DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION May 2019
D O R S E T
Quality Dorset sheep kick off sale season at Exeter May Fair Outstanding quality was presented at the annual Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset May Fair in Exeter on Wednesday (8 May), with the top animal selling to 3,400gns. The ram entry, which was slightly back on last year, saw a number of exceptional quality pedigree sheep go through the ring, with averages up £25 a head on last year, to £770.42. As the first major pedigree sheep sale of the year, the May Fair attracts vendors and buyers from across the UK to compete, exhibit, sell and buy the best stock on offer. “It is a testament to how the breed has developed that there are vendors in attendance from all across the UK,” said Graham Cubitt, chairman of the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Society. One factor noted by a number of exhibitors was the exceptionally high standard of entries this year. The show, which took place on Tuesday (7 May) saw rams and individual females compete in individual and group competitions with the hope of scooping the supreme championship prize. Fierce competition between entries from every UK nation saw Thomas Wright’s Poll Dorset ram Ballytaggart Boss Hog B2167 take the top prize of the show.
D I A
Sired by Bannside Xavi X53 and out of Ballytaggart U803, the ram’s feet are what made him stand out as the clear winner amidst a highly competitive championship class of sheep.
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Thomas Wright’s Ballytaggart Boss Hogg, B2167, selling to 3,400 gns.
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“It was a difficult decision and it could have gone to any of the top three, but the feet are terribly important to me and it goes back to that,” said Judge Les French. “The feet were the thing that swung the decision.” 1
Boss Hogg continued his success into the sale ring, where competitive bidding saw him take the best price at Wednesday’s sale, selling to Devon based J Rice for 3,400gns. This was closely followed by David Rossiter’s Huish Bentley B16084 which sold to A & G Sturgess in Shaftsbury for 3,200gns. Three other sheep broke the 2,000gns mark, while a further 20 made over 1,000gns.
Joe Larder with Byeways Booster, selling to 2,000 guineas
David Rossiter with Huish Bentley, B16084, and Sam Boon, Signet, selling to 3,200 gns
Mr Wright, whose Ballytarggart flock is situated at Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was thrilled by his success. Selling around 30 rams a year, this was his fourth supreme championship prize at the May Fair, having last won two years ago. Mr Wright has focused his emphasis on correctness in feet and mouth, which really paid off for him. “I have had a brilliant time and am just thrilled.
Reserve champion went to Francis Fooks’ shearling poll ram Poorton A373, sired by Poorton U153 and out of Pooton T782. Continuing the success in the sale, the ram made 2,300gns, selling to M Jones in Bridgend.
Francis Fooks with Poorton A373, selling to 2,300 gns.
The best single horned ram went to J H Kemball & Son with Staverton Arnie A2167, handled by Tim Pratt, which made 2,200gns in the sale ring and went to R Fitton of 2
Bolton. Mr Pratt had further success, winning the class for best Signet ewe lamb or shearling ewe with his own Deben Britney B597. Mr Cubitt noted that the breed was seeing a not insignificant resurgence in the horned sheep. “It’s encouraging to see the protection and promotion of the horned sheep”.
Tim Pratt with J H Kemball & Son’s Staverton Bea, B2293
J H Kemball & Son’s Staverton Arnie, A2167, selling to 2,200 gns
Another notable success was for David Rossiter, from Kingsbridge, Devon, who scooped the prize for the best pen of five or more rams. “It was a very good start to the Fair,” he noted.
R & D Rossiter’s Huish Flock, Best pen of rams, with from left Judge, Tim Pratt and Rich Rossiter
In the female championship, David Lewis took the top prize with Pembroke Athens A110. “It is hard to get a first place prize at the May Fair,” he commented. However, Mr Lewis has had a run of success, having won the supreme championship last year and winning the female champion prize for the last three years running.
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With 1,000 head of females through the pens, in the registered MV section Francis Fooks’ champion pen of hoggets commanded the top price of £340 a head, selling to Tom Slater in Haverfordwest. S and D Cole took the top price for non MVA registered females for two pens of nine, selling for £180 a head. The best unregistered topped at £182 each for Ivor Prouse’s pen of 10 breeding ewe lambs.
Fooks Bros. Champion Pen of Females (Ewe Hoggets) with from left, judges Les French & Mark Hayman & Francis Fooks
David Lewis with the Champion Female, Pembroke Athens, A110
According to Russell Steer, auctioneer at Kivells, who presided over the penned sales, there were less sheep for sale but the trade sold straight for both buyer and seller. “The top pens of commercial shearlings fetched £160-£180, while other decent types took £140-£150. There were about the right number of females for the demand.” The best animals sold well and made a good price, with a steady trade throughout the day, with a good range of pedigree and commercial buyers, commented Mr Cubitt. “Once again, the quality of sheep on offer is a strong indicator that things are healthy across the sheep sector,” he added. “One great thing about the breed competitions is that it is strong and fierce, but there’s a great social side as well. It’s a stressful few days but everyone enjoys being social together.”
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MAY FAIR SHOW RESULTS, 2019 Best Pen of Rams
R & D Rossiter’s Huish Flock, with from left, Judge, Tim Pratt & Rich Rossiter
Class 1 – Best Ewe Lamb
Class 2 – Best Shearling Ewe
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
156 162 168 158 153
Mr J Larder J H Kemball & Son Miss L Crowther R & R Hole Mr D Lewis
Best Ewe Lamb, sponsored by Waitrose, Joe Larder’s Byeways Bonnie, B932, with from left Dylan Laws, Waitrose, Les French, President and Joe Larder
152 157 163 151
Mr D Lewis R & R Hole Mrs G Davies Mr D Lewis
Gilly Pusey, presenting the Alan Fooks Trophy in memory of her father, to the Champion Female, sponsored by Kivells & Best Shearling Ewe, David Lewis’ Pembroke Athens, A110, with from left Gilly Pusey, Russell Steer, Kivells, Les French, President, and David Lewis
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Class 3 – Best Ewe Lamb or Shearling Ewe within Signet
Special Class – Progeny Group of 3
1st 2nd
1st
161 159
Mr T Pratt R & R Hole
51, 53, 153
Mr D Lewis
Reserve Champion Female, & Best Ewe Lamb or Shearling Ewe within Signet, sponsored by Mr Edwin Pocock, Tim Pratt’s Deben Britney, B596 with from left Edwin Pocock, Les French, President, and Tim Pratt
Class 4 – Best Ram Lamb or Shearling Ram within Signet
Class 5 – Best Pair of Ram Lambs
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
17 105 39 86 123
R & D Rossiter R & R Hole W & K Carson Mr T Pratt Mr J Royan
69, 70 91,93 46, 53 16, 23 56, 57
Mr T Wright J & C Robson Mr D Lewis R & D Rossiter S & S Lyons
Best Pair of Ram Lambs, sponsored by Kivells, Thomas Wright’s Ballytaggart Billy, B2131 and Boris, B2151, with from left Alistair McNeill, Russell Steer, Kivells, Les French, President, and Thomas Wright
Best Ram lamb or Shearling Ram within Signet, sponsored by Signet Breeding Services, R & D Rossiter’s Huish Bentley, B16084 with from left Ruth Watts, Les French, President and David Rossiter 6
Class 6 – Best Single Horn Ram Lamb
Class 7 – Best Single Poll Ram Lamb
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
167 31 114 113
Miss L Crowther Mr S Driver J H Kemball & Son J H Kemball & Son
67 20 60 165 97
Mr T Wright R & D Rossiter Mr J Larder Miss L Crowther Griffiths & Davies
Champion Male Exhibit, and Best Single Poll Ram Lamb, sponsored by Waitrose, Thomas Wright’s Ballytaggart Boss Hogg, B2167, with from left Dylan Laws, Waitrose, Les French, President, and Thomas Wright
Best Single Horn Ram Lamb, Louise Crowther’s Buckenhill Baloo, B4, with from left Les French, President and Matthey Grey
Class 8 – Best Group of Three Rams
Class 9 – Best Shearling Horn Ram
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st 2nd 3rd
48, 50, 52 140,141, 142 65, 66, 68 19, 22, 18 117, 118, 119
Mr D Lewis V P, M & A Care Mr T Wright R & D Rossiter Fooks Bros.
Best Group of Three Rams, sponsored by Shearwell Data Ltd., David Lewis’ Pembroke Bomber, B52, Bourbon, B40, and Banker, B16, with from left James Robson, David Lewis, Helen Davies, Shearwell Data Ltd., Les French, President, and Craig Robson
111 120 30
J H Kemball & Son Fooks Bros. Mr S Driver
Best Horn Exhibit, sponsored by Shearwell Data Ltd., & Best Shearling Horn Ram, J H Kemball & Sons, Staverton Arnie, A2167, with from left Helen Davies, Shearwell Data Ltd., Les French, President and Tim Pratt 7
Class 10 – Best Shearling Poll Ram
Class 11 – Best Pair of Shearling Rams
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
116 1 29 9 139
Fooks Bros. Mr M Hayman Mr S Driver A & C Kingdon V P, M & A Care
144, 145 10,11 26, 32 132,133 3, 4
V P, M & A Care A & C Kingdon Mr S Driver W L French Mr M Hayman
Best Pair of Shearling Rams, sponsored by David Eglin, Bramain Caravan Storage, V P, M & A Care’s Burhos Augustus, A987, and Albert A978, with from left Matthew Care, David Eglin, Bramain Caravan Storage, Les French, President and Adam Care
Reserve Champion Male Exhibit and Best Shearling Poll Ram, sponsored by Waitrose, Fooks Bros., Poorton A373, with from left Dylan Laws, Waitrose, Les French, President and Francis Fooks
2019 Sponsors with the Championship line up
Standing, Sponsors, with the President, from left: David Eglin, Bramain Caravan Storage, Dylan Laws, Waitrose, Les French, President, Helen Davies, Shearwell Data Ltd., Russell Steer, Kivells and Edwin Pocock. Front row, breeders from left: Adam Care, Matthew Care, Matthew Bagwell, David Rossiter, Thomas Wright, James Robson, David Lewis, Craig Robson, Alistair McNeill, Steven Lyons, Tim Pratt, and Matthew Gray 8
FEMALE PENS Champion Pen: Reserve Champion Pen:
Fooks Bros. (Hoggets) R & R Hole (Ewe Lambs)
Class 12 – Best Pen of 5 Ewes
Class 14 – Best Pen of 5 Ewe Lambs
1st
1st 2nd 3rd
232
P W Baker & Son
235 233 234
R & R Hole P W Baker & Son Mr J Larder
Class 13 – Best Pen of 5 Hoggets st
1 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
247 201 218 215 214
R & R Hole’s Reserve Champion Pen of Ewe Lambs, with from left Judge, David Eglin, Rob Hole and Judge Les French
Fooks Bros. Mrs G Davies D J Thomas & Son J B May & Son Mr S Driver
Fooks Bros. Champion Pen of Females with from left Judges, Les French, and Mark Hayman and Francis Fooks
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2019 MAY FAIR PRINCIPAL EWE AND RAM PRICES AV PRICE £
TOP PRICE £
1198.75 1338.75 813.75 840.00 637.87 840.00 1076.25 588.00 682.50 703.50 607.50 525.00 525.00 486.50 500.50 525.00 464.62 448.08 472.50
3570.00 3360.00 2100.00 1365.00 1260.00 1155.00 1102.50 1102.50 1050.00 997.50 735.00 682.50 630.00 630.00 609.00 525.00 525.00 525.00 472.50
MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA
1400.00 2310.00 1008.00 1015.00 761.25 1050.00 687.75 538.12 516.60 472.50 393.75
2415.00 2310.00 1260.00 1207.50 1050.00 1050.00 945.00 735.00 577.50 577.50 420.00
MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA
336.00 294.00 278.25 252.00 262.50 210.00
336.00 294.00 294.00 294.00 262.50 210.00
MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA
525.00 420.00
525.00 420.00
MVA MVA
Ram Lambs Mr T Wright R & D Rossiter Mr J Larder J H Kemball & Son J & C Robson Fooks Bros. A & C Kennedy S & S Lyons Mr J Royan R & R Hole W & K Carson A & P McNeill G & E Jones Mr D Lewis Mr & Mrs M Maybin Mr S Driver Griffiths & Davies Mr G Cubitt Mr T Pratt
6 av 6 av 4 av 2 av 4 av 2 av 2 av 5 av 3 av 5 av 7 av 2 av 2 av 6 av 3 av 4 av 3 av
Shearling Rams Fooks Bros. J H Kemball & Son Mr S Driver V P, M & A Care Miss A Knowlson J B May & Son Mr M Hayman W L French A & C Kingdon Mr A Steff Mrs G Davies Individual Ewe Lambs J H Kemball & Son Mr J Larder R & R Hole Mr T Pratt Mr D Lewis Miss L Crowther
3 av 5 av 6 av 2av 4 av 4 av 5 av 2 av 2 av
2 av 2 av
Individual Shearling Ewes Mr D Lewis R & R Hole 10
PENS Registered Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Ewe Hoggets £ Fooks Bros. P 200 - 340 3 pens Mrs G Davies P 170 - 250 5 pens Mr S Driver H 235 1 pen J B May & Son P 180 - 210 2 pens S & D Cole P 170 - 180 11 pens A & C Kingdon P 155 - 180 5 pens D J Thomas & Son P 155 - 180 6 pens Combined Counties Properties P 95 - 180 9 pens W L French P 150 - 170 2 pens Mrs J Wreford-Brown P 150 – 160 2 pens M J Freegard P 115 – 160 5 pens P W Baker & Son P 150 1 pen Mrs S Britton P 135 – 142 2 pens W L & E Sandercock P 130 – 135 4 pens R Butler & J Benstead P 130 1 pen Mr P Corbett H 105 – 110 4 pens
MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA
MVA
Registered Poll Dorset Ewes £ P W Baker & Son
P
120
1 pen
MVA
1 pen 1 pen 1 pen 2 pens
MVA MVA MVA
Registered Poll Dorset Ewe Lambs £ P W Baker & Son R & R Hole Mr J Larder Mrs J Wreford-Brown
P P P P
200 200 200 110 – 115
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CARLISLE “SPRING STARS” Monday 25th March saw the inaugural ‘Spring Stars’ sale of Dorset Sheep at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Breeders from every corner of the UK, from Deveronvale to Devon and Antrim to Aberystwyth and everywhere in between were in attendance with their entries of 106 sheep to make the sale one to remember! And it was especially memorable for Northern Irish breeder Ben Lamb who secured the two top prices of the day. The top spot was for lot 9, Richhill A-Plus, who took 3rd Prize Shearling Ewe in the pre-sale Show. She is a Sandleford Usain daughter out of an Olivertree Nik-Nak ewe and was chopped down to Andrew and Caroline Kennedy of the Maineview flock in County Antrim for 2,200gns.
Top priced Ben Lamb’s Richhill A-Plus
The Second top price of the day was Lot 8, Richhill AStar. A-Star is by Sandelford Thunder and out of a ewe by Downkillybegs Pegasus. She stood top shearling ewe, and Female Champion in the show and made 2,000gns selling to fellow NI Breeder Gary Hanna.
The third top price, and top price male was up next and this was Lot 58, Ballytaggart Buster, a ram lamb from Thomas Wright, again in Northern Ireland. This Bannside Xavi son, with a Richhill Sampson mother, caught the eye of Scottish breeder Alistair Morton, who has taken him home to the Stobilee Flock In Lanarkshire for 1,500gns. The second top priced male was also the days Supreme Champion, Ballyhamage Braveheart, Lot 104, from James and Craig Robson, Ballyclare, is a ram lamb out a Sherborne Striker ewe, and is by the top priced ram lamb at the 2016 May Fair, Pembroke Zest-Is-Best. He is going back to his roots, joining David Lewis’ Pembroke Flock for 1,200gns.
James Robson, left & Craig Robson, right with the Supreme Champion, Ballyhamage Braveheart
Thomas Wright with the top priced male, Ballytaggart Buster
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Jumping back to Females, the next two top prices in that section both headed back to Richard Fitton’s Flock in Manchester. First up, at 900gns, was Downkillybegs A102, from William and Karen Carson. This Shearling ewe by Deverill Xavi stood second in the show. She heads back to Manchester alongside the next highest priced female, and the top priced Ewe Lamb of the day. This was the ewe lamb that stood 1st Prize in the show and was Lot 28, Olivertree Babs, from Raymond Hill. She is a very smart Hilltop Alabama daughter.
Left – Shane Wilson with the winner of the ewe lamb class, Raymond Hill’s Oliver Tree Babs
Centre – William Carson with the 2nd placed shearling ewe, Downkillybegs A102
In the male section, achieving another impressive price of 900gns was Ben Lamb. Lot 88, Richhill Bionic, is an Oliver Tree Zlatan son, out a Ballytaggart Trojan dam, and he sold to Messrs Knox, Riverview, Ballymoney. There were then two Rams sold at 800gns. The first of these was by that man Ben Lamb again. Lot 90, Richhill Barney is another Zlatan son but this time the dam is a Ballytaggart Nijinsky. He is staying in NI with Messrs Hall. Then, it was the days ‘Best Horned Exhibit’ from Sam Driver. Lot 51, Sandy Lane Action Man is a September ‘17 born Shearling by Staverton Xanadu. He also made 800gns and is staying in the realms of the Northern Dorset Club by joining Alex Birch, Bakewell, Derbyshire. At 750gns was the Reserve Male Champion. Lot 80, Islaharnan Bruno, who was also the second prized ram lamb and is by Bannside X51 and out of a Tardree Sampson Daughter. He is heading up to the Scottish Borders in a joint purchase between the Bennachie Flock of James Royan, and the Dun Eideann Flock of Denis and Declan Rankine.
James Royan, joint buyer with the Reserve Male Champion, Islaharnan Bruno
Sam Driver with the Best Horned Exhibit, Sandy Lane Action Man, and Judge, Rowland Davies
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Other top prices included: Lot 69 - Ballymaconnelly Bertie, 700gns to Messrs Knox, Lot 32 - Ballymaconnelly Bella, 650gns to L Weir, Lot 33 - Ballymaconnelly Bonnie, 600gns to L Weir, Lot 30 - Beechmount Bunty, 600 to Messrs McClure, Lot 47 - Pembroke A Star, 600 to Messrs Eadon, Lot 86 - Kildowney Brandy, 600 to Marianne Sheed These prices helped the sale achieve some very good averages. Ram Lambs sold to an average of £638.17, Shearling Rams to £546.38, Shearling Ewes to £542.29 and Ewe Lambs to £513.19. 2019 CARLISLE SPRING STARS SALE PRICES AV TOP PRICE (Gns) PRICE (Gns) Individual Shearling Ewes Mr B Lamb W & K Carson Griffiths & Davies Miss L Weir S & S Lyons Mr A Steff Mr G Meaden
3 av
2 av 2 av 4 av 4 av
1533.33 900.00 500.00 275.00 300.00 255.00 152.50
2200.00 900.00 500.00 350.00 320.00 320.00 160.00
MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA
2 av 2 av 2 av 2 av
510.00 625.00 460.00 360.00
700.00 650.00 600.00 400.00
MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN
2 av
600.00 600.00 350.00
800.00 600.00 350.00
MVA MVA MVA
1500.00 775.00 850.00 585.00 700.00 600.00 460.00 450.00 450.00 400.00 350.00 350.00 350.00
1500.00 1200.00 900.00 750.00 700.00 600.00 520.00 500.00 450.00 400.00 350.00 350.00 350.00
MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA/SMN
Individual Ewe Lambs Mr & Mrs R Hill Mr & Mrs S Caldwell Mr B & Miss A McConnell Mr & Mrs A Kennedy Shearling Rams Mr S Driver Mr D Lewis Mr A Steff Ram Lambs Mr T Wright J & C Robson Mr B Lamb Mr S Mullan Mr & Mrs S Caldwell Mr G Cubitt Mr & Mrs A Kennedy Mr & Mrs R Hill Mr S Wilson W & K Carson Mr D Lewis S & S Lyons Miss L Weir
2 av 2 av 2 av
2 av 2 av
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DORSET HORNS THRIVING IN THE PEAK DISTRICT The Dorset Horn has played an integral role in a large commercial sheep farming operation run by the Driver family in Derbyshire’s Peak District for more than 60 years. Sam Driver inherited the passion for the breed from his late grandfather, Stanley, who brought Dorset Horn rams he bought at the annual May Fair sale starting in 1952 back to Sandy Lane Farm, Glossop on the train. Now the diverse sheep enterprise based on hill ewes and using the Dorset Horn and other rams including Texel, Suffolk and Bluefaced Leicester, numbers 5,000 ewes plus hoggs. It is run alongside a herd of 35 crossbred suckler cows and Sam’s herd of 20 pedigree Simmentals. “We have used Dorset Horn rams on our hill ewes for many years. We run Derbyshire Lonk and Lonk cross ewes, traditionally common to the area, and we are currently using about 30 homebred Dorset Horn rams on them,” said Sam, whose first Dorset Horn females established his Sandy Lane flock with his grandfather’s blessing when he was just nine years old in 1997.
“The Dorset Horn rams are loosed onto Severely Disadvantaged land and they work where we just wouldn’t expect other breeds to perform,” he added. The family has found that the Dorset cross ewes outperform other lowland type hill crosses because of their ability to produce an early quality lamb finished off grass. “The Dorset Horn cross works for us and suits our farm and we have found a good end market for our finished lambs. It’s not just about producing the ewes for further breeding but the Lonk cross Dorset Horn produces an excellent finished wether lamb,” said Sam.
Of the Drivers’ total stratified flock there are 800 Lonk and Lonk cross ewes which are either bred pure or crossed with the Dorset Horn. Between 600-700 of their Dorset cross progeny put to the Texel and SuffolK make up the early lambing flock. A further 250 Dorset Horn cross hoggs are tupped with Badgerface and Welsh Mountain rams. The remainder of the breeding sheep are Swaledales, Herdwicks, crossbred hill ewes and Mules. 15
Lambing the 5,000 ewes is in three stints older ewes lamb in January, another batch in February and the shearlings lamb in April. Ewe hoggs are lambed in May to the Badger Faced. Crossbred Dorsets are lambed between January and May, mostly outside. “First cross Dorset out of a Lonk are tupped early with a Texel or Suffolk producing lambs from the beginning of January. We don’t have to creep feed the lambs which are sold at 12-16 weeks old,” said Sam. All lambs are sold deadweight either to Dunbia, Preston, or to the award winning local Butcher of the Year Mettricks in Glossop. Finished lambs carcases average 18kg at R3L but finishing weight is flexible particularly for the local butcher who buys around 15-20 a week (800-900 lambs a year). It is marketed under locally-reared High Peak Lamb.
Sam’s Sandy Lane Dorset Horn flock, which provides rams to use on the commercial ewes, with the exception of the first 12 ewes and another five females bought since are home bred. No Horns have been bought since 2004. The Poll Dorsets were established with purchases from several different flocks and at dispersal sales and now 90% of the Polled flock is now home-bred.
The first Poll Dorset ram arrived in 1997 with the Horned ewes. The first year they were crossed with the Horned ewes and the first cross lambs which were polled were kept. Realising the market potential for polled ewes both for pedigree breeding and for use as embryo recipients Sam began to develop their numbers. In 2018 the Sandy Lane flock of 175 Dorset Horn ewes - the largest flock in the country and 310 Poll Dorset ewes won the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Association annual flock competition for the first time. 16
Sam has entered both Horn and Poll sheep at the Dorset May Fair show and sale in Exeter, missing only one year since 2006, and his biggest success was in 2014 taking the award for the best horned exhibit with a shearling ram - although the flock is usually among the prizes. He says: “Dorset sheep fit into all systems because of their ability to lamb all year round. They are in particular demand from newcomers to sheep husbandry with smallholdings. “The sheer docility is a big key. Their desire to escape is virtually nil providing there’s a green blade of grass in front of them! Their mothering ability is second to none and if a ewe doesn’t mother its lambs then they are culled from our flock.” Sam regularly sells ‘starter’ flocks to people with small acreages as they are ideal for fitting in with work and holidays because of their versatility in lambing which can be up to three times in two years. Because of their ease of management, newcomers to sheep farming can learn a lot from them, he says.
Dorset Horn breed characteristics: Thrives in diverse conditions Docile and easily handled Prolific and the only breed (with Polls) to lamb out of season Fits in with other farming systems to make best use of buildings or farming activity Ewes crossed with a terminal sire produce fast growing lambs at any time of year Ram can produce crossbred ewes with the ability to lamb out of season Lambs finished off grass from 10 weeks old giving up to 20kg carcase Long lived with lambing percentages between 140-200 Generally little supplementary feeding required RBST description - at risk
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WORCESTER SALE SATURDAY, 13TH JULY, 2019 As with May Fair, the Worcester entry forms are only being posted to members who have sold at the sale over the past five or six years. If you are on e-mail they will be e-mailed to you. They will also be available to download off the website if you have access to this. If you would like to receive entry forms for the Worcester sale by post please ring the office.
ENTRIES CLOSE 12 NOON, WEDNESDAY, 12TH JUNE
2019 FLOCK COMPETITION You will find the entry forms for the 2019 flock competition attached/enclosed with this mailing and again they are available to download off the website. The judges are Sam Driver and Joe Larder and they will be judging between 31st July and 7th August, but could take longer, depending on entries. They will contact you direct to arrange a mutually convenient date for their visit. Do please try and support the competition – it will be well worth the effort If you are not in it, you cannot win it!!
ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 28th June, 2019
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SHOW RESULTS CARLISLE “SPRING STARS” Judge: Mr Rowland Davies Breed Champion: Reserve Breed Champion: Champion Male: Reserve Champion Male: Champion Female: Reserve Champion Female: Best Horn Exhibit:
J & C Robson Mr B Lamb J & C Robson Mr S Mullan Mr B Lamb Mr & Mrs R Hill Mr S Driver
The Champion, Ballyhamage Braveheart, with from left Rowland Davies, Judge, James Robson, and Craig Robson
Ben Lamb with the Reserve Champion, Richhill A Star
From left Seamus Mullan with the Reserve Male Champion, Islaharnan Bruno, Rowland Davies, Judge, and James Robson with the Champion, Ballyhamage Braveheart
From left Shane Wilson, with Raymond Hill’s Reserve Champion Female, Oliver Tree Babs, Rowland Davies, Judge, and Ben Lamb with the Champion Female, Richill A Star
From left, Rowland Davies Judge, and Sam Driver, with the Best Dorset Horn Exhibit, Sandy Lane Action Man
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Shearling Ewe:
1. Mr B Lamb 2. W & K Carson 3. Mr B Lamb
Ewe Lamb:
1. Mr & Mrs R Hill 2. Mr & Mrs S Caldwell 3. Mr & Mrs A Kennedy
Shearling Ram:
1. Miss A Knowlson 2. Mr S Driver 3. R & D Rossiter
Ram Lamb:
1. J & C Robson 2. Mr S Mullan 3. Mr G Cubitt
DISCLAIMER
DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION
The Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Sheep Breeder’s Association produce this newsletter in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained therein.
Agriculture House, Acland Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1EF Tel/Fax: 01305 262126 e-mail: dorsetsheep@xlnmail.com website: www.dorsetsheep.org.uk Breed Secretary: Marguerite Cowley
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