The first production sale of females from the Taylor’s Heatheryhall flock from Thankerton, Biggar, dominated the Beltex Belters sale at Lanark, securing the top prices in the gimmer and the ewe lamb sections.
The Taylors, Jean and sons Tommy and Alfie and his wife Ann, topped the trade at 5000gns with Heatheryhall Helena ET, a daughter of the 30,000gns Buckles Dark Dawn bred from the 5000gns Lurg Ella, a Bailey Brook CR7 daughter. Second at Lesmahagow and best bred by exhibitor at Carnwath Show, she was knocked down to Alan Miller of the Lurg flock, Midmar, Inverurie, carrying twins to the 20,000gns Curwen Hill Golden Boy.
Heatheryhall Heidi, a Woodies Storm daughter out of the Dark Dawn-sired Heatheryhall Felicity, made 4600gns, to Stuart Wood buying over the telephone for his Woodies flock, Skene, Westhill. She sold due with twins to the 42,000gns Todhall Hercules.
Another from the Taylors, Heatheryhall Hazel ET made 4000gns
Just behind on 4000gns was Heatheryhall Hazel ET, a Wannop’s Godfather daughter bred from the Dark Dawn-sired Heatheryhall Fiona who also bred the 4000gns Heatheryhall Jumanji sold in August. Scanned with twins to Curwen Hill Golden Boy, she headed home with Andrew Wainwright of the Todhall flock, Cupar.
Also heading home to Todhall at 2400gns was Heatheryhall Honey Bee ET, another bred from Lurg Ella and sired by Dark Dawn. She has scanned triplets to Todhall Hercules.
New breeder, Mark Wattie, from Alford, forked out 3400gns and 3000gns for two carrying twins to Todhall Hercules. Dearest was the Dark Dawn-sired Heatheryhall Halle ET which is out of the Quarrymount William Wallace daughter, Heatheryhall Diamond.
Heatheryhall Honeysuckle, bred from the Airyolland Castro-bred Wilodge Foxglove and sired by Ardstewart Fred Flintstone made 3000gns
Kenny O’Connor, Carstairs Junction, Lanark, paid 2200gns for Heatheryhall High ET, another by Dark Dawn, Bred from the William Wallace daughter, Heatheryhall Buttercup, she also scanned twins to the Todhall ram.
Three sold for 2000gns to include Heatheryhall High and Mighty ET purchased by Andy Ireland, Feoch, Darvel; Heatheryhall Heather was bought by Stuart Robson, Galashiels; and Heatheryhall Jelly Bean ET, a ewe lamb was bought by Cameron Cormack for his Dunrod Flock near Jedburgh.
Cross-bred in-lamb gimmers from Heatheryhall sold equally well if not better with numerous sales of more than £700 and to a top of £1700. The collective sale saw two from Gordon Harrison, Carnwath, Lanark, lead at 2500gns and 2100gns, with both of the same breeding as the leading Heatheryhall gimmers. At 2500gns was Gordy’s Hola Hoop ET, from the same Dark Dawn x Lurg Ella flush as the 5000gns Heatheryhall Helena ET. Reserve at the pre-sale show, Hola Hoop made 2500gns to the judge, Grant Maxwell, of the Faughhill flock, Melrose, carrying a pair to Kingledores Braveheart.
Her full sister, Gordy’s Haagen-daz ET, also scanned with twins to Kingledores Braeheart, made 2100gns to Euan Lawrie for the Grangehall flock, Lanark.
The champion, Callacrag Heidi ET from Andrew Baillie, Carstairs, also sold to Mr Maxwell for 2000gns. Carrying a single to the 3500gns Tullylagan Jaguar, she is by Callacrag Godzilla and bred from the Hackney Braveheart daughter, Callacrag Caprice.
Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.
Averages: 33 gimmers, £653. Heatheryhall production – 29 gimmers, £1740; four ewe lambs, £1654; 18 straws of semen, £114; five embryo pregnancies, £1302.
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