Females from the Chailebrook flock took the top prices in the Diamonds and Pearls 60th and 30th anniversary sale of Southdown females for the Long family’s and Sid Cook’s Chaileybrook and Brant flocks, respectively.
With shearling ewes from the Chaileybrook “Diamonds” consignment setting a new female breed record set twice at 1200gns, while a ewe lamb set a new breed lamb record at 1050gns.
Auctioneer Paul Gentry said the sale represented the cream of Southdown genetics and comprised an exceptionally level show of ewes. “Without a doubt a sale of this calibre is rare in any breed. Billed as “A Sale of Southdown Gems” it certainly proved to be just that, with both flocks having enjoyed continued success throughout their histories and today’s sale was another unique chapter in that history.”
First to hit the milestone 1200gns was a Chaileybrook shearling ewe, Chaileybrook 13/0024, a daughter of the legendary French sire TC4028 (The Frog) and out of a Southern Cross ewe by East Dean 05/0271 and carrying a pair by TC10187 (Sarkozy).
This is the first lamb from the Southern Cross ewe and was a star of the sale and attracted plenty of pre-sale interest as well as drawing buyers on the day. The subject of a rapid bidding war she was knocked down to Miranda Wallace for her 15-ewe Sharpham flock, Buckfastleigh, Devon.
The second to make this money and claim the joint record was another daughter of The Frog, Chaileybrook 13/0002, and this time out of the homebred Chaileybrook 05/0002.
This one’s dam was interbreed champion at South of England in 2006 and is also dam to Chaileybrook 12/0008, the breed’s £2500 male record holder. Sold carrying triplets to Sarkozy she went to the Wheeler family for their Waterloo flock, Cheltenham.
Following that and taking the third and final bid at 1000gns or more was ewe lamb Chaileybrook 14/0021. Sired by Sarkozy, this outstanding lamb is out of Chaileybrook 06/0014, a daughter of The Frog and was another to attract plenty of pre-sale attention. She sold on the phone to new breeders Celeste and Florence McKeague, Ayrshire, at 1050gns.
A pair from Chaileybrook then made 600gns, with the first of these being the two-crop ewe Chaileybrook 11/0036. Sired by Southern Cross 07/0013, she is out of Chaileybrook 07/0013, herself a daughter of The Frog and was sold carrying twins by the homebred sire Chaileybrook 13/0001, a full brother to the second 1200gns gimmer. This one sold to Messrs White, Hexham.
The other at this level was the shearling ewe Chaileybrook 13/0027. A triplet carrying gimmer by Sarkozy she is out of Chaileybrook 07/0014, a daughter of The Frog. She sold in-lamb to Chaileybrook 13/0001 going home with Nigel Barrington Fuller, for the De Prebis flock, Essex.
After that at 500gns was Chaileybrook 10/0033. This three-crop daughter of The Frog is a full sister to the second 1200gns gimmer and is exactly the same way bred as Chaileybrook 09/007, interbreed champion at South of England in 2010. This one was sold carrying twins to Sarkozy and heads to previous buyers Celeste and Florence McKeague.
Also at this price was the shearling ewe Chaileybrook 13/0022, a Sarkozy daughter out of Chaileybrook 06/0014, making her a full sister to the 1050gns ewe lamb. She was sold in-lamb to the homebred sire Tadpole and found a new home with the McKeagues again.
Selling at 480gns was a Chaileybrook shearling ewe, Chaileybrook 13/0023. Sired by another imported French sire, MM10021 (Mr Muscle), she is out of a daughter of The Frog and is from the same family as the second 1200gns gimmer. She sold carrying twins to Sarkozy and was bought by Messrs White, Hexham.
Then making 450gns was the very last lot of the day, Chaileybrook 14/0047. This embryo transfer bred ewe lamb is a full sister to the second 1200gns gimmer and sold after frenetic bidding to the Wheeler family, Cheltenham.
We would like to thank all buyers and bidders for their support and wish them well with their purchases. We look forward to seeing Chaileybrook progeny in flocks across the country in the coming years.
Averages: Six Chaileybrook flock ewes £379.75, nine Chaileybrook shearling ewes £623, six Chaileybrook ewe lambs £486.50 (Newark Livestock Sales).