Sandyknowe Suffolk trade soars
Sandyknowe Suffolk trade proves strong demand for commercially reared, high performance rams with 100% clearance, good average price and sale topping at 5,000gns.Established in 1957, the Sandyknowe Suffolk flock consists of over 150 ewes bred in a five family rotation and is owned by Messrs. Malcolm M. Stewart of Roxburghshire, Scotland.
The flock is bred specifically to provide high performance rams for commercial prime lamb production and hence is lambed outdoors in April and managed under commercial conditions with strong emphasis placed on lamb vigour. Rams are especially suited to grass-based systems with little concentrate fed until after scanning and selection.
The Sandyknowe flock has been performance recorded for five decades with breeding stock selected on the basis of structural correctness, conformation and terminal sire index.
In 2013, the flock began to host its annual off-farm ram sale. Thursday 12th September 2019 saw the families 6th annual sale with a flying trade.
47 commercially reared rams were offered for sale with 96% of the offering being in the top 5% terminal index or above.
47 shearling rams sold averaging 881gns.
Top price of the evening went to Y13:18:15699 at 5,000gns to the Ingram family at Logie Durno. The ram was used within the Sandyknowe flock as a ram lamb and has phenomenal growth characteristics. Semen has been provided to the RamCompare project for use in production of the 2020 lamb crop.
Two high index rams topped at 3,800gns. Y13:18:15692 again with outstanding growth and used by the flock as a lamb. The Harding family from Bentley Suffolks purchased Y13:18:15690, a half-brother to Y13:18:15692 with heavy muscling characteristics by proven stock sire Sandyknowe Leader 17 to 1.
About the author
Emma Steele
With a first from Newcastle, Emma joined the Signet Breeding Services team and quickly became a well liked and respected Breeding Consultant.
In September she moved to the dark side, but we look forward to her rejoining us in 2020