Mrs Down's Diary

Born about 18 months ago, the shearlings are already big sheep. Mules are a cross between a Swaledale ewe and Blue Leicester tup. That produces a good mother with plenty of milk who, when running with our Texel and Suffolk tups, gives us a good crop of lambs.

John was delighted at the prices he paid but recognised that this meant a poorer return for the breeders. Several pens of gimmers and shearlings were withdrawn when the prices did not reach the expected premiums.

At one stage we felt quite panicky that the pens we had our eyes on would not get to go through the ring but eventually they did.

Nonetheless, several other pens that John was interested in went back home.

So much effort goes into presentation. Some owners put their sheep in a coloured dip before the sale to brighten them for it. Others wash their sheeps' heads and trim the wool round their necks for a cosmetic makeover.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette October 22