Wade and Alison McCrabbe from Raphoe, Donegal, have notched up one of their most successful seasons to date with their award-winning Ardstewart Beltex flock.

The National Beltex Sale held recently at Carlisle saw their entry of 10 shearling rams sell to a top price of 12,000gns and level at an average of £4,862.

Their sale leader was Ardstewart Angus, who is a son of Rathbone Tony ET, and out of a Broughton Pound Stretcher daughter.

The duo also scooped the supreme championship out of an entry of almost 1,500 sheep, with another son of Tony.

Just two weeks later, the McCrabbes travelled back across the Irish sea to Carlisle with a team of gimmers for the Beltex Beauties sale which saw a select entry from a handful of breeders attract tremendous returns.

Top of their pen was the 7,000 gns Ardstewart Attractive Lady ET, who traces back to the highly successful Ardstewart Swagger Jagger. This outstanding gimmer is a full sister to the 12,000 ram Ardstewart Angus.

Two further lots from the same team were snapped up at 6,000gns each. All of these were sired by Rathbone Tony ET.

The McCrabbes are familiar faces throughout Ireland after they starred in the hit TV series Rare Breed – A Farming Year. In addition to breeding pedigree Beltex, they also are pioneers of the Rubex breed of sheep, and run a herd of Hereford cattle.

Connacht/Ulster Angus breeders’ sale

The Connacht / Ulster Angus Breeders’ Club’s Annual Ballymote Black Magic Sale of Pedigree Registered Angus females takes place on Thursday 13 October at 7pm. This year’s sale features 63 lots of quality pedigree registered Angus females, including weanling heifers, maiden and in-calf heifers, in-calf cows and cows with calves at foot.

This promises to be a great sale to source a foundation Angus female to start your herd, or a quality Angus female to add to the quality of your existing herd. A portion of profits from the sale will be donated to the Northwest Hospice on behalf of the club.

Cheviot annual sales

Every year, the Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Breeders host a show and sale. This highly successful event is now in its 74th year running, and will be held in Blessington Mart on Saturday 8 October, with the main sale starting at 12pm.

The Donegal Wicklow Cheviot Premier Sale will take place in Ballybofey/Stranorlar Mart, Co Donegal on Thursday 13 October with the show taking place at 5.30pm and sale commencing at 7.30pm.

Rams will have parentage information available and also will have star ratings available.