Leading livestock auctioneer Harrison & Hetherington has announced details of its pedigree sheep sale, taking place on Saturday 21^st May at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. The sale will include a production sale from Jewitt & Sunnybank Flocks, as well as an incredible line-up of various Texel breeds and Dutch Spotted.

Kicking off the sale at 10:30 is the May Fair Pedigree Sheep Sale with a total of 143 head, comprising 111 Dutch Spotted, 48 Blue Texel, 4 Badger Face Texel, and 30 Beltex.

Following on from that is the Stars of the Future Sale which is a production sale from the Jewitt & Sunnybank Flocks. This sale will include 77 head in total, made up of 32 Dutch Spotted, 33 Blue Texels, and 13 Badger Face Texels with progeny off leading flush ewes and sired by record breaking rams. Pedigree ewes and lambs, recipient ewes and lambs, weaned lambs, and empty ewe hoggs will go under the hammer. This noted sale offers buyers an excellent opportunity to get their hands on sheep with exceptional show potential.

The final sale of the day is the Spring Fling Sale of Texel Females which is running for the second year. A total of 30 head of shearling gimmers will pass through the sale ring from the renowned Teiglum, Procters, Clarks, Garngour, Knap, Ettrick and Usk Vale flocks.

Commenting ahead of the sale, auctioneer, James Little, said: “We are really looking forward to this year’s spring sale. Numbers are very encouraging and are up slightly on last year. The quality of entries we have received is fantastic.

“The market for pedigree sheep has been buoyed by a strong commercial demand through the year in the lead up to this sale. We would expect to see this carry into these sales and vendors should enjoy favourable trading conditions.”

This sale of tremendous stock gives farmers a good opportunity to both buy and sell their genetics earlier in the year, and one breed which is well represented is the Dutch Spotted.

Speaking in advance of the sale Ali Jackson Vice Chair of the Dutch Spotted Sheep Society said: “The Dutch Spotted breed is relatively new to the UK and already because of its carcase traits, temperament, and ease of management, it is beginning to dominate the market. With selected breeding, the breed quality here in the UK is improving, and this is a key factor why this sale is so important. It gives vendors an option to market their stock and genetics earlier and in advance of the main August sales.

“There is considerable demand, UK-wide, for quality stock as commercial farmers are buying into the Dutch spotted as they are now seeing the results.”

Further information and sale catalogues can be found at harrisonandhetherington.co.uk.