Entry deadline announced for Native Breed sale

The June 27 deadline for entries for the fourth annual Traditional, Native and Rare Breeds Livestock Show and Sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre is fast approaching.

The popular event, which is hosted by auctioneers Halls on Saturday, July 27, will also, for the first time, include an auction of vintage farm machinery and smallholders’ equipment and a farmer’s market.

The livestock sale will continue to incorporate the National Show and Sale (West) of the Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association, however the later date will allow more livestock breeders to participate.

New event sponsor, Maelor Feeds Ltd of Wrexham, has agreed to provide a bag of feed to all the section winners and champions, including Shropshire Sheep, Primitive sheep, Longwool sheep, Shortwool sheep, cattle, pigs, Interbreed sheep and reserve Interbreed sheep. Osmonds and Lloyds TSB continue to sponsor rosettes for class winners and sashes for the interbreed champions.

"A sale at the end of July will be more appealing to flocks and herds that lamb or calve in the late spring,” said Nick Hyne, Shrewsbury Auction Centre director. “But it will still be early enough for farmers looking to buy and sell breeding stock ahead of the early autumn.

“Last year, we had a record number of Shropshire sheep entered and our sale was the largest for that breed anywhere in the country. We hope to repeat this success, while building entries of other breeds of native and rare sheep, cattle and pigs.”