Commercial demand for rams at Builth sale

A buoyant trade underpinned strong commercial demand at the NSA Wales and Border main ram sale, when more than 4,500 rams went through the ring culminating in an 8,000gns top price.

The Texel breed had the largest number of rams forward (750) with auctioneer Gareth Griffiths of Clee Tompkinson Francis reporting it being a very good trade from start to finish with breeders responding to market demand.

“The right animals were coming forward to meet the requirements of the commercial farmer,” he said. More than 750 Texel rams were sold with a 95% clearance and yearling averages were up £38.21 on the year at £624.02.

And bidders were well prepared to pay for the right rams with 8,000gns securing a Texel ram consigned by Isle of Man based Ballaglonney and selling to Stephen Williams, Shropshire. It is the second ram he has bought from Ballaglonney, the first was the son of a ram he had originally sold to them in 1992 and went on to win breed championship at all three Royal Shows in 2000.

The second highest priced lot was a three year old Bluefaced Leicester sold by John Jones of Jones and Sons, Haverfordwest for 4,000gns. It was bought by a consortium represented by David Henderson of Hawick. This ram was originally bred by Tudor Harris of the Vale of Glamorgan and sold as a ram lamb at Builth for ÂŁ900.

The Bluefaced Leicester breed society saw a strong trade with averages up almost ÂŁ10 on the year at ÂŁ564.92. The highest priced Bluefaced Leicester ram lamb sold for 2,400gns to Dewi Williams of Bryn Dansi, Clwyd. He in turn sold the first prize shearling Bluefaced Leicester ram for 2,200gns and his 52 sheep sold to an average ÂŁ1,050.

Demand was also there for native breeds when a Talybont Welsh Mountain shearling ram forward from Alan and Mari Jones, sold for 3,500gns to Robert Davies of Llangynidr. Mr Davies said the tup “covered a lot of groun’ and was very impressive looking”.

Averages: 4,524 rams, ÂŁ459.97