Kelso – Traditional Type – 13th September 2024

Kelso – Thursday 12th & Friday 13th September, 2024

Pre Sale Show Kindly Sponsored by Davidsons Animal Feeds

Is it really that time of year already? The Kelso Ram sales kicks off a lively season of sales, and what a kick off it was this year, with some great sales among the gimmers and lambs at breeding sales and the fat market in a buoyant mood, the signs looked promising, and it certainly delivered. Whilst entries were down in both ring, the demand for top quality Blue Faced Leicester rams continues to grow, with the average shooting up £275 on the year, with total sales grossing just shy of £530,000 for the breed.

In the Traditional section the trade was as equally hot, with two tups hitting the magical 5 figures. The highest price went to Bo Brown from the Madrissa flock, stunning him with his best sale to date. Its his third time selling at Kelso, his top before the days sale was around the £1000 mark. This classy lad was by Kirkstead R19, a son of M3 Leadburnlea, bought for £1000 and out of a ewe bought at the Blue Belles sale off the Kirkstead flock again, this a daughter of the G1 Burndale. It caught the eye of several breeders, but it was Kirkstead and Falnash who teamed up and splashed out £12,000 on him.

The other at five figures was the reserve Champion from the pre-sale show, judged by John McLaughlin. This smart tup was from the Lowes Fell flock. This tup was full of home breeding, sired by Lowes Fell N13 and out of a homebred ewe by the Whinneyhall K1. His sheer presence helped to sell him, with Hazel Brown paying £10,000 for him, the best sale to date for the noted Lowes Fell flock.

It was a debut to remember for the Aberdeen based Sheeoch flock from Messrs Blackhall. Although he has been breed Leicesters for 20 years it was his first time at Kelso and he did well, topping at £6000 for a son of the P1 Whinfield, who proved to be a shrewd investment at a mere £1600 two years ago. His mother was by a Blackcraig tup, and he sold to the Ashes flock of Frank Johnson.

Kirkstead are usually in the mix and it was no  different this year. Although they took the days championship, it was another further down the line which made the big bucks. S24 Kirkstead, a son of the Bonvilston N11 out of a good breeding ewe by the Ashes L1 tup. This brute of a tup sold for £5500 to M/s Smith, West Bolton. Kirkstead also took the days championship, with another Bonvilston son, which has been part of the flocks show team this year. He sold for £2800 to J McKenzie.