With spring lamb prices still flying high and the store lamb trade setting off dearer compared to last year, it is clear that the demand for Beltex-sired lambs continues to ensure a premium for producers using the Beltex breed.
Coupled with particularly strong classes of pedigree sheep at the major agricultural shows, as well as on a more local level and the breed’s popularity across the nation is evident. This is due to the its ability to pass on superior carcase traits that prove popular with producers and butchers thanks to the high meat yield and fine bone which leaves a high meat to bone ratio and therefore killing out percentage – literally more meat for your money.
Despite claims that Beltex-sired lambs do not reach heavy weights quick enough, those thoughts have been quashed by spring lamb producers as lambs with Beltex genetics regularly and repeatedly outsold their counterparts. Very early in the season at Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway centre on April 17, for example, a pen from Messrs Murdew, Cardew Hall, topped the sale at 526.6p per kg or £220 per head. That was a whole 117.6p above the sale average.
The same home led the Hopes Auction sale at Wigton in the middle of May with Beltex weighing 38kg making 523.7p while the top price of £230 was paid twice – firstly for a 44kg Beltex from Messrs Sharpe, Holmecroft, and again for a 47kg Beltex from Cardew Hall.
Beltex logo
Similar reports could be seen the length and breadth of the country, as well as north of the Border and into Wales as well.
Early store lamb sales have also been led by Beltex-sired lambs as finishers can be certain that the premium paid for stores will be returned well selling prime lambs later in the season.
Stores selling through CCM Skipton in mid-July saw the first prize pen of 40 or more lambs from Andrew Haggas, Otterburn, sell for the top price of £126, well ahead of the nearest other breed leaders. It was reported that the best pens of Beltex and three-quarter bred lambs regularly sold between £108 and £120, with longer keep sorts at £89 to £105.
Those looking to invest in the breed will have been able to view quality line-ups on the show circuit where it was a young breeder named Liam Swinnerton from Shropshire that claimed the top ticket at both the Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire shows, remarkably with two separate sheep. First was his ram lamb named Lipley Jaguar, and secondly was his shearling ewe named Lipley Hey Good Lookin’.
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