Farmer sells prize-winning sheep for £10,000

Young farmer and butcher George Cropper was left rubbing his hands this week after selling one of his prized pedigree Beltex sheep for a record-breaking £9,995.
George CropperGeorge Cropper
George Cropper

It was the highest price ever recorded for a single sheep sale at Skipton Auction Mart in its 100 year history and the 24-year-old couldn’t be happier.

The farm shop manager at Roaming Roosters, Higham, said: “I’m absolutely chuffed to bits. I more than doubled my previous best price for a Beltex sheep and enjoyed sales of a total £21,500 over the course of the event; not a bad day’s work!

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“A lot of hard work goes into rearing these sheep and all around a busy full-time job, but it goes to show that all that effort was certainly worth its while. The pressure’s already on for next year’s show.”

The sale took place at the Beltex Sheep Society’s 14th annual show and sale of pedigree rams, where George was crowned supreme champion for a third consecutive year, celebrating his expertise in shearling tup rearing.

Preparing the sheep ready for sale takes some 18 months and when he’s not working, George spends every waking hour tending to his small flock to make sure they are the best they can possibly be.

He said: “I come from a farming family so I guess it’s in my blood.

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“I’ve always been interested in the Beltex. It’s a quality sheep that provides a quality end product and I take great pride in their preparation for final sale.

“It takes a lot of hard work and all around a busy full-time job, but it goes to show that all that effort is certainly worth its while. The pressure’s already on for next year’s show.”

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