AS we move ever closer to the first of the main breeding sheep sales livestock numbers continue to grow. This is while we are also faced with a continuing 'coming to terms' with working to the government regulations when operating our day to day sales.

Last week we released guidelines through all our sales centres to our customers planning to attend both the regular weekly sales, and our pedigree and specialist sales. We cannot emphasize enough that all potential purchasers must register with the markets prior to attending any of the sales, and it it is mandatory for everyone entering the mart to wear a face covering. A full list guidelines which we have implemented is available on our website - www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk

The Online Timed Auction sales continue to generate popularity, particularly through some of our pedigree breed sales. Over the last few weeks some of the highlights have included £8000 for an Eagleside bred Limousin bull; the Hampshire Down Sheep Society Premier Sale was topped at £1670 for a Ballycreelly bred ram lamb; £8300 secured the leading price tag at the Rising Stars Sale for a Beltex gimmer from the Woodies flock; Summer Sensation Sale of females was lead at £6000 for a Teiglum bred gimmer. We tried a new venture for an Online Timed Auction of semen and embryos from the genetic world of dairy, beef and sheep. Nearly 2150 units were sold, and a new record price was set for beef semen at £1050 per straw for imported Heros Limousin semen. It was the Charolais breed that hit the headlines at £1800 for a guaranteed pregnancy, and in the sheep world Beltex semen topped at £340 per straw and embryos at £650 for Valais Blacknose. The interest in the dairy section saw some Picston Shottle semen sell for £120 per straw, and the embryos on offer sold to £640 for sexed Harve Ferrari x Unix.

The live ring sales in the pedigree sector at Borderway are gathering momentum, as we are busy compiling the sale catalogues. One of the noted herds in the Limousin breed, Foxhillfarm, will be selling some of their females which come from the heart of their herd, and are descendants of the noted cow Bankdale Alice who was sold to the Alford family when local breeder Gordon Wilson dispersed the herd. Many sheep breed societies commence their premier sales with the Suffolk and Zwartbles breed within the first week of August. This is closely followed by the three-day Beltex Society premier sale when nearly 1600 sheep will come under the hammer.

In recent weeks one of the key sales dates in any livestock calendar is the Kelso Ram Sales which sadly this year has been cancelled due to the heavy restrictions imposed on holding such an event.Like other livestock auctioneering companies involved in this fixture, to accommodate the cancellation of the Ram Sales the H&H team have set up sales to take place at four of our own centres, namely: Borderway, St Boswells, Wooler and Lockerbie.

All the sales will be held in and around the original Kelso Ram Sale date of Friday, September 11.