Date: 12th – 13th September 2024
Judge: Brydon Nicholson
A tremendous entry of sheep were put up for sale with the Suffolk breed representing just over 25% of the total sheep entered at Kelso this year.
Higher numbers sold in both Rings 8 and 10 reflected the increasing interest and the return to the trusty Suffolk that can deliver so many advantages at every level.
With a total of 3254 rams being sold at Kelso, 877 were Suffolks meaning 26.95% of rams sold at Kelso this year were Suffolks. This is significantly higher than last year demonstrating that our market share is on the rise. A great sale for the breed with lots of new buyers investing on the day.
Thursday 12th September was a fine evening for the show of the MV accredited and registered Suffolk shearlings and ram lambs. A popular choice of judge Brydon Nicholson formerly of Shetland but now farming in the Borders cast his expert eye over the gathering.
A very busy show ring kindly sponsored by Harbro.
Shearling Rams
1st Lot 1879 – W&C Ingram – Logie Durno
2nd Lot 1860 – Watson – Bowdens Moor
3rd Lot 1880 – W&C Ingram – Logie Durno
4th Lot 1835 – Watson – Bowdens Moor
5th Lot 1779 – John Elliot – Roxburgh Mains
6th Lot 1909 – Fiona Wight – Wights
Ram Lambs
1st Lot 2443 – G Christie – Balquhain
2nd Lot 2340 – JC Innes – Strathbogie
3rd Lot 2430 – Mark Evans – Jubilee
4th Lot 2460 – GL Stuart – Birness
5th Lot 2407 -JT Cannon – Redbrae
6th Lot 2363 – S&L Buckley – Sitlow
SALE
The sale began with the traditional ringing of the bell at 10.00am sharp with Scott Donaldson (Harrison and Hetherington) in the rostrum selling the registered shearlings in Ring 8 and Richard Henderson (United Auctions) taking the gavel in Ring 10 with registered ram lambs.
Ring 8 Shearlings
With an entry of 276 and not all lots forward a tremendous clearance rate was achieved with most rams forward finding new homes and brisk bidding throughout the sale. There were 250 sold with a top price of £5,200 from Logie Durno at the fall of the hammer going to Messrs Mason. The second top price of the day also being picked up by the Ingrams for £5,000 by Messrs Pate Toxside. The full pen of 28 rams sold to an average of £2,082.14 proving a good day at the office for the Ingrams in the Suffolk ring!
A busy day too for John Elliot, Roxburgh with lots of both registered and unregistered Suffolks sheep being sold. His performance recorded pen in the MV registered ring sold very well with a high of £4,800 going to Hall, Warnock, Dreva and Lilyburn and his pen of 9 netting an average of £2,433.33 which was top average for the day.
The total average for the sale of 250 Shearling rams sold was £1330.48, an increase on 2023 of £28.02 with 26 more lambs sold and going to new postcodes.
| Ring 8 Kelso 2024 – Shearling rams | |||
| Consignor | Flock | No Sold | Average |
| J Elliot | Roxburgh Mains | 9 | 2433.33 |
| W&C Ingram | Logie Durno | 28 | 2082.14 |
| Mssrs A Gray | Langside | 12 | 1658.33 |
| J Watson &Co | Brijon | 30 | 1500.00 |
| Scott Bourman | Middlehouse | 9 | 1455.56 |
Ring 10 Ram lambs
The top lamb price of £3,000 was reached twice and with 187 being sold it was by far the biggest entry of ram lambs of any breed at Kelso. A very happy and satisfied Steve and Louise Buckley, Sitlow flock gained joint top price and saw their lamb go to Waltons at Floddenlaw, making the journey from Derbyshire all worthwhile! With their pen of 9 averaging £1,522.22 topped the ram lamb average. The other top price went to Jimmy Douglas, Cairness flock seeing his pen of 6 averaging £1116.67.
The registered Suffolk ram lamb average for the 187 sold was £732.62 back on last year’s high but seeing 21 more lambs going to new owners.
| Ring 10 Kelso – Ram lambs | |||
| Consignor | Flock | No Sold | Average |
| S Buckley | Sitlow | 9 | 1522.22 |
| J Douglas | Cairness | 6 | 1116.67 |
| Mrs RH Goldie | Harpercroft | 5 | 1030.00 |
| ML Evans | Jubilee | 12 | 1008.33 |
| GL Stuart | Birness | 12 | 962.52 |
Ring 14 Unregistered Suffolk Shearlings
It’s always interesting at the Ram sales at Kelso that quite a few breeders opt to sell in the non MV accredited ring which was a busy place again from the ringing of the bell until the last sheep was sold. Many consigners are members of the Society and the top price in Ring 14 went to one of them. John Elliot of Roxburgh flock led the way with £5,200. His pen of 39 rams went on to average £1,435.90. The hope is that we can engage more with these breeders through the 1886 Heritage Suffolk Lamb initiative so watch this space and see how you can join the success that this initiative will offer.
There were 440 rams sold at an average of £1,149.66 which was an increase of £243.38 on last year’s Ring 14 average.
Kelso Gallery
