Sale Conditions of Entry and General Information DSSS

Issued February 2025

Arrival of Stock
Inspection
Show
Entry fee charges and Mart commission rate

1             ENTRIES – All animals entered must be fully registered and, on the Grassroots Database, with all fees paid at least 7 working days before the date of sale entry. Failing to do this will result in the animal being ineligible to be sold.
All sheep must be tagged in accordance with the rules of Dutch Spotted Sheep Society and with the relevant DEFRA regulations. The vendor shall be responsible for the correctness of identity.

2              METHOD OF SALE – All sheep will be sold in guineas (105 pence) and in catalogue order unless alteration is announced by the auctioneer. A market commission at the mart’s rate will be charged on all sheep sold, plus a further 1% sales levy, which will be paid to the DSSS.
Graded animals will always be sold after all the purebred animals in MV and non MV sections.

3             CONDITIONS OF SALE – The sale is held subject to the Livestock Auctioneers Association Conditions of Sale and the Rules of the DSSS.

4             UPSET PRICE – The minimum upset price is set at 300gns (200gns for Graded females). Sheep unsold but passing inspection will be allowed into subsequent Society Sales but not on the same day.

5             NUMBERING – All entries must be identified by their catalogue number by means of a neck tie or by numbers printed clearly on the animals back in paint and will be sold in catalogue order.

6             SUBSTITUTE ENTRIES – All substitute entries MUST BE NOTIFIED to the Registrations Secretary not less than 7 days before the sale. Substitute entries must be marked with a RED DOT ON THE SHOULDER. Substitutes are limited to 1 per vendor per section. Animals can only be substituted by another animal of same age and class. Animals not notified to the Registrations Secretary in the allotted time will be refused entry into the sale.

• INSPECTIONS - All sheep will be subject to an official society veterinary inspection before the sale. Society representatives appointed by the society will assist with inspection administration. The inspector is empowered to disbar any animal which in his/her opinion does not meet the necessary standard. The decision of the inspector(s) will be final. Any animal failing inspection on structural or conformational criteria will not be allowed to be sold on the day of the sale, nor any other Society sale in the same year. Neither the Inspectors, the Society nor the Auctioneers will be liable to the owners of such animals or any other person or company for damage or any loss arising from rejection.

Sheep rejected from the sale must be marked with a YELLOW DOT ON THE LOIN and should be moved well away from the sale’s penning area and not further exhibited for sale; no advertising, promotion or sale of such a sheep is allowed on market premises.

Any sheep withdrawn from a sale, passing inspection and gone through the ring, but unsold will be allowed to enter subsequent Society sales but will have to be presented for inspection again.

Inspection Criteria

• Lot Number: The lot number must correspond with the number entered in the catalogue. Animals without the correct identification will be rejected from the sale.
• Disease: the animal is not suffering from any infectious disease.
• Mobility: sheep should be mobile and sound with no feet and/or leg structural issues.
• Teeth to be assessed whereby if any incisor teeth that are felt beyond the pad, as demonstrated by catching on fingers when running from the pad downwards, or when they are so far beyond the pad that they do not catch the finger, will be rejected.
• When males are being sold, testicles should be of even size, move freely and free from abnormalities. Ram lamb’s minimal scrotal circumference is 28cm and Shearling Rams minimal scrotal circumference is 33cm.
• When females are being sold, the udder should be correct and free from abnormalities.
• Note: Animals which do not meet animal welfare standards such as lame animals will be rejected from that sale, however, are eligible to be entered for future sales in that year, provided they are inspected and pass inspection at that future sale.
• Important Note: Although the animals have undergone a veterinary inspection according to the DSSS inspection criteria, it remains the responsibility of the party or parties purchasing stock at society sales to ensure they are satisfied with the quality and standard of the animals before engaging with any purchase.
• SHOWS AT SALES: A show will not be held at a society if there are fewer than 30 purebred animals entered.

Animals bred by the judge cannot be presented for judging.

7           SETTLEMENT AND CLEARING OF STOCK – Settlement in full is due immediately at the close of sale. No animal must leave the sale premises without an official “pass slip” obtainable only from the Auctioneers upon settlement.

8           EXPORT TO NORTHERN IRELAND – As of the 1st January 2021, the rules for exporting sheep from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and the European Union have changed. – No direct export or vendor returns will be available under current animal health rules. It will be the responsibility of the purchaser and/or vendor to make necessary arrangements for the sheep going to Northern Ireland.
DISCLAIMER- the responsibility for export of sheep rests with either the purchaser or the vendor and not the Dutch Spotted Sheep Society or Auction Company accommodating the sale.

9           FLUSHED SHEEP – where females have been flushed, with or without, embryos being recovered before the sale must be declared in the catalogue and announced at the time of the sale. Failure to do so will result in the purchaser having the right to return the sheep – costs may occur.

10           SEMEN – rams being sold where semen is being retained, details must be disclosed at the time of sale.

11           FLOCK DISPERSAL – In prior agreement with the society, a full flock dispersal can take place on the same day as a Society sale, but not as part of the main sale and must be catalogued in a separate publication;
There can be one dispersal sale only per flock and no further sheep can be registered for the flock once a dispersal sale has taken place.
Dispersal sheep will not be inspected, and will not be eligible for showing.
If advertised alongside the society sale, then the levy fee applicable to the main sale will apply.

DUTCH SPOTTED SHEEP SOCIETY

Website – www.dutchspottedsheep.co.uk

Registrations Secretary Penny Eminson – 07721 367 351 registrations@dutchspottedsheep.co.uk