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Stephen Dodsworth on quality sheep stock.

With harvest happening at speed, we now look forward to a busy autumn period that is always a hectic, but enjoyable time in the livestock marts.

Here in Darlington we all love the suckled calf shows and sales.

This time of year also brings us big numbers of sheep through the doors and part of this means we are heading in to the tup sale season, my favourite sales of the year.

As a tup seller myself I, like all those with the tup bug to look forward to the pending highs and lows only tup sale time brings.

As a mart worker the tup sales bring out the best in what we do as an industry.

Bringing people together, familiar faces and enthusiastic new ones from all generations.

The vendor and buyer ratios are high, for every 100 tups we can have 40 vendors and 70 buyers present.

This year we are set to try an evening sale, which should hopefully add further to the gathered crowd.

So here follows my tup sale guide, across the land you will see the best shepherds displaying their wares whilst the aspiring novices watch intently in awe.

Rest assured wherever you go to see tups sold, the quality of stock is most likely very good, the top tup sellers rely on repeat custom and to do this they must get better every year.

The old saying ‘a tup is half your flock’ is true, so be sure to buy a good one, but what is a good one?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this saying was most likely invented to prevent your neighbour bidding against you, thank goodness we all see them differently.

Teeth, testicles, and toes are the essential bits and from there on in you are on your own.

Never has there been a perfect sheep, so we must set our sights sensibly. What does your flock lack and what do you need?

Is it length, muscle, more shoulder, less shoulder, lambing ease, more wool, less wool, hardiness, longer legs, shorter legs or easier fleshing?

The list is endless and completely bespoke to you alone.

Set a budget and let your eyes and pockets be your judge and guide.

If you intend on retaining ewe lambs, stretch that budget further as the genetics from a good tup will stay with
your flock for generations.

Be wary of the current embryo transplant fashions, (particularly if you retain ewe lambs) as some breeds, in my opinion, are risking losing all maternal instincts.

You need a natural mothering ability added to our flock.

Whatever breed you choose, make lambing time easier for yourself, it should be a pleasure not a chore.

And do not be fooled, biggest is not always best ‘an ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding’, but then again ‘a good big one so often beats a good little one.’

Do not panic buy, go through the catalogue, inspect the sheep in the pens and highlight those which will do your job.

If the budget and the list fail to cross paths, then try again another day, but never take one home you do not like.

The sellers will have a reserve on their sheep and they are perfectly entitled to do this, as the cost of producing a good quality ram is high and ultimately they are running a business, not a charity.

So respect them and their valuation, if a ram is not sold a deal can be made after the sale on occasion.

And always book the post-sale deal through the auction, as they too are running a business.

Good luck and may the tups you buy be good ones.

Stephen Dodsworth

Stephen Dodsworth is a fieldsperson at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart. Call 01325 464 529 or email [email protected]