Ballymacnamee Ewe Lamb Tops the NI Dorset Club Premier Sale at 2,700gns
On Monday evening, there was a buzz in Ballymena Livestock Mart for the 53rd Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Premier Sale. The demand for top-quality Dorsets was remarkable, with a packed sales ring and online bids flying in. This exceptional demand saw ram lamb averages reach a 10-year high, and all other averages were also up considerably on the 2024 sale, highlighting the ever-improving quality of the breed in Northern Ireland. Judge for the pre-sale show, kindly sponsored by Norbrook Laboratories, was Mr Joe Larder of the Somerset-based Byeways flock.
Topping the sale at 2,700gns (€3,270) was a super ewe lamb from the Ballymacnamee flock of Elaine Gilmore and Peter Breen. Earlier in the day, she was Judge Joe Larder’s pick of the Polled Ewe Lamb class and went on to claim the Overall Reserve Champion title. This prizewinning lamb was sired by Ashvale Ferdie F705, and her dam was Ashvale E0503 — a highly admired ewe purchased for the top price at the 2022 October Dorset Sale. She was purchased by breeders Andrew and Grace Sloane of the Dullaghan flock.
The next highest price of 950gns in the ewe lamb section came from Caroline McKeown’s Ashvale pen. This striking ewe lamb was sired by the ever-consistent Downkillybegs Evolution E054 and was purchased by European buyer Wagenaar Jeroen. Caroline went on to sell her pen of 10 ewe lambs to average an impressive 620gns.
Also putting forward a strong team of ewe lambs were the Robson brothers, James and Craig, of the Ballyhamage flock. Their pen topped at 900gns for an impressive substitute ewe lamb, and their seven ewe lambs went on to average 550gns.
The title of Overall Champion in the pre-sale show was awarded to a pair of ewe lambs from the Hilltop flock of Richard Currie. These Castlemount Ferdinand F700-sired lambs were like two peas in a pod, with excellent breed characteristics and overall flash. Kevin O’Connell of the Coomkeen flock purchased both for 600gns and 700gns respectively, keeping the champion pair together.
It was Cameron Carson’s horned ewe lamb consignment that dominated the Horned Section. He swept the board in the Horned Ewe Lamb class, claiming 1st to 4th place, before going on to win Best Horned Exhibit. This champion horned lamb later sold for 550gns. Carson’s pen of five horned ewe lambs, all sired by Sandylane Fratelli F8074, averaged 490gns.
The large entry of ewe lambs had a clearance rate of 95.8%, averaging £485, which is £73 up on the 2024 sale.
Ram Lambs
Demand for quality ram lambs was extremely strong, with the top price reaching 2,300gns. This was paid for Ashvale Heartbreaker, a standout ram lamb from Caroline McKeown’s flock. This son of Downkillybegs Evolution E054 was snapped up by Laura Weir with a last-minute bid. The Ashvale flock also won the Pair of Ram Lambs class, and their pen of four averaged an impressive 1,138gns.
The second-highest priced ram lamb at 1,700gns was Ballymaconnelly Hubert H502, a powerful Bencran Ferarri-sired lamb from Samuel and Elaine Caldwell. He was purchased by N. Murphy. The couple also sold Ballymaconnelly Harold H500 for 1,000gns, another Bencran Ferarri son, bought by Ballymoney man R. McCaughern.
Claiming the top spot in the Ram Lamb class and winning Opposite Sex to the Champion was Matthew Hall with his stylish entry, Ballycraig Hillbilly H2157. This lamb had earlier placed second at the Balmoral Show. He was sired by Maineview Golden Boy out of a Richhill-bred ewe and sold for 900gns to K. Lagan of Claudy.
The exceptional quality of ram lambs led to a strong average of £807, up £242 on the previous year, with a clearance rate of 91.4%.
Shearling Rams
The Shearling Ram section was small but competitive. Once again, Caroline McKeown’s Ashvale flock led the way with Ashvale Grandslam G955, a first prizewinner with strong pedigree. His dam, Drumlin B484, also bred the noted stock rams Ashvale Ferdi and Castlemount Fergus. Grandslam sold for 850gns to Christine Murphy.
This section achieved a 100% clearance rate, averaging £630, up £69 on the previous year.
Elite In-Lamb Shearling Ewe Class
New to this year’s catalogue was the Elite In-Lamb Shearling Ewe class, sponsored by Beatties Farm and Fuel and judged by Dorset Society President Mrs Helen Driver. Despite a small entry, the quality was high and attracted interest from both new and established breeders.
Taking the win was Caroline McKeown with her pen-leading shearling ewe Ashvale G1133, sired by Downkillybegs Evolution E054 and scanned in-lamb carrying a single to Olivertree Glen. This ewe topped the section at 750gns, selling to Tom McCrea.
The new class achieved a 100% clearance rate, averaging £507, up £56 on last year's shearling ewe class.
Section Averages
Shearling Rams: £630 (+£69.70) – Clearance 100%
Ram Lambs: £807.70 (+£242.48) – Clearance 91.4%
Shearling Ewes: £507.15 (+£55.65) – Clearance 100%
Ewe Lambs: £485.24 (+£73.39) – Clearance 95.8%