Top tups of the highest division

If sheep were football clubs, Swaledales would be the Manchester United of the hill breeds. They trade for high prices and a ram was once sold for more than £100,000.

Next weekend the cream of the breed will come under the annual scrutiny of the toughest crowd there is – when the sales of ewes and rams gets under way at Hawes Farmers Auction Mart, the Old Trafford of the sheep world. This is no longer the summer agricultural show season; it is the business end of the year, the sheep harvest, and they are getting ready.

While the prices of rams can bring a sharp intake of breath amongst those who are unfamiliar with the breed, Patrick Sowerby of Mossdale Farm, just three miles out of Hawes and has a flock of 1050 Swaledales, puts the value into context: “When you spend £30,000-£40,000 on a tractor it is losing money from day one; when you buy a ram for £30,000 and he produces good stock the farmer gets his money back. The last two tups we have bought cost £26,000 and £25,000. We bought them in partnership with another farmer. But once a ram steps on to this farm his value has nothing to do with anything. He has to do his job and do it well. The cheapest thing that will ever come on to this farm is a Swaledale ram if it ‘gets’ well. If he doesn’t then he can be expensive.”

That’s one of the reasons why Patrick has a team of rams, as do most Swaledale breeders. Whilst he has favoured rams each year he also has what is effectively the “subs bench”.

In Patrick’s case his bench is a sheep equivalent of having the likes of Berbatov and Rooney ready and waiting. Last year, he had £100,000 worth of rams that he didn’t even let out during “tupping” time.

Every major sale has its own show prior to the sale itself. This gives the potential buyers an opportunity to check out what they will bid for; and it is an integral part of the sale process. Hawes Mart hosts major breeding ewe sales each year in September and October and their prices can astound too, but it is the ram sales where record prices are made.

Showing sheep, whether at agricultural shows in the summer or in livestock marts prior to sale, is as much about preparation as it is about presentation on the day. Nothing is left to chance and Swaledale breeders prepare for weeks in advance. Patrick has lived in the locality for the past 44 years and had a good teacher in his late father, Arthur, who showed at the Great Yorkshire Show and competed throughout the county. He has followed in his footsteps.

Patrick takes showing very seriously, evidenced by the tweezers he uses to painstakingly relieve one of his ewes of anything that might look out of place when in the ring. His assistant and neighbouring farmer Wayne Winspear of Burtersett deals with the other end of the ewe whilst Patrick concentrates on the sheep’s face.

“The main thing is that the white bits want to be white and black bits want to be black. Everyone says they don’t spend time doing this but we all do. It’s all about presentation. Nowadays, if you don’t present to the best of your ability your stock won’t get looked at. I’ll spend around a couple of hours on each ewe and ram here. We sold two ewes for £3,200 and £2,400 last year, that’s pretty good money for ewes.’

Patrick warns that poor presentation at a local show prior to the breed sales can cost a farmer dearly.

“Shows such as Muker Show and Moorcock can make a break a ram or ewe when it comes to the breed sales. Following the shows some of the potential buyers have weeks to think about the sheep they have seen and it can have a negative effect. I believe breeders should show their stock at the summer shows, because if the best in the association are not being shown how do you decide which are the best sheep? It’s the only time when people see the best sheep on your farm. It’s a pressure cooker situation and I enjoy it. If the best aren’t there you never find out what your sheep are like until they are alongside them. You can go home with the perception that yours are the best.

“Showing can also have a very positive effect on your price at Hawes. We showed a very good shearling ram at Moorcock Show about 12 years ago and on the strength of having seen it there the purchaser paid £50,000 at the breed sale.”

Hawes and Kirkby Stephen marts vie for the title of spiritual home of the breed, but interestingly its origins are neither in Yorkshire nor Cumbria. The breed is reputed to have emanated from a 17th century breed called Linton, from West Linton in Peeblesshire. Today the breed is regarded as being closest to the Scottish Blackface and Rough Fell breeds.

Swaledale breed sales also take place in other Yorkshire-based marts at Ruswarp, Leyburn and Bentham. Hawes Mart also hosts massive Mule sheep sales this month through the North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA). Mule sheep are produced by crossing the Swaledale ewe with the Blue Faced Leicester tup and have seen significant growth in the past 30 years. The breed sale season has a major impact on the town of Hawes’ economy during both September and October, with 100 per cent occupancy of all of the town’s hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation across sale dates. Buyers travel from throughout the UK.

For full details of all Swaledale breed sales 2011: www.swaledale-sheep.com

SWALEDALE SHEEP

England’s predominant hill breed, renowned for hardiness, good mothers. Noted for off-white wool and curled horns.

The breed started in the 18th century – many breeders lived within seven mile radius of Tan Hill Inn. The Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1919 and there are now 1,200 flocks of pedigree Swaledale sheep in the United Kingdom.

Shearling – a sheep after its first shear

Tup – a ram

Tupping – a ram at work, with the ewes