Having set a new female breed record at their last major celebration sale 10 years ago, Charles and Helen Sercombe of the Dalby flock smashed all expectations on Saturday at their Dalby Coral Celebration sale by setting a new female breed record at 12,500gns. 

The Melton Mowbray, Leics-based flock’s sale leader was Dalby Tutti Frutti, a 2017-born Foulrice Regis daughter out of one of the flock’s most successful females, Dalby Rhapsody. Having won the Great Yorkshire Show as a ewe lamb in 2018, this one carries an index of 369 putting her in the top 1% of the breed and has a scan weight EBV of 12.92, the highest of any Charollais female. After a spirited bidding war between ring side goers and internet bidders, the final bid of 12,500gns was knocked down to W and C Ingram for their Logie Durno flock, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. 

Next up at 3400gns was the highest priced shearling ewe on the day, Dalby Vera. By Edstaston Tulloch, this one is out of Dalby Matilda, a Foulrice Regis daughter. This top 5% index female caught the eye of Messrs Madders and Johnson, Hopton, Stafford.

The second highest shearling ewe at 2800gns was a maternal sister to the sale leader in the form of Dalby Venita, an ET-bred Knockin Shockin daughter out of Dalby Rhapsody. Again, selling with a top 5% performance index, this one went home with Arwyn Thomas, Whitland, Carmarthenshire, for his Arbryn flock. 

Just shy of that price at 2500gns was another strong aged ewe, the 2018-born Dalby Uzabelle. This Dalby Ranieri daughter is out of Loanhead Maggie, a Bawnard Bolt daughter. She was knocked down to Tim Prichard, Llantrisant, Glamorgan, for his Castellau flock. 

Then selling for 2350gns was another 2018-born female, an ET-bred female out of Dalby Rhapsody by one of the flock’s most influential sires, Rockvilla Golden Promise. This one sold on the internet to David Argue, Co Cavan, Ireland. 

At 2000gns was Dalby Ula-laa, another by Edstaston Tulloch, this one previously stood first at the Norfolk Show in 2019 and she carries a top 1% index of 347. Buying this one for their Crogham flock were Jonathan and Carroll Barber, Wymondham, Norfolk.    

A charity auction at the end of the sale saw semen straws being offered from Rockvilla Golden Promise which sold to a top of 290gns/straw with proceeds going to the farming charity RABI. 

Averages: 30 breeding ewes £1250.90; 41 shearling ewes £850.24 (McCartneys).