Crosemanor Suffolk event has Continental appeal

A successful production sale for Shropshire breeder Robin Hulme’s Crosemanor Suffolk flock saw sheep sell to breeders from Holland and Italy and at least 10 buyers taking foundation stock for new UK flocks.

Trade was strongest for females with a bloodline tracing back to the flock’s famous Pankymoor Prelude ewe N24, the dam of the successful 26,000gns sire Crosemanor Commandeur.

And it was an ET-bred grand-daughter of N24 sired by Stockton Royal Nugget – this year’s Royal Show inter-breed champion – that caused the greatest stir, at 7000gns.

This ewe lamb is out of a Birness Aqua ewe that is full sister to the flock’s senior stock ram Crosemanor Jubilee Gold.

She heads for the Glenho flock of Eire breeder Tom Bailey.

Jimmy Douglas’ Cairness flock has already benefited from the N24 line through one of her daughters which produced the 20,000gns Cairness Impact. And he was back for more to give 3600gns for a ewe lamb by Gold Nugget and out of an Aqua dam tracing back to the N24 matron.

“This has been a great breeding family, not only for us but for other flocks, too,” said Mr Hulme

The sale, which grossed almost 56,000 for 120 head, saw John Sinnett give 1200gns for a shearling gimmer to join his Stockton flock.

This daughter of Bawnogue Wilko is out of a Glenho Galileo ewe from the family that produced Crosemanor Jubilee King, who has bred sons to 28,000gns.

The gimmer was in-lamb to the privately purchased Stockton Saint.

Two Dutch breeders accounted for a wagonload of females.

Mr Lammers, owner of one of Holland’s leading Holstein herds, paid up to 500gns for a gimmer by Bawnogue Wilko and in-lamb to Gold Nugget.

Fellow Dutchman Mr Van Eck spent 550gns for another Wilko gimmer, in-lamb to the privately purchased Castlewellan President, while Italian breeder Fabrizio Arena took two lots for his flock at Padua.

Averages: 21 ewe lambs 830, 49 gimmers 440 and 50 ewes 340.

(John Swann & Sons with J Straker Chadwick & Sons)