Champion Flock Open Night and Pictures

Champion Flock Open Night June 2006

Dorset Breeders from across Northern Ireland came out in strength at the end of June 2006 to view the Champion Ballytaggart flock of Thomas Wright near Ballymoney. Thomas started the flock in 1992 and has since gone from strength to strength, cementing his position as a leading Northern Ireland Dorset breeder by selling the top price ram lamb at the 2006 May Fair in Exeter.

An interest in the Dorset breed was sparked through working with Dorsets on the farm of the late Samuel Robinson for a number of years. Two ewe lambs from Samuel Robsinson's Kilmandil flock in Dunloy were purchased to found the Ballytaggart flock. The following year a further two ewe lambs were purchased from George Robson along with a shearling ewe from Will Jordan. Male bloodlines were subsequently established through a joint purchase of the rams Huish William and Poorton W45.

Thomas first started showing his own stock in 1994 following up on an interest sparked by accompanying Samuel Robinson when he was showing Kilmandil stock. The Ballytaggart flock continues to build on a string of showing successes, evidenced by winning both the Interbreed Pairs and the Reserve Interbreed Champion at Balmoral in 2006.

The flock open night was a follow on from Ballytaggart's recent success in winning the large flock section of the Northern Ireland flock competition. Thomas has now scored a Champion's hat-trick after previously winning the ewe lamb section of the Champion flock competition in both 2002 and 2005.

Currently the flock comprises 85 ewes with plans to increase numbers to 100. Ballytaggart bloodlines can be found both across Northern Ireland and the mainland U.K. Stock have gone to the Wilsey, Huish and Ballyvaddy flocks to name a few.

Flock management objectives are to produce top quality carcase rams and breeding females to succeed in the show ring. This dual focus on stock performance both in the ring and on the hook is being picked up by commercial breeders and translated into a marked increase in the use of Dorsets as terminal sires across Northern Ireland and the U.K.

High growth rate and litter size combined with competitive carcase characteristics make the Dorset an ideal package for commercial lamb producers. Combine these traits with a docile temperament, a natural healthy vigour, tremendous longevity and the ability to perform under a wide range of conditions and you really do have a sheep for all seasons. Delivering early lambs for the Easter market comes naturally to the breed and a number of producers in Northern Ireland further increase their output through use of an 8 month lambing system.

The temperament of the Dorset is also attractive to the large number of lamb producers who need to balance both on-farm and off-farm work. Stock that are easy to handle make for much less stress all round, an essential accompaniment to the busy lifestyles of today. The next major event in the busy Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Association calendar is the Premier Show and Sale being held in Ballymena Mart on Wednesday 26 th July. For further information on the Dorset breed and to contact breeders visit the recently launched website at www.nidorsetclub.co.uk , or contact the Club Secretary William Carson on 07841746705.