A Shropshire breed shearling ram was purchased on behalf of the Prince of Wales at the fourth annual Traditional, Native and Rare Breeds Livestock Show and Sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Saturday.
The ram, named Sidedowns Nimrod, was bred by J. H. and P. A. Bowles, Cullompton, Devon and was purchased for 480 guineas by the Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association’s sales officer Claire Jakeman on behalf of Prince of Wales’ Duchy Home Farm, Tetbury.
Mrs Jakeman, from Chester, has also been tasked to buy 12 Shropshire yearling ewes to establish a flock at Duchy Home Farm, where they will graze the orchards.
She explained that the prince had chosen Shropshires because they doesn’t strip the bark off trees and are considered eco-friendly as they eat fallen leaves in the orchards, helping to prevent fungal diseases such as apple scab, which can seriously affect the health of the fruit trees.
The Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association is the oldest flock book society in the United Kingdom. It holds its National Show and Sale (West) as part of the annual Traditional, Native and Rare Breeds Livestock Show and Sale, which is hosted by auctioneers Halls.
A Shropshire shearling ram from Stonegrove Livestock, Shrawley, Worcestershire was the breed champion and also took the Sheep Interbreed title in the pre-sale show. There was strong demand for Shropshires in the sale ring and 85 of the 104 sheep on offer found buyers.
A new record price of 820 guineas for a Shropshire ram lamb was set at the event,. Mrs Sue Farquhar of Ledbury bought the record breaking ram lamb from Messrs M. and S. Shimwell of Astbury, Congleton.
Nick Hyne, Halls’ manager of Shrewsbury Auction Centre, said he was delighted that the show and sale continued to grow in stature in the breed’s home county.
The Traditional, Native and Rare Breeds Livestock Show and Sale was declared a big success, with entries - 180 pedigree sheep, 20 pigs and 25 cattle - up on last year and buyers and sellers attracted from across the country.
Included for the first time was an auction of vintage farm machinery and smallholders’ equipment and a farmer’s market. Event auctioneers were Halls’ directors Peter Willcock and David Giles and sponsors were Maelor Feeds Ltd, Wrexham, Osmonds, Lloyds TSB and Halls.
The event followed on from the successful Suffolk Sheep Society’s National Show and Sale held at Shrewsbury Auction Centre where the top price paid for a ram lamb was 17,000 guineas.
The championship winning ram lamb was bred by Iain and Judith Barbour of Annan and sold to Messrs J. H. C. Campbell and Sons of Alnwick. Next best price was 14,500 guineas for a ram lamb from noted Suffolk breeder Myfyr Evans of Denbighshire, which sold to Iain and Judith Barbour.
A total of 219 Suffolk sheep were entered and the average price was nearly 1,400 guineas, 100 guineas up on last year.
