Buyers had no hesitation in pursing the best of bloodlines at the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Association's Premier sale at Ballymena, where the Temain team of Graham and Julie Loughrey, Londonderry, produced much of the eye candy.
Their sale leader at 3000gns was a ewe hogg by the home-bred Dark Horse – a tup that goes back to the flock's most influential ewe, Ruby, a K5 Hewgill. She sold to Northern Ireland producer, M Kelly of the Free Hall flock.
Another from Temain, a gimmer by the J4 Blainavaid in lamb to Midlock Iceman, made 2700gns selling to Messrs Woods.
Alex Butler's Rowan Tree Farm ewe hoggs were also in the money, selling to 2600gns for an M5 Ballytober ewe hogg purchased by the Firmount flock of Paul Sammon, Co Tipperary.
Read more:
- Riddings Bluefaced Leicester sells for £65,000 record at Hawes
- Bluefaced Leicester females sold to 8000gns at Carlisle
Another from the same home, by an M7 Mistyburn, made 1800gns to Messrs Woods.
Brendan McAllister's Aughaboy flock, from Glenarm,Ballymena, hit a top of 2300gns for a gimmer by N73 Dawyck, carrying twins to the 10,000gns. Final bidder was Kiernan Malcomson.
Just behind, on 2000gns, Eamon Harkin's Moneygran flock from Dunamanagh, Strabane, sold a ewe by the M1 Yorehouse, carrying twins to M1 Penhill, to Michelle Wright buying for her Mullaghwee enterprise from Carnlough, Ballymena.
New breeder, Robert Topping went to 1900gns for the pen leader from the Ballytober flock of Jimmy Mills, Kilwaughter, Larne. This was a L10 Blarnavaid ewe hogg bought in utero at the Shafthills Lockdown Ladies sale at Carlisle.
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