Buyers were out in force at the annual sale of Charollais in-lamb shearling ewes and ewe lambs held at Dungannon Market, which saw averages and clearance rates far exceed the 2023 sale. 

Heading the trade at 3200gns was a classy ewe lamb from Graham Foster’s Springhill flock, Newtownstewart. This daughter of the 24,000gns Boyo Bravemansgame and out of a 2500gns Oakchurch ewe was knocked down to David Anderson from Bushmills for his Ballyhunsley flock. 

Messrs A and P Crawford, Augher topped the in lamb shearlings at 2100gns with a Ballynoe House Action Man daughter.  She was sold carrying twins to Erenagh Best Bet and heads home with Richard Powell, Armagh, who also took another from the same pen at 1600gns.  

The Springhill flock was also in the money with their pen of shearling ewes, topping at 2000gns for a Springhill Aston Martin daughter scanned with twins to Bravemansgame.  She caught the eye of Josh Hamilton, Castlederg. Also carrying to this top sire was the next best in the Springhill pen at 1700gns which went south to Gavin Fahey.  

The Malcomson family of Kenny, Sheila and Geoffrey, had a strong pen of ten shearling ewes forward, all sired by Ballyhibben Wingman. Their pen leader hit 1800gns and was knocked down to Philip Crothers for his newly formed flock in Ballyclare, Co Antrim.  

Also with a quality entry of shearlings was Glenn Baird, Armagh. He achieved 1600gns twice from his Aghavilly pen. First off was a Loanhead Virgil Van Dijk daughter in lamb to their top stock tup Belvedere. Securing this one and another Van Dijk daughter at 1500gns was W M Donaghy from Ballymena. Roger Ryan, Lisnaskea paid 1600gns for another from the Baird’s pen, who sold scanned with twins to their show winning ram this year, Aghavilly Albert. She is out of a homebred Rhaeadr Orlando daughter and sired by Botera Wesley. 

Ewe lambs

In the ewe lamb section, the Springhill flock of Graham Foster continued to dominate following their sale leading price, with their ten lambs all sired by Boyo Bravemansgame averaging £1490.  Purchaser of the second top in the pen at 2200gns was Malcolm McMeel, Co Monaghan. Four lambs will be coming over to the mainland to buyers from Scotland and Devon.  

David Anderson’s pen of ewe lambs from his Ballyhunsley flock had a good day with three four-figure prices. Firstly, at 1200gns was a Logie Durno Untouchable daughter selling to Robert Tindall, Wetherby.  At 1100gns was David’s pick of the pen which sold to Michael Brolly, Co Donegal, while at the same money was a Gwyndy Whizz Kid lamb crossing the water to J P Graham and Son, Wigton, Scotland. Richard Bamforth from Huddersfield picked three out of this pen for his Lower Denby flock.

Other notable prices:

Norman McMordie, Riverdale – 1050gns and 1000gns twice

David Mawhinney, Rockvilla – 1100gns and 1000gns

William McAllister, Artnaguillion – 1050gns twice, 1020gns and 1000gns

Rachel, Ellie and Amy Moore, Lisrodden –  1000gns

Averages : 64 shearling ewes £944.67; 36 ewe lambs £887.54 (Dungannon Farmers Mart).