The Solwaybank flock at Beechgrove, Annan has capped one of its best seasons to date producing the breed’s highest priced ram lamb of the year so far.
One of the Barbour family entries topped the recent premier Suffolk Sheep Society Sale at Stirling fetching 26,000 gns.
It was purchased by a leading breed specialist, Phil Poole of Shrewsbury, to strengthen his well-known Salopian flock.
The yet-to-be fully named Solwaybank prefix ram lamb was a full brother of the Annan flock’s Solwaybank Braveheart which sold for 13,000 gns at an earlier Longtown sale.
Meanwhile, all six other ram lambs they sold at Stirling attracted prices of four figures or more.
At the most recent Longtown breed auction and show, entries from Beechgrove won the overall and female championships with the consignment attracting brisk bidding including from a successful Spanish buyer and judge.
In charge of the flock are brother and sister team, Iain Barbour and Judith Nelson, who are assisted by the rest of the family including brother Stuart and parents Robert and Margaret.
“This is definitely a high point since we started the flock from small beginnings,” said Margaret, who remains a hands-on enthusiast.
“In my judgement it is the best season to date. It is very satisfying. Iain and Judith try to improve the flock bloodline all the time and we buy in a top quality new stock ram most years.”
Margaret hit the headlines in 2001 when, during the height of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, she spent 81 days in isolation living in a horse box with camping equipment to care for the flock while ensuring strict biosecurity.
She succeeded in keeping the Suffolks healthy while many other flocks around the region were slaughtered as the disease spread on both sides of the border.
By the end of the outbreak Beechgrove was home to the only surviving Suffolk flock in Dumfriesshire.
Margaret revealed this week that a third generation was now involved with the Solwaybank sheep with eight-year-old granddaughter Carmen one of the most enthusiastic members of the family.
The proud grandmother added: “She will never forget her day at Stirling.”
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