By Bruce Mair
Congratulations go to John Forsyth (Glenside), who has won the 2011 ‘Sire of the Year’ 2011 trophy with the three top sons of Glenside Razzle Dazzle, (FPG1000055).
Razzle Dazzle is jointly owned by four Aberdeenshire flocks, Milnbank, Deveronvale, Insch and Strathbogie, he made a tremendous impact this year on all four flocks.
 |
| Glenside Razzle Dazzle |
The runner up was the Irish born Straidarran Ranger (WXS1000004), whose three top sons included. the 46,000 Foyle View Superstar (SMV1100017) who topped the Lanark National sale.
Michael Smyth (Foyle View), the seventeen year old breeder of Superstar, will undoubtedly have provided inspiration to many young breeders by proving that with good management you can reach the top with a limited budget.
Another relatively young breeder who deserves a mention is Kerr Jarvie (Duncryne) who bred Duncryne Ringmaster, (JRV1000001, first prize 2010 Lanark Novice Lamb), which has bred very well in the Forkins flock.
A feature of the “Top 10” table is the wide price range of the rams involved, proving that modestly priced rams, if correctly mated, can compete with the very expensive, mainly syndicated rams, which can include breeding disappointments. In modern Texel breeding there is a rapid generation turnover with no fewer than 9 out of the “top 10” rams being sired by 1st or 2nd season sires.
The exception is Castlecairn Red Arrow, (RNA1000080) who has bred very well in John Mellin’s Hull House flock. His sire was Glenside Forsyth, (FPG99099) of the 1998 generation whose use 10 years ago became limited due to Scrapie Genotyping, as he was a group 3. The above success story illustrates that there can still be a place for “old genetics” in modern breeding.
Further flocks whose stud rams feature in the “Top 10” table, and who also deserve congratulations include Procters, who’s stud ram, Haddo Ringleader (KWJ1000063), produced leading prices at all three mainland Society National Sales, while the Cowal flock produced the Lanark Champion Supreme with a son of Knock Reebock, (HAK1000041).
A final noteworthy point is that top genetics can be purchased at alternative venues apart from the Scottish Premier Sale at Lanark, although the majority of rams featured did emerge from Lanark others were purchased at Carlisle, Dungannon and Ruthin.
The trophy was calculated on the top 3 aggregate sale price of ram lambs across the 4 nationals sales in Ballymena, Lanark, Welshpool and Worcester from 1st season sires.
British Texel Sheep Society Sire of the Year 2011
The 10 leading contestants for the above prestigious award are as follows.
|
SIRE |
Sheep ID |
Purchase price (Gns) 2010 |
3 top price sons (Gns) |
Average (Gns) |
Aggregate |
Sired by |
|
Glenside Razzle Dazzle INDEX 310 (top 5%) |
40,000 |
25,000 24,000 12,000 |
20,333 |
61,000 |
Strathbogie Python |
|
|
Straidarran Ranger INDEX 212 (top 50%) |
1,600 |
46,000 5,500 2,800 |
18,100 |
54,300 |
Mullan Playboy |
|
|
Castlecairn Red Arrow INDEX 250 (top 10%) |
4,000 |
32,000 6,000 2,800 |
13,600 |
40,800 |
Glenside Forsyth |
|
|
Haddo Ringleader INDEX 306) top 5%) |
50,000 |
16,000 5,500 4,200 |
8,567 |
25,700 |
Knock Powerpacker |
|
|
Knock Reebock INDEX 273 (top 5%) |
6,000 |
14,000 6,000 2,000 |
7,333 |
22,000 |
Garngour Playboy |
|
|
Tamnamoney Rob Roy INDEX 195 (top 50%) |
5,000 |
11,000 4,800 4,000 |
6,600 |
19,800 |
BALLYNAHONE OSCAR |
|
|
Cambwell Rob Roy INDEX 309 (top 5%) |
40,000 |
6,200 5,200 4,000 |
5,133 |
15,400 |
Cowal Powerhouse |
|
|
Duncryne Ringmaster INDEX 193 (top 50%) |
6,000 |
6,500 5,500 3,200 |
5,067 |
15,200 |
Cowal Pride n Joy |
|
|
Glenside Ring a Ding INDEX 303 (top5%) |
10,000 |
8,000 4,500 2,200 |
4,900 |
14,700 |
Strathbogie Python |
|
|
Hen Gapel Royal Gold INDEX 236 (top 25%) |
5,200 |
3,200 3,000 2,800 |
3,000 |
9,000 |
Millar’s Outstanding |
INDEX based on 01/09/2011 evaluation