Gross margins up by £18k at early NSA ram sale
Top-priced ram at 3,350gns was a Texel shearling Buyers were in a confident mood at this year’s NSA Wales and Border Early Ram Sale, where keen bidding saw quality rams top at 3,350gns.
Gross sales were up £18,615 with just two more sheep sold on the year (2015: £195,000; 2016: £213,615), with 390 sheep selling to a 72% clearance.
Headline prices at the Royal Welsh Showground were also up on last year, with the highest-priced ram, a Texel shearling from Dewi Williams, Abergele, sold to Michael James, Maes Mynis, Builth Wells, for 3,350gns. Last year the highest price was 1,300gns for a Charollais.
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The second-highest price this year was also for a Texel, the breed champion yearling sold by Barbara and Jo Smith, from their Slapton Flock, Towcester, to Graham and Mary Jones for 2,100gns.
The highest-priced Charollais, a shearling from Charles Marwood, York, went to R Swift and Sons, Church Eaton, Staffordshire, for 1,220gns.
Two Suffolks made 1,000gns. First of these was sold by John Sinnett, Stockton-on-Teme, Worcester, to Roger Morgan, Usk, and the other sold by TC and CA Harding to Derek Farr Pontrilas, Herefordshire.