Scotch Half-breds in demand

At Lockerbie, Scotch Half-breds have met a keen demand in recent years as flockmasters look to improving their margins. Last year, at Lockerbie first sale, 1435 Scotch Half-bred ewe lambs averaged £67.33 selling to a top of £95 and the 755 gimmers balanced at £87.91, reaching £110.

Chairman of the Scotch Half-bred Association, Ritchie Strawhorn said:
"The Scotch Half-bred produces a top quality lamb which is wanted in all sectors. When crossed with a Suffolk, she produces an ideal ewe for in-bye premises with any terminal sire. The Suffolk Scotch Half-bred ewe is in great demand down the east coast to provide early lamb for the Easter market." This traditional closed flock system, based at Broomhillbanks, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, has North Country Cheviots bred pure; Northies x Border Leicester for Scotch Half-breds which are then crossed with the Suffolk. It has worked well for many years and Ritchie can't see any other breeds, which could improve his financial return. On recent trade the Scotch Half-bred was producing a Suffolk cross ewe lamb at £85 and a wether at £60 - an impressive £145 per sheep!

Ros Allen, Farm Manager at Springhill Estate, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, buys 170 Scotch Half-bred ewe lambs annually from Lockerbie. About 50 to 70 join the 450 Scotch Half-bred and North Country Mule flock at Springhill with the remainder sold to order. She finds an exceptional demand for the Suffolk cross Scotch Half-bred ewe lamb, which makes atleast £5 per head more than its contemporaries! The ewes are treated no differently and the Scotch Half-breds have similar scanning results to the Mules.

James Burton, Ilam Tops Farm, Ilam, Ashbourne, Derby, has been buying Scotch Half-breds from Lockerbie for 27 years. He runs 350 Scotch Half-bred & Texel x Scotch Half-bred ewes - "The Scotch Half-bred suits my system. They're easy to manage and produce good prime lambs with the bonus of a breeding ewe lamb too". The Scotch Half-bred is a good all rounder - she's hardy, prolific, milky, has quality wool and is capable of producing and rearing a big crop of quality lambs - and she still retains her value as a cast ewe.

Lockerbie continues to be a principal sale centre for Scotch Half-bred ewe lambs and gimmers with sales on August 23 & September 6, 2005.

For further information contact: Secretary of The Scotch Half-bred Association Nesta D Todd, Greenend, St Boswells, Melrose, Roxburghshire, TD6 9ES. Tel/Fax 01835 824207

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