At just 12 years of age Matthew Burleigh had a vision; to have a successful flock of Beltex Sheep. Now at 18, Matthew has realised his ambitions and has managed to combine his first year of study at Greenmount with the management of a prizewinning flock of Beltex sheep.

In Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh Matthew comes from a farm of different enterprises including a herd of suckler cows and the agricultural contracting business headed by his father, William Burleigh. Hard work and perseverance leave little time for much else and apart from an interest in bowling, Matthew is truly dedicated to ensuring his flock is the best it can be.

From the humble beginnings with the purchase of 2 ewe lambs and 3 shearling ewes which were served by ‘Hugo’ 6 more lambs were produced. Over the next few years, following a combination of purchases and home bred females the flock was increased bit by bit. In September 2009 Rock Solid Molly was purchased, with a proven pedigree as a full sister to the stock ram Rock Solid Magium, for £1550. Molly was flushed in November 2009 to Balmoral champion Beechtree Nightrider producing 12 embryos. 12 were transplanted producing 7 ram lambs and 3 ewe lambs.

Thompsons 17% Champion Lamb Mix is the feed of choice for Matthew due to a combination of its palatability and quality of raw materials which have ensured the flock attained and maintained the condition needed for Matthew’s show/sale ambitions. The embryo lambs and the natural born lambs sired by magium were all fed on Thompsons Champion lamb mix. The 2010 show season proved to reward a lot of hard work with the flock holding the male champion of Armagh show and the 1st prize ram lamb at Enniskillen Show.

The embryo lambs were not shown and they were nurtured at home until they reached their optimum thrive for the sales. Dungannon premier sale was entered with 6 shearling rams, 6 ram lambs, 2 shearling ewes and 1 aged ewe. Thompsons Champion Lamb Mix enhanced the final touches and after 3 days of dressing the preparation was complete. 2 embryo lambs - which were April born lambs – were entered at 60 and 57 kilos each. The judge Mr T J Gormley placed Matthew’s entrants 3rd and 4th in the shearling ram class, 2nd in the aged ewe class, 1st and 4th in the ram lamb class and 1st and 4th in the shearling ewe class. They went on to win the male Champion, Reserve female and Supreme champion. The average sale price was topped in every class with the champion reaching the top price of 2000gns and 1800gns for his full embryo brother.

To achieve the full potential of your flock contact Thompsons on;028 9035 1321 or view www.thompson.co.uk