Fearn Footprint: Summer 2023 Edition
For all things Fearn!
Click the link below to catch up on what we have been up to over the Summer Months!
https://mailchi.mp/f9762ca6eeb7/summer-fearn-footprints-newsletter-13857482
Great From Grass – Sale Report 2023
On Friday 25th August, the Scott family of Fearn Farm hosted their twelfth on farm ‘Great From Grass’ Production sale, through the Yourbid Online Auction System, giving customers every opportunity to purchase the stock they had their eye on.
Performance-recorded rams on offer included Texel, Texel X, Beltex, Suftex, Beltex, Sufbel, NZ Suffolk and Aberfield. A selection of Texel X and Aberfield X gimmers made up the rest of the sale.
With 95 rams sold at an average of £815, Fearn excelled last year’s average of £807. 18 gimmers averaged £177, again topping last year’s average of £176.
Top price this year was taken by two Aberfield tups and Texel, all going for £1650, one to Alan Neilson of East Brackenridge Farm, and the other headed for Moffatts of Wooplaw Farm. The texel tup is headed for Innovis, to be included in their breeding program. On the gimmer front, prices reached £190, with 10 Aberfield X headed for Watts of Swordale Farm, and another 12 Aberfield X headed for Wooplaw.
Most of Fearns highest priced Texels will be heading for farms across the nation, to be used as stock tups, which is great for the team to see, as the farms genetics will be used all over.
The lamb wood-fired pizzas went down a treat last year, so Fearn Farm made sure that Quintin from The Storehouse made a return this year – once again proving a hit! On the day, the team were collecting for ‘Farmstrong Scotland’ – a wellbeing initiative, inspired by Farmstrong New Zealand. A charity close to the heart of John Scott, their aim is to “help you live well to farm well”, which was launched in Scotland this Summer. All cash collections as well as the average price of a gimmer and ram were donated by Fearn Farm to the new charity.
Bids culminated in the last hour proving very intense bidding before the dust settled at 4PM. Buyers found the system easy to use, with bids being placed from customers in attendance, and those from afar. Yourbid is continuing to grow as the team at Fearn develop the platform year-on-year to make it as user-friendly as possible. Fearn welcome (and encourage!) farms and rural businesses to get in touch if this progressive auction and bidding system is something of interest.
It was great to see repeat buyers back in force – as well as new customers sourcing stock that have been reared on the ethos “forage bred, performance lead”. The philosophy of breeding stock that are ‘Great From Grass’ ensures that animals don’t sink, but instead remain strong when they arrive at their new homes.
Not all our rams found their new homes. Therefore if you missed the sale, please get in touch with the team. With a handful of Aberfield, Suffolks and crosses available, there will be something for every flock!