In-lamb sales offer opportunities for all

Breeders seeking new genetics to top up their Texel flocks or start new ones have a range of opportunities available to them across the UK in the coming weeks as the annual round of in-lamb sales beckons for breed enthusiasts.

This year’s season sees more than 15 sales take place across the UK, offering a wide selection of genetics from a large number of flocks, with many sales also offering both older ewes and ewe lambs alongside the large numbers of in-lamb gimmers that will be available.

Much like the Society’s National Sales, which saw a broad spread of prices, with most animals on offer selling at relatively moderate money, the in-lamb sales will once again see something for every budget on offer.

Full details on all in-lamb sales which are catalogued using the Society’s iTexel database see the Sales page of the Society website, but here’s a quick run-down of the upcoming action.

The season kicks off with the Winter Warmers in-lamb sale at Melton Mowbray on 23^rd November, with this one quickly followed two days later by the Northern Scotland Club in-lamb sale at Thainstone on 25^th November.

Then comes the Northern Ireland Texel Breeders Club Sale at Ballymena on 2nd December, with this followed by another sale in Northern Ireland, the December Dazzlers at Beatties Livestock Centre on 6^thDecember.

The following day then sees the Gloucester and Border Counties Sale, Worcester, on 7^th December, with the Shropshire and Borders club Sale, Welshpool, then following on 12^th December.

An action-packed week comes off the back of that, with the Carlisle Carckers Sale taking place on 13^thDecember, the Northern Area Texel Club Sale at Skipton taking place on 14^th December, with the Select Seven Sale, Lanark, on the same day.

And adding to the events in the final few days before Christmas is the Christmas Stars Sale taking place at Carlisle on 16^th December, the next day sees the Festive Crackers Sale at Ballymena on 17^th December. The penultimate sale before Christmas is the Northern Stars Sale, Ballymena, on 21^st December.

Meanwhile, the last chance for pre-Christmas shopping takes place on 22^nd December, with the Builth Babes Sale at Builth Wells.

Then, the action picks up again post-Christmas with the reduction sale of the Duhonw flock on 28^thDecember, at Carlisle.

Heading into the New Year the first fixture is the North West Texel Club’s Sale, J36, on 4^th January.

Following on from that comes the Lanark Ladies Sale on 10^th January, with the South Wales Texel Club’s Sale on 19^th January wrapping up the season.

Each of these female sales offers both new and established breeders the opportunity to secure new genetics to help progress their flocks.

Existing members purchasing females at the in-lamb sales should use iTexel to transfer them to their flock ahead of lambing to ensure they can birth notify their progeny. New members can join the Society here.