Big Bang Export Sale

The inaugural Big Bang Export Sale, was held due to the Brexit restrictions on Export at Balmoral Park, Northern Ireland. A catalogued entry of 130 Suffolks and Dutch Spotted sheep were forward from 18 top flocks, mostly from Southern and Northern Ireland. The sale attracted interest from all over the UK and Ireland and as far as France and Portugal.

The sale kicked off to a great start with Dutch Spotted topping at 8000gns for Carlaustan Eugenia consigned by Emma Allen, Diamond flock. This February born ewe lamb was sired by Tiptop Diablo sold to Declan Robinson, Co Donegal.

The Diamond flock also takes the second top with Diamond Ellie, by Drunhirk Decider out of a Challoch Bearskin daughter selling for 4600gns to Messrs Bradley, Co Londonderry.

The next price of 3000gns was reached 3 times, firstly by the single ewe lamb entry from the Johnstown flock. Johnstown Ella was an April born Drumhirk Decider daughter out of Glencoy Charlene, she sold to the Glencloy flock of Mr Liam Campbell, Co Antrim.

The Kilroot flock sold the other two at 3000gns, firstly as 2017 born import from Mike Van Der Most and secondly a 2019 import from Mr Joost Louter, both scanned a single to Kilroot Everest and both selling to the Glencloy flock.

Recipient pregnancies peaked at 2100gns for a twin embryo by the 5000gn Carlaustan Extrovert out of the top performing Bella II Import and heads over the water to Carolyn Baird, Glasgow.

Averages: Diamond Flock 6 Ewe Lambs £3517.50, 3 Recipent Ewes £240.00, Johnstown Flock 1 Ewe Lamb £3150.00, 2 Recipent Ewes £1942.50, Kilroot Flock 3 Aged Ewes £2870.00, 6 Ewe Lambs £1041.25, Sandymount Flock 5 Ewe Lambs £1890.

In the Suffolk section, the pen leader from the Bridgeview flock of Mr Paul Delves sold to the sale topper of 11,000gns. This Salopian Scuderia daughter was carrying a single to the 13,000gn Burnview Barracuda, and went to join the Mullinvale flock of Darragh McMennamin in Co Donegal.

Ewe lambs peaked at 8000gns from the Ballynacannon flock of Mr Dennis Taylor. She was the pen leader, a Birness Freedom daughter out of a Lakeview Innuendo daughter and sold to the Bridgeview flock.

The Forkins flock sold a shearling gimmer for 7000gns, a Solwaybank King William daughter, she sold carrying twins to the Irish breed record holder €44,000 Ballinatone Show Stopper and sold jointly to the Oakbridge flock of Philip Gurney and the Ballynacannon flock of Dennis Taylor.

Next in at 6500gns were two Shannagh gimmers from A & R Wilson, both sired by Limestone T-Rex and scanned twins to 12,00gns Crewelands Frontline and 9000gn Limestone Another level selling to the Limestone flock of Mark Priestley and Messrs Guilherme Portugal respectively.

The Ballynacannon flock purchases another addition to his flock from Forkins, a Mullaghboy Goliath daughter, she is ET sister to 26,000gn Forkins McCoy and sells scanned carrying twins to Ballinatone Show Stopper for 6000gns.

A Forkins ewe lamb attracted the eye of Mr Declan Robinson, Co Donegal who purchased a Birness Freedom daughter for 4500gns, she was ET sister to 18,000gn lamb sold Ballymena 2021.

Averages: Ballyboe Flock 2 Shearling Gimmers £2677.50, 2 Ewes £1260.00, 2 Ewe Lambs £1155.00, Ballynacannon Flock 4 Shearling Gimmers £3202.50, 3 Ewe Lambs £4340.00, Benrafton Flock 7 Shearling Gimmers £1267.50, Blackstown Flock 6 Shearling Gimmers £2187.50, Bridgeview Flock 3 Shearling Gimmers £5355.00, 2 Ewes £1601.25, Carony Flock 9 Ewe Lambs £1435.00, Forkins Flock 9 Shearling Gimmers £3430.00, 4 Ewe Lambs £2861.25, Lakeview Flock 3 Shearling Gimmers £1540.00, Mullinvale Flock 1 Shearling Gimmer £5250.00, Rossbrook Flock 3 Shearling Gimmer £1102.50, Shannagh & Castelisle Flocks 2 Shealring Gimmers £6825.00, The Views Flock 9 Shearling Gimmers £1125.83.