoption of EBVs within the breed.

 

[Woolless]

Wait a minute, @Agrivator has advocated use of the Cheviot on several occasions and yet they languish some way down the list?