Saturday’s Northern Stars in-lamb sale, Ballymena, saw a top call of 8000gns, with 67 lots selling to average £1159.70 on an 88% clearance.
Leading the prices was Alan Blackwood’s Auldhouseburn flock with BYZ2129024, selling to local breeders S&J McCollam, Carmavy Flock, Crumlin for 8000gns. This pen favourite is a Sportsmans Double Diamond daughter in lamb with twins to Auldhouseburn Finbars Fury and sold with a recipient carrying a pregnancy to the 130,000gns Haymount Fan Dabi Dozi from her full sister which has been retained for the flock. She is out of a dam by the 125,000gns Rhaeadr Best of the Best and from the same family as the 100,000gns Auldhouseburn Expression.
Following her at 3700gns was BYZ2129033 when selling to local breeder C McIlwaine, Newtownstewart for his Corrick Flock. Another Double Diamond daughter but out of a 130,000gns Sportsmans A Star-sired dam, she also comes from a strong bloodline with her grand dam a sister to Auldhouseburn Crackpot. She sold in lamb with twins to the 50,000gns Okehall Fireball.
Coming in a close third in the leader board was another of the Auldhouseburn consignment, BYZ2129001, when selling to Jordan Green, Moray, to join the Drumburn flock for 3600gns. This is another Double Diamond daughter out of a 15,000gns Knock ewe and a full sister to the 26,000gns gimmer sold at this year’s Select Sevens sale. She is carrying to Auldhouseburn Finbars Fury.
Also in demand was the guest consignment from Mark Priestley’s Seaforde flock. Leading this offering was PRQ2101832, sold to Liam McPolin, Newry, for his Tamnaharry flock at 3200gns. She is a daughter of the 17,000gns Sportsmans Cannon Ball and is ET sister to the 26,000gns Seaforde Egyptian Warrior and sold in lamb to the 24,000gns New View Electrifying.
Alan Blackwood was then back in the money when taking 2600gns for BYZ2129163, this time a Procters Cocktail daughter whose dam was purchased at Northern Stars 2020 from Forkins for 8000gns. She sold to J Browne, Omagh, for her Drumeagle flock. Scanned with a single she is in lamb to the 130,000gnsHaymount Fan Dabi Dozi.
Mark Priestley then sold another, PRQ2101831, at 2400gns. She is a full sister to his 3200gns gimmer and also comes in lamb to New View Electrifying.
Averages; 67 in-lamb gimmers £1159.70 (Ballymena Livestock Mart).